Looking for things to do in Ruidoso during the Memorial Day weekend? Read on and start planning your three-day weekend.

Wibit Water Park at Grindstone Lake (Seasonal, Summer only).

Don’t miss Ruidoso’s unique attraction, the Wibit Water Park at Grindstone Lake, a floating, inflatable platform perfect for family fun, birthday parties, and special events. Open in summer only (Memorial Day to Labor Day Monday). Check the Parks and Recreation Facebook page for any weather-related announcements or changes in hours.

Summer Days Are Made For Adventuring

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors in Ruidoso. Get ready to immerse yourself in stunning mountain scenery, encounter wildlife, and enjoy the cool high-altitude climate. Ruidoso is a great place to escape the heat and have some fun in the mountains. Here are some of the top summer outdoor activities in Ruidoso.

Families Love A Ruidoso Vacation

Get ready for a totally different adventure this year and head for the mountains for an unforgettable (and affordable) Ruidoso family vacation. From outdoor adventures to kid-friendly attractions and old west experiences Ruidoso offers year-round fun for families.

Top 5 Walking Trails in Ruidoso by AllTrails

Discover AllTrails’s top-rated walking trails close to Ruidoso with custom-made trail maps, driving directions, insightful reviews, and pictures from hikers, campers, and nature enthusiasts.

Cedar Creek Trails

Cedar Creek Recreation Area is one of Ruidoso's easiest-to-access trail systems, conveniently located just off Mechem Drive (Hwy 48). With various multi-use (hike, bike, equestrian) trail lengths and difficulties starting in town, a picnic shelter, and three group campsites, Cedar Creek is a great place for the whole family and an outing in Lincoln National Forest.

12 Reasons to Visit Ruidoso in Summer

While much of the country is sweltering in the summer heat, Ruidosoans are chilling out in the tall pines. No matter what a vacation means to you, a summer holiday is pretty cool in Ruidoso.

Win Place and Show Axe Throwing

Test out your skills by throwing an axe around in Ruidoso. Rally up your friends for the latest fun in Midtown: Axe Throwing at the Win Place & Show patio. Guided and family-friendly. Friday - Sunday, Noon to 5 pm, 1 hr/$30. Reserve a lane today >>

A Ruidoso Family Vacation: 4-Day Summer Itinerary

This 4-day Ruidoso itinerary is perfect for families traveling with kids. We’ve rounded up some of the best Ruidoso family fun everyone — from toddlers to grandparents — will love.

Discover the Ruidoso Public Library

Have some extra time during your Ruidoso vacation? Go to the Ruidoso Public Library. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful sanctuary, free WiFi, a place to work, learn, or connect with the local community, visiting the library is a perfect way to enrich your Ruidoso travel experience. Here are a few reasons why the municipal library deserves a spot on your itinerary.

Free Things To Do In Ruidoso

Star gaze. Spot wildlife. Grab a selfie. Bring the kids to the park. Take a walk in the forest. Ruidoso embraces the season with plenty of no-cost activities to keep your vacation on budget.

Delicious Dessert Spots in Ruidoso

Searching for a great place to grab dessert in Ruidoso? Look no further. Here are some of the top spots to get your fix of sweet treats.

Run Ruidoso 2024

Ruidoso Parks and Recreation is excited to announce the Run Ruidoso Series in 2024. The six unique running races in this series span the outdoor running season and celebrate the vibrant and diverse nature of our local trails. Individuals who finish all Run Ruidoso 2024 events will receive a $100 gift card for Bluebird Running Company with additional participant prizes for those who complete more than three races.

Time Your 2024 Stargazing Travels with the Next Meteor Showers in Ruidoso

If seeing stars, constellations, and the Milky Way in the sky is your idea of a perfect vacation, forgo the city in favor of the breathtaking grandeur of the Ruidoso nightscape. To make your stay more memorable, we have put together a list of our top recommended meteor shower dates for the year 2024.

Make Work Work for You in 2024

Trade the mundane for the extraordinary as your workspace transforms into a haven of tranquility against the stunning Ruidoso mountains. Let the mountain air inspire a year of productivity and rejuvenation, turning work into a seamless blend of professional pursuits and natural wonders. Fortunately, plenty of accommodation options and open outdoor space make Ruidoso a perfect choice for your next remote work destination.

Winter Sleigh Rides in Upper Canyon (Seasonal, Thanksgiving to December)

During the winter holiday season, there are sleigh rides through the historic upper canyon with Grindstone Stables. No snow is required to enjoy a crisp winter evening and the holiday decorations of Ruidoso's oldest neighborhood.

Christmas Lights Tour: See Ruidoso's most enchanting Christmas light installations

Pile everyone into the car and experience the Ruidoso Christmas Light Driving Tour to see some of the best, brightest, and most beautiful holiday light shows put on by Ruidoso area residents. Download the Ruidoso mobile app for iOS and Android today and help choose the winners of the 2023 Best Ruidoso Holiday Lights Displays challenge. Don't miss the fun!

5 Ruidoso Winter Experiences You Won’t Want to Miss

Winter is nonstop fun in Ruidoso. Hit the slopes at Ski Apache, fly down the tubing hill at Ruidoso Winter Park, walk our Midtown shopping district, and celebrate the many events we have going on all season long. Here are five winter experiences you won’t want to miss.

Ice Skating Rink at Wingfield Park (Seasonal, Select Dates)

Dust off your skates! The outdoor ice rink at Wingfield Park returns for the 2023-2024 winter season. Opening day is Friday, November 24, 2023. A visitor Day Pass is $20, with a $20 season pass for Ruidosoans and a $30 season pass for Lincoln County and Mescalero residents. Here’s everything you need to know.

Halloween Celebrations in Ruidoso

Halloween is the perfect excuse for a quick mini-break in Ruidoso. If you're looking to escape on a family-friendly trip this fall, here are some Halloween events to help you make some special memories.

Chasing Shadows: Witness the Spectacular Annular Solar Eclipse in Ruidoso on October 14, 2023

When the moon covers most of the sun, leaving a mesmerizing "ring of fire" around the edges on October 14, 2023, for an annular solar eclipse, Ruidoso is in the direct path of this cosmic phenomenon. Here's how skywatchers can make the most of this extraordinary celestial event.

Why A Ruidoso Mountain Escape Should Be Your Next Vacation

From dazzling night skies to snow-capped peaks and evergreen forests, here are five reasons to make a Ruidoso mountain vacation your next adventure.

Enjoy Summer Tubing and Family Zipline in Ruidoso

Join Screaming Eagle for a day of fun on a state-of-the-art tubing hill that expands the Ruidoso Winter Park experience into a summer tubing adventure and fun for the whole family. While you are there, take a ride on the popular family zipline. Experience the thrill of the Screaming Eagle Mountain Coaster (New! Summer 2023)

Discover Ruidoso's Favorite Lakes

Discover Ruidoso's favorite lakes! Bring a picnic, cast for fish, paddle a boat, cycle, horseback ride, or explore on foot via multi-use trails at Grindstone Lake and Alto Lake recreation areas.

Disc Golf in Ruidoso

With courses at Grindstone Lake and Ski Apache, add disc golf to your list of fun things to do in Ruidoso. Better yet, bring your own disc and it’s free fun for the whole family.

Fantasy fairies hide along the pathway in Ruidoso Parks (Seasonal, April - September)

Fantasy fairies hide along the pathway at Ruidoso's Two Rivers Park and Wingfield Park. Magic wands, tiny houses, and whimsical fairies add fun for the young. Visitors may be startled when walking along village park trails to see a trout jumping out of the water and riding on his back, the smallest of the fairy folk.

Eat. Drink. Play. Get your game on at the Ruidoso Bowling Center.

With 10 bowling lanes, 4 pool tables, dartboards, arcade games, a restaurant, and a lounge for parties and events, the Ruidoso Bowling Center is a fun, year-round, family-friendly entertainment destination where everybody gets to play.

Ruidoso Downs Horse Racing

Do you want to put a little money down on your entertainment? At Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino you can experience the thrill of the world's fastest quarter horses racing every weekend during the summer and Simulcast racing year-round.

Ruidoso Winter Park: A Winter Family Favorite

Go tubing at Ruidoso Winter Park. There are lanes for racing your friends and a Magic Carpet conveyor belt for an uphill ride. Adrenaline junkies can descend individually, in tandem — or for the fastest and longest ride, in group clusters in a giant tube. After your chilly thrill, retreat to a warming VIP Igloo to cozy up in with a hot drink and a snack.

Ruidoso Winter Activities Beyond the Ski Slopes

What to do on a Ruidoso ski vacation if you don’t ski or snowboard? Just off the ski slopes, there are galleries, restaurants, and easy access to multi-use trail systems.

Family Travel

Plan the Perfect Family Vacation with These Fun Kid-Friendly Trip Ideas

Discover Ruidoso Family Vacation Ideas your kids will love

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