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El Paso Attractions
El Paso, Texas is a vibrant city offering visitors a variety of fun attractions and great things to do for the whole family.From fun children's activities, cultural events, museums, historic landmarks, live theater performances, and casinos, El Paso is the perfect destination for a fun family vacation or Texas weekend getaway.
Things to do in El Paso, Texas
Lucchese Boots.
Established in 1883, this family owned boot company produces high-quality, handmade cowboy boots from a variety of high-grain leathers, for a fabulous fit and one-of-a-kind boot that lasts. www.lucchese.comSocorro Mission.
Originally founded in 1682, the Socorro Mission was rebuilt in 1840 and features traditional adobe construction, finely painted beams, and decorative elements reflecting the building traditions of 17th-century Spanish New Mexico. Open Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm.Old Mesilla, New Mexico.
Established in 1848, Mesilla has been the centerpiece of Southwest history, from the Gadsden Purchase and the Civil War, to the Butterfield Trail and Billy the Kid's trial. Mesilla features traditional adobe buildings, museums, ghost tours, shopping, and special events throughout the year. www.oldmesilla.org [Top]Zin Valle Vineyards.
Located in El Paso's picturesque Mesilla Valley, this family-owned winery produces a range of world-class wines, including pinot noir, chardonnay, zinfandel, and merlot. Wine tasting and winery tours available Fri-Mon, noon-5pm. www.zinvalle.comFort Bliss US Army Post.
Established in 1893, Fort Bliss is home to over 30,000 U.S. Army troops, providing anti-aircraft and missile defense services, Patriot Missile battalion training, maintenance facilities, tank testing, and missile launch services. Visitors will enjoy the Fort Bliss Museum, also located on the Post. www.bliss.army.milBiggs Army Air Field.
Originally established in 1916 and decommissioned in 1966, Biggs Army Airfield was re-activated by the US Army in 1973. Located at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, Biggs AAF is now the largest active army airfield in the world. www.bliss.army.mil/Other%20Sites%20at%20Ft%20Bliss/airfield/enter.htm [Top]Tigua Indian Cultural Center.
Step into 500 years of Pueblo history and tradition at this attraction that features Native American dance performances, traditional songs, guided Pueblo tours, baking and cooking demonstrations, a museum, and a gift shop. www.ysletadelsurpueblo.orgWhite Sands National Monument.
This unique attraction features pristine white sand dunes of gypsum sand. Start at the visitor's center and museum then explore the dunes along Dunes Drive - an eight-mile-long scenic drive that takes visitors into the heart of the dune fields. Wayside pullouts let visitors stop and walk in the gorgeous white sands. www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htmIndian Cliffs Ranch.
A visit to this ranch truly transports visitors back to the Old West. Visitors can explore historic buildings and see classic tools, an antique wagon collection, a re-created western town, a working stable, and live animals, and enjoy a playground, maze, rattlesnake pit, and popular restaurant. www.cattlemanssteakhouse.com/tour.htm [Top]
Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.
Root for your favorite horse or hit the slots at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino. This thoroughbred racing track and slot machine casino is located just outside of El Paso and features over 700 slot machines available all year long, plus live racing events Tue-Sun from December through late April. www.sunland-park.comViva El Paso (Seasonal).
Learn more about the cultural history of El Paso at this exciting summertime musical drama showcase. Performances detail 400 years of Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Western American history through traditional dances, songs and native costumes. Performances are held Fri-Sat at 8:30pm, from June through August. www.viva-ep.orgUTEP - University of Texas El Paso.
Founded in 1914 as the Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a public university offering 81 undergraduate degrees, 65 master's degrees and 16 doctoral degrees to more than 19,000 students each year. www.utep.edu [Top]El Paso Saddleblanket.
You'll find the perfect El Paso souvenir at this unique specialty shop that features local art, textiles, Native American and Mexican rugs, blankets, pottery, cowhides, handmade baskets, clothing, collectibles, and so much more. www.elpasosaddleblanket.com
Wet ‘N' Wild WaterWorld.
This water park is a true desert oasis offering loads of cool, watery fun, a volcanic garden, thrilling water slides, a wave pool, a kiddie pool and slide, a lazy river, shady picnic areas, barbecues, a snack bar, and more. Open daily. Ticket prices range from $2.95-19.95, depending on age. www.wetwild.comEl Paso Chile Company.
Put a little spice in your life at this family owned business that offers handcrafted chile wreaths, gourmet food items, gifts, drink mixes, and other El Paso treasures. www.elpasochile.com [Top]Alfresco! Fridays.
This annual summer concert series held at El Paso's Arts Festival Plaza invites visitors to experience some of the city's best local bands and working musicians. Weekly summer concerts include styles from big band jazz to Latin, classic rock and more. Fridays at 5:30pm, May to August. www.elpasotexas.gov/mcad/summerprograms.asp#3El Paso Mission Trail.
Follow the path of the Spanish missionaries who came to El Paso to spread their Catholic faith, and visit the three adobe Mission churches that offer visitors a look into the lives of the missionaries and converted American Indians who lived and worked there over 400 years ago. www.themissiontrail.netEl Paso Zoo.
The El Paso Zoo features over 220 different animals including elephants, lions, zebras, reptiles, and fish from around the world, plus kid-friendly activities, live animal exhibits, special events, on-site dining and a souvenir shop. Open daily, 9:30am-4pm with extended summer hours. www.elpasozoo.org [Top]
Butterfield Golf Course.
Nestled along El Paso's historic Butterfield Trail, this public golf course features 18 championship holes, natural sand dunes, native plants, natural landscapes, and local wildlife. Golf classes, a pro shop and a restaurant are also available at the course. www.butterfieldtrailgolf.comPainted Dunes Desert Golf Course.
Designed by architects Ken Dye and Jeffrey Brauer, Painted Dunes Desert Golf Course offers 27 holes of championship golf surrounded by the picturesque hills and native landscape of the Chihuahan Desert. Painted Dunes also offers on-site dining, a pro shop, PGA certified golf instruction, and tournament services. www.painteddunes.comAscarate Park Golf Course.
Designed by George Hoffman, and opened in 1955, the 18-hole Ascarate Municipal Golf Course is a public course that features Bermuda grass greens and stunning views of El Paso's Franklin Mountains. Call (915) 772-7381 for tee time reservations. [Top]
El Paso Holocaust Museum.
This important museum educates visitors about the Nazi Holocaust, and honors both its victims and survivors. Exhibits trace the timeline of the holocaust from rise of the Third Reich, through the mass deportations, concentration camps, and the liberation of the camps by Allied Forces. www.elpasoholocaustmuseum.orgInsights El Paso Science Museum.
Opened in 1980, this unique museum features a variety of permanent and rotating exhibits that feature science topics including outer space, fossils, magnets, bubbles and more, plus educational tours and events throughout the year. www.insightselpaso.orgEl Paso Museum of Art.
This fabulous museum features an extensive collection of 12th-18th century European art, pre-Columbian and Mexican colonial art, modern Southwestern and Mexican art, and offers a variety of special exhibitions, art classes, films, lectures, concerts, and educational programs to visitors. www.elpasoartmuseum.orgWar Eagles Air Museum.
This unique museum features historic WWII and Korean Conflict era aircraft and exhibits highlighting U.S. military aviation history and the role airplanes, pilots and support crews played during wartime. Open Tue-Sun, 10am-4pm. www.war-eagles-air-museum.com [Top]
Bassett Place Mall.
This shopping mall offers a wide range of national retailers and specialty shops, including Costco, Kohl's, Ross, and Target plus an 18-screen movie theater, an arcade, restaurants, a food court, and a children's play area. Open Mon-Sat, 10am-9pm; Sun, noon-6pm. www.bassettplacemall.comCielo Vista Shopping Mall.
Boasting more than 140 shops, specialty stores, department stores, and restaurants, including Dillard's, Macy's, Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic, Bostonian, Old Navy, and others, Cielo Vista Mall is a shopping enthusiast's dream come true. www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=213 [Top]Sun Bowl Stadium.
Home to the UTEP Miners football team and the annual Sun Bowl college football bowl game each year, Sun Bowl Stadium is located on the University of Texas El Paso campus and features 51,500 seats, an artificial grass playing surface, state-of-the-art scoreboards, food vendors, and more. www.utepathletics.cstv.com/facilities/sun-bowl.htmlWestern PlayLand.
This family style amusement park is fun for the whole family with thrilling rides, roller coasters, family rides, and easy going kiddie rides, plus live entertainment, food concessions and souvenir stands. Open February-October. Check website for hours and ticket information. www.westernplayland.comEl Paso Diablos at Cohen Stadium.
El Paso's professional baseball team, the Diablos, was established in 1892 and plays their home games at Cohen Stadium. Cohen Stadium was built in 1989 and features 9,725 seats, food concessions, picnic areas, and a team store. Visitors will also enjoy special events, rodeos, concerts, soccer events, boxing, and more at the stadium. www.diablos.com [Top]Hueco Tanks State Park.
Hueco Tanks State Park, named for the large natural rock basins that trap rainwater, offers visitors a chance to peruse ancient rock paintings, a historic ranch house, and a stagecoach station, plus picnic areas, camping, hiking, rock climbing, bird watching, and free guided tours. www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/hueco_tanks/Franklin Mountain State Park.
Opened as a public park in 1987, the stunning Franklin Mountains overlook the Rio Grande River and offer opportunities for hiking and biking, rock climbing, tent camping, RV camping, and other outdoor activities. www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/franklin/ [Top]
