New Mexico
7 Most Inviting Towns in New Mexico
When you travel, one of the best feelings is going to a warm and welcoming town. While you know a welcoming town when you experience one, it’s harder to define what makes a place inviting. A combination of vibrant culture, history, natural places, and passionate people all contribute to making a town inviting. In New Mexico, this is what the most welcoming towns have in common. Madrid, for example, has a vibrant community with art galleries and a rich history. Jemez Springs invites people to the natural scenery and famous hot springs. These are only a few of the most inviting towns in New Mexico. Here, we will explore New Mexico’s seven most inviting towns.
Madrid
One of the most welcoming towns in New Mexico is Madrid. The small town has under 300 residents, but despite its small size, there is a vibrant community. Madrid is well known as a funky, artistic community in the narrow canyon of the Ortiz Mountains. There are many art galleries, shops, boutiques and museums throughout the town. One of the best galleries in town is the Johnsons of Madrid Galleries which features the work of Mel Johnson plus 100 other local artists.
While Madrid is a thriving art community today, the town wasn’t always this way. In fact, Madrid used to be a mining town. However, when the coal market collapsed, the town became a ghost town. In the 60s and ’70s hippies and artists settled in the community, making the warm, vibrant community that exists today. The Madrid Old Coal Town Museum, explains more about the town’s history.
Corrales
Corrales, New Mexico, is a bigger town than Madrid, with a population of around 9,000. However, Corrales still maintains its inviting rural, small-town atmosphere. The area has agricultural heritage, and the community celebrates all things local. Many people in the town live a rural lifestyle. There are many farms selling fruits and vegetables available at the local Growers Market. There are farms to visit to grab local produce and goods as well. For example, Heidi’s Raspberry Farm sells an assortment of jams using USDA Certified Organic Raspberries.
There are also historic buildings in Corrales giving an idea of what life was like in the old town. The Casa San Ysidro is a restoration of an adobe home built in the 1870s. The town has festivals throughout the year that celebrate the community and local culture. Some of the festivals include the Garden Tour, Corrales Art Studio Tour, the Harvest Festival, the Scarecrow Festival, and the Starlight Parade.
Jemez Springs
A small town that shows off the inviting charm of New Mexico’s outdoors is Jemez Springs. The town is north of Albuquerque along the Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway. People have been traveling to the area since the 1800s to experience the nurturing hot springs. There are natural hot springs to enjoy as well as secluded, more luxurious hot springs. The Jemez Springs Bath House offers cool or hot mineral soaks and healing massages. Some of the natural hot springs to enjoy outdoors include McCauley Warm Springs, Spence Hot Springs, and San Antonio Hot Springs. Beyond the hot springs, there is a lot of natural beauty to enjoy in the town, including the wilderness of the Santa Fe National Forest and Valles Caldera Preserve. Fenton Lake State Park is a local camping spot with the backdrop of the Jemez Mountains. The beautiful scenery in Jemez Springs invites people to unplug and connect to nature and the community.
Tucumcari
Tucumcari is a small town that invites you with nostalgia. Home to murals, roadside motels, diners, and museums, Tucumcari is one of the most interesting towns to explore. The town even has its own drive-in movie theater, Foxy Drive-In, which first opened in 1956. Walk around town and enjoy the small business that invites you in with its historic charm.
To learn more about the town’s history, visit the Tucumcari Historical Museum. There is also the Mesalands Community College Dinosaur Museum. This museum has the world’s largest collection of full-scale bronze dinosaur skeletons. Tucumcari also has colorful murals around town, including one of the world’s largest murals devoted to Route 66 in the United States.
Santa Rosa
Situated on the Pecos River is the beautiful town of Santa Rosa. Full of picturesque stone buildings in the historic district, Santa Rosa invites people to relax and enjoy the scenery. There are many recreational trails around town, making for a friendly, outgoing community atmosphere. Santa Rosa’s claim to fame is the Blue Hole. The natural artesian spring is 81 feet deep and is a popular spot to scuba dive. The Blue Hole has earned Santa Rosa the title of the “Scuba Diving Capital of the Southwest.”
Above all, Santa Rosa values community. Some of the local businesses have been around for decades, such as Silver Moon Cafe. The restaurant is a local staple and first opened in 1959. Today, it is well known for its signature New Mexican dishes and American favorites.
Raton
Similar to other towns on this list, Raton is a small town in New Mexico known for its outdoor scenery. Situated in the Rocky Mountains, Raton is the highest point on the Historic Santa Fe Trail. Around town, there are dazzling views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Around Raton there are many opportunities to explore and enjoy nature. Sugarite Canyon State Park is near town and is great spot to enjoy some hiking.
While Raton is a small town with a population of under 6,000 people, the people are proud of their heritage. This shows in the local cuisine. Many local restaurants make use of the green Chile and unique regional cuisine. Overall, the relaxed way of life in Raton makes it an inviting town to explore.
Mountainair
The small town of Mountainair in New Mexico has a welcoming vibe combined with stunning scenery. The charming town has historic ruins, art galleries, charming shops, forest trails, horseback riding, mountains, and hiking trails to explore. Historic sites in town merge the past with the present. There are three major historic sites that attract historians and visitors every year to the town. The Ancient Cities of Mountainair are Abó, Quarai, and Gran Quivira. The community also hosts festivals throughout the year, including the annual Sunflower Festival in August.
All the towns on this list are warm and welcoming places to go. Whether you are looking to plan a road trip or move to a new town, these small towns in New Mexico would make a great destination. After visiting any of these small towns, you will want to call them home after only a few days. The vibrant culture, history, local businesses, and nature make for an inviting atmosphere.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A successful University of New Mexico Lobo athletics season and the athletics director’s departure has culminated in players and coaches making moves.
The moves follow a successful 2025 season and the departure of athletics director Fernando Lovo.
Running back coach John Johnson, special teams coordinator Daniel Da Prato and wide receiver coach Colin Lockett are all leaving the Lobos after just one season. Johnson is headed to Iowa State while Da Prato is expected to join Minnesota and Lockett is headed to UCLA, all for the same jobs.
Johnson’s Lobo running backs ran for more than 1,400 yards. Da Prato’s special teams finished top-five nationally in kickoff returns.
Running back D.J. McKinney entered the portal, he confirmed on social media the day the portal officially opened. McKinney rushed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns with the Lobos.
Two players who received all-Mountain West Conference recognition also made moves. All-Mountain West tight-end Dorian Thomas, who caught for touchdowns for the Lobos, entered the portal. Meanwhile, all-Mountain West honorable mention punter Daniel Hughes is set to leave.
Others set to leave include:
- Cole Welliver, backup quarterback who played in one game
- Landon Williams, defensive end who graduated from La Cueva High School
- Randolph Kpai, senior linebacker who is at the end of his college football career without a waiver
After Lance St. Louis served as the starting long snapper for the Texas Longhorns for four seasons, special teams coordinator Jeff Banks landed an experienced replacement when New Mexico Lobos transfer Trey Dubuc pledged while on a visit to the Forty Acres.
The pledge from Dubuc ensures that Texas has experienced replacements for three specialists despite signing high school prospects at each position — with the SEC expanding to 105 scholarships in 2026, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian can afford to develop high school recruits at those positions behind experienced transfers like Dubuc.
The Fort Lauderdale product started his career at USF after playing on two state championship teams at Cardinal Gibbons. A 6’1, 209-pounder, Dubuc redshirted during his freshman season in 2023 before appearing in one game as the backup long snapper the following year.
After transferring to New Mexico, Dubuc served as the starting long snapper while making two tackles for the Lobos.
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