6 Best Hotels in Northeastern New Mexico, New Mexico

On the Santa Fe Trail and directly below the Tooth of Time, this 1912 white adobe compound (the name means "House of the Hawk") on 225 acres is a romantic hideaway of the first order. The original owner, industrialist J.J. Nairn, used to entertain artists and other creative types here, and writer Zane Grey wrote Knights of the Range while he was holed up here. The rooms in the main house are furnished with Southwestern antiques and artworks by the likes of Frederick Remington and Charles Stewart, and the 12-foot ceilings with huge pine vigas (support beams) lend an airy feel to the massive adobe walls. A two-bedroom suite in the adjacent guest cottage is ideal for families or friends traveling together. Tasty breakfasts should be taken on the patio when the weather permits. During the winter months, dinner can be arranged for guests with advanced notice.

Lace curtains and Victorian-era antiques adorn 12 of the rooms here (there are also 10 modern, more affordable, but less distinctive motel rooms). The entire property underwent an elegant $1.5 million restoration in 2009, and rooms now look better than ever, but there's a bit of a chill in the air—and that's just what the ghost-hunting fans like about this supposedly haunted hotel. An extensive hot breakfast buffet is included, and the restaurant serves reliably good American fare.

Locals have long used this Southwestern-style Best Western to house out-of-town guests, where the rooms are spacious and pets are allowed (by prior arrangement).

The most upscale and contemporary of the hotels in town has clean rooms, fine views of Johnson Mesa and the vast grasslands, and a peaceful location south of Downtown. An extensive Continental breakfast buffet is included, as are snacks in the lobby from 4 to 8. Request one a room in the newer wing for extra legroom.

The renovated rooms of this rustic beauty of a building are comfortable and elegant, and each has custom-made furniture and a modern-but-period-style bathroom. Friendly staff help get you situated and will happily tell you about the hotel's history and things to do in the area. American standards and Southwestern fare are served in the dining room and saloon. Old West elegance and the house specialty—hand-cut steaks—please locals and visitors alike.

Arrive early for the best choice among the fully developed sites at either of this park's two campgrounds, Lake Alice and Soda Pocket. Be sure to follow park warnings regarding the resident brown bears at Soda Pocket.