A fun spot to come visit, with hike-able mountains near by, that overlook the Lincoln National…read moreForest You go up about 3 hills Murals painted throughout the area Can get to the last hilltop in about an hour if you're not stopping too long Was worth the visit, but there's only so many circles with dots in the middle that I can have fun admiring in a hike

This certainly isn't for everyone, but if you like outdoors and hiking, check this out. Certainly…read moregrab a bottle of water and the sunscreen. The views of the surrounding areas at the top of the hills is impressive. BTW, shout out to the worker who suggested we stop at The Owl in San Antonio, NM. Thank you!

White Sands is worth the visit…read more Wasn't sure what to expect, But it was definitely a fun stop on a road trip. Be sure to bring a sled. I think they may offer rentals, but didn't see. They do have sled waxing though, which will definitely help We found the biggest sand dune, with the steepest way down. I'm still covered in sand, in places I didn't know sand could get into

White Sands National Park was absolutely worth the drive from Ruidoso! As soon as we arrived, we…read morewere blown away by the views. The bright white sand is unlike anything we've ever seen--it's absolutely beautiful! You pay per vehicle to enter, and I highly recommend bringing plenty of cold drinks, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sled or something to slide down the dunes with. The sun feels much stronger out there, so don't underestimate it! They also have restrooms available, which was very convenient. If you're visiting New Mexico, White Sands is definitely a must-see. It was one of the highlights of our trip!

A fun historic site in the old west town of Lincoln. Not many options as far as food or drink, but…read morea very pleasant way to spend the day learning about cattle rustlers and the like!

Great fun for all ages. From bullet holes to babbling brook, a walk through Old Lincoln is a step…read moreinto the 1800s!

The best place to stay in an RV. It was heaven for me! This is nature at its best. From the flora…read moreand fauna, to the animals around (horses, birds, elks, etc) and most especially - the night skies! A much deserved perfect 5 stars. Unforgettably memorable.

DEFINITELY A MUST SEE! Brad took me to this amazing spot on top of the mountain above the clouds!…read moreAbsolutely breathtaking! 360 degrees of unobstructed views. You will need to drive 5 miles up the mountain to reach the top and by the way this is on a dirt road. We made it in a car so just be extra careful and you should be just fine. You will feel on top of the world!

Bigfoot Enterprises is a museum in Cloudcroft, New Mexico dedicated to all things Sasquatch…read more I wrote a 5 star review mainly because I don't need that big mother hucker chasing me down. Lol. But seriously... It's good fun. Clean. Including the unisex restroom. Organized.

We drove by yesterday on our way to Mayhill and I begged my hubby to stop on the way back down…read more It's a cute little spot for families. The staff were very friendly and they explained all the features the shop has to offer. We went through the small museum where they offer pictures, videos, foot casts and even recorded sounds. The museum also has displays. A cool part was the vortex tunnel. Make sure you hang on to the safety bars. Even though it's a straight walk through, your mind will play tricks on you. We'll definitely be back with the kiddos.

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.

Pistachio Land is a great tourist attraction that has a great selection of wines they make there…read more The staff was amazing when we did the wine tasting. I enjoyed the pistachio delight that I bought the bottle there. All bottles there are $18 but they do have it online for $20. They do offer tours there. They have a pistachio tasting section so you could try the different flavors before purchasing them. We loved the sour cream and onion and lemon lime options. I bought those as well as the regular pistachios. They had pistachio fudge and tons of themed merchandise. Great place!

As America's most traveled human, I've seen just about everything in the United States and set…read morerecords in the process. But there was one thing I had never done, and that's McGinn's PistachioLand. Now imagine that you've responsibly booked a farm tour of McGinn's six months in advance and driven over 2,000 miles to complete this bucket list goal. You've even signed the waiver they texted you 45 minutes before lining up for the first tour of the day. You're ready for a unique adventure. And then, 15 minutes before you're ready to take the tour, McGinn's notifies you that the tour has been cancelled because tour guide Garret is unavailable. Really? This is allowed? If you live down the street from PistachioLand, this isn't a big deal. Take the tour some other day. But if you've driven all the way across the country for this, only to receive news of a cancellation with 15 minutes notice, I cannot imagine that the risk of visiting PistachioLand is worth it. Their farm store is neat. Pictures next to the gimmicky giant pistachio are cool. But the highlight of your visit would certainly be a tour of the actual pistachio groves. And when they're allowed to unabashedly cancel on you with essentially no notice after spending a great deal of money and effort to get there, this particular point of interest is just not worth visiting.

Clouds often hover around the tops of the mountains in the Village of Cloudcroft…read more The small New Mexico town exudes charm. It is such a cool weather, evergreen-cloaked treat for us desert rats to visit. Some of my favorites in the area: + Ski Cloudcroft (tubing slides here in summer/winter) + Big Daddy's Diner + Bigfoot Enterprises LLC + The Lodge (3-star hotel) + Sierra Blanca viewpoint + Sunspot Solar Observatory + Old Apple Barn + and so many places to camp in the Lincoln National Forest Please pack it in & pack it out.

Come for the mountain views and murals; stay for the sasquatch. Cloudcroft is a quiet little town…read more(around 8900' elevation) with plenty of parking along main street and side roads, for shopping and snack stops, and the drive through the mountain areas was extremely easygoing, with safe roadways.

Heart of the Desert Pistachios & Wine - Came for Pistachios, Left with Wine…read more We stopped here with a simple mission: grab a few bags of pistachios as gifts for friends back home. Easy, right? Well... not quite. The store itself is quaint and charming, filled with all kinds of temptations. Pistachios in every form, chocolates, wines, and gift options that make you rethink your original plan. You can taste a little of everything, which is both delightful and dangerous. Then we stepped out onto the patio with our pistachio ice cream, and wow... completely unexpected. The space is gorgeous. Calm, open, and the kind of place that makes you slow down without even trying. Honestly, if I lived nearby, I'd be planning celebrations here without a second thought. Somewhere between the views and the tasting, I tried their pistachio rosé. And yes, I had the same reaction, "wait... what?" But it worked. Different, pleasant, and surprisingly good. Good enough that I completely abandoned my pistachio gift plan and walked out with several bottles instead. A much more unique surprise. The staff were warm and welcoming, adding to the whole experience. No rush, no pressure, just genuine friendliness. We didn't have as much time as I would have liked, and that's probably the only downside. This is the kind of place where you want to linger longer, taste more, and just enjoy the moment. Came for pistachios. Left with wine and zero regrets.

Wow. What an incredible pistachio farm tour From the orchards to every single product, you can…read moretruly feel the care, integrity, and ethical values behind it all. How about those shiny floors everywhere! It's not just about amazing pistachios (though they're so good )--it's about the passion and purpose that go into everything you do. It's rare to see that level of care, and it made the visit truly special. The inviting patio to sip on wine amongst the carefully pruned trees was a bonus Grateful for such an inspiring experience, especially Melissia and Sabrine. #SupportLocal #SustainableFarming #Gratitude