I am planning a week or two in the El Paso area. I haven’t really been to the southwest yet and that seems to be the easiest place to fly in to to get to Carlsbad Caverns. I would like to see the sights in El Paso while I am in the area. Any pointers?
I do plan to visit the Tanks State Park. That seems interesting. A climbing destination where the heights aren’t that much but apparently are quite a challenge. I am no longer a climber, but am still interested.
When I visit Carlsbad, apparently the only place to stay (outside the likes of Motel 6 and Holiday Inn Express) in the area is in Arstesia. Is that correct?
I’m from there but haven’t lived there in such a long time.
Some suggestions are scenic drive, the art museum, a ball game, the Utep campus. I’m sure there are tours of murals around town. Hueco tanks is popular, but a bit out. You can cross the border in to Mexico. Cross the other border to New Mexico and visit Mesilla or up to white sands. Cloudcroft is nice to visit.
Food wise you have to try Chico’s tacos. They are, without a doubt, the most iconic El Paso food. When I lived there, there were German and Korean communities due to the base. I’m sure there are restaurants to try these cuisines.
I was in El Paso 25 years ago or so. My only memory was the day my husband and I crossed into Cuidad Juarez and wandered thru a market. There was a guy there selling a battery powered toy who kept calling out “Wanna buy a rat?!?” It was weird.
We loved Carlsbad Caverns, and we went to (if I recall correctly) a restaurant called State Line where the restaurant was in TX but the parking lot was in NM. But El Paso itself wasn’t too impressive to us.
If you don’t mind a bit of a drive, the White Sands Missile Range Museum is worth a look, especially if you’re considering visiting the White Sands National Monument.
When I was five years old my family took one of those marathon vacations “out West.” The only thing I remember about El Paso was that we crossed into Juarez and went to a bullfight. I don’t even remember if we stayed for the - uh - ending.
I’m not even sure if there are even regularly scheduled bullfights in Juarez anymore. Frankly, I remember Carlsbad Caverns a lot more clearly.
Wyler aerial tramway. Grandkids loved it. I don’t like heights but for the kids, I did the ride. Great views. Twisty road just getting up to the gondola start.
I’m posting this in all seriousness. When I was there last I drove up the mountain to get a view of the city from above. At this one pullout, there was a fence to prevent you from getting too close to the edge. Beyond that fence were discarded long neck beer bottles (Texas, you know).
The ground squirrels had developed a knack for lifting up the mouth of the bottles and dropping it suddenly causing the left over beer to run to the mouth allowing them to drink a bit before it ran back down.
I set there watching them do this for a good while until they staggered (yes, literally) back to their burrows.
I recommend the views of the city from up above… and the squirrels.
I found the art museum and the history museum to be charming. I tried several places for Green enchiladas and was not impressed with any of them (supposedly originated there). I also ate at Cattlemen’s steak house and it was pretty good but the wait was really long of course it was Valentines day. I quite enjoyed Pot au Feu as well.
My favorite part was driving around as it was quite different from my home.
