Vacationing in Your Own Backyard

Affordable adventures in Farmington, New Mexico

Families have begun to travel again and they are looking for value when they vacation. Are there, adventures and enlightening things to do that are still affordable?  Absolutely, and here are seven attractions (many are free) in northwest New Mexico, which you probably have not discovered. Head out and give them a try. 

1. Glade Run, a BLM recreation area at the edge of Farmington, with 19,000 acres of sandy arroyos, slick rock and rolling terrain is a great place for off-road biking and has a separate area for off-highway vehicles.   From Farmington take Piñon Hills Blvd. and turn north onto the main Glade Road, County Road 1980. Travel north 2 miles to the Glade entrance and the Open OHV area. To access the trail system from Piñon Hills, turn north onto College Blvd., travel approximately 1.2 miles just beyond Piedra Vista High School and Lions Wilderness Park.   
    
2. Rafting and paddling on the Animas and San Juan Rivers, which run from Colorado through Farmington and into the Four Corners, generally offers a calm, family-oriented experience.  A 25-mile stretch along the Animas River from Cedar Hill to the White Water Park in Farmington is rated a class 1-11 section by American Whitewater.  A class 11 area runs along the San Juan River, from Navajo Dam for 50 miles through Farmington to the Four Corners.  
    
3. Pinon Hills, Farmington’s highly rated public golf course, is a natural extension of the Four Corners terrain.  The popular course wind through arroyos dotted with pinions and cedars and is open year-round. Fees there are affordable enough to allow the whole family to play.   
    
4. The Quality Waters of the San Juan River 30 miles east of Farmington are praised by anglers from around the world. Trout more than 20" in length are abundant. Fishing for trout is year-round and expert guides are easily found.  
    
5. A favorite spot for hikers and photographers is the mysterious Bisti Wilderness 30 miles south of Farmington on Hwy 371. This protected BLM area is filled with colorful and eerie land forms, fossils and petrified logs.
    
6. On the cultural scene Sandstone Productions summer outdoor theater in Farmington’s Lions Wilderness Park is a treat. There are performances Thursday through Sunday evenings, June through August each year. 
    
7. In Farmington, at 3041 East Main Street, the Visitors Information Center and the Farmington Museum share a building. It’s a good place to stop for maps and information and to visit the unusual oil and gas exhibit there. From Dinosaurs to Drill Bits provides a thrilling, simulated but realistic, ride deep into the earth in search of oil and gas…something we are all taking an interest in these days.