Lace up the skates.
Even on the busiest winter days, you’ll have room for a romantic hand-in-hand skate at Los Alamos County Ice Rink. “Our rink is NHL-sized,” says ice rink manager Brendan Tuning. “It’s the only one of its kind in New Mexico.” Under Omega Bridge, the 17,000-square-foot outdoor rink provides skate rentals, group discounts, aids for beginners, and lessons on Saturdays. WARM UP: Warm those toes at Blue Window Bistro, in Los Alamos, with a Maya Chai Latte or artisan hot chocolate. ANOTHER OPTION: Taos Ski Valley’s Eis Haus Ice Skating Rink is an oval of fun for skaters of all ages with cozy fireplaces, silent disco on Saturdays, and ice bocce.
Ride through a frozen forest.
Nancy Burch’s winter sleigh rides come right off a holiday card: a bright red sleigh pulled by draft horses wearing bells, a forest trail lined with pines and blue spruce, notepads of carols to sing along the way, and hot chocolate to keep warm. “We’ll ride up about a quarter mile, and we’ll stop and take pictures,” says Burch, who owns Roadrunner Tours. After more than 50 years hosting sleigh rides in Angel Fire, she knows what snaps you’ll be sending to friends and relatives next Christmas. WARM UP: Hit Taty at the Bump for a festive candy-
cane–adorned peppermint cocoa served by staff decked out in red and green Jolly AF (Angel Fire!) attire. ANOTHER OPTION: Head to Ruidoso for a Grindstone Stables sleigh ride up a canyon past holiday decorations.
Flock to a bird refuge.
While many birders and photographers often land at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, migrating birds also know Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, in Roswell, as a vital stopover on their wintertime journey. “We get a lot of waterfowl,” says Bitter Lake wildlife biologist Carl Jacobsen. “Ducks, snow geese, and sandhill cranes are either migrating through or stopping at the refuge in the winter.” The region’s wetlands are few, so Bitter Lake has become a true desert oasis for countless species. “It’s really a beautiful atmosphere when—either during sunrise or sunset—we can have up to 35,000 sandhill cranes at a given time,” he says. WARM UP: Take flight with a freshly brewed Turkish coffee at Sara’s Café & Grill, in Roswell. ANOTHER OPTION: Sandhill cranes also make a winter stopover at the quieter Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, in San Miguel County.
Snowmobile in the mountains.
Even Santa might be envious of the “sled” rides at Cosmic Adventures, in Cloudcroft. “We actually snowmobile up near Sunspot, so it’s almost 1,000 feet higher in elevation than Cloudcroft,” says Abby Wuersching, who owns the tour operator with her husband, Erich. Each one-hour trip through the Sacramento Mountains blends snow-churning adventure with captivating vistas. With up to six two-person snowmobiles per tour, it can be fun for the entire family, says Abby, who notes that she’s seen babies in carriers and riders in their 80s on the trails. “It’s very safe for everybody.” WARM UP: Head to Cloudcroft Brewing Company for a wood-fired pizza, Railspike Red Ale, soup of the day special, and live local music. ANOTHER OPTION: In Red River, Bobcat Pass Wilderness Adventures guides two-hour tours on a private ranch, where riders can explore a vast meadow.
Slide into a good time.
When the white stuff falls, the Country Club at Angel Fire Resort transforms into a Nordic Center for cross-country enthusiasts and families seeking non-skiing enjoyment. Rent a sled or bring your own for a day on the mellow slope of the golf course driving range. “It’s family-friendly,” says marketing manager Michael Hawkins, who notes that the area is outside the resort’s snowmakers, so sledding is dependent on Mother Nature. “You’re not going to go at Mach 5 speed, but you pick up a lot of fun speed.” WARM UP: After the kids play in the snow, the adults can have their fun over a steak and glass of wine at Elements, the Country Club’s fine-dining restaurant. ANOTHER OPTION: Grab a saucer sled for a day on the gypsum dunes of White Sands National Park—no snow required.
Take a dry hike.
Along the Río Grande west of Mesilla lies the 373-acre Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, where river woodland and Chihuahuan Desert ecosystems meet. Get acquainted with the transitional area’s native vegetation and popular birding spots along two popular trails that include benches to rest and take it all in. The three-quarter-mile accessible Resaca Trail takes you along the riverbed and through wetland areas and mature cottonwood trees. “If there’s water in the riverbed, you’ll see some waterfowl,” says Alex Mares, senior instructional coordinator for the park. Combine it with the half-mile Upland Trail, which leads to the pond overlook before continuing into a sandy, more desertlike stretch. “You get a really nice 360-degree view of the desert upland,” he says. On a good day, you can see the full Organ Mountains, Picacho Peak, Robledo Mountains, and parts of El Paso. WARM UP: Reward yourself with a milk stout and green chile Philly at Spotted Dog Brewery. ANOTHER OPTION: At El Malpais National Monument, near Grants, hike the 1-mile Lava Falls loop trail, where a short spur leads into the amphitheater of lava.