Two things point to New Mexico being a particularly outdoorsy destination for group gatherings. First, the calendar primarily beams with sunny days that encourage planners to get attendees outside during any month of the year.
Second is the state’s nickname, Land of Enchantment, which strongly suggests this is a place to enjoy scenic natural splendor and fun outdoor pursuits—whether active or relaxing.
From tried-and-true golf opportunities available throughout the state to more exotic options such as hot air ballooning, white-water rafting and a festival celebrating UFOs, there is something here to enchant every group and keep any meeting itinerary intriguing.
Albuquerque
The Albuquerque metro area is uniquely positioned between a 10,000-foot mountain and a river valley, both within reach for groups interested in hiking and other outdoorsy pursuits.
“You can be on a mountain trail experiencing the sounds of nature in 20 minutes from anywhere in the city,” says Robert Enriquez, vice president of convention sales, services and sports at the Albuquerque CVB.
He adds that this is ‘the’ place to fly above the scenery because the area’s unique geography creates what is known as the “Albuquerque Box Effect,” which makes it one of the nation’s most desirable destinations for ballooning.
“Hot-air ballooning is king in Albuquerque,” he says, explaining that balloons float above the city about 300 days a year, and more than 500 balloons grace the air during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (www.balloonfiesta.com) each fall. “Planners who take advantage of this opportunity will create memories for their attendees for sure.”
Balloon operators such as Skyspan Adventures (www.skyspanadventures.com) and Rainbow Ryders (www.rainbowryders.com) offer a champagne breakfast and a certificate of completion at the conclusion of early morning flights.
“Many people don’t realize that our elevation is a mile high, which creates a pleasant four-season, dry, sunny climate,” Enriquez says. “Getting outdoors while meeting in Albuquerque is a must because there is a great variety of activities available.”
Among them, meeting planners might book a trip to the top of Sandia Peak for stunning sunset views via Sandia Peak Tramway (www.sandiapeak.com); an outing via Quiet Waters Paddling Adventures (www.quietwaterspaddling.com/group-outings), which guides groups by canoe or kayak along the Rio Grande; a Rio Grande rafting trip with Los Rios River Runners (www.losriosriverrunners.com), featuring Native guides and followed by a traditional Pueblo Indian meal; or a tour with New Mexico Jeep Tours (www.nmjeeptours.com), during which attendees explore cultural ruins, petroglyphs and untouched wildlife areas.
Santa Fe and Taos
Known for its clear, clean air—the best air in the U.S., as rated by the American Lung Association—brilliant blue skies and uncrowded recreational resources, Santa Fe is also the gateway to the Southern Rocky Mountains and the 1.6 million-acre Santa Fe National Forest.
“For simply enjoying the mountains of Northern New Mexico, groups can spend a day white-water rafting in the spring and summer, walking through the golden aspens in the fall or Nordic and alpine skiing in the winter,” says Steve Lewis, spokesperson for the Santa Fe CVB. “The difference is at the end of the day there is Santa Fe, one of the country’s most artistic and authentic towns, to return home to.”
Groups interested in team building might call on Santa Fe Mountain Adventures (www.santafemountainadventures.com), which can facilitate a mountain scavenger hunt using GPS technology.
“It’s a great way to be outdoors in a beautiful setting while being challenged to use GPS, teamwork and orienteering skills,” Lewis says, adding that outings are held in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, among other locations.
A more relaxed outing is available via the Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary (http://nm.audubon.org/center), which offers a winding interpretive trail covering varied terrain on 135 acres.
“Guides are available to point out the diversity of flora and wildlife found on the grounds,” Lewis says.
Hitting the Links de Santa Fe (www.linksdesantafe.com) is another way for groups to enjoy the great outdoors.
“It may have the best views of the surrounding mountains anywhere in the city, and with five tee distances is adaptable to all levels of play,” Lewis says, adding that group events can easily be arranged through the pro shop on either the 18-hole course or 9-hole course.
Taos and the surrounding area is a mecca for outdoor adventure in every season, according to Jeanne Kitzman, sales and marketing manager at the Taos Convention Center. Among the fun pursuits here are white-water rafting, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, geocaching and rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing.
“While we have much in common with our neighbors to the north in Colorado, what really sets us apart is our amazing vistas, 350 days of sunshine, cool clear mountain air and a choice of many things to do, from dining and shopping to a lively music scene,” she says. “It’s always good to be out in the wilderness, but you don’t need to rough it when the day is done.”
Before settling in for a good meal or live music, groups should check out Wild Earth Llama Adventures (www.llamaadventures.com), one of MSNBC.com’s top 10 off-the-beaten-path fall foliage adventures.
Kitzman says the llama-trekking excursion in the northern New Mexico wilderness is a fun and unique way to create team harmony. Anything from a half-day nature hike to a multi-day adventure that takes groups deep into the wilderness with naturalist Stuart Wilde can be arranged.
“Adrenaline-pumping adventure on the Rio Grande is another great way to create team bonding,” Kitzman says. “[Groups can] choose from expert offerings such as the Class IV Taos Box, to great technical runs like the Race Course, or for less experienced teams the float and paddle excursion from County Line to Pilar.”
Los Rios River Runners (www.losriosriverrunners.com), Native Sons Adventures (www.nativesonsadventures.com) and Cottam’s Ski and Outdoor (www.cottamsoutdoor.com) are some of the outfitters that can arrange rafting tours.
Northwestern New Mexico
With four distinct seasons and a lovely landscape of bluffs, mesas and rivers, the Farmington area is a perfect place to enjoy outdoor recreational opportunities.
“With so many activities from which to choose, no matter how diversified your group, there is something for everyone,” says Debbie Dusenbery, director of the Farmington CVB, citing fly-fishing on the world-renowned San Juan River, golfing at the highly rated Pinon Hills Golf Course (www.pinonhillsgolf.com), hiking in the Bisti Badlands, mountain biking on the Road Apple Rally course (home of the longest running mountain bike race in North America), or strolling leisurely along the River Walk. “And if you venture an hour north, you can also white-water raft and snow ski; in fact, if you time it just right you can ski in the morning and golf in the afternoon.”
Perhaps the most unique outdoor group activity in Farmington is playing a round of Frisbee golf at the Lions Wilderness Park Disc Golf Course, Dusenbery says.
“This course offers 27 holes nestled among a distinctive terrain of sandstone, Pinon trees and elevation changes, and the views of the Farmington area are outstanding from the course,” she says. “This type of activity would be a great way to encourage team building or a different alternative to the average ice breaker. Plus, the course is designed so even beginners can participate.”
If groups would like to add a cultural and learning experience to the itinerary, Dusenbery suggests a scenic tour of Chaco Culture National Historical Park (www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm), where attendees will learn about the ancestral Puebloan culture from A.D. 850 to 1200 as they hike among the remains of the Chacoan great houses.
“Using a guide from Salmon Ruins Journey into the Past Tours (www.chacotours.org) only adds to this amazing experience,” she says. “Guides from this tour company are knowledgeable about Chaco Canyon and its people, and audiences are always fascinated with their presentations. The experience has been known to leave groups feeling as if they had been transported into another period of time.”
A walking tour in historic downtown Los Alamos, self-guided or facilitated by an expert guide from Buffalo Tours (http://home.covad.net/buffalotours/index.html), also takes groups on an entertaining and educational journey through time, according to Kevin Holsapple, spokesperson for the Los Alamos Meeting & Visitor Bureau.
Highlights of the tour include the remnants of a Puebloan culture village, a restored homesteader cabin, the distinctive log buildings of the Ranch School era, the historic Bathtub Row and sites of the Manhattan Project.
Speaking generally, the Los Alamos area is a “unique blend of spectacular mountain scenery, a multitude of high-altitude recreational opportunities, a world-changing historical heritage, and a creative culture that continues to produce scientific discovery and innovation,” Holsapple says.
It may be news that New Mexico is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the country, and today 42 wineries inhabit scenic valleys and hillsides in a variety of the state’s locales. A popular option in Los Alamos is Don Quixote Distillery and Winery (www.dqdistillery.com).
The purveyor of blue corn vodka and gin, as well as wine, brandy and ports, boasts a venue for meetings and events under the stars near the rim of White Rock Canyon, according to Holsapple.
“Programs for groups include parties, receptions, tastings and educational lectures,” he says.
Southern New Mexico
While Roswell is synonymous with UFOs, and even celebrates alleged incidents with the annual Roswell UFO Festival (www.roswellufofestival.com), the alien- and meetings-friendly destination is also a terrific place to golf, take hikes and bike rides, and enjoy outings to Bottomless Lakes State Park, where attendees can swim, or the 24,500-acre Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, home to approximately 65 species of dragonflies and other critters.
Ruidoso, surrounded by the pines of Lincoln National Forest, is a mountain village with a variety of outdoor activities for groups. Options include skiing, hiking, fishing, biking, horseback riding and golfing.
Every June, the destination hosts the Ruidoso Mountain of Blues BluesFest (www.ruidosoblues.com), which attendees who appreciate the blues and beer will enjoy. An outing to Ruidoso Downs Race Track (www.ruidownsracing.com) is always a group hit.
In nearby Mescalero, Inn of the Mountain Gods is a meetings favorite with plenty of adventurous pursuits, including fishing on Lake Mescalero, golfing at the inn’s championship course and hitting the slopes at Ski Apache.
According to Chris Faivre, spokesperson for the Las Cruces CVB, golf outings are the best bet for group fun in the sun when meeting in Las Cruces.
Group-friendly courses in the area include the Las Cruces Country Club (www.lascrucescountryclub.com), which offers full dining and catering services, and an on-site driving range, lounge and ballroom.
Set in the Mesilla Valley between the majestic Organ Mountains and the meandering Rio Grande, Las Cruces offers a number of other experiences in the great outdoors. Options include bird-watching, horseback riding, a trip to the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park and excursions to Gila National Forest, City of Rocks State Park and Rockhound State Park.
In nearby Mesilla attendees will have a good time strolling around the historic plaza, which is filled with gift shops, galleries, eateries and bars.
Carolyn Blackburn is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus West.
