Jump to content

Tell me about Ruidoso in the summer

C-Man

By C-Man
in Food and Travel

 Share

Recommended Posts

C-Man

C-Man 27229

Posted
Posted

My parents have rented a big house in Ruidoso to celebrate their 50th anniversary in August and have invited my family and my brother's to come join them for a long weekend. (They're going to be there longer than that.) My kids -- daughter (12) and son (10) -- are not what I'd call outdoors people.  Since they live half the time with my (sometimes) cunt of an ex-wife they don't seem overly thrilled about the trip. (It doesn't help when she openly asks what the heck they're going to do out there.)

We will be driving from Dallas. I have two nephews (10 and 8 ) who will be out there with us as well. I'm not going to let my complaining kids ruin everybody's weekend with constant "I'm bored" type shit. Should I just leave them at home and go out there with my wife -- or are there some things we can do that will keep them otherwise engaged?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Damor

Damor 1236

Posted
Posted

My MIL has a place up there, so we've done this before.  There's enough to occupy them for a long weekend.

Let them spend a bunch of your monies on go-karts and mini golf and all that stuff at Funtrackers.  That will occupy them happily for most of an afternoon.  There's a little park across from that where, even if they don't like the outdoors, they can goof around in the creek and get soggy for an hour or so.

If you don't have dinners already planned, they'll probably like Farley's, as its target demographic is frat boys and other nascent adolescents, and you can get a good pizza and beer there.  I think the Irish pub there closed down permanently (it was OK), but there are a couple decent beer joints.  Rio Grande Grill had pretty good food and brews, but nothing particularly kid-attractive (I've conditioned my boys to like brewpubs, so they thought it was great).

I will say that the Log Cabin is awesome for breakfast, probably the best meal I've had in Ruidoso.

My boys have enjoyed the Billy the Kid stuff in Lincoln and the Smokey the Bear museum in Capitan, but at that age you might get more eye-rolling than you'd like, especially since it's a bit of a drive for a long weekend trip.  There are some other museums around, but it's summer, so no enrichment, please.

I think it would be a great idea if the grandparents took the kids to the chuckwagon dinner and western show at the Flying J Ranch, while you and the wife go have drinks and dinner somewhere else and then shag in the hot tub (safety first) while they're gone.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
orange dream

orange dream 1252

Posted
Posted

When I was 8 or 9 my parents rented a cabin outside Santa Fe for a week.  WORST. VACATION. EVER.  and that comes from someone who didn't take vacations on the regular other than the odd trip to Six Flags for the weekend. We were bored stiff.  I remember something about seeing a farm where Geronimo's grandson supposedly lives and my dad telling me something about bears and rolling down hill while on a hike.  I was never clear if I was supposed to roll down the hill if I saw a bear or if the bear was going to roll down the hill toward me.  My dad was no Grizzly Adams so I'm not sure if he knew either.

That trip is where I discovered the game UNO.  If it weren't for that game my sister and I may have offed ourselves that week.

Now this was the early 80s so there was no TV at the cabin, not to mention smart phones, wifi, etc.  and my parents weren't particularly concerned with making sure we weren't bored.

Ruidoso could be a blast and if your kids like their cousins it could be fun, but I would make sure to have at least a couple of activities per day to keep their interest and hopefully avoid the "the whole weekend sucked  / I was soooooo bored" message when they get back home.  If the rest of your party (parents, bro & SIL) will look at that (kid activities) as a downer on  "their" weekend then I'd save everyone the trouble and leave them at home.

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
C-Man

C-Man 27229

Posted
  • Author
Posted
1 hour ago, Damor said:

My MIL has a place up there, so we've done this before.  There's enough to occupy them for a long weekend.

Let them spend a bunch of your monies on go-karts and mini golf and all that stuff at Funtrackers.  That will occupy them happily for most of an afternoon.  There's a little park across from that where, even if they don't like the outdoors, they can goof around in the creek and get soggy for an hour or so.

If you don't have dinners already planned, they'll probably like Farley's, as its target demographic is frat boys and other nascent adolescents, and you can get a good pizza and beer there.  I think the Irish pub there closed down permanently (it was OK), but there are a couple decent beer joints.  Rio Grande Grill had pretty good food and brews, but nothing particularly kid-attractive (I've conditioned my boys to like brewpubs, so they thought it was great).

I will say that the Log Cabin is awesome for breakfast, probably the best meal I've had in Ruidoso.

My boys have enjoyed the Billy the Kid stuff in Lincoln and the Smokey the Bear museum in Capitan, but at that age you might get more eye-rolling than you'd like, especially since it's a bit of a drive for a long weekend trip.  There are some other museums around, but it's summer, so no enrichment, please.

I think it would be a great idea if the grandparents took the kids to the chuckwagon dinner and western show at the Flying J Ranch, while you and the wife go have drinks and dinner somewhere else and then shag in the hot tub (safety first) while they're gone.

 

36 minutes ago, orange dream said:

When I was 8 or 9 my parents rented a cabin outside Santa Fe for a week.  WORST. VACATION. EVER.  and that comes from someone who didn't take vacations on the regular other than the odd trip to Six Flags for the weekend. We were bored stiff.  I remember something about seeing a farm where Geronimo's grandson supposedly lives and my dad telling me something about bears and rolling down hill while on a hike.  I was never clear if I was supposed to roll down the hill if I saw a bear or if the bear was going to roll down the hill toward me.  My dad was no Grizzly Adams so I'm not sure if he knew either.

That trip is where I discovered the game UNO.  If it weren't for that game my sister and I may have offed ourselves that week.

Now this was the early 80s so there was no TV at the cabin, not to mention smart phones, wifi, etc.  and my parents weren't particularly concerned with making sure we weren't bored.

Ruidoso could be a blast and if your kids like their cousins it could be fun, but I would make sure to have at least a couple of activities per day to keep their interest and hopefully avoid the "the whole weekend sucked  / I was soooooo bored" message when they get back home.  If the rest of your party (parents, bro & SIL) will look at that (kid activities) as a downer on  "their" weekend then I'd save everyone the trouble and leave them at home.

 

Thanks for the help! My son will have no problem goofing around with his cousins as they're the same age/sex. My daughter is entering full-stage teenagedom and my ex is indulging her more boorish behavior. She's the one I'm worried about.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cafe society

cafe society 2871

Posted
Posted
Quote
Quote

Check the schedule, but Ruidoso Downs should have live racing every weekend in August.  Plus, there is a casino there.  Do you and/or your wife golf?  Anyway, leave the kids with the ex; save time with them when you do something they will return raving about it.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

Going in June.

It's gonna be a shit-ton more comfortable than Houston.

Agreed with everyone else, the go-cart place, eats, and then the casino/ golf courses for grown ups. Zip Line on the mountain, but I've never ridden it.

 

Roswell has the International UFO Museum that your kids might like.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hollywood

Hollywood 342

Posted
Posted
11 minutes ago, C-Man said:

Anything to stop and see/do in Roswell as it appears to be on a direct line straight over from Dallas?

Plane graveyard and UFO museums, but otherwise skip it. You should absolutely hit up white sands either on your way in or out. Inn of the Mountain Gods is nice for Ruidoso and they a bunch of stuff to do:

https://innofthemountaingods.com/outdoor/

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ChickenSandwich

ChickenSandwich 9836

Posted
Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, zman13 said:

White Sands will be fun if they are up for dune sledding. You can bring your own or rent sleds. Arrive when they open cause it's hot as fuck in the afternoon.

Bring more water than you think you need, especially if hitting the trails. 

Family had a place in cloud Croft about 45 mins away. Is inn of the gods still any good?  And the Kokapeli restaurant CC made a mean monte cristo. He lodge at the top of the mountain also had a nice 9 hole golf course and bike rentals etc. 

Edited by ChickenSandwich
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 1 year later...
EZ$

EZ$ 2105

Posted
Posted

Driving up to Ruidoso in a couple weeks. Staying at Inn of the Mountain Gods.  Saw a couple eating/drinking recommendations above, but the post was over a year old. Any other suggestions?  Will just be my wife and I and we’ll be there for 3 days/2 nights during the week. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Native Horn

Native Horn 3504

Posted
Posted

Last time I was at Inn of the Mountain Gods, you couldn't drink on the casino floor.  No free drinks for gambling, in fact, pay a premium for drinking at the casino bar.  The casino dealers are nice, and table minimums are fairly low compared to Vegas.  Haven't actually stayed at IOTMG hotel before, so no recs on restaurants there.  It's a good 15-20 minutes into Ruidoso for other dining options, which aren't too awesome, unless they've added some options in the last 3-4 years.  Sorry, wish I had better intel for you.  Ruidoso is a cool little town to go shopping in. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Chopper

Chopper 17235

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, EZ$ said:

Driving up to Ruidoso in a couple weeks. Staying at Inn of the Mountain Gods.  Saw a couple eating/drinking recommendations above, but the post was over a year old. Any other suggestions?  Will just be my wife and I and we’ll be there for 3 days/2 nights during the week. 

Check out Mad Jacks Mountaintop BBQ in Cloudcroft. Please report back. The proprietor is from Lockhart. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
C-Man

C-Man 27229

Posted
  • Author
Posted
13 hours ago, Chopper said:

Check out Mad Jacks Mountaintop BBQ in Cloudcroft. Please report back. The proprietor is from Lockhart. 

Think that's the place my parents were talking about before we went out there. They tried to go but something prevented it -- maybe they were on vacation, can't remember. Sounded like legit BBQ. We went out one night to celebrate their 50th anniversary and I *think* the place we went was The Rancher's Steak and Seafood. Was a pretty good mid-range steakhouse IIRC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
C-Man

C-Man 27229

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Be sure and hit the horse races. That was a good time. Neat old racing ground. It's quarter-horse racing so the favorites win A LOT. Pick some trifectas, etc. Profit.

Edited by C-Man
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Damor

Damor 1236

Posted
Posted

Took the boys last Spring Break, a few changes but not a whole lot that I noticed.

They did gut and totally re-do Farley's, it's more updated and upscale.  Food is still good if not exceptional, but had bumped up some in quality.  Large beer selection.

Hidden Tap was a new place along the main shopping street, and is a good spot.  Thoughtful beer selection and the food is good.  It's bar food, but it's 'local' or 'craft' or whatever you want to call it, so it's not Sysco burgers and fries.  We liked it enough to go a couple times, and I'd recommend it for lunch or dinner if you get dragged out shopping.

Log Cabin was awesome again for breakfast, and still probably the best and most reliable place in town that I've found.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
C-Man

C-Man 27229

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, kevwun said:

2nd driving to Lincoln.  Cool area.  It's also worth driving up to the top of the the mountain where Ski Apache is.  The view is pretty amazing from there.

One of the largest -- and highest -- zip-line courses in the world (maybe it's the US) is up there. You can also mountain bike down the ski trails. It's a good time.

We didn't make it to White Sands -- the kids didn't seem super enthused but that sounds like a cool activity. Bit of a hike, I think.

Edited by C-Man
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
EZ$

EZ$ 2105

Posted
Posted
On 7/17/2019 at 9:03 PM, Chopper said:

Check out Mad Jacks Mountaintop BBQ in Cloudcroft. Please report back. The proprietor is from Lockhart. 

Was going to stop in Cloudcroft on the way up on Tuesday....but the place is closed Mon-Wed, so thinking of headed that way on the way out tomorrow.  All the locals recommend it and sounds like there will be a wait (but hoping not on a Thursday). We’ll see. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
BabaYaga

BabaYaga 15298

Posted
Posted
On 7/18/2019 at 11:45 AM, C-Man said:

Be sure and hit the horse races. That was a good time. Neat old racing ground. It's quarter-horse racing so the favorites win A LOT. Pick some trifectas, etc. Profit.

Family has raised Q-horses for decades now.  As a kid, we'd pack up the Griswald family wagon and head west.  We'd leave Austin, make the 4-5 hour trip to the g-parents place near Coleman.  Spend the night.  Load the horse trailer, and the caravan would get moving at first light to get them to the Riodoso Downs track.  Summer after summer we made the trip.  We'd hit White Sands.  Chaco Canyon.  Carlsbad.  Billy the Kid museum, etc.  

I was young, but I remember the difference in temp once in the mountains.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
EZ$

EZ$ 2105

Posted
Posted
On 7/17/2019 at 10:03 PM, Chopper said:

Check out Mad Jacks Mountaintop BBQ in Cloudcroft. Please report back. The proprietor is from Lockhart. 

Very good. “Mad Jack” was also a very nice guy.  He’s only been at it for 7 years, but I’d put him above any of the Lockhart joints. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
EZ$

EZ$ 2105

Posted
Posted
10 minutes ago, Chopper said:

Awesome. Did you enjoy the drive up to Cloudcroft?

Yes, actually drove up into the mountains from Roswell/Ruidoso, but will schedule our drive up through Cloudcroft from here on out (probably stay a night there too). 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 9 months later...
Atxracer

Atxracer 797

Posted
Posted

I still have nightmares driving up that mountain in a Sprinter that sat up high with huge windows and snow on the road (not used to driving in the snow and I hate heights).  Had three beers and white knuckled it the whole way down at the end of the day. Next two days we found a driver.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hank_Hill

Hank_Hill 18807

Posted
Posted
On 5/21/2020 at 3:38 PM, NoName said:

bumping this to see if anyone has any recs for the area - like @C-Man going in August...

I did the 30mi crest trail recently that involved peaking Sierra Blanca, really awesome view. You can make it a quick 2-3 mile hike by starting at the Ski Apache parking lot and riding the gondola up and hiking the rest if it's running. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 5 months later...
Hook1997

Hook1997 5354

Posted
Posted (edited)
13 minutes ago, Eggo said:

Not going to start a new thread, but in lieu of flying home to NYC for Christmas, we grabbed an AirBNB in Ruidoso. Any COVID-era recommendations besides Ski Apache and a day trip to White Sands? 

Restaurants pickup only and only grocery stores and Walmart open for shopping right now.

Edited by Hook1997
  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 8 months later...
UnivTex34

UnivTex34 1763

Posted
Posted

We went in early May on the return portion of a two week trip to Taos and Santa Fe. Just a couple of days. Back then, tons of restaurants were only open for dinner, and only open maybe 2-3 days per week. 2 of the places we wanted to eat at while we were there were closed our entire stay. Lots of shops closed on the main drag. Not just temporarily, but cleared out. Drove by the Inn and the Links and they looked like shells of their former glory days (I had not been to Ruidoso in probably 15 years). It was also very dry. Forest looked like it desperately needed rain. I've heard since then, they have had flooding issues.

  • Hook 'Em 1
  • Fuck You 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 1 year later...
  • 1 month later...
NoName

NoName 16352

Posted
Posted
On 5/15/2023 at 12:00 PM, NoName said:

going to bump this thread again for 2023 in case anyone has been there in the last couple of years and anything new/worthwhile has opened in the area.

no huge updates/changes from when we were there in the past.

Log Cabin is still excellent and I highly recommend them for breakfast. they have added some outdoor seating if you care about that. Go early, don't have to wait in line.

Cafe Rio - still crazy busy. still recommend calling ahead, it's solid pizza and calzones. just call ahead and probably best to order on a non weekend if you can due to the wait.

Mad Jacks in Cloudcroft is still highly recommended. their pavilion has opened up finally and they are serving a limited menu there vs inside, BUT there is little to no line. Absolutely worth your time if you are anywhere in that area.

Anaheim Jacks was actually awesome. Thought it wasn't going to be but was pleasantly surprised. we will 100% come back in the future. huge servings, really good burger, hand cut fries, lots of options for kids/adults/groups. Have outdoor (covered) seating so you can enjoy the weather somewhat.

Not a whole lot of changes to the existing recs - House of Flame is still excellent. Zocca Coffee. Cloudcroft Brewing Company has an awesome and large back patio and wood fired pizza that's great. Club Gas had probably my favorite green chile breakfast burrito that was grab and go.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


Football ... Basketball ... Baseball ... Other Sports ... Futbol ... 🤫995🤫 ... Gambling ... Movies & TV ... Music ... Hobbies ... Lulz ... Food & Travel ... Daily Texan ... Business and Markets ... Cloak Room ... Help ... For Sale ... Board Discussion ... Subscribe!... Donate!... Advertise... COOKIE MONSTER!

×
×
  • Create New...