Headed there between Christmas and NYE. Is the skiing any good this early in the season? Any good bars in the town? Restaurants? Any suggestions are helpful.

Skiing in Ruidoso is always hit or miss, but judging by what they have gotten so far, I would say it will be a miss.

Ruidoso has some good restaurants...some. When we go, we seem to always hit up Casa Blanca for Mexican food, Farleys for American bar/casual eating restaurant (but it can be good sometimes, bad others), but a lot of times, we just cook up there since my in-laws have a condo there.

Bars - there are not all that many. Win Place and Show seems to be a more country/older person bar. Nothing classy by any means. Quarters seems to have a bit of a younger crowd, can be quite humorous on karaoke night. If Dreamcatcher is open, they have a good beer selection for Ruidoso but they only stay open until 10 or so, and can be randomly closed as well on days you would not expect. The casino has a bar as well, which I have drank at many a times after losing money. There are really no stand out bars, most of the time they are dead during the week but that may be different over the week you are going.

FWIW, I am driving up there this weekend just to get to the mountains.

I was in Ruidoso for Labor Day and wasn't real impressed with the restaurant selection. There is a place that I think is sort of behind the Casa Blanca. It had sandwiches, soups, and salads that were pretty good - but those are tough to mess up.

Kind of pricey, but I highly recommend the elk tenderloin at the fancy restaurant at The Inn of the Mountain Gods- cant remember the name of the restaurant off the top of my head.

I second the recommendation for Casa Blanca.

My wife and I always go to Farleys to get the green chile and chicken sandwich.

There are a couple of bars/restaurants right downtown that can be pretty active at times.

Be aware of speeding downtown or toward the reservation- the police will be waiting.