Little Creek Retreat does indeed overlook a small creek. As you sit on the roomy covered front porch, complete with a ceiling fan for sultry summer afternoons, the burbling waters will provide the ideal background music for relaxing among the fresh mountain air.

The huge rear deck of the four-bedroom home is just as restful. Sip your morning coffee at one of the tables as hummingbirds flutter and trill and the breeze rustles through the Ponderosa pines covering the hillside. There’s more than enough room for everyone to enjoy alfresco dinners, as well as a gas grill for cooking up fresh trout you reeled in yourself or steaks from a nearby market. Should the temperatures drop, turn on the patio heater so that you can continue admiring the star-studded sky. Even better, luxuriate in the deck’s hot tub; it’s a perfect way to end a perfect day.

Little Creek Retreat’s charms extend to its interior. The living room’s velvety sectional sofa invites the whole gang to pile on and watch a movie on the flat-screen TV with cable. In winter, after a day on the slopes, everyone can gather around the stone-surround fireplace; its golden glow will show off the wood-planked ceiling and floor to perfection.

When you’re not dining on the deck—or at a nearby restaurant—gather around Little Creek Retreat’s spacious dining table or cozy kitchen table. If you’re vacationing with another family, the kids can eat in the sunny kitchen nook while the adults indulge in a more leisurely meal in the dining room. There’s a breakfast bar as well, perfect for surfing the web on your laptop (Little Creek Retreat has free Wi-Fi).

The breakfast bar is also a handy place for friends to perch while they help with meal prep. It provides extra counter space too, though Little Creek Retreat’s kitchen is so roomy, there’s plenty of surface space without it. Along with a full array of appliances, cookware, and tableware, the kitchen has a convenient island and generous storage. You’ll be able to prepare a Thanksgiving feast with the same ease as a midnight snack.

Little Creek Retreat can sleep up to 10 people—and as many as three pets!—in its four bedrooms. With a king-size bed, large flat-screen TV and lush chairs you’ll love nestling in with a good book, the primary suite is a retreat within a retreat. Its private bathroom includes both a walk-in shower and a huge soaking tub, plus twin sinks. Two other bedrooms each have a queen-size bed. The 4th bedroom, with a pair of queen beds, can sleep four people. It’s perfect for parents who want to be in the same room as their little ones or for kids who want to transform the room into their private clubhouse.

The house has two additional full bathrooms, plus a washer and dryer. When you arrive at Little Creek Retreat you’ll find all the beds beautifully made up, plenty of clean towels for all three bathrooms, and extra bedding ready and waiting. What’s more, the house has a large garage and an even larger driveway, so parking is no problem.

Little Creek Retreat is located in Alto, an upscale community just outside of Ruidoso. In less than 10 minutes you can drive to Alto Lake and Recreation Area, where you can fish, hike and ride horses or mountain bikes, and to Ruidoso Winter Park, where you can snow tube in winter and soar on a zip line year-round. The Links at Sierra Blanca golf course is only a 10-minute drive from the house. In less than a half-hour you can drive to the Hubbard Museum of the American West, Ruidoso Downs, casinos, art galleries, and shops and Ski Apache is just a half-hour away.

When you stay at Little Creek Retreat, everything you want from a Sierra Blanca vacation is practically at your doorstep. See for yourself: Reserve your stay today! Please remember that Ruidoso is a mountain town with snow and icy conditions during the winter. This can affect driving and parking conditions regardless of the property, driveway, or roads. 4x4 or chains may be necessary to access the home during winter months.