Sudderth Drive is the main commercial street in Ruidoso and runs through the town centre for about a mile, lined with galleries, shops, and restaurants. The arts scene here is more serious than you might expect for a mountain resort — several galleries focus on southwestern and Native American art, with work by both established and emerging artists.
The galleries are worth an afternoon browse, particularly if you have an interest in landscape painting, bronze sculpture, or Indigenous artwork from the region. The quality varies, but the concentration of genuine craft in a small space is impressive. Most galleries are open seven days in summer and reduced hours in the off-season.