Posted by Jody on December 2, 2013
How do you celebrate Christmas with seaside style? Does your favorite beach community dazzle holiday revelers with an annual lighted boat parade? Does Santa Claus arrive on your sandy shores riding a jet ski? Or does the jolly old elf hang ten on a surfboard?
New Mexicans celebrate with a traditional family friendly holiday river cruise! We head to Carlsbad, New Mexico, and hop onto pontoon boats that set sail from the Pecos River Village docks – directly across the Pecos River from Carlsbad Lake Beach Park. The boats travel along the Pecos for prime time views of creatively illuminated back yards and colorful twinkling river islands. Quite happily, our extended family gathered together on this year’s opening night for the ever popular “Christmas on the Pecos” sparkly winter wonderland tour!
Here, we’ll scoot over a bit so you can join us for a festive ride aboard the lovely Bella Sera:
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Now it’s your turn to tell us about your favorite beachy Christmas event! ~ Pretty please ~ with a sea star on top!
~~~
According to New Mexico.org: “Christmas on the Pecos River has been awarded one of the top 100 “must see” events in North America by the American Bus Association every year since 1996.”
Related links: Home and Garden …and Beach!
Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area
Lake Carlsbad Beach Park
Christmas on the Pecos
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in Inland Shores, Sand and Shoreline | Tagged: beach, Carlsbad New Mexico, Christmas on the Pecos, holiday beach events, Lake Carlsbad Beach Park, New Mexico beach | 2 Comments »
Posted by Jody on August 27, 2012
Today’s Featured Writer: Kristie McLin
Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area, New Mexico
Carlsbad is for Children!
This summer we spent our vacation in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
When people think of Carlsbad, they mostly think of the Caverns, which is no surprise. Carlsbad Caverns National Park boasts “Beauty and Wonder; Above and Below.” But we spent all of our time at the Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area.
Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area
There is a beach on the Pecos River here that is very kid friendly. At first, the kids were a little worried about swimming in something that was not a pool, but some really friendly local kids helped them jump right in! We took walks along the river, played at several of the play structures, visited the skate park and recreation center, and had lovely picnics. The kids had so much fun playing that they wanted to come back to play at the park the next couple of days instead of seeing the Caverns.
Shade, picnic tables, pedal boats and cafe at the beach. Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area
The beach at Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area
Since I know we will be back in Carlsbad soon, this was not a hard request to fill. The grown-ups had a great time watching the kids play while relaxing under big shade trees and covered picnic areas.
Lifeguard stand at Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area
Island at the beach, Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area
The kids had so much fun playing at all the different play structures and swimming in a river that they certainly will be requesting that we come back soon!
Like this:
Like Loading...
Posted in Beaches of North America, Inland Shores, Monday Miscellaneous | Tagged: Carlsbad New Mexico beach, Lake Carlsbad Beach Park, New Mexico beaches, Pecos River beach | 3 Comments »
Posted by Jody on July 25, 2011
Believe it or not, we really do have some wonderful recreational beaches in New Mexico! These are just a few of the cool choices you’ll have when you visit us here in the desert!
*Bottomless Lakes State Park*
If you take the 15 mile scenic drive from Roswell, New Mexico, to Bottomless Lakes State Park, you’ll be very glad you did! Surrounded by beautiful, high red bluffs, this area was set aside in 1933 as New Mexico’s first state park. This park is truly one of New Mexico’s best natural treasures.
There are actually seven lakes located within the boundaries of this 1400 acre of the park. The lakes range in depth from 17 ft. to 90 ft. Lea Lake, the deepest of the lakes at 90 feet, is the only one of the Bottomless Lakes where swimming is allowed. Lea Lake is spring fed, and the water is cool and crystal clear. It’s no surprise that this lake has also become quite popular with the scuba crowd, due to the clarity of the water. During the summer months, pedal boats and paddle boards can be rented for a fee. (But you can always build a sandcastle for no extra charge.) This New Mexico swimming beach is well maintained, and life guards are on duty in the summer.
Click here for the Bottomless Lakes State Park brochure.
*Lake Carlsbad Beach Park*
Located in the Chihuahuan Desert along the beautiful Pecos River lies the “Pearl on the Pecos”: the friendly City of Carlsbad, New Mexico. And in the heart of this desert city you’ll find Lake Carlsbad Beach Park. Some might consider this 1000 ft. stretch of beach less than a “treasure,” but believe me, after a day of exploring in the scorching New Mexico sun, you’ll be happy to settle in under the shady trees of Lake Carlsbad Beach Park and enjoy the cool waters of this little swimming beach, located within the 125.6 acres of The Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area! The swim area is open to the public from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, when lifeguards are on duty from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Here’s the link to Lake Carlsbad Beach Park.
*Tingley Beach, Albuquerque, New Mexico*
Tingley Beach, as it looks today (© Jody Diehl)
Don’t be fooled! This isn’t a “beach” at all. It’s really a series of small ponds. Although this is a lovely family recreation area, this New Mexico beach has been closed to swimmers since the 1950’s. Tingley Beach, part of the Albuquerque BioPark system, was built by diverting water from the Rio Grande in the 1930’s. A major reconstruction of Tingley Beach began over a decade ago, and The Albuquerque BioPark was presented the “2008 North American Conservation Award” by the The Association of Zoos and Aquariums for the Tingley Beach Restoration Project. Click here if you’d like to find out more about Tingley Beach.
Happy Treasure Beach Hunting in the Land of Enchantment!
Like this:
Like Loading...
alainaflute
Greg
Jody
E.G.D.
