RED RIVER, New Mexico – I just realized I'm addicted to New Mexico. How do I know? Well, I've vacationed there three times within a one-year span, so that's sort of a clue. But why am I addicted to it? There are plenty of reasons that are easy to explain, but hard to narrow down to just one.
First of all, the landscape is a thing of sheer, natural beauty. Secondly, the food makes you cross-eyed with flavorful indulgence, and lastly, the people are full of hugs, love and hospitality. No one feels like a stranger in New Mexico; everyone feels like family!
Recommended Videos
With that being said, I had to share the experience with my family and friends, and come back over.. and over.. and over .. again. Sort of like that "Come back to Jamaica" commercial from many years ago.
The first time I visited New Mexico I was with a girlfriend fulfilling some of my bucket list adventures in January 2014. We visited three ski valleys; Santa Fe, Taos and Red River so we spent seven cold days conquering -- and falling on -- some of the best ski slopes America has to offer with the BEST (and most patient) ski instructors in the world. During that trip two things happened. I heard rave reviews about the Santa Fe Opera –and added it to my summer bucket list – and I fell in love with the people of Red River.
I'm a dreamer and I love romance, and my second trip to New Mexico was filled with it all. A weekend in Santa Fe at the Four Seasons Rancho Encatado, a hike to the Rio En Medio waterfall and the ultimate opera/ tailgating experience with a four-course meal made by Four Seasons' Chef Marco Aguilar followed by a mesmerizing performance by the cast of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. Returning home a happy and "guilty" mom, I knew the next time I came it would be all about the kiddos and I knew exactly where I would take them.
Red River Ski & Summer Area is located at the top of the Enchanted Circle in the Southern Rockies of Northern New Mexico. It's a great recreation area in the middle of town with wonderful activities and events both winter and summer. Most importantly, it's all about the love. I hated to leave my "new family" the first time the plane ripped me away from them and I promised I would be back. I kept that promise, and returned with my children this January.
Being first-time skiers, I only trusted my little ones to Bob "Bobcat" Koontz and the way he lovingly hoisted my big buns off the ice during my first trip, I knew my little munchkins were in capable hands. He taught them everything they needed to know. He guided them in steps and stages over the course of our five-day stay, and by the end of the trip, my 10-year-old thought he was king of the mountain. But don't they all think they are "Kings of the World" at that age?
One of the main reasons I decided to take the kids to Red River is because it really is a "home away from home." And the ONLY place I will ever stay is the Auslander Condominiums! Why? Because the property is managed by "Big Dan" and Sherri Reid Foley, and they give hugs with their "Good morning" and "How is your day" greetings. Auslander Condos gives you that "down home" country feeling, every amenity is on hand and the deer love it there too! Seriously, you walk outside of your door and a deer is waiting there for you, or you are walking down a path and one quietly appears. The deer are used to being fed and stroked by the guests. My kids had never been that close to wildlife nor seen real snowfall so imagine my daughter's excitement when she encountered a deer while she was making snow angels! It was a "two-fer" as my country grandma would say – TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! My little girl could barely contain herself and I was surprised she never got sick because she spent the entire time frolicking in the snow.
And if she wasn't playing…she was eating…and don't even get me started on the food!
A great place to dine is the Black Diamond Bar and Grill. On the first day of our trip, my son suffered altitude sickness, so that night as he slept my daughter and I snuck next door to Black Diamond to enjoy some barbecue and listen to live music.
I had to introduce my children to the best ingredient New Mexico has to offer -- the Green Chile -- and Brett's Bistro has the most perfectly-prepared Green Chile Cheeseburger on the planet. Could it be the best kept secret in America?
And when it comes to "slap yo' mama gourmet" – if that is a category -- one place is definitely not a secret in Red River and you can scream it from the mountaintop – literally! We rode the Big Cat Snow Coach up the mountain to dine on Chef Kai Dunbar's exquisite cooking at "The Tip" restaurant. After we were treated to his food, it was a thing of amazement to watch Chef Kai put on his ski gear, then race to the bottom of the mountain (beating the snowmobile) in order to escort his dinner guests off one by one. In addition, the Torch Light skiers gave us a real light show as they paraded their way downhill in the dark, ending with an amazing fireworks display.
The kids also enjoyed snow tubing down the slopes, and I even got in on the fun, if you consider screaming at the top of my lungs a fun activity. Some may think it's child's play, but I'm not so good with whipping wind and the world whizzing by my face. Speaking of whizzing, nothing gave me greater joy or made me more jealous than seeing all the cute kids skiing like professionals on the slopes.
An added bonus was the fact that the University of New Mexico Ski Challenge (UNMSki) was happening during my stay. So what would any good journalist do? I grabbed my camera, borrowed a heavy jacket and hitched a ride on a snowmobile to the top of the mountain to see the downhill ski racers.
It was a wonderful life – at least for a weekend – with good food, great people and the best brushes with nature a family could ask for. As we drove into Red River on day one, and as we drove away on our final day, we saw what we thought was the same herd of mountain goats just strolling along the side of the road, as if to say, "Welcome Home," and "Y'all come back now, ya hear!"
Until then, I will bid you farewell with a few hashtags: #NewMexicoTrue #UNMSki #VisitNewMexico #RedRiverSkiArea
Thanks Red River, and yes, we'll be back! Guess what people, there's even more to do in the summer!