Ruidoso, in southern New Mexico, is a town of about 8000 people snuggled in the Sacramento Mountains, the southernmost Rockies. Less than three hours from Albuquerque and El Paso, it boasts great skiing at Sierra Blanca, more than 12,000 feet high. White Sands Missile Base, Roswell's UFO attractions, Lincoln and its wild west history are no more than an hour away. The Mescalero Apache Reservation, with its casino, golf, and fishing, borders the village. In spring and summer, the neighboring Downs reverberates with sounds of horses' hooves as the world-famous racetrack comes alive.
