'''Ruidoso''' [http://www.goruidoso.com/] is a town in southeastern New Mexico. Its attractions include pleasant mountain recreation and world-caliber horse racing. During the summer population triples as New Mexicans and Texans arrive to enjoy the horse races, gambling, and cool mountain air.
Get in
Ruidoso is on US 70 between Alamogordo and Roswell; the latter has limited commuter air service. The nearest airports with major commercial air service are in Albuquerque and El Paso, each about 150 miles away.
Get around
See
'''Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino''', in the adjacent village of Ruidoso Downs, [http://www.ruidosodownsracing.com/page9.html]. Horse racing from Memorial Day to September, culminating in the major '''All American Futurity''', a $2-million event on Labor Day that bills itself as the richest quarter-horse race in the United States.
'''Hubbard Museum of the American West''', 841 US 70 West (Ruidoso Downs), ''+1 575'' 378-4142, [http://www.hubbardmuseum.org/]. Open 7 days 9 AM - 5 PM; fee. Includes the Ruidoso Downs Racing Hall of Fame.
Do
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Story Book Cabins. 10 Main Road, Ruidoso NM 88345. 88-257-2115. ttp://www.storybookcabins.com. 119 - $349. 3.334137. 105.6918883. Upscale rustic knotty pine cabins nestled amid the tall trees of Ruidoso's Upper Canyon. Amenities include full kitchen, washer/dryer, fireplace, hot tub, and deck views of Sierra Blanca.
'''Black Bear Lodge''', 428 Main Road, ''+1 877'' 257-1459, [http://www.blackbearruidoso.com/]. Describes itself as "a Bed & Breakfast retreat for single adults or couples." All rooms non-smoking.
'''Inn of the Mountain Gods''', Carrizo Road, ''+1 800'' 545-9011, [http://www.innofthemountaingods.com/]. A well-known casino/resort on the adjacent Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation just south of town.
'''[http://www.ruidosoreservations.com Condotel]''', 1103 Mechem Drive, ''+1 800'' 545-9017, Offers vacation rental condos, cabins, and homes of all sizes throughout the Ruidoso, NM region.
'''JD's Tree House''',[http://www.jdstreehouse.com], One of Condotel's vacation rentals, ''+1 800'' 545-9017, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, fireplce, hot tub, in the tall cool pines of Ruidoso, NM.
'''Best Western Pine Springs Inn''', 1420 W. Highway 70, 888-353-2793, [http://www.bwpinesprings.com].
Romantic Ruidoso Cabins. 00 Main Rd. 00-950-2510. ttp://www.ruidosocabins.com. PM. 1AM. 99 - $209. 3__20'04.18 N. 05__41'23.90 W.
Get out
Alpine skiing is available at the nearby '''Ski Apache''' downhill area, on the Apache Reservation, ''+1 575'' 464-3600, [http://www.skiapache.com/]. Drive west from Ruidoso on NM 532 to the site.
Cloudcroft [http://www.cloudcroft.com/index.html], south of town via NM 244, is another resort town in the Sacramento Mountains with abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation.
The '''National Solar Observatory''' [http://nsosp.nso.edu/] has a major facility at the mountain-top "town" (really just the observatory and related services) of '''Sunspot''', south of Cloudcroft via NM 6563. Visitors are usually welcome during daylight hours; the facility shares a visitor center [http://nsosp.nso.edu/pr/visitors_center.html] with adjacent Apache Point Observatory.