Ojo Caliente

Archaeologists can confirm that people have been drawn to the waters at Ojo Caliente for thousands of years: the hot springs are surrounded by the ruins of structures and terraces built by ancient cultures. It's been an important gathering place for every culture that's inhabited these lands since, from the Native American ancestors of those ancient cultures to the Spaniards to the New Age hippies of the '70s. Now, the springs are surrounded by a fully developed resort and spa, and while it's a perfectly nice (if a bit isolated) place to stay, we actually recommend stopping in just for the day. The entry fee gets you access to the pools, mud baths, steam rooms, and sauna. Better yet, they're open late, making this a fantastic place to watch a famous New Mexico sunset.