Calling all avid NM sight-see-ers! (Las Cruces, Alamogordo: hotels, home, casinos)

[Fischer_girl]

Alright- Calling all experts on New Mexicos "Must Sees". I am planning a surprise weekend trip (in a week and a half) for my husband and I for our anniversary. It is very very rare that he and I get beyond our home and work in the SF/ABQ/Espanola areas.

We have always wanted to see White Sands and I think he would absolutely LOVE Carlsbad Caverns! My origional idea was to shoot straight down to White Sands than hop over to Carlsbad. We commute ALL the time so the drive will be nothing. Does anyone have any helpful thoughts about my ideas? What are other must-sees? Places to eat? Hotels in Carlsbad area? Other attractions? AND... the big question... who can recommend which tour to take at the Caverns?! There are 6..I read them all but still! Which is best? Is the dune sledding worth it? And where can one find a sled in NM other than their assumingly overpriced gift store?
Again.. we'll have 3 days so load us up on cool stuff to do! I want to look like a good trip planner!

Wow! I am super excited but would certainly appreciate any thoughts you all have. Maybe I should just trash the idea and head up to Ojo Caliente instead?

[ziaAirmac]

A lot depends on the route you take but off the top of my head, some fun things along the way could be:

The tram. Take the Tramway blvd exit off the highway and go until you get to the foothills. There are regular 'flights' and there's a restaurant at the top and bottom, but if it's near feeding time when you're done, I recommend the County Line BBQ just off the Tram road and Tramway blvd. Line up early for your particular 'flight' so you can get a nice window view. There's hiking at the top of the Crest, but with only three days, you may only want to do some sightseeing/pictures and head back down. Wear layers. It can be substantially cooler on the crest.

If you're taking the back route down to Carlsbad (285) you can go by Valley of Fires. It's an old lava flow and pretty impressive to see if you're in to that kind of thing. Don't hike out onto the flows unless you REALLY know what you're doing. You can easily loose your directional reference or footing in the flows.

On the front side (I-25) If you end up near Los Lunas for a meal, hit the Luna Mansion or Teofilo's (right near each other). The Luna Mansion has a lot of history (including ghost stories) and Teofilo's is just really good. I personally go for the huevos rancheros with a side of carne adovada, but that's just me.

Down I-25 around Socorro you're near the VLA. I think they give tours. If you're not into the whole 'space' thing, it's probably not worth the drive but if you've ever seen a picture of a field full of huge radio receiver dishes, it was probably the VLA (Very Large Array)

Just south of Socorro on hwy 380 is San Antonio, which leads to Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge. Not the main time for the huge migratory flocks, but plenty of local wildlife and beautiful walks. My wife and I took a picnic one time and 'copped a squat' on one of the observation decks in the off season. We watched a young coyote play in a field for half an hour and had a HUGE red tailed hawk soaring over us. He made pass after pass over us, some of them so close I thought I could hear the air rushing over his wings. They've done a lot of work on the visitor's center. One of the best Green Chile cheeseburgers in the state is served at the Owl Cafe on the way back to the highway. Also, there was a little convenience store on the north side of 380 on your way out and they had home made candy and fudge. The chocolate fudge was decadent, but I didn't have a good experience with the 'pep-0-mint surprise'.

Elephant Butte is fun if you have lake toys and time, but for a stop off, it really doesn't offer much. Some picnicking and stuff like that.

If you end up taking I-25 to I-70, there's some gorgeous views and hiking on the back side of the Organ Mountains on the way to White Sands. You might find a suitable sled in Las Cruces before you head out on I-70.

Alamogordo has a pretty cool air and space museum.

There's not many decent places to stay over around Carlsbad itself. If you have time, you might want to plan to head back to a bigger town for your stay over. It's been awhile since the last time I was at the Caverns, so I can't remember the "number" of the tour, but I do know we took the 'long' route down and the fairly fast route ending at the 'bat auditorium' on the way out. Some of the tours use the elevator but unless you have physical issues or are really strapped for time I think taking an elevator defeats the purpose of visiting the caves.

Just some ideas off the top of my head. Hope you guys have a great trip.

[JDTH]

If you want to stay cool Ruidoso is always a nice place. And if you are in the Ruidoso area check out Disco Taco. A little whole in the wall with great food.

Disco Taco, Authentic Mexican Food Restaurant in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico

Ruidoso also has the race track, casinos and mid-town shopping!

[mike0421]

Maybe you should consider the Gila Cliff Dwellings. I went there last winter with my family, and had a great afternoon there.

[nmnita]

Head for Ruidoso, that is what I would do, enjoy the beauty of the area and stay cool at the same time.

Nita

[chilegal]

When you go to the White sands, I have the sleds, just need to know when and hope I am down the hill from Timberon.

[domino]

White Sands . . . years ago when I was foolish enough to try it, they rented boogie boards at the visitors' center. As I never had any money, prices must have been very reasonable.

[DOUBLE H]

ZiaAirmac makes a good point regarding Carlsbad Caverns. Unfortunately I fall into the category of needing the elevator on going back up again! I've said this before on other threads and will say it here. Carlsbad Caverns is one of the crown jewels of the National Park sytem. I've taken friends there at different times over the years, my first visit being 1975. One word describes it-awesome!

[mortimer]

It's getting warmer, so places South will be relatively uncomfortable for much of the day.

I'd stay to the North, in general unless you specifically want to see something in the South parts.
( Of course, it will be cool inside the caverns. )

The Cumbres and Toltec and/or the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge railroads are a cool alternative.

There is a nice hot spring in Durango, but Ojo Caliente is also good.

[Fischer_girl]

Oh my gosh you guys! Thank you soooo much for all your comments! Apparently I was the only one putting in a 13 hour shift while everyone else typed away. Kidding. Thank you for mentioning things I had never heard of or thought of. I am beginning to ask myself why go to Ojo..when I drive that freaking road every day and can go any time?!
The race track! What a GREAT idea. I am such a horse nerd... and what a wildlife geek..I HAVE to go to the Bosque! Wait...remind me again WHO this trip is for?
I'm also excited about Disco Taco! I have yet to find a little 'hole in the wall' place in SF that even comes close to the one I frequented in SW FL. Maybe now I'll find that place!
I had also thought about the tramway...I really want to do that but maybe should save it for a simple to trip to ABQ and get my butt to the south! I am very excited about the Caverns...and certainly don't plan to use that elevator!
So..one more question. Would it be better to head to Carlsbad first and spend the night in white sands? Or...are neither really suitable for overnight staying?
Thanks again everyone! And keep those comments coming!