Top Ten Secrets to Explore When Visiting Ruidoso, New Mexico
The tourist town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, has an unusually large number of all kinds of restaurants, galleries, and shops. You can easily find a wide selection of food, arts, and gifts. There are also some great lesser known businesses and services available that the casual tourist can miss out on. Here are my “Ten Best Kept Secrets About Ruidoso, New Mexico” to enhance your visit. We will use the reverse order to build the suspense!
10. Disco Taco – Yes, we have the best Mexican restaurants. If you want a margarita and mingle with other travelers, forget about Disco Taco. If you want good down-to-earth Mexican food without a touristy vibe, check it out. On Highway 70 in Ruidoso Downs.
9. Bad Chili – The Ruidoso Bad Chili band phenomenon continues to advance! Together, just six months old, the group is playing in crowded houses all over the city! Is it your music? Is it your style? Judge for yourself. Try a helping of Bad Chili when in Ruidoso.
8. Go Ruidoso – The official travel and tourism website for Ruidoso, New Mexico. Packed with information on local events, businesses, and the community, Go Ruidoso can save your life when planning a Ruidoso vacation. Check them out on Goruidoso.com.
7. Ruidoso Convention Center – Located in the quiet little town of Ruidoso is the Ruidoso Convention Center. A premier meeting center, the convention center is adjacent to the world-class Links at Sierra Blanca Golf Course and the Hawthorn Suites. Home to events of all sizes and types, the convention center is the ideal place to combine business with pleasure.
6. Lincoln County Grill: The grill isn’t really a secret, but many have yet to sample its delicious and generous menu items. Breakfast is a pleasure and whatever happens remember this simple grilling fact … fried chicken fillets!
5. Vacation Rentals – Accommodations of all types can fill up quickly during peak periods in Ruidoso. Because rooms are in high demand, prices increase significantly for holidays and special events. One hedge against high housing prices is Ruidoso’s many vacation cabins, condos, and home rentals. Private owners who are only in town for several weeks a year rent their properties every night. These often offer amenities hotels don’t offer … private hot tubs, pool tables, putting greens, ski racks, and even boot warmers. All at a lower cost than a room in a hotel in the upscale area!
4. Chester Fried Chicken – I don’t make fried chicken very often, but when I do, Chester’s takes the colonel out of the water. Tender and flavorful, Chester’s is available to go at Ruidoso Lawrence Brothers IGA Grocery.
3. Weasel Productions – Weasel Productions is a Ruidoso hallmark of video and photography production. They feature the photography skills of prominent New Mexico photographer John T. Soden. John has been hailed by some as the “Ansel Adams of the Mountain”! See his work on Ruidoso at the Hubbard Museum of the West and Josie’s Gallery and Framing. Taste the talent at http://www.weaselvideoproductions.com
2. The Club House: a small and comfortable lounge hidden behind a gas station. Relax with a drink, visit friends or watch your big screen TV. This favorite “watering hole” is at the intersection of Mechem (Hwy 48) and White Mountains Drives.
Finally, Ruidoso’s best kept secret …
1. Visiting Ruidoso, New Mexico … the Ruidoso blog!
Plan to explore some of these unique Ruidoso attractions. You’ll have fun discovering new favorites during your visit.