A mountain town of fewer than 500 residents, Red River, New Mexico, manages to always have something going on. From bluegrass festivals to classic car shows to Oktoberfest, the residents of this former mining town love to have fun! Located on the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway, Red River also offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure and has gained a well-deserved spot on many families’ annual vacation calendar.

The small ski town of Red River, New Mexico, has long been a home away from home for some of the country’s best musicians. In fact, some historians claim that without Red River, Austin wouldn’t have the thriving live music scene that it does today and it’s said that some of Austin’s most prominent musicians actually started off in Red River. Rumor has it that Neil Young once took the stage in the Motherlode Saloon and while many of the festivals have popped up in recent years, some of them unofficially go back as far as the 1960s. Red River is steeped in musical history and tradition.

Tucked high up in the rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Red River, New Mexico is the ideal place for outdoor adventure. From fly fishing and hunting to rock climbing and mountain biking, there are almost endless options on this stop along New Mexico’s famous Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway.

Set in the heart of Native American ancestral homelands, Gallup, New Mexico, is a gateway to Native American culture. The Navajo Nation lies at the city’s doorstep. The Pueblo of Zuni is south of the city and the Hopi Reservation lies just over the state line in Arizona. The region’s culture truly shines during the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, when Native Americans from across the Southwest and Mexico flock to the town for a week of pow wows, parades, an all-Indian rodeo, and other events.