The Red Rock Balloon Rally

Seven miles east of Gallup, New Mexico, in some truly spectacular surroundings, Red Rock State Park has hosted the Red Rock Balloon Rally for twenty nine years! Our readers love this balloon fest, the second largest in the world, and we wanted to pass along this idea for a great RV camping vacation. Sit back and listen about how these wild canyons are transformed every December near Gallup, New Mexico.

The Destination
Just off I-40, about two hours west of Albuquerque, Red Rock State Park is a photographer's paradise. Smooth red rock bluffs surround the park on three sides, making this six hundred acre park the perfect setting for an international balloon rally.

Besides the vast red rock canyons in the area, the site of the Rally also offers a big taste of Native American culture. The Red Rock Museum features art and cultural displays from the Zuni, Hopi and Navajo cultures, as well as the ancient Anasazi who once inhabited the area. And, one more reason motorhome campers love this Rally - it's free to anyone who wants to come & watch!

The Event
Much more than just a major hot air balloon event, this huge festival raises thousands of dollars each year for area charities. Balloon crews from around the world gather the first week of December for three days of balloon races, mass ascensions and sundown balloon glows that will have your camera snapping.

If you've never attended a balloon rally, this is the perfect place to start! RV campers from all over have been fascinated by exciting events like the balloon races, in which balloon crews move from target to target, dropping their markers. And we can't even describe how awesome it is watching dozens of balloons “light up” in the evening sky against a backdrop of red rock bluffs.

In the midst of all that color and action, Red Rock Balloon Rally takes on its own unique flavor with the added ingredient of Native American culture. Special ceremonial dances, held as official Rally events, allow visitors a glimpse into ancient rituals. Native artisans sell pottery, jewelry and other handcrafted art throughout the Rally, so plan to come away with some wonderful finds.

The RV Camping Possibilities
Ready to roll to Red Rock? Here are some suggestions for making this your best RV camping trip ever! If you don't own a motorhome, call the El Monte RV Albuquerque Rentals office. They'll reserve a luxurious RV and help point you down the road to Red Rock State Park.

There's a very well-equipped RV campground on Route 66, in nearby Gallup. USA RV Park is in a scenic mountain setting and offers all the amenities motorhome campers could hope to find. There's also the large KOA Gallup Kampground within minutes of the Balloon Rally site. It features large pull-thru campsites, wifi, cable and a campground store for your convenience. Either way, your RV camping vacation will be a memorable one, thanks to the great campgrounds available near Red Rock.

We hope this stirs your interest to see the wonder that is Red Rock Balloon Rally! Book your El Monte RV Rentals motorhome now and plan to spend some time at the Rally this December. It could be just the lift your spirits need!

RVing to the Taos Mountain Balloon Rally

Every year in late October, dozens of hot air balloons descend upon Taos, New Mexico for three days of balloon lifts, parades and just plain fun! It sounded like such a great idea for an RV camping trip that we've pulled together information about the Taos Mountain Balloon Rally and interesting things to do in the surrounding area.

Balloon Rally in the Mountains
Each year, thousands of people flock to the mountains surrounding Taos, to watch colorful balloons rising into the dawn. Hot air ballooning is popular in Northern New Mexico and many balloon outfitters operate balloon ride concessions year-round. This makes the Balloon Rally a natural event for the Taos area, and it gets bigger every year.

A number of events during the Rally have emerged as crowd favorites. The Dawn Patrol, held at six a.m. each day, is spectacular, so don't forget to bring your camera! There's also a mass ascension of balloons an hour later. There's nothing quite like seeing dozens of balloons rising, one after another, into the cool, clear air above the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

The ultimate photo op at the Rally is the sundown "Balloonmenshine," where balloon crews "shine" the balloons on the ground by flaming up their burners. Treat yourself to a balloon ride sometime during the weekend, too.

When it's time to settle down for the evening, RV camping in the mountains is a great experience. Here are a couple of ideas for area campgrounds our readers have recommended.

RV Camping Possibilities
Nestled in a mountain valley near the Balloon Rally site, you'll find Taos Valley RV Park. This beautiful park offers mountain views, free wireless and full hookups for RVs.

Monte Bello RV Resort, down the road on Hwy 64, sits on a high mesa that offers a fabulous view of the surrounding countryside. Located near the Rio Grande Gorge suspension bridge, this campground features a convenience store, hiking trails and picnic pavilion.

Things to Do in Taos
Spend three days in the midst of hot air balloon activities, and then stay, if you can, to explore the rich possibilities around Taos. If you've never traveled to Taos, you'll be amazed by the cultural, historical and outdoor sports activities you'll find there.

Taos Pueblo is a fitting symbol of this area rich in Native American history. The Pueblo is a Native American community continuously inhabited for over one thousand years! Once the Pueblo has sparked your interest in Native art, spend time exploring more than eighty art galleries in the Taos, New Mexico area.

We also recommend spending time in the mountains around Taos, whether your sport is mountain biking, hiking or lake fishing. Rio Grande Gorge is a spectacular place to visit, plunging eight hundred feet through red rock to the Rio Grande River below. Carson National Forest is adjacent to Taos, and offers over a million acres of mountain beauty rising from six thousand to over thirteen thousand feet!

The Taos Mountain Balloon Rally is a wonderful way to experience the rugged beauty of Northern New Mexico. Fly into Albuquerque and pick up your reserved RV rental at our Albuquerque RV Rentals office there, then head north to Taos. Your trek along the road to Taos, and at least three days of fun around the Balloon Rally, will have you calling to book your RV rental reservation for next year!

Great RV Camping Idea – Exploring New Mexico Ghost Towns

The Land of Enchantment may also be the Land of Haunted Places, if you're really into ghost towns. We knew you wouldn't want to miss the many ghost towns of New Mexico, so we've put together a list of places RV campers will want to go.

Northern New Mexico Ghost Towns
Glorieta: East of Santa Fe is a fascinating place called Glorieta. The Civil War battle that ended the Confederate threat in New Mexico took place nearby in La Glorieta Pass. Within a few years, a village grew where the railroad came through the Pass and Glorieta was born. Numerous businesses operate in Glorieta to serve the tourists who come to see the original 1870s buildings.

Western New Mexico Ghost Towns
Horse Springs: This former ranching center sits just off Hwy 12 in western New Mexico. A large natural spring for which the town was named drew ranchers to the area but didn't make up for the poor soil, so Horse Springs was soon no more.

Aragon/Fort Tularosa: The former Fort no longer exists, but you'll find signs of the early settlement as well as a few modern-day residents.

Eastern New Mexico Ghost Towns
La Lande: Interesting stucco ruins rise up in the desert of eastern New Mexico on the site of La Lande, a failed farming village.

De Baca: Farther west on Hwy 60, you can explore several abandoned homes and businesses at De Baca, another small town that faded when farmers failed to make a living.

Southern New Mexico Ghost Towns
Brice: Just north of Orogrande in southern New Mexico visit Brice, where visitors will find a cemetery and the remnants of a turquoise mining settlement.

With so many ghost towns to explore and great RV parks to settle into, New Mexico presents real possibilities for RV campers who love the unusual. Start your trip with a call to El Monte RV Rental's Albuquerque RV Rentals location. Our friendly staff will help you reserve a luxurious motorhome to keep you comfortable on your trip. Happy ghost hunting!