Spring Break 2025: Why Ruidoso is your best bet for a New Mexico spring break vacation

It’s time to start planning that New Mexico spring break escape to Ruidoso. Whether you're looking for a family adventure, a relaxing workcation to recharge your soul until summer, or a blast of adrenaline-inducing outdoor activities, here are a few ideas for an unforgettable Ruidoso spring break.

Start planning your ultimate Ruidoso Spring Break mountain experience today!

1. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

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Cozy Ruidoso Breakfast Places

From patios to fireplaces and cozy corners to curl up and chat, here are some delicious Ruidoso breakfast spots for the most important meal of the day.

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 >>

Walk-Run-Ride The Links Fitness Trail

Beautiful Sierra Blanca dominates the views on this scenic walk, run, ride paved path that circles the Links at Sierra Blanca Golf Course in the heart of Ruidoso. The Links trail is 3-mile loop that provides outdoor exercise that dogs, kids and adults will enjoy.

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.

Lincoln State Historic Site

Lincoln, the most widely visited historic site in New Mexico, is part of a community frozen in time—the 1870s and 1880s. The historic site includes 17 structures and outbuildings, four of which are open year-round and two more seasonally as museums.

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.

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.

Grindstone Lake: All You Need To Know

Discover everything you need to know about Grindstone Lake, one of Ruidoso's most popular recreation areas located just minutes from downtown Ruidoso.

Outdoor Recreation Opportunities in Smokey Bear Ranger District

The Smokey Bear Ranger District in Ruidoso offers many different recreation opportunities for all seasons including picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, camping and more.

Best Places To Fish In Ruidoso

From pristine high-mountain lakes and streams to sparkling reservoirs and meandering rivers, discover the best places to cast a line in Ruidoso.

2. SHOP LIKE A LOCAL

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Where to Find Outdoor Adventure Gear in Ruidoso

Need to know the best places to stock up on outdoor gear for backcountry outings in Ruidoso? Whether you are planning a camping vacation or you’ve forgotten something important, here's where to find everything you need for an outdoor getaway.

Midtown Gallery Walk

Enjoy a day of gallery hopping in Ruidoso's Midtown shopping district with this recommended art itinerary.

Find the best bike shops in Ruidoso

Find the best bike shops to explore Ruidoso. Downhill, enduro, cruisers, e-bikes, kids bikes, rentals. Local. Knowledgeable. Complete Offerings. Genuine Service. Meet the bike shops you always wanted.

Join the Zero Waste Trend: 10 favorite places to second-hand shop in Ruidoso.

Buying used goods is cooler than ever, and Ruidoso retailers are right on-trend. Discover all manner of recycled and repurposed goods at these Ruidoso vintage shops and pre-owned retailers.

An Insider’s Guide to Midtown Ruidoso

Nestled in Ruidoso’s downtown, Midtown is the village hub for dining, arts, and shopping. Stroll through Midtown and enjoy a great selection of restaurants, boutiques, galleries, wineries, brewpubs, and live music.

Shop Small. Support Local. Shop Ruidoso.

Explore how you can shop small and make an impact on the community. After all, it’s the one-of-a-kind shops, galleries, and eateries that give Ruidoso’s cherished independent businesses their unique flavor.

Ruidoso's Carved Bears

Ruidoso New Mexico lays claim to the "Bear Carving Capital of the World." Tour the Village and you'll see chainsaw bear sculptures in all sizes decorating shopfronts and houses. Take one home to sit on your porch.

3. GET OUT IN NATURE

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Tee off in Ruidoso

Cool temperatures. Unbelievable scenery. This is the Ruidoso golf experience. With four spectacular Ruidoso area golf courses, each course is situated against breathtaking backdrops with its own personality and landscape. Discover which one is best for you.

Walk-Run-Ride The Links Fitness Trail

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.

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.

Grindstone Lake: All You Need To Know

Discover everything you need to know about Grindstone Lake, one of Ruidoso's most popular recreation areas located just minutes from downtown Ruidoso.

Outdoor Recreation Opportunities in Smokey Bear Ranger District

The Smokey Bear Ranger District in Ruidoso offers many different recreation opportunities for all seasons including picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, camping and more.

Best Places To Fish In Ruidoso

From pristine high-mountain lakes and streams to sparkling reservoirs and meandering rivers, discover the best places to cast a line in Ruidoso.

The Best Hiking Trails To See Wildlife In Ruidoso

AllTrails.com shares their list of the best trails for wildlife sightings near Ruidoso, according to user reviews and data. See the highlights here.

An Outdoor Getaway Is All The Rage. It's Also What Ruidoso Does Best.

Road trips, outdoor attractions, private vacation rentals, and remote camping are not only on-trend for pandemic travel, but it’s also one of the best ways to discover Ruidoso. Start planning today.

Where to Hike in Ruidoso

Looking for a place to hike in Ruidoso? AllTrails has 20 great hiking trails, trail running trails, forest trails and more, with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers, and nature lovers.

4. KICK BACK

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Slow Travel in Ruidoso: Relax, Explore, and Connect

Do less—experience more. Slow travel in Ruidoso isn’t only on-trend for 2025 but also a nostalgic tribute to the generations who traveled to our mountain village to kick back in the cool pines and savor a local lifestyle. Explore Ruidoso at your own pace and on your own terms with these ideas for a slower and more meaningful relationship with Ruidoso.

5 Ways to Unwind in Ruidoso

Everyone needs a little unwinding from time to time, and if you’ve been adventuring on the mountain all day, you’ll need a calm, soothing experience. Ruidoso day spas are a fabulous way to get in some relaxation and self-care time, but you have plenty of options. Here are a few of the best places to relax in Ruidoso. Pick your pleasure.

Where to Get a Massage During Your Ruidoso Vacation

Discover the best massage studios and therapists in Ruidoso. From classical massages to specialized treatments Ruidoso offers a diverse menu of massage therapists and spa treatments to help you ease into vacation mode.

The Spa At The Inn of the Mountain Gods

Inspired by the heritage of the Mescalero tribe, the new The Spa at the Inn offers a wide array of signature facials, relaxing body treatments, manicures and pedicures, waxing treatments and high-end salon services.

Blue Lotus Day Spa & Yoga

Wind down in a relaxing spa atmosphere with flowing fountains, hot tea to sip, and the Rio Ruidoso right outside the window. Blue Lotus offers daily yoga classes for all levels, AVEDA personal care products and treatments, and a stylish store for yoga clothing and accessories.

Flotation Station

At Flotation Station you can chill out in a sensory deprivation tank. Experience a sense of weightlessness, then head back out into the world feeling refreshed. Top it off with a massage for a perfectly zen day.

Adobe Day Spa

Located just 3 minutes from the Inn of the Mountain Gods. Adobe Day Spa is an independently owned and operated day spa and salon that has been serving the Ruidoso community and its visitors for over five years. On-site services include massage, infrared sauna, wraps, and indoor hot tub with steam baths coming soon.

5. DIVE INTO HISTORY

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Lincoln State Historic Site

Fort Stanton State Historic Site

The Fort Stanton State Historic Site is a must-see historic attraction when visiting Lincoln County. Few sites in the nation encompass the breadth of history seen at the Fort.

Mescalero Apache Tribe

Established in 1873 by presidential order, the Mescalero Apache reservation covers 720 square miles of land adjacent to the Village of Ruidoso. The Mescalero Apache Tribe owns and operates both Ski Apache Ski Resort and the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino as well as other Reservation-based enterprises.

Billy The Kid National Scenic Byway

Visit historic Lincoln, once home to outlaw Billy the Kid and lawman Pat Garrett. on this scenic drive through the rugged beauty of the million-acre Lincoln National Forest.

White Oaks Ghost Town

White Oaks is a Lincoln County ghost town just north of Carrizozo that became a boomtown in 1879 following the discovery of gold and coal in the nearby Jicarilla Mountains. Today, there's a small historic museum, a legendary saloon, and the White Oaks Pottery art studio.

No Scum Allowed Saloon

Located in White Oaks, once a booming gold mining town, the No Scum Allowed Saloon is one of the best cowboy bars in America. The saloon atmosphere is good old-fashioned country: open and friendly, with good music and cold beer at the ready.