If you are from New Mexico, you have probably heard of Ruidoso. It is a popular skiing town that feels like a piece of Colorado in New Mexico that is 2.5 hours away from Portales. I am from Oklahoma, so I had heard of Ruidoso but had never been.

My parents grew up in New Mexico, so they filled me in on what to do in Ruidoso. My mom always talked about how much she enjoyed going to Ruidoso and spending time with our family there during the summers.

I wanted to go on one last trip while I was in Portales for the spring semester. I decided to pack up and take a trip to Ruidoso and see what all the rave was about! Here are a few things I suggest doing if you take a trip there this summer:

1. Stay in a rental log cabin. My friend and I decided to stay in a studio-type rental log cabin that was within the mountains, and it was our favorite part of the trip. There are several places that allow visitors to rent out cabins for the night or weekend throughout Ruidoso.

   I stayed at one of the Whispering Pine Cabins because it was pet-friendly and, of course, my blue heeler had to join in on the weekend trip fun! The cabin was equipped with Wi-Fi, cable television, a fireplace, a full kitchen, living room and a perfect little front porch area. This cabin was a perfect fit for us, but if you are traveling with a group of friends or family, there are definitely several cabins with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms.

   Some of cabin rental companies that we found in the mountains in Ruidoso include Whispering Pine Cabins, Canyon Cabins and Cozy Bear Cabins. If you are wanting to stay in the town, there are also cabin and hotel options.

2. Go fishing! I really enjoy doing outdoor activities like fishing. I had actually only ever been fishing off of a boat, so fishing into a lake from land was a lot of fun! There are several lakes and creeks you can fish from in Ruidoso. We went to Alto Lake, which is a public fishing site. It was a great spot with an even better view. Don't forget to get a temporary fishing license. We got a one-day fishing license at Walmart for $22 each!
3. Eat some great food! I am a creature of habit, and once I find a great place to eat, I tend to just keep going back and getting the same thing. If you are looking for a great breakfast spot in Ruidoso, go to Cornerstone Bakery Café. This place was incredible, and the staff is super friendly and helpful. They have several breakfast options (like four pages) and a case full of freshly baked pastries. What more could you ask for from a breakfast spot?!
4. Shop around in the unique stores downtown! There are so many little shops in the downtown Ruidoso area. My favorite shop was Bears 'R Us. All weekend I was determined to buy a wooden carved grizzly bear that held signs. This store had ALL the bears. They held signs that were unique and ridiculously adorable. One of my favorite signs said, "An old bear lives here with his honey." I feel like the wooden carved bears are a staple in Ruidoso, you will see them everywhere around town!

Ruidoso is a great get-away from the stresses of schoolwork and deadlines. Pack up, grab some friends and make a weekend trip this summer! You won't regret it.