Fox Cave, Glencoe

Fox Cave was formed by the Ruidoso River, but its story is far more complex than gradual erosion over thousands of years. Legends tie the cave to fascinating historical figures such as Geronimo and Billy the Kid, both of whom are said to have spent time living in the cave, in which the fires that warmed them can be noticed thanks to the soot on the walls and ceiling. Unfortunately, for a time, the cave fell into disrepair, with roofs caving in and trash piled throughout. But when the Duke family took over in 2010, they determined that it could be renovated and restored, and the result is a sight for families to behold and enjoy. Here are some things to know before you go:

• Fossil lovers will find plenty to enjoy. The sedimentary rock dates back as far as 300 million years, and the cave walls are full of fossil remnants. Pieces of fossil and skeletons include saber-tooth tigers and dinosaurs.
• Precious stone lovers will find quite a bit to enjoy, as well. In fact, visitors can actually go mining for gems. Take a scoop from the mine, shake it out through a screen to get rid of dirt, then rinse it all clean, and you could find gems such as aquamarine, garnet, amethyst, and plenty more. If you don't get too many gems in your bucket, that's OK: there are plenty of gems and jewelry available in the cave's store.
• Only a small part of the cave is open to the public. And that's OK, because it can get quite narrow, and the ceilings are low, so it wouldn't be comfortable. But the owners believe that there may be another opening somewhere else, because they can feel a cool breeze coming from that narrow area.