Guidebook for Carlsbad
Drinks & Nightlife
Small microbrewery. Often hosting live music and fun activities like painting class or trivia night.
Scheduled to reopen in new location on the 100 block of W. Mermod in Feb. 2020. Great people, great beer, usually live music. Sometimes there's a food truck, sometimes not.
30 recommandé par les habitants
Milton's Brewing
213 W Mermod StScheduled to reopen in new location on the 100 block of W. Mermod in Feb. 2020. Great people, great beer, usually live music. Sometimes there's a food truck, sometimes not.
Panninis, pizzas, salads, and beer. Loud! Milton's is the better choice for beer snobs, but this one is quite close. As of this writing 4/24,, they are under new ownership and awaiting renewal of their beer license--so pizza only.
24 recommandé par les habitants
Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company
3324 National Parks HwyPanninis, pizzas, salads, and beer. Loud! Milton's is the better choice for beer snobs, but this one is quite close. As of this writing 4/24,, they are under new ownership and awaiting renewal of their beer license--so pizza only.
Parks & Nature
Great displays of Chihuahuan Desert wildlife and flora.
40 recommandé par les habitants
Parc d'État du désert vivant
1504 Skyline RdGreat displays of Chihuahuan Desert wildlife and flora.
Good place to see mule deer early and at dusk. 0.9-mile one-way hike on a wide gravel trail through--you guessed it--ocotillos. Love to walk or run hills? Use the NMSU-Carlsbad rear parking lot and make a 3.6-mile (approx.) loop by adding Skyline Drive past Living Desert State Park and a tiny bit of NM 285. Great scenic route.
Ocotillo Hills Nature Trail
Ocotillo Hills Nature TrailGood place to see mule deer early and at dusk. 0.9-mile one-way hike on a wide gravel trail through--you guessed it--ocotillos. Love to walk or run hills? Use the NMSU-Carlsbad rear parking lot and make a 3.6-mile (approx.) loop by adding Skyline Drive past Living Desert State Park and a tiny bit of NM 285. Great scenic route.
Great place to walk, run, enjoy one of the many playgrounds, fish, skateboard (at the RIverwalk Rec Center), or rent a kayak. Very flat, paved track as compared to Octotillo Trail, which has significant grade. There's a waterpark for the kids in summer. Near that is a nice set of tennis and pickleball courts. Stay south across Greene St. for the Veterans Memorial Park and dog park. Golfers, check out the Municipal Golf Course on Muscatel St.
Airbnb isn't letting me change the title of this, but Park Drive is a small part of river access. S. James St., Muscatel St., and far E. Lea St. are all part of the attraction.
Park Drive
Park DriveGreat place to walk, run, enjoy one of the many playgrounds, fish, skateboard (at the RIverwalk Rec Center), or rent a kayak. Very flat, paved track as compared to Octotillo Trail, which has significant grade. There's a waterpark for the kids in summer. Near that is a nice set of tennis and pickleball courts. Stay south across Greene St. for the Veterans Memorial Park and dog park. Golfers, check out the Municipal Golf Course on Muscatel St.
Airbnb isn't letting me change the title of this, but Park Drive is a small part of river access. S. James St., Muscatel St., and far E. Lea St. are all part of the attraction.
Great summertime side trip, cool off at the falls. If you're more adventurous and have time, check out White Oak Spring trail.
49 recommandé par les habitants
Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area
742 Sitting Bull Falls RdGreat summertime side trip, cool off at the falls. If you're more adventurous and have time, check out White Oak Spring trail.
Arts & Culture
Free entry and great historical displays of early settler days, wartime, New Mexico painters, Native pottery and stonework, plus a room of Peruvian artifacts. Enjoy some time in the outdoor art park as well. Seasonal festivals and summer movie nights in surrounding Halagueno Arts Park.
13 recommandé par les habitants
Musée et centre d'art de Carlsbad
418 W Fox StFree entry and great historical displays of early settler days, wartime, New Mexico painters, Native pottery and stonework, plus a room of Peruvian artifacts. Enjoy some time in the outdoor art park as well. Seasonal festivals and summer movie nights in surrounding Halagueno Arts Park.
This map shows the location of the monument honoring Alejandro Ruiz, Medal of Honor recipient from Loving, NM. Go south on the walking trail or James St. to Veterans Memorial Park. It has a daytime storage vault for the Norden Bombsight, a top-secret WWII tool. https://youtu.be/HpiZTvlWx2g Training on the NB was done at Carlsbad Army Air Field, where the airport is now. The vault was moved to the park for display. The thick walls were to prevent enemy detection of the NB by any means. Troops' personal graffiti is carved into the door. The interior is open on special occasions. Other displays honor area vets including locals who walked the Bataan Death March.
Alejandro Ruiz Memorial Park
400 Riverwalk DriveThis map shows the location of the monument honoring Alejandro Ruiz, Medal of Honor recipient from Loving, NM. Go south on the walking trail or James St. to Veterans Memorial Park. It has a daytime storage vault for the Norden Bombsight, a top-secret WWII tool. https://youtu.be/HpiZTvlWx2g Training on the NB was done at Carlsbad Army Air Field, where the airport is now. The vault was moved to the park for display. The thick walls were to prevent enemy detection of the NB by any means. Troops' personal graffiti is carved into the door. The interior is open on special occasions. Other displays honor area vets including locals who walked the Bataan Death March.
Shopping
Healthy Choices
205 W Church StGood selection of health products and foods. Carlsbad's only real "granola" store.
If you want authentic Mexican spices or other ingredients and the feel of a store that hasn't changed since the 70s, go to La Tienda. If you want organic ingredients, go to Albertsons or Walmart. Good, big burritos to go in the morning and made-in-house tortilla chips all the time. Grouchy deli staff...it's almost funny.
La Tienda Thriftway
1301 S Canal StIf you want authentic Mexican spices or other ingredients and the feel of a store that hasn't changed since the 70s, go to La Tienda. If you want organic ingredients, go to Albertsons or Walmart. Good, big burritos to go in the morning and made-in-house tortilla chips all the time. Grouchy deli staff...it's almost funny.
Both southern corners of N. Canal and Luckey Sts. are occupied by Mexican import vendors. Great selection of pottery, rustic furniture, indoor and outdoor decor.
This is NOT supposed to say Walgreens, nor is it near Walgreens, and it's not on W. Pierce St! Airbnb software isn't perfect.
Walgreens
1401 W Pierce StBoth southern corners of N. Canal and Luckey Sts. are occupied by Mexican import vendors. Great selection of pottery, rustic furniture, indoor and outdoor decor.
This is NOT supposed to say Walgreens, nor is it near Walgreens, and it's not on W. Pierce St! Airbnb software isn't perfect.
Entertainment & Activities
Carlsbad has a lot of hidden gems if you're into making your own way. Here are a few more obvious choices.
Friday night cosmic bowling with music. Home of the Burger Cave--great burgers. Drinks available. Unfortunately no food or drink is allowed anywhere near the bowlers' seats. Kinda scuzzy as bowling alleys go, but it's what we have.
6 recommandé par les habitants
Cal's Cactus Lanes Bowling
1609 S Canal StFriday night cosmic bowling with music. Home of the Burger Cave--great burgers. Drinks available. Unfortunately no food or drink is allowed anywhere near the bowlers' seats. Kinda scuzzy as bowling alleys go, but it's what we have.
Allen Theaters La Cueva 6
2322 W Pierce StCovered ice rink open all winter. Adults skate for $8.00. Mountain town fun! This is 102 miles from Eve's house. Check NMRoads.com for winter travel updates. See Cloudcroft Ice Rink FB page.
751 Burro Ave
751 Burro AvenueCovered ice rink open all winter. Adults skate for $8.00. Mountain town fun! This is 102 miles from Eve's house. Check NMRoads.com for winter travel updates. See Cloudcroft Ice Rink FB page.
Getting Around
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
1710 S Canal StThe only car rental place in town.
Everything Else
Hike to the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak! Or check out McKittrick Canyon for the best chance to see wildlife. Got a shorter hike in mind? Frijole Ranch to Smith Springs is my favorite. GUMO pamphlets are in your room.
52 recommandé par les habitants
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Hike to the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak! Or check out McKittrick Canyon for the best chance to see wildlife. Got a shorter hike in mind? Frijole Ranch to Smith Springs is my favorite. GUMO pamphlets are in your room.