From April through October the outdoor, cultural and general fun possibilities in northern New Mexico are endless and Velarde is at the heart of it all. White water rafting in the famous "Racecourse" section of the Rio Grande starts just 10 miles north of us. Trail rides on horseback through history laden canyons and over scenic mesas are available 15 minutes away. Hiking and mountain biking opportunities abound with vast stretches of public land bordering Velarde to the east. Flyfishing enthusiasts can wet a line as close as the tree house with numerous other possibilities within short scenic drives. Golfers will find several new, world class courses on nearby pueblos.

For those interested in Native American history and culture, hundreds of petraglyphs can be found just a 5 minute drive away and several pueblos, archeological and historical sites (ie. Bandelier and Tsankawi) make for wonderful day trips. The Santa Fe Opera season runs from July through August. Indian Markets, Spanish Markets and Santa Fe's Fiesta continue into September.

Hot air balloons fill the skies during the world famous Albuquerque festival taking place during the first week in October. There are also many wonderful local businesses that will take you up in a balloon through out the seasonal times of year. The view of our dramatic landscapes early in the morning from 100's of feet in the air will leave you breathless.

Or, if you like, just take it easy here on the river. Swim, wade, fish, stroll in the gardens and orchards or relax in the hammocks and hot tub. Summers here are great.

Winter in northern New Mexico offers a wide variety of outdoor and indoor activities. The cultural and traditional flavor make the holiday and winter season here truly magical. Countless farolitos light buildings, bridges, roadways and entire villages during the holidays. There is a Winter Spanish market in Santa Fe and many pueblo feast days with traditional dances open to the public. Additionally, there are film festivals, world class concerts, stage performances and Santa Fe Opera productions. And of course, there is the skiing and snowboarding. Drives between 45 and 90 minutes will take you to the ski areas of Taos, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Angel Fire and Red River. And there are endless, pristine areas for cross country skiing and snow shoeing. Additionally, Pagosa Springs and the Wolf Creek resort (consistently the best/most snow in Colorado) is just 2 hours away. By quiet contrast, just staying here on the river offers a peace and tranquility hard to match. Bald eagles and herons fish nearby while numerous varieties of ducks and other migrating birds pass through. Snowy hikes in the Badlands closeby, returning to a warm fire or hot tub...winters here are pretty great too.