Ruidoso New Mexico

Bonito Lake Ruidoso New Mexico

Ruidoso New Mexico

Want to escape the summer heat and humidity of the southern states?  Well, look no further than the cool mountains of southeast New Mexico.  At 7000’ Ruidoso offers it all; clean mountain air, golf, hiking and mountain biking, great shopping and restaurants, three casinos, good fishing and live racing Memorial Day through Labor Day at Ruidoso Downs race track.

If you are here during the winter season, Ski Apache offers excellent warm weather powder skiing and snowboarding.

There are many RV parks and campgrounds, B & B’s, cabins and lodges, condominiums, hotels and motels, ranging in price from economy to upper end.  We are staying at the Circle B RV Park, which is big rig friendly and offers 50amp full hookups, cable and WiFi as well as a full RV parts store and on site/mobile RV repairs.

Our site at Circle B RV Park

The history of the area is fascinating and stories abound about one of the local characters, Billy The Kid who made his presence known in the town of Lincoln which is located 35 miles northeast of Ruidoso.

Fort Stanton is another great find for history buffs and is located on Highway 220 and Billy The Kid Scenic Byway.  Fort Stanton has over 155 years of southwestern history ranging from a military garrison, an internment camp for German seaman during WWII, and as a hospital for tuberculosis patients.  The fort was used during the Civil War by both the Union and Confederate Army.  The Buffalo Soldiers, Billy The Kid, and Kit Carson also spent time at the fort.  The museum at the Fort Stanton is excellent and the docents are friendly and knowledgeable about the forts history.  During the month of July, Fort Stanton has military reenactments and historical presentations.

Check out the near by towns of Alamogordo, Capitan, Carrizozo, Cloudcroft, Lincoln, Mescalero and Ruidoso Downs all of which offer their own unique experiences and great day trips.

Ruidoso Downs has a Super Walmart which is located off of Hwy 70 and has big rig parking.  Casino Apache Travel Center and Casino off of Hwy 70 on the way to Alamogordo offers big rig parking and diesel fuel.  I have also noticed several rigs boomdocking in their large parking lot.  They have a shuttle that runs to the Inn of the Mountains Gods which offers big name entertainment, a golf course, a beautiful lake and excellent restaurants, and lodging as well as Vegas style gambling.    There is an RV park located near the casino, however, The Inn of the Mountain Gods is NOT rig friendly, park at Casino Apache and take the shuttle.

The Billy The Kid Scenic Byway Interpretive Center in Ruidoso Downs can provide you with information and maps of the local area.  Don’t forget to visit the Hubbard Museum of the American West which is located next door.

So much to do and see in the area you might have to return again and again and you can’t get much better summer weather than this!

Websites   www.RuidosoVistorGuide.com

                                          Check out the Ruidoso Web Cam               

                 www.fortstanton.org

Hiking area in Ruidoso

 www.Innofthemountaingods.com 

 www.circlebrv.com

One of the many hikes in Ruidoso

Hondo New Mexico Iris Farm and Gallery

Iris

Looking for a place to kick back and relax in the Hondo/Ruidoso New Mexico area?  Well, look no further, you've found that spot at the Hondo Iris Farm and Gallery.  During the month of May you will be surrounded by hundreds of Iris in varies stages of  development and they are also available for purchase to remember your visit.  Alice Warder Seely and David Hall have lovingly designed the gardens and restored an old shepherd's cottage to house Alice's paintings, jewelry and works of art, along with colorful women's clothing, gifts and home decor from around the world.   The garden is a wonderful place to have a picnic at one of the tables that are located thru out the garden, covered patio or  in the wooded area that over looks a meadow.  Don't forget to take time to watch the many hummingbirds and butterflies that also visit the gardens.  A crystal clear creek also adds to the tranquil garden  setting.  So pack a picnic, grab your camera and head out to the Hondo Iris Farm and Gallery for a  relaxing day and to enjoy the beauty of the Hondo Valley.

Iris and Roses

The Iris Farm and Gallery not only has Irises, but also native flowers and plants to enjoy during other times of the year.  If you are lucky you might get a chance to meet and speak with the talented owner/artist Alice. 

Hondo Iris Farm

The Hondo Iris and Gallery

24 miles east of Ruidoso

Hwy 70 Mile Marker 284

575-653-4062

wwwhondoirisfarm.com

Note:  The parking  is not big rig friendly, best to explore the area in your truck or toad.

There is parking in front of the gardens and a larger parking area to the right of the gardens.

Wildseed Farm Fredericksburg Texas

Entrance to the Wildseed Farm

Today we spent the morning at the Wildseed Farm which is located on Hwy 290 about seven miles east  of Fredericksburg.  With over 200 acres of wildflowers in different stages of development,  the sensory overload was amazing.    What a beautiful sight!  The Wildseed Farm also has a Butterfly Haus and garden, a country store that sells gifts, apparel, jewelry and a special section filled with wildflower seeds.  The nursery has a large selection of pottery, herbs and all kinds of unique items for the garden.   Hungry?   The Brewbonnet Biergarten serves drinks, snacks, specialty foods and lunch, oh, don't forget their famous peach ice cream.  You can enjoy these goodies inside or in their covered patio area.  Don't forget your camera to capture the beautiful meadows, gardens, waterfalls. ponds and walking trails.

Field of Red Poppies

We have visited the Wildseed Farms during the spring and summer and both season have proved delightful and I am sure the fall and winter season would be equally enjoyable.

On the weekend of April 26-28th The Hill Country Wine and Music Festival will be celebrated at the Wildseed Farms.  Wine tastings are often available on certain weekends.

The Wildseeds Farms is open daily from 9:30am-5:00pm Winter hours and 9:30am-6:00pm Summer Hours

1-800-848-0078

www.wildseedsfarms.com 

Field of Wildflowers

Parking is free and there is no admission charge.

Drive a big rig?  No worries here, there is plenty of RV parking available.

Texas Hill Country

Today was another great day in the Texas Hill Country!  Weather was delightfully warm with a slight breeze.
We hiked in Lady Bird Johnson Park again this morning. Not many rigs in the RV park at Lady Bird Johnson.  We noticed there are many large pull thru sites that are big rig friendly,  we even noticed several tenters.  I don't know about you, but we like sites  where you are not right on top of your neighbor and here that is the case. (Did I mention they also have cable and WiFi)   We also noticed that each site gets their own large residential size garbage can.  Strange that they don't have commercial garbage bins.

Fuel prices seemed to be coming down slightly, today we filled the Jeep up at the Stripes at the corner of Hwy 16 and Friendship Lane in Fredericksburg for $3.67.  Which is still ridiculous, but we noticed was the cheapest in town.   Texas has increased the speed limit on most roads, and Hwy 16 to Kerrville is now 70 mph and I-10 is 80 mph.  I'm sure that our fuel mileage will go down the tubes at those speeds.  I have to say Texans can never accused of being slow drivers!   But guess what, we will still drive the motor home at 65 mph.  

We ate lunch today at Taqueria Altos De Jalisco at 1410 E. Main Street in Fredericksburg.   I had one of their lunch specials, two enchiladas, beans, rice and salad + chips and excellent salsa for $4.49!  Can't beat the price, the service, food and portions were great.  They have a pretty extensive menu that also includes some vegetarian entrees.

We have also eaten at Mamacita's both in Fredericksburg and Kerrville which not only has good Mexican food but also has a marvelous  ambiance.  Their prices are a little more expensive, but definitely worth it.   Mamacita's has a very unique decor so if you're bored with the dinner conversation, wander around and check it out.  You can also watch them make their tasty fresh tortillas.

Have a wonderful day, travel safe and keep it on the road!

OUR TRAVELS

Currently we are in The Texas Hill Country, staying in beautiful Fredericksburg at the Hill Country RV Park.  The sites are level, with free WiFi and cable included.  They offer daily, weekly and monthly rates.   The current monthly rate is $250.00 per month+ electric.  They have a small clubhouse and laundry room.  The staff is friendly and is very willing  to provide you with great information about the area. One of the plus of this park is a Super Walmart is within walking distance, as is a major building/home improvement store.
I my cell service is AT&T and it works quite well here.
Web:   www.hillcountryrvpark.com
Phone number 1-830-997-5365
Located at 1589 Main Street in Fredericksburg TX  78624

One of Many Interesting Shops Down Town

Fredericksburg was settled by German immigrants around 1846.  There are many historical buildings in the area that have been lovingly restored.    Fredericksburg is the birthplace of Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet during World War II.  The National Museum of the Pacific War, is an interesting place to spend a day or two, as is the George H.W. Bush Gallery, Admiral Nimitz Museum, Plaza of the Presidents, Veterans' Walk of Honor and Memorial Wall, Japanese Gardens of Peace, Pacific Combat Zone and the Center for Pacific War Studies.

There are also several State Parks in the area. Lady Bird Johnson Park features full hook up RV (and tent) sites, with cable and WiFi, as well as a pool, golf course, tennis courts, and volleyball.  There are also shaded picnic areas with BBQ grills.  There are several hiking trails and we sawing people fishing.  We stayed  here during the spring and the roadside and meadows are filled with colorful wildflowers.

Trail at Lady Bird Johnson Park

Wildseeds Farm is the nation's largest working wildflower farm and definitely worth a visit, and is a short drive from town down Hwy 290.  The Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area is a treat for those wanted to witness the emergence of millions of Mexican free-tailed bats from an abandoned train tunnel. (I hate bats, they remind me of flying mice)  The bats usually are present from May-October.

Bat Tunnel

There are so many things to see and do here I would suggest contacting the visitors center at: www.visitfredericksburgtx.org or stopping by at 302 E. Austin Street.  Phone number:  888-997-3600.
Excellent parking at the back of the visitor center for RVs.  (We saw several tour buses parking there)
The visitors center can provide you with information on accommodations, (there are many RV parks) restaurants, places to hike and fish, State Parks, the numerous museums to visit, the walking tours and the wonderful shopping!

Wildflowers Along the Roadside

More wildflowers

Greetings To My Fellow Travelers,

My name is Deb and my husband and I have been traveling and living in our 38' 1999 Winnebago Adventurer since March 1, 2001.  We tow a 2008 Jeep Compass (Front wheel drive) with a tow dolly.  Along the way we have worked for various resorts and campgrounds.  We travel with two cats.  We love our home on wheels and so far have not missed our "stick" house.

We enjoy the adventure of meeting new people and seeing new things.

If you are looking at this page, you must enjoy life on the road too.  I plan on posting tips on full timing,  places to visit, camp ground suggestions and reviews, fuel prices, road conditions, cooking ideas and boondocking locations.  Feel free to also post any comments and suggestions you might have.  After all, we are all one big family on the road!  Enjoy and have a wonderful day.