Ruidoso is a scenic, four-season mountain town in the Sierra Blanca that feels lively rather than isolated — think skiing at Ski Apache, miles of hiking and mountain-biking trails, a compact downtown of restaurants, galleries and seasonal live music, plus horse racing and casino events at Ruidoso Downs — all of which keep multi-week stays varied and social.
For bigger-city services or attractions within a reasonable drive, Alamogordo (about 48 miles) is the nearest larger town for extra shops and medical services.