Sitting at the intersection of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico, El Paso offers an exciting mishmash of cultures and influences.
Once a wild frontier town, it has transformed into a sophisticated city brimming with vibrant art galleries, world-class recreational activities, mouth-watering restaurants, and unique shops. Here is a sampling of some must-try activities while visiting El Paso.
Go Art Shopping at Casa Ortiz
El Paso’s newest art gallery occupies one of the area’s oldest buildings. Situated along the 400-year-old El Camino Real, Casa Ortiz Gallery is located in an adobe building from the 1700s. Although its exact construction date is unclear, the building became known as the home of a local salt merchant and buffalo hunter named José Ortiz in the 1840s.
Today, the building showcases works by several local artists, with each room dedicated to individual talents. Casa Ortiz also hosts events and live music, making it a cultural hub for the creative community. After your art session, stop by the nearby Three Missions Brewery, where you’ll find house-brewed specialties including Churro Stout, Pomegranate Ale, and 3MB Blonde.
Stroll Down El Paso St
El Paso St has been a bustling center of commerce linking America and Mexico for over 150 years. This oldest street in town has served as a thoroughfare for travelers and businesses regarding the border, types like Old West gunslingers such as Wyatt Earp and Pancho Villa. While it has undergone many changes over the years, remnants of the past remain, with five buildings along the strip listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the 1912 Hotel Paso del Norte.
While enjoying the history, be sure to stop by Dave’s Pawn Shop, just a few blocks from the Juárez bridge, where a life-sized Elvis statue greets you in a store filled with quirky items. Among the most notorious items for sale? The rumored trigger finger of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa.
Go Boot Shopping
El Paso is recognized as the “Boot Capital of the World” due to its long tradition of hand-making custom cowboy boots. This tradition dates back to the days when El Paso was one of the wildest frontier towns in Texas. Today, visitors can find an array of stores selling boots crafted by local artisans, showcasing unmatched craftsmanship.
Located in a historic brick warehouse, Rocketbuster Boots not only features the World’s Largest Boots but also offers colorful vintage boots. For more traditional styles, the Lucchese family has been crafting boots since 1883, using techniques brought from Italy. Additionally, you can explore Mingo Boots Co, J.B. Hill Boot Company, Cowtown Boots, and Caboots for handmade, custom boots available in town.
Eat Beef Tacos at L&J Cafe
Known locally as “the old place by the graveyard,” L&J Cafe is a beloved city landmark that has been serving up traditional dishes since 1927. Antonio and Juanita Flores originally opened the cafe on what was then the outskirts of town. As a proud representative of El Paso’s rich culinary landscape, L&J Cafe has stood the test of time, with fourth-generation chefs still preparing the same recipes from scratch.
Next door, you’ll find Concordia Cemetery, a historic site where over 60,000 people, including early residents and Old West gunslingers, were laid to rest.
Sip Drinks While Cheering on the Chihuahuas
The El Paso Chihuahuas, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, play around 70 home games a year at Southwest University Park, affectionately known as the Big Dog House. Visitors can enjoy an incredible ballpark experience with a 360-degree concourse that wraps around the field, allowing for various viewing perspectives.
The Chihuahuas excel in concessions, featuring house favorites like the bacon-wrapped Juarez Dog and the Clamato Norteño—an intriguing drink made with tomato juice, clam juice, olives, and a hearty slab of beef jerky as a unique touch.
Picnic on Top of the World
Pack a picnic and take a drive along El Paso’s Scenic Drive, a picturesque 2-mile stretch at the base of the Franklin Mountains. Near the top, a small park offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city skyline, with Juárez and New Mexico visible in the distance. The best time for this outing is during sunset, when the sky bursts into color before the lights of the sister cities begin to twinkle.
Go Bouldering at Hueco Tanks State Park
The 860-acre Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site is renowned for its world-class bouldering. The park’s natural rock basins provide an ideal surface for this climbing style, catering to climbers of all levels. Note that certain areas of the park are available only by tour and that visitor numbers are limited to maintain the fragile desert ecosystem.
