Had a wonderful afternoon inside the "premium reserve" side of the Noisy Waters Winery. My best…read morefriend and I sat upstairs in the "Library" Balcony overlooking the Main Street. E had a couple glasses of out favorite, and a wonderful Charcuterie Board. Everyone we spoke to here were very friendly and helpful and fun to talk to. We had the most relaxing afternoon. If you park behind the establishment, there are a lot of stairs to get here

Very welcoming staff in a beautiful place. We tasted a few things at the bar, ordered a couple of…read moreglasses for the Hatch Chili Wine, and headed outside to the patio to sip and watch the world go by. When we went back in, we bought a bottle. Really enjoyed our afternoon and can't wait to taste this wine again!

This was a very pretty spot for a casino. I've been to a lot around Oklahoma, & they lack in…read morescenery Not sure why it has a low rating here on yelp Did I win in the casino? No, not at all But I had fun lol it's a small casino room, with a high roller room closed off in the back. There are some cool statues out front In the middle of the interior, you can look at Sierra Blanca. This place is beautiful. I didn't stay in a room, so maybe that's why it has a low rating ‍ Either way, I was highly impressed

4 Stars - A High-Desert Blackjack Fever Dream…read more There are casinos, and then there are casinos that feel like a mildly hallucinogenic roadside poem written at 7,500 feet above sea level. This is the latter. The blackjack tables here are loose in that beautiful way that makes a gambler feel briefly chosen by the gods. Chips slide, cards slap the felt, and the dealers and pit bosses carry a refreshing lack of casino stiffness. Nobody's breathing down your neck like a tax auditor of sin. The vibe is relaxed, almost conspiratorial--like the whole room knows we're all here for the same ridiculous dance with probability. Two dealers deserve special mention. Makaila runs a table like a jazz drummer--smooth, quick, unflustered. June, meanwhile, is a delightful menace. She enjoys tricking players into thinking she's pulled a blackjack. She'll pause, squint, grin, and for a brief moment the table collectively experiences a small existential crisis before she reveals the truth. It's performance art disguised as card dealing. The hotel itself sits out in Mescalero, right beside Ruidoso, overlooking the calm waters of Mescalero Lake--a high-desert lake that looks especially poetic when the mountain air hits your lungs like cold champagne. At 7,500 feet elevation, the place has that crisp alpine quiet that makes you feel like you've wandered into some strange mountain monastery... except the monks are holding blackjack chips. Inside, the casino is modern, comfortable, and easy to navigate. Outside? The parking lot is a bit ugly--like a sun-baked asphalt lizard. But it's shaded, which in the high desert counts as a civic virtue. The crowd is mostly reasonable. Sure, every casino has a few characters who appear to have been assembled from spare parts and bad decisions--but overall the patrons were friendly. I even noticed quite a few young women comfortably playing at the tables, which usually means the atmosphere hasn't drifted too far into creep territory. The rooms are spacious and many have great views of the lake, which adds a peaceful counterpoint to the card-table chaos downstairs. And if you're the adventurous type, there's a disc golf course nearby plus plenty of walking trails along the lake. It's a nice way to clear your head after battling the dealer and the laws of mathematics. One practical note: Hydrate like a camel preparing for a desert opera. The air here is dry enough to turn a raisin back into a grape. Would I come back? Absolutely. Between the mountain air, the laid-back blackjack, and the occasional theatrical dealer mind-game, it's a wonderfully strange little high-desert gambling outpost. Four stars. Bring water. Bring luck. And keep an eye on June's face when she peeks at that second card.

I'll start by saying I do not believe in aliens. I do not believe in conspiracy theories. Yet I am…read moreobsessed with aliens and UFO's. As soon as we decided to come to New Mexico - I knew I had to come Roswell to the UFO museum. Since I am a bit obsessed with the Roswell incident. You know the weather balloon crash. So I get in the museum and I start reading everything and listening to all the testimony. And I actually started to believe that it wasn't a weather balloon. Until I read the statement from the funeral parlor director. Supposedly the army officers requested 4' caskets. Really - aliens? And your big concern is the size of the casket? They can't go in a regular size one?? Besides we all know that the aliens get stored in the lab at Area 51. In glass jars.

I was in town visiting family and of course I had to check the UFO museum out! Everything in…read moreRoswell is super cheap if you're from CA. So the $7 entrance fee was a super deal! All you have to do is be curious to come here. They have everything on display chronologically, some interesting visual displays, and it's a self guided with lots of captivating stories and tangible materials as it relates to the existence of aliens and UFO's. I went through here in about an hour. It would take you much longer if you read everything on display. Lots of the stories on the timeline are fascinating. I thought it was well put together and should be thrilling for the alien enthusiasts. After checking out all the museum displays, there's a decent sized gift shop offering various types of merchandise. I got a cool fridge magnet as a souvenir for visiting this infamous museum. If you ever come to Roswell, whether you are into or believe in aliens, you have to visit the UFO Museum. It represents what Roswell is known for, and it's just an overall interesting experience with everything chronologically displayed nicely.

Big Crane Move…read more Scene: Driving at the ass-crack of dawn towards the Bosque del Apache Visitor Center on the first day of the Festival of Cranes. Me: I bet it's just a bunch of old farts at this thing. Carissa: What thing? Me: This thing. The Crane thing. Carissa: Why do you say that? Me: Duuuuuude... trust me. This early morning bullshit is stuff only old people do. Old period and weirdos like us, but mostly old people. Carissa: I doubt it. Me: Ok, we'll see... Carissa: *deep sigh* Well, I can unequivocally say that I was right--for once! In the three classes I took, there wasn't one person (beyond myself) who didn't have their AARP card or was within five years of qualifying for it. I mean, yes, technically, there were younger people and families that showed up to the Bosque, but when it came to the classes and such only old people. Not that there's anything wrong with this festival being for old people. Old people who do stuff like this know how to live their lives to the fullest and enjoy what time they have left. Anywho, now that I got that out of the way, let's start the actual review: Festival of Cranes is an annual week-long festival celebrating the annual return of the Sandhill Cranes to their wintering site here at Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge. It's been held here for 34 years (35 in 2024), usually around the end of November - early December. Here's some tips we picked up on case anyone plans to attend future festivals: *No need to register for classes as anyone can visit the Bosque at this time for free (normally $5). *If you do want to attend a class/seminar, then you'll have to register in August. Classes range from $40-$100/ea (the higher prices classes are usually photography classes fwiw). *Some classes fill up fast, so to get a leg-up on the competition, you can get a membership with the Friends of Bosque for as low as $25/year. You can write this off as a tax deduction, and you get 10%-off at the gift shop. *Best times to see the Cranes are during takeoff at sunrise and landing at sunset at the roosting ponds. *Dress warm! Especially if you're there for early morning and you're a Cali boi or girrrl and ain't used to sub-zero temps. Hands warmers and gloves are highly recommended. *Bring a mask of you're taking classes as they will schlep you around in tiny busses, and inevitably, there'll be someone hacking up a lung right behind you. Fml... *Bring binoculars and if you're bringing a DSLR then make sure you have at least a 400mm zoom lens, as you'll be able to get fairly close to the Cranes, but you'll still need a little reach. *Food vendors show up in the morning and stay there all day, so there is no need to pack ahead for sustenance. *Restrooms are open early, so if you show up for an early morning class, don't worry about the bathroom situation. *Visitor Center is also open early (7:30 a.m.) during the festival. *Buckhorn Tavern and Owl Bar & Café are just outside the preserve, and both serve up cold beer and tasty burgers if you're looking for slightly better dining options. Conclusion: Despite the abundance of our seasoned citizens, this is a swell festival that is honestly must-see TV for anyone who considers themselves a birder, fan of wildlife, or just a fan of spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Highly recommended.

Must see if you are in the area. Make sure to wear warm clothes and bring a hot thermos of coffee.read more

Great experience, friendly people that went out of their way to make sure I had a great time.read more

I'm pretty sure all of New Mexico came to visit the Cherry Festival this year. We traveled a couple…read moreof hours and the roads up to the ranch were ready for people, just made many turns. We got their early to avoid the heat. Parking was a nightmare. It was very unorganized and I'm thankful we could get out. The hike up was dusty and high. Cherry picking was fun and the line went quickly! We stayed 5 hours! Besides parking, it was great!

Saturday night and needed to Explore a Cultural Venue Near Ruidoso. The performance of Johnny Cash…read moreImitator seemed to be a worthwhile excuse, and seated in 4th row from stage ....why not?! The theater is about 15 minutes away, and allows a small audience to have a great experience. Although the act was good, Black Clouds on the horizon convinced me to leave during intermission. The short drive home was treacherous through dark mountain roads and rain, and with echos of Ghost Riders in the Sky!

We are catching the first showing of Disney's Encanto before we head back home, and the Spencer…read moreTheater is one our favorite theaters! We purchased our tickets online, and were scanned in and ready for the movie. With reserved seating and with plushy recliners, you can't go wrong g! The snack area is fully stocked with delicious goodies and the freshest popcorn! The drinks are ice -cold and will surely be the thirst quencher for all the popcorn! Lol The staff is very friendly and follow all safety protocols and protocols. Masks are required in the lobby.

We went on the very last day of the season and had a BLAST. The wildflower field was still full and…read morethe bouquet was such a cute date activity. Concessions were very reasonable priced! Check out for your fall activity needs!

My family and I were very pleased to visit the Mesilla Valley Maze. I cannot deny we were…read moreoriginally planning to visit the "La Union Maze" but after trying to get tickets for a whole week I ended up searching for a different one and were to get tickets with Messilla Valley Maze. We purchased tickets online. It was an easy transaction but most of all online user friendly. Their posted online address takes you pass its actual entrance location but it is obvious and once you do a u-turn its all good. We arrived early so parking was easy but for all the people who were arriving when we were leaving they parked across the avenue and had to walk a good while. We also encountered a long line to pick up the wrist bands but we were not in line any more than 5 minutes. Mesilla Valley Maze was beautifully decorated with plenty of activities for every member of the family. The one thing I loved the most were the picnic tables under the shade. They were perfect. Live Music, good food, slides, maze, pumpkin patch, pumpkin store (in case you don't want to go to the pumpkin patch), roping, etc.. Perfect place to go and spend a nice fall day for many hours with the whole family. Totally worth the price.