Rio Rancho, New Mexico, Statele Unite ale Americii
This is a remote and beautiful location with few neighbors and lots of trails for relaxing walks and mountain biking. The first thing you’ll notice are the amazing views of the Rio Grande Valley and five mountain ranges, plus a number of classic New Mexico mesas. At night, you’ll get a full view of the twinkling lights of Albuquerque through the front windows. We suggest leaving the windows open at night for a camping-like experience. Listen for the coyotes at night, and in March-April and September-October, we often hear dens of coyote pups yipping for their mothers.
For the history buff, this is a historic location, very near the spot where in 1540 the Spanish conquistador Coronado and more than 1,000 men crested the ridge of the Rio Grande Valley from the west, scouted the native villages, and eventually commandeered one for the winter, setting off a violent century between the Spanish and Pueblo Indians. You can visit the nearby Coronado Historic Site for a more complete telling of the local history, plus a look at a lot of artifacts from the time period and from both cultures.
PLEASE NOTE THAT MANY OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE DIRING THE COVID CRISIS. WE RECOMMEND YOU CHECK BEFORE TRAVELING.
Things to do nearby: From the entrance to Interstate 25 (8 minutes away), you are just 15 minutes from the International Balloon Park and north Albuquerque. Consider a visit to the shops in Old Town Albuquerque (historic to artsy) or Nob Hill (artsy to alternative), enjoy the Breaking Bad tour, ride the Sandia Peak Tramway for great views or a high altitude hike, or take a drive around the Sandia Mountains for a hike or picnic. We enjoy horseback riding and, in the spring and early summer, floating (by canoe, kayak, raft, or tube) the surprisingly beautiful Rio Grande River from Coronado State Park to the Alameda Bridge in Albuquerque (self-guided or find a float company online). There are a couple of better golf courses nearby, including Cochiti and Santa Ana. The "Sandia Man Cave" is a short hike and is popular with kids (approx. 25 minutes away), located in the mountains on the far side of the town of Placitas.
There are a number of great day trips from here, as well. The Jemez Mountains are our favorite excursion, less than an hour away, where you can find great hiking, fly fishing streams, lake fishing at Fenton Lake, and natural hot springs (some of which are treated as "clothing optional"). The town of Jemez Springs includes a charming artist community, cafes, hot spring mineral baths, and a legendary bar and restaurant called Los Ojos. The Valles Caldera National Preserve is worth the additional drive, and for a satisfying day trip complete the loop through Los Alamos and Santa Fe.
The shortest route to Santa Fe, however, is from the entrance to Interstate 25 just 8 minutes to the east of us through the town of Bernalillo. From there, you are 45 minutes from the Santa Fe Plaza, with its art galleries, shopping, and world-class restaurants. If you have kids of any age, or even if you don't, we highly recommend Santa Fe’s fantastical Meow Wolf (it defies description). Ten Thousand Waves has mineral spas and a great restaurant for the adults. A little further into the Sangre de Cristos Mountains are some of the largest aspen stands in the world, along with great hiking. In the winter, Ski Santa Fe is probably the best, closest skiing destination. (Sandia Peak Ski Area is closer, but ski seasons there tend to be short or nonexistent these days.)
For an experience, the one-hour trip to Santa Fe aboard the New Mexico Rail Runner, a double-decker train through some of the most remote and scenic parts of New Mexico, is must-do for visitors. The nearest Rail Runner station is in Bernalillo at I-25, an 8-minute drive from our home, with free parking. From the Rail Runner's northern-most stop, it's a short walk to and from the Santa Fe Plaza.
The Taos area, an additional hour’s drive north from Santa Fe, offers history, art galleries, and the famed Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs. Ski Taos is a desination for skiers from around the world and is widely known as featuring a high level of difficulty.
In addition to being near the north-south Interstate 25, our home also sits along Highway 550, the gateway to northwestern New Mexico. Less than two hours away is the legendary Chaco Canyon ruins (once a regional commerce center for Native American tribes for a thousand miles), and a bit further but within day-trip range are many Native American Pueblos, Shiprock and the Four Corners region, Mesa Verde and Durango Colorado (a longish trek for a single day), and a couple of narrow-gauge steam trains. World-renowned trophy trout fly fishing waters are available on the San Juan River just below Navajo Dam (a three-hour drive, get up early for the choice fishing holes, guide recommended for first timers).
If you want to stay close to home, we’re lucky to be on the outer edges of civilization. Our immediate area offers great walking and mountain biking trails (nothing too steep, but good exercise in a beautiful setting).
You’re welcome to cook in our kitchen, and if you see ripe vegetables in the garden, help yourself.
Despite the remote location, we're also very near civilization, with several excellent restaurants, brewpubs, grocery stores, and fast food less than 10 minutes away. Nearby restaurants we like: Blades Bistro (in Placitas, our all-time favorite for special occasions, fine food, wine, cocktails, and select beer, excellent but not pretentious, frequent live music), Bosque Brewing (great local microbrews, pub food, stunning setting), The Range Café (American standards with a New Mexico twist, occasional live music), The Freight House (pub for foodies, great microbrews and fantastic creative cuisine, sports on TV, board games for the kids), Abuelita’s (Mexican food), Filiberto’s (Mexican fast food), Corn Maiden (high-end steakhouse), and Prairie Star (American fine dining). If you’re not from around here, New Mexicans swear by Dion’s Pizza (try the green chile ranch dressing with your pizza) and Blake’s Lotaburger (one location in Bernalillo) is widely regarded as having the best breakfast burritos anywhere, hands down. (We agree, but to judge that yourself, also try the breakfast burritos at top contenders Bob's Burgers and Golden Pride, both with locations in Albuquerque. It’s a matter of local contention.)
The Santa Ana Star Casino is five minutes away, with gambling, entertainment, restaurants including a buffet, and bowling alley.
The New Mexico Soccer Tournament Complex is five minutes away.
The best part: We share the environment with a variety of wildlife. We routinely see and hear coyotes, owls, hawks and other birds of prey, bats, roadrunners, snakes (occasionally, a rattlesnake), jack rabbits, mice, a wide assortment of lizards, hummingbirds, an occasional (and beautiful) tarantula, many beautiful and some ugly insects, and more. This year we have captured on camera a bobcat and a pair of raccoons on the property. We relish these sightings and the high desert ecology they represent, and we hope you will too.
