We actually travel all over New Mexico - have for many many years.
Our favorite place is between Chama NM and Antonito Colorado. We camp in an RV park, the Ponderosa, on the Conejos river.
http://coloradodirectory.com/ponderosacampcabins/ It is pure heaven. It's usually in the high 30's in the morning (yes, in the summer) and 70's in the afternoon. I have some pix on my other computer, if I can, I'll get on and post them.
The altitude (8500 ft) is really too much for my husband now that he has heart failure - so we shouldn't go there. So, last summer we went to Alamagordo, NM which is near Ruidoso in southern NM. We stayed in Alamagordo since it is only 4500 ft high. We'd go up to Ruidoso and Cloud Croft (8000 ft) during the day.
We actually love all of NM. The good buys on Indian jewelry and stone polished pottery (both of which I have GOBS) are in Gallup. You can also go directly to the pueblos in NM and buy directly from the Indian artists. We love to go into their homes/workshops and talk with them about their artwork. Santo Domingo Pueblo is known for jewelry. San Ildefonso is famous for stone polished pottery. My favorite pottery is from the Santa Clara Pueblo. The Acoma Pueblo is the most stunningly beautiful!
I love Santa Fe, but the prices are WAY too high. I like Taos (high priced too) and Albuquerque too.
The Indian ruins and cliff dwellings in Chaco canyon and Bandelier and other places in NM are amazing too.
It is by far one of our most favorite vacation spots!