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- More Reasons To Visit El Paso Asap
El Paso doesn’t get as much international attention from travelers as major hubs like Dallas, Houston, or Austin. But this city is truly unlike any other in the state in that it shares an international border with Mexico, creating a unique cultural fusion between Texas, USA, and Chihuahua, Mexico. We recently had the chance to visit El Paso and have narrowed it down to 14 reasons travelers should plan their trip to this border city ASAP.
UPDATE: 2023/04/18 16:24 EST BY AARON SPRAY
More Reasons To Visit El Paso Asap
El Paso Texas is one of the most unique cities in the state. El Paso is one of the most isolated cities in Texas and has a long and strong history with Mexico across the Rio Grande. El Paso is both a vibrant modern city with plenty to see and explore and a city with a strong Wild West history. This list was expanded with more reasons to visit El Paso, Texas.
14 Stunning Hotels In El Paso
El Paso has some top-notch hotels that will make any traveler’s stay in the city comfortable. We stayed at The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park and Hotel Paso Del Norte, Autograph Collection, during our recent trip to El Paso and were impressed by the architecture, hospitality, and aesthetics of both venues.
The Plaza is a gorgeous 5-star hotel where Elizabeth Taylor once lived (for a short time). There is a nod to the Hollywood allure of the hotel in its decor. The Plaza also has a rooftop bar called La Perla, which offers incredible views of the city and Juarez. Hotel Paso Del Norte is across the street from The Plaza and is a 4-star hotel with an impressive, grand lobby and ultra-modern room decor.
13 Unique Fusion Cuisine In El Paso
The shared border between El Paso and Juarez has resulted in a shared culture and culinary scene. Travelers might’ve heard of Tex Mex before, but there’s no place to experience it quite like in El Paso. The best part of learning about the cuisine there was the opportunity to make it ourselves at the Texas Culinary Institute. We spent a couple of hours with chef Hannahe Romero making our own huevos divorciados and churro French toast, both of which were delicious.
12 The El Paso Museum Of Art In El Paso
El Paso has given the world many great artists, and a lot of these works can be seen at the El Paso Museum of Art. The museum has over 7000 works of art in its permanent collection. We received a tour from Darlene Luna, who has been a docent at the museum for a decade. She provides tours for groups of all ages but especially enjoys touring groups of kids and helping them to engage with the artwork through questions.
While at the museum, we had the unexpected chance to meet the artist of one of the exhibits, Ho Baron. Baron is 81 years old and is a surrealist sculptor; he still lives in El Paso, and his front garden is full of his own sculpture art. As we walked through his museum exhibit with him, Ho told us that since learning about his cancer diagnosis, he has actively been working to donate his art to ensure it outlives him. Of sharing his work as widely as possible, Baron says, “I give it, and then they give it [to others]. So I don’t die with my work, which a lot of artists do.”
11 Nearby Scenic Hiking Trails In El Paso
Just 20 minutes outside of El Paso is Franklin Mountains State Park, with more than 100 miles of trails to explore. The park is approximately 27,000 acres and has a gorgeous red rocky terrain with high-desert mountains that overlook the Rio Grande. From the park, travelers can see Mexico.
The visitor center at the park opened in 2020. The narrow trails are edged with various plants including sotol, agave, and cacti. We hiked the West Cottonwood Trail, which was an easy trail that beginner hikers will find enjoyable.
10 World-Class Restaurants In El Paso
El Paso has a fantastic culinary scene, with restaurants to suit every budget. For casual dining in an eclectic space, we recommend getting lunch or dinner at Taconeta. The restaurant has been open for approximately two years. Although they started up in the midst of 2020 when things were shut down, co-owner Alejandro Borunda told us that the unique layout of the restaurant, whereby all guests order outside at the takeout window, allowed them to thrive despite public health restrictions. The food is fantastic; in particular, the avocado tostada is a must-try menu item.
Other restaurants to check out in El Paso include Anson 11, Café Central, and Cattlemen’s Steakhouse.
9 The Mission Trail In El Paso
Shelby McCue, President of the El Paso Mission Valley Association, started our tour of the Mission Trail by telling us, “I had a friend say to me, Shelby, El Paso is the hidden gem of the world.” He’s right - this city is a hidden gem for many reasons, and one of them is the historic Mission Trail which features two missions and one presidio. All three of these structures were originally built south of the Rio Grande in Mexico, but after the river was rerouted, they were north of the river and part of Texas.
The Ysleta Mission is the oldest continuously active parish in Texas, and the Ysleta community is the state’s oldest town. The Socorro Mission was founded in 1680, and touring it is a great opportunity to learn about the Native American and Spanish influence on its design. This mission was restored over a 10-year period by the community and officially reopened in 2005.
8 Amazing Mezcal, Tequila, and Sotol In El Paso
The desert terrain in El Paso enables the growth of agave and sotol plants, which are used in the production of tequila, mezcal, and sotol. While agave plants are domesticated and grown in a controlled environment to make tequila and mezcal, sotol has never been domesticated and always comes from the wild plant.
Restaurants and bars in El Paso serve up a creative array of cocktails featuring these drinks, so be adventurous and try something new. We loved Taconeta’s mezcal margarita, made with Espadin mezcal, fresh lime juice, triple sec, fresh carrot, pineapple, and ginger.
7 It’s A Great Base For Exploring Rural Areas Of West Texas
El Paso alone is a great destination, but it’s even more incredible when coupled with the charming towns further south as you travel toward Big Bend National Park. Most international flights will arrive in El Paso, so travelers can make this the start and end point of their journey. Then, they can rent a car or hire a driver and venture to the artsy town of Marfa or the far west ghost town of Terlingua to get a better sense of the region.
6 Temperate Climate Of El Paso
El Paso sees moderate temperatures in the winter and hot weather in the summer, making it a pleasant destination for sunseekers year-round. While the nights can be chilly (it is the desert, after all), daytime highs in January still average around 58ºF (~14ºC), which is balmy by Canadian standards. Escape the snow with a fall or winter getaway to El Paso, but remember to pack layers for the evening and nighttime.
5 You’ll See A Different Side Of Texas In El Paso
When Canadian travelers think of Texas, their minds likely jump to central cities like Dallas or Houston. El Paso has a totally different culture and feels compared to these parts of the state, largely due to its inextricable connection to its Mexican neighbor, Ciudad Juarez. Around 81% of the population of El Paso is Hispanic, and many of the people that travelers will meet in the city have family just over the bridge in Juarez. The charm of El Paso is undeniable, but readers will have to experience it for themselves to fully appreciate what makes it so special.
4 Explore El Paso's Hueco Tanks State Park
One of the stunning places to visit just outside of El Paso is the Hueco Tanks State Park located only 30 from downtown El Paso. Hueco Tanks is a favorite retreat for outdoor pursuits like climbing, camping, hiking, and even bird-watching. It owes its name thanks to the impressive rock formations rising out of the desert. The area is also a historic area with ancient pictographs on the rocks speaking to people long gone. Plan before going as there is a limit to the number of people who can visit every day in order to preserve the environment.
3 Enjoy A Show At El Paso's Plaza Theatre
Located downtown is El Paso's Plaza Theatre. Explore the artistic and musical heritage of El Paso at this heritage theater. The theater was first built in 1930 and then restored in 2006. Today it is one of the best places to see the talents of El Paso's performing arts. While El Paso has been part of the United States since the 1850s, the theater is built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style offering a throwback to the Spanish and Mexican history of El Paso. See Broadway performances and even enjoy free tours of the building (if in NYC take the time to see an authentic Broadway show).
2 Explore El Paso's Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens
The Chihuahuan Desert is one of the four great deserts of the United States and is a rich ecosystem with plenty to see. See many hundreds of native plant species in the themed gardens of the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens. Additionally, learn about archeology, geology, paleontology, and more at the Centennial Museum (commemorating the 100th anniversary of the independence of Texas).
1 Discover The National Border Patrol Museum
The United States / Mexican border frequently gets in the news for all the wrong reasons. While it may be one of the longest undefended borders in the world, it is one of the more heavily patrolled. The National Border Patrol Museum in El Paso delves into the efforts of the border patrol. See displays that include boats, jeeps, OH-6 helicopters, Piper Super Cub airplanes, speedboats, and more. Browse the weapons, uniforms, etc, of the border force.
For more information on Texas, visit TravelTexas.com.