The great outdoors in all its splendor is a prime reason to visit Ruidoso, and Bear Paw makes it easy to relish the crisp mountain air, the inspiring views, and the nearby lakes and trails. Not only is the three-bedroom home close to climbing, skiing, fishing, biking, and riding, but it also boasts a huge wraparound deck. Start your morning sipping coffee on an Adirondack chair as hummingbirds chirp among the Ponderosa pines or end your day with a cocktail in hand while you soak in the hot tub. Cook trout you reeled in yourself on the gas grill, then sit down to enjoy it at the deck’s dining table.

As serene and lovely as the deck and its environs are, you do have to go indoors sometime. Happily, the interior of Bear Paw is just as inviting—and because it’s pet-friendly, that means your four-legged friends are welcome too. Decorated in restful neutral tones and natural textures, the living room exemplifies mountain-lodge elegance. The roll-arm leather sofa, the antique-style high-back settee, and the roomy armchairs invite everyone to get comfortable. The stone-surround fireplace will warm you up after a day on the slopes, while the ceiling fan will cool you down after a day on the links. The living room has a large flat-screen TV with cable, as does the downstairs den. Furnished with a sofa, chairs, and a table for playing cards or board games, the den also has its own fireplace. And if you need to catch up on work during your stay (though hopefully, that’s not the case!) you can set up your laptop on the den’s desk and avail yourself of Bear Paw’s free WiFi.

One of the many advantages of staying in a home rather than a hotel is having a full kitchen at your disposal. Bear Paw’s kitchen is so spacious, well equipped, and downright gorgeous, you may want to cook every night. Stainless-steel appliances, plenty of cookware and tableware, a bevy of counter space, and enough storage so that you can stock up on groceries at the beginning of your stay: This