IN OCTOBER, ALBUQUERQUE residents Dave and Teresa Gilmore held their destination wedding among the evergreens at Angel Fire’s Ridgewalk Treehouse. They were drawn by the town’s relaxing attitude, no-air-
conditioning-required days, cool evenings, and chances to commune with nature as an antidote to the overload of the city.
“Being nestled between multiple mountain ranges is the most romantic feeling I can describe,” Teresa says. “It was the best way to represent what we love and enjoy when we can get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.”
With breathtaking summer and fall vistas, phenomenal sunsets, and a plethora of outdoor activities, being active together in Angel Fire means simply walking out the door. Visitors can spend long days playing friendly rounds of golf and disc golf, racket sports, fishing or paddling around serene Monte Verde Lake, hiking and biking the 37 miles of greenbelt trails within the village, or easily accessing Carson National Forest’s many routes for all levels of ability. Regular stargazing parties at Monte Verde Lake are ideal for unwinding in each other’s company.
Keeping active together as a couple—or as a family with kids—is another way to create memories and strengthen bonds, says pickleball and tennis instructor Kat Carrillo.
“Many people prefer doubles over singles play, and other activities don’t lend themselves to being together for the entire activity,” she says of pickleball’s particular and growing appeal to partners who want to engage in friendly competition, encourage teamwork, and laugh together. “People can compete well together at all levels of athleticism on a smaller court that’s easier to cover. That makes a big difference to their experience.”
After any activity, dinner at the country club’s Elements Fine Dining is a must. The village’s charmed atmosphere extends to the Friday Cool Summer Nights live music series (June through September), where dancing is practically expected and kids can frolic in the grass. At the Sunday farmers’ market, you can gather fresh regional produce and handmade artisan goods for a picnic at Monte Verde or Eagle Nest lakes.
Certainly, festivals like the Music from Angel Fire concert series, which brings world-class musicians to town, and the Balloons Over Angel Fire event create unforgettable experiences for folks of all ages.
A cozy carriage tour or longer horseback excursion celebrates the stunning natural beauty of the area. As the leaves begin to change in the fall, hiking trails turn into spectacular pathways of dappled gold and crimson foliage. There’s no better invitation to family togetherness than a leisurely outing among the trees highlighted by the occasional passing of elk, deer, or wild turkey.
ANGEL FIRE BIKE PARK
The largest mountain-bike park in the Rockies, Angel Fire Bike Park’s 32 trails promise some of the best beginner and intermediate routes for cruisers, as well as ample expert terrain with jumps, drops, and obstacles to challenge riders’ skills (and catch some air). Open mid-May through the end of October, the park’s high-speed lift elevates riders more than 2,000 vertical feet to the summit where they launch into more than 60 miles of purpose-built trails, some enhanced to help build proficiency. The Learn to Ride program is perfect for all ages to safely pick up the basics.