SUMMER TRAVEL DESTINATIONS: NEW MEXICO

BY MEGAN HILL

New Mexico has something to offer every traveler this summer. For active travelers and nature lovers, there are scores of outdoor recreation opportunities. Travelers looking to tap into the offbeat will find a full itinerary of weird destinations. And families can find lots to keep busy with, including activities that appeal to each generation.

FOR THE OUTDOORSY FAMILY: Ruidoso

Active travelers and outdoorsy folks should head to Ruidoso, in the southeast part of the state. This high-country town is a perfect launch point for area adventures in and around the Lincoln National Forest. There’s plenty to do year-round, but summer activities include:

Ski Apache: Mountain resort with a scenic gondola lift, three zip lines, and lift-served hiking and mountain biking. Pillow’s Funtrackers: State-of-the-art amusement park featuring go-kart tracks, bumper boats, an 18-hole miniature golf course, and other activities. Grindstone Stables: Guided excursions on horseback through nature or the bustling midtown district. Flying J Ranch: A vibrant tourist attraction that brings life to the wonders of the Old West with an oldfashioned western show, wagon-style dinner, pony rides, quirky photo booths, and educational presentations about Native American history in a TeePee. Ruidoso Winter Park: In summer, there’s a mountain coaster, summer tubing hill, and zip line.

WHERE TO STAY:

MCM Eleganté Lodge & Resort: Contemporary golf resort featuring a spa, golf course, free breakfast, and mountain views. Dan Dee Cabins: With a perfect rustic mountain setting, shared hot tubs, playgrounds, ping-pong tables and more, Dan Dee Cabins makes for a cozy family stay. Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino: The perfect hotel for the group that wants to do it all. Located on the Mescalero Apache reservation in beautiful Mescalero, this resort offers a golf course, dining, a spa, and casino, along with additional amenities like zip line rides, boating, biking, horseback riding, and concerts.

FOR THE OFFBEAT FAMILY: Roswell

Whether a believer in the famous UFO crash site, or just curious to explore the unknown, Roswell makes the perfect quirky destination to explore.

WHAT TO DO:

Spring River Zoo: Check out the local zoo, featuring 34 acres of parkland with five main zoo areas, including mountain habitats, carousel, train rides and more. International UFO Museum: Visitors from all over the world travel to the UFO Museum to learn more about the 1947 Roswell Incident and other unexplained phenomena related to UFO research. Roswell Spacewalk: A black-light immersive art installation where guests are transported through time and space. Miniatures & Curious Collections Museum: A unique and quirky museum to showcase novelty, educational, artistic and interesting items for all ages.

WHERE TO STAY:

Rodeway Inn of Roswell: An affordable and centrally located hotel option. Burnt Well Guest Ranch: Located outside of town, this all-inclusive ranch offers packages that include airport shuttles, unlimited horseback riding, cattle drives, campfires, hiking, star gazing, and delicious home-cooked meals. Breakfast is also included.

FOR THE MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY: Las Cruces

The southern New Mexico town of Las Cruces has a bit of everything — culture, outdoor activities, and historic sites. Situated beside the Chihuahuan Desert, this destination is known for its unbelievable sunsets and wide-open spaces. It’s located near two of the state’s top attractions: White Sands National Park and the hot springs town of Truth or Consequences.

WHAT TO DO:

White Sands National Park: Take a 50-minute drive to explore the largest gypsum dune field in the world. Try sand sledding or simply meander the snowy white sands that span as far as the eye can see. Farmers and Crafts Market of Las Cruces: Visitors can shop for handcrafted, homemade, and locally grown by local farmers, growers in New Mexico, local artists, and craftspeople. Live music and pet-friendly. Take a day trip to Truth or Consequences: Just over an hour away from Las Cruces, visitors can enjoy a day of relaxation in hot springs in this hidden gem town.

WHERE TO STAY:

Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces: This hotel overflows with rich Spanish and Mexican colonial history and tradition, which visitors can taste in the restaurant and view in the architecture. It is conveniently located near many attractions, including the Organ Mountains’ scenic hiking trails. For more budget-friendly options, check out Springhill Suites Las Cruces and Holiday Inn Express & Suites.

VISIT TUPELO, Mississippi!

Known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, people from all over the world visit Tupelo to explore the city that gave rise to one of the world’s greatest entertainers. An emerging culinary destination, visitors come for Elvis and stay for the incredible food scene in Tupelo.

New restaurants seem to open in Tupelo weekly. The latest hotspot is Jobos, located inside Hotel Tupelo. The restaurant offers modern coastal cuisine with a twist, fea-

turing fresh seafood. Their craft cocktails are diverse and delicious, utilizing fresh- squeezed fruit juices in their concoctions. Jobos offers brunch on the weekends, serving up everything from classic french toast to the brunch-so-hard burger.

Live music is a must in the birthplace of an international icon. Blue Canoe is Tupelo’s home for exceptional live music and eclectic bar food. With one of the largest beer selections in North Mississippi and

specials throughout the week, Blue Canoe is where the locals go for good-mood food. You can’t leave without trying the Connie’s Blueberry Donut Bread Pudding, a decadent dessert made with donuts from Connie’s Fried Chicken in South Tupelo. Ladies who lunch flock to Sweet Tea & Biscuits Café in West Tupelo. While their tea is sweet and biscuits fluffy, the milehigh meringue atop the homemade pies keeps people coming back. A line forms daily to enjoy the Southern specialties prepared in-house, and staples like the fried green tomato BLT piled high with crisp bacon and pimento cheese are perennial favorites. The café is located inside The Marketplace at Sweet Tea & Biscuits, offering an extensive shopping opportunity after a delightful lunch.

Visitors looking to dine al fresco are in for a treat in the city where anything is possible. Plentiful patios offer outdoor dining to bask in the sunshine while enjoying fabulous food. Grab a table at The Stables Downtown Grill, where you can sit in the alley of what once was a livery stable. Enjoy their catfish nachos or a legendary hamburger. Park Heights Restaurant offers fine dining and some of the city’s best views on its rooftop across from Downtown Tupelo’s Fairpark. Romie’s Grocery hosts live music on its patio, where they promise to “put a little south in ya’ mouth.” With the traditional “meat and three” at lunch and hand-cut steaks and burgers on the weekends, Romie’s patio is the place to be.

Eat like the king with a visit to Johnnie’s Drive-In, where Elvis liked to eat. Tupelo’s oldest restaurant, sit in the Elvis booth inside or enjoy carhop service at this working drive-in. Try the doughburger, a North Mississippi delicacy. Tupelo’s restaurants serve up plenty of other Elvis eats, including his favorite fried peanut butter and banana sandwich at Café 212 in Downtown Tupelo.

Tupelo has an array of accommodating hotels, perfect for spending time away from home. Hotel Tupelo is the city’s newest boutique property located in the heart of Downtown. It is walkable to many of the city’s local restaurants and shops, and with bicycles available for guests staying at the property, the top Elvis attractions are just a pedal away. Tupelo also recently opened a Home2Suites and TRU by Hilton near the Barnes Crossing Shopping District, offering easy access to one of the city’s top shopping hubs.

Tupelo’s culinary culture is constantly changing, but one thing remains the same: you won’t find a bad meal in the city where anything is possible. Follow #tupelofoodie on Instagram and let your mouth water. Visit tupelo.net to peruse the city’s more than 160 restaurants and start planning your scrumptious trip to Tupelo today.

SIP, SAVOR & EXPLORE TUPELO

The culinary landscape in Tupelo, Mississippi, is ever changing, with new restaurants popping up constantly. What remains constant is that amazing cocktails are available throughout the city, offering visitors the chance to sip, savor, and explore.

Tupelo’s newest culinary experience takes participants on a walkable journey to explore some of the city’s best craft cocktails. The Tupelo Cocktail Trail includes eight locations in Downtown Tupelo to enjoy delicious, local artisan cocktails. Sip the Tupelo Honey on the rooftop at Park Heights Restaurant or people watch on the patio at Jobos while sipping The Daisy. Each selection is delicious and unique. Participants may pick up a cocktail card at the Tupelo Visitors Center or at each participating restaurant. Once partakers sample all eight cocktails on the trail, the completed cocktail card can be redeemed at the Tupelo Visitors Center for a free #MyTupelo cocktail shaker.

Looking for an experience you can only have in Tupelo? Mississippi’s first and only meadery, Queen’s Reward, is the only meadery in the world that makes mead with 100% Mississippi honey. Enjoy a tasting in their exquisite west Tupelo tasting room or enjoy mead by the glass. Mead slushies are a crowd favorite. Can’t decide which one to try? Order the mead slushie sampler and try them all. The meadery hosts events throughout the week, including trivia nights and mead pairing dinners with local chefs.

Tupelo’s annual events invite visitors to tantalize the taste buds through unique gastronomic festivals held throughout the year. From Wine Downtown and the Ale Trail, to Bud & Burgers, visit tupelo.net/EVENTS to stay up-to-date on all of the culinary events happening in the city where anything is possible. Follow #tupelofoodie on Instagram and imagine what you can eat here!