If you’re no stranger to Red River then you are familiar with the list of fun things to do while visiting the valley. If you’re new to our little mountain town, the following list may come in handy. Don’t hesitate to cut it out, fold it into four quarters and slip it into the pocket of your jacket. Don’t hesitate to try lots of things on this list.
may we suggest…
• Take the family for a surrey ride around Red River and enjoy the sights as you pedal past. Be sure and stop for deer who may be crossing the road. Ring the bell.
• Have a picnic in Mallette Park and share your lunch with pushy chipmunks or a bold ground squirrel while Mallette Creek babbles by on its way to the Red River. P.S. Take a hike through the park after lunch and see some of the old mines that line the canyon.
• Catch the Bank Robbery and Old Time Shoot-out at Frye’s Old Town. It’s free and it’s family-friendly so bring everybody. Don’t forget to check out the Winchester collection inside. While you’re in an Old West frame of mind, schedule a Cowboy evening at the Rocking 3M up Bitter Creek road or up on Bobcat Pass where you can take a horseback ride before dinner or let the kids try their hand at roping. Both venues offer great cowboy chow and music and an entertaining evening for all.
• Visit Mike’s Fun Place and scoot up the climbing wall, fly high on the trampoline, challenge Pepe the mechanical bull, rent a scoot car or OHV, or…
Set up an easel and paint the local scenery or wildlife. Use lots of green and blue and remember to sign your name when you’re finished. Fame may await.
• Book a jeep tour and enjoy historic sights, gorgeous scenery, and some very tall tales told by Red River’s legendary, if somewhat imaginative, Jeep Drivers.
• Visit our Little Red Schoolhouse Museum or go over the mountain to the Elizabethtown Museum on the way to Eagle Nest. See how the search for gold gave birth to our high country brand of civilization.
• Get together the whole family for a horseshoe game by the river in Woerndle Park and then take a stroll along the river or nature trail above the river.
• Play a rousing game of disc golf in the cool mountain air of Mallette Park. It’s fun and it’s a great way to see the park. There’s also a playground, tennis and volleyball courts and a skateboard park for the young at heart.
• Visit the Vietnam Memorial near Angel Fire. The project of a grieving father, it was the first monument dedicated to veterans of the Vietnam conflict. A truly moving experience, it is the focus of Memorial Day activities in the Enchanted Circle.
• Enjoy outdoor dining. Many Red River eateries have outdoor facilities, offering good food and great atmosphere – Mother Nature’s dining hall at its finest. Great for people and deer watching.
• Take advantage of the many summer activities the ski area offers, including chair lift rides, guided hikes, summer tubing, disc golf, mountain biking, the new Pioneer Flyer Zip Line, live music at The Tip and – coming later this summer – Hidden Treasures, an aerial ropes challenge course.
• Sit on a porch or one of the benches around the town, take a deep breath and feel the cool mountain air fill your lungs. Watch the hummingbirds and just listen to the river flow. And relax.