New Mexico in the Summer: How to Escape the Heat

New Mexico, like a lot of the Southwest, can get oppressively hot in the summer, but it can also be a great place to spend time outside. Depending on where you’re located in the state, there are plenty of things to do and see in New Mexico in the summer.

And there are also plenty of ways to get out of the heat and stay active at the same time. Whether it’s spending time in a pool, hiking at night, or enjoying the air conditioning, New Mexico has no shortage of great options to cool down. Below are some ways to escape the heat in New Mexico.

Go into an Air-Conditioned Space

The most obvious way to escape the heat is to go to an air-conditioned place. There might not be many places with air conditioning in the area, but you can always rely on a convenience store or shop to blast the air conditioning.

Another thing you can do is duck into the lobby of a hotel, eat at a restaurant, or find one of several gyms in Albuquerque or the surrounding area. When you live in a hot place like New Mexico, people tend to catalog their preferred places by whether or not they have air conditioning. When you’re in New Mexico, you will feel that way too.

Jump in a Pool

Even better than ducking into air conditioning is jumping in a pool. Pools are plentiful in New Mexico because it gets hot. A lot of people put in a pool at their house because it will increase its value and the appreciation of the property.

There is no better way to cool down than swimming. It’s a great way to exercise without getting too uncomfortable from the heat. Whether you are into swimming or not, jumping in the pool will cool you down on a hot day.

Here are some spots with some HOT pools to check out:

• West Mesa Aquatic Center (Albuquerque)
• Highland Pool (Albuquerque)
• Bicentennial Pool (Santa Fe)
• La Posada de Santa Fe (Santa Fe)

Hike in the Morning or at Night

Another way to work out without being too uncomfortable is to hike in the morning or at night. When you are visiting New Mexico, you’ll want to hike. Of course, you want to see the state. But when it’s hot out you need to be careful.

That’s why you should go early or late depending on the hike. You should plan your hikes well, especially when you are going at night. Whether you’re stuck inside without air conditioning or want to see this beautiful state in comfort, hiking should be done in the morning or at night.

Shaded Trails for Summer:

• South Piedra Lisa Trail (Albuquerque)
• South Crest Trail (Albuquerque)

Go the Mountains

Any time of year, the mountains are a bit cooler than some of the lower parts of the state. Escape the heat by visiting the mountains where you can enjoy yourself. It’s also one of the best ways to see New Mexico. The mountains are beautiful, and you haven’t truly seen the state without seeing it from high above.

The landscape is one of the loveliest parts of the United States. So, when you are in New Mexico and want to escape the heat and see something beautiful, you should think about going to the mountains.

Visit During Winter

When you want to visit New Mexico, you probably don’t think about going during the winter. Why not? It is not only a cooler time to visit, but there are also a lot of winter activities you can do. The village of Ruidoso is beautiful any time of year, but it’s especially lovely during the winter months. You can go skiing or sit by the fire.

Whether you are into winter sports or not, visiting New Mexico in the winter is a different atmosphere with different weather. It would be best if you thought about trying New Mexico in the colder months.  But if you did visit in the summer, knowing how to escape the heat will get you far in life. It’s a skill in New Mexico. You need to preserve yourself. It gets hot in New Mexico.

You should think about all the ways you will stay cool and comfortable when it’s warm. When you make the effort to find air conditioning, jump in the pool, hike in the cooler hours of the day, visit during winter, or go to the mountains, there are many ways to get out of the heat. New Mexico is a vast landscape. Make sure to stay cool.

Visiting New Mexico is like visiting Arizona, so I have travel essentials I think you would need to visit.

More New Mexico stories:

• Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
• Bosque del Apache Redux
• Adventuring in Kirtland New Mexico
• 5 Things to Do in Santa Fe
• 5 Things to Do in the Santa Fe Area
• Things to do in Las Cruces New Mexico

How about you? Do you have any tips to share about staying cool in New Mexico? Do share!

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