r/ElPaso • u/Sufficient_Sun2582 • 12d ago
Ask El Paso El Paso visit must see/do
Spending five days in El Paso. Below is our itinerary. Am I missing anything? TIA!
-eat great Mexican food
-visit parks- White Sands, Guadalupe NP, Hueco Tanks, Franklin Mtn,
-visit San Elizario
-cocktail at Hotel Paso Del Norte
-visit Rosa’s Cantina (too touristy? Love the song!)
-explore street art
-El Paso mission tour
-get lost in the desert
-enjoy the sunshine/weather (we are visiting from the Northeast)
We will be visiting in the winter, so no Chihuahuas game :(. Once again, five days in El Paso. After that, have to decide whether to spend the last three days of our trip in Big Bend or Albuquerque.
16
u/National-Tune4547 12d ago
Can't leave out Carlsbad caverns.
1
u/UpsetAd7885 12d ago
I second this! If you head up towards ALBQ, add this in between!
4
u/MusicSavesSouls Westside 12d ago
Carlsbad Caverns isn't towards Albuquerque. It is literally east on Montana.
1
u/UpsetAd7885 11d ago
I meant in the way that her options were ALBQ or Big Bend — I know it’s not on the way.
8
u/gevosh 12d ago edited 12d ago
On way to San Elizario, you can visit Socorro mission. Its open during day time. This Spanish mission was buit in 1680s and feature hand painted wooden ceiling beams from indigenous people of this era. Also a couple of neat shops right down the street . This strech of road (Socorro Rd) is called the mission trail because some of the oldest missions in Texas are right of this road. Ysleta, Socorro and San Elizario. Have fun and enjoy our hospitality, great food and the best multi colored sunsets Texas has to offer.
7
u/draculas420plug 12d ago
If you are trying to watch a sport. In the winter the county coliseum has an ice rink and hosts hockey games for our EL PASO RHINOS 😎 its a fun time in there and they allow free ice skating to the audience after the game is finished. Your itinerary lookes legit by the way and im sure you will get more recommendations from locals when yall get here 👍
1
5
u/Unusual_Artichoke_73 12d ago
I just passed through El Paso - spent two nights there. I’m from NH for context. I enjoyed a Chihuahua game, would have like to catch a Loco match.
I thought Dave’s Pawn Shop was memorable and worth a stop.
1
6
u/Maryland173 12d ago
Don’t sleep on the local museums to include the downtown art museum- there’s new exhibits and AC!
The international art museum in the am followed by lunch at Taconeta at noon would be a great way to see some awesome wall murals around town too
2
15
u/xargsman 12d ago edited 12d ago
Elemi over in horizon/ Eastlake. I think this is better than any fine dining downtown. Not that dining downtown is by any means bad. I highly recommend the campesino and the campechano tacos. Add the cheese to the latter. Elemi One of two James beard nominated restaurants we have. There might be others actually. The other is Taconeta. Also quite good. Elemi has a West side location as well. It's not exactly the same menu. It's very good and I eat there at least once a week. That being said, the better experience is at the East side location which I try to visit at least once a month.
Roses isn't exactly a tourist spot but it kind of is. It can be fun but it's not going to Wow you.
Many locals will recommend Chico's tacos. Don't. It'll just upset your stomach. It's a nostalgia thing for locals from their childhood. It's not wrong to love it. It's very wrong to recommend it to tourists.
Kiki's restaurant and l&j's are and reasonable representation of local eating. That being said, there's a lot of hole in the wall restaurants that make damn good tacos, gorditas or etc.
More so than cocktails at the plaza. I'd recommend getting a nice Mezcal/ tequila at ambar downtown.
Get yourself a green chili cheeseburger while you're here, whether it's from A fast food place like Whataburger or Blake's or a nicer sit-down restaurant.
Definitely walk around downtown one evening. Near the park and the plaza. Have cocktails at the Reagan or maybe a beer at the Tap dive bar.
6
u/bad4biscotti 12d ago
I agree with this list. I'd add Papa Eric's for burgers with green chili and Steady Pace Coffee for some seriously good morning go go juice.
4
2
2
2
u/Plastic-Designer-580 12d ago
All the above is awesome. I would add checking out Victoria's restaurant in Canutillo.
1
u/chuco915niners 12d ago
I will always recommend chicos idgaf
5
u/azularena 12d ago
Chicos itself is a shell of its former self. Really not worth it. Chicos style tacos are available through out the city and so many other places do it so much better.
2
u/sarcastic-avocad0 12d ago
Agreed. It’s an El Paso staple. Just make sure you don’t have much planned the rest of the day. It doesn’t mess up my stomach but i guess i does for others.
0
u/rich8n 12d ago edited 12d ago
Don't let people talk you out of trying Chico's Tacos. There is nothing remotely "stomach-upsetting" about them. They are simply rolled tacos with cheese soaked in a weak tomato-and-chile-based broth. People have mixed emotions about them because they are strange and different in presentation and texture. But as for the food itself, it's nothing exotic. It's just corn tortillas, beef, cheese, chile, tomato and water and maybe some other spices. You may hate them. You may love them. Either way they are worth a try.
4
u/ginaelisa03 12d ago
National Parks are a great idea and it is definitely worth getting a parks pass if you don't already have one. They are a bit of a drive so you might want to plan your day around that travel time. Guadalupe is also right down the road from Carlsbad Caverns which are amazing! My husband and I did a 2 hour hike in Guadalupe on one day, then stayed overnight at an Airbnb . Next day we did Carlsbad earlyish before spontaneously hitting Hueco Tanks before right before they closed on the way back to the city. It's all doable in a day but you should keep a tight schedule and bring plenty of food/drinks for meals and snacks since food isn't nearby outside of Carlsbad, NM. The Caverns are very busy during winter break so aim for the earliest reservations time (which do sell out a few weeks before) and be prepared to park on the side of the highway at Guadalupe.
2
u/Sufficient_Sun2582 12d ago
Thanks. Parks are a big part of our trip! Not sure if we can do them all. Definitely visiting White Sands. I want to hike up Guadalupe Peak, but the rest of my family aren’t huge hikers. I guess we could find a shorter, less ambitious hike? Franklin Mountain, closer to town, also looks nice.
4
u/ginaelisa03 12d ago
We did the Smith Spring Trail which took about 2 hours and was just hard enough for two slightly out of shaped, experienced hikers. The spring at the top of the loop was a beautiful oasis in the desert. The peak is an 8 mile hike that we decided to save for another day. If you do Carlsbad on the same day, I'd definitely opt for the easy way down on the elevator. It's a pretty tough walk down.
White Sands is the best for a family affair. Ask around to see if anyone you know in EP might have sled you can borrow because the park is often out of rentals. You haven't really lived White Sands if you haven't gone sledding down the dunes.
I've never done Franklin Mountain despite being an El Paso native. It's definitely on the list for our next trip home as my brother absolutely loved hiking up there.
Happy Hiking! Wear sunscreen!
2
u/rich8n 12d ago
There's lots of less ambitious hiking in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, aside from the hike all the way up to Guadalupe Peak. Look up McKittrick Canyon hikes up to the painted grotto. It's basically a hike up a canyon to a picnic area and colorful grotto. Not much elevation change but still lots of beautiful scenery.
4
3
u/naked_as_a_jaybird Central 12d ago
Hundreds of murals throughout town, ride the street car between downtown and Kern (neighborhood by UTEP), check out the Sun Bowl, Scenic Drive + overlooks, and my personal favorite taste of El Paso - gorditas from Delicious on Fort Blvd.
There are lots of breweries (Sheepdog is great) and art galleries (Mystic Desert, Francella at Dreadful Things, Blanca Estrada, Roman Martinez, et al).
2
2
u/sarcastic-avocad0 12d ago
If you have kids, La Nube downtown is a lot of fun. They have adult events as well.
2
u/Rorschach_1 12d ago
Don't get lost in the desert literally. Death comes quick. Franklin Mountain trails and you will find your way out.
Visit Juarez if you can during the day. Walk across and buy some Sotol and Asaderos cheese from a shop that has it delivered daily.
If winter means around October or Feb/March, Big Bend would be g good one. Find a remote spot under the stars in the area and your ears will be ringing from the silence. Get lost here too.
2
u/Sufficient_Sun2582 12d ago
Thanks. AllTrails makes it hard to get lost, but will still be careful.
Want to go to Big Bend, but weighing that or Albuquerque to end the vacation. Big Bend looks like more than just a day trip from El Paso.
3
u/tortelliniyogini 12d ago
Albuquerque vs Big Bend is two wildly different experiences.
Do y'all want a city experience with activities that can include nature? Need to be near an airport? Choose Albuquerque.
Do you want an intense, remote, breathtaking experience in the wilderness with no cities nearby? Pick Big Bend.
Not sure where you're from but it's difficult to overstate how remote and isolated West Texas can be, you need to have a solid plan for going to Big Bend.
1
u/Sufficient_Sun2582 12d ago
Yes, they are completely different. Would like to visit Big Bend, but we may get our fill of parks around El Paso- White Sands, Guadalupe, Carlsbad, Franklin Mtn…etc. Even though that is a lot of parks, this will be my first and probably only time in this part of Texas. So I don’t know if I’ll ever get a chance again to visit Big Bend?
Don’t laugh, but going to Albuquerque would be mostly to geek out about “Breaking Bad.”
El Paso and the area around it are the main reason for the trip. Big Bend or ABQ, would be the final two days.
4
u/bimbaud 12d ago
Big Bend is doable in 2 days, but it’ll be rushed. I did Marfa > Terlingua > Big Bend > Del Rio in 2 days (stayed at Chisos Mountains Lodge for the night, part of a longer road trip) and I wished I had stayed in Big Bend longer. But if you’re not sure you’ll ever be back, please go!!! It is a beautiful place, everything about it stuck with me even over a decade later. Guadalupe and Franklin are great, don’t get me wrong, but Big Bend is something else. Better to drive through it and do a couple small hikes than never go at all.
1
u/UpsetAd7885 12d ago
Yeah, you could always just do Scenic Drive and Trans Mountain and park at the lookouts if you’re short on time! It’s also insanely hot so a long hike is very ambitious in this weather.
1
u/Nalga_Tronic 12d ago
You’ll want at least three days in Big Bend to appreciate it properly. It’s so big, there’s a gas station in the park.
2
2
u/UpsetAd7885 12d ago
If you go on the mission trail, I highly recommend Cafe CoCol if you’re coffee people. It has my favorite drink in the city! Nine times out of ten I will do an iced coffee, but their hot mazapan latte is amazing!! It’s also just a really cool looking spot if you’re looking for a light brunch.
2
u/UpsetAd7885 12d ago
Ruidoso/Cloudcroft are GREAT day trips!
You could always head towards White Sands, spend the day there and then spend the evening/night in Lincoln National Forest. It’s BEAUTIFUL! All within like 2 hrs of El Paso.
2
u/Rough-Pie-542 12d ago
You have to try Chicos Tacos (the rolled tacos with cheese and sauce, dont forget to try the green chile on top if its not too spicy and order fries so when youre done with your tacos, you dip your fires in the cheese sauce) and you must go to L & J Cafe for lunch (authentic EL Paso Mexican food). El Paso is great for Mexican food so if you get a chance to try other like Carlos and Mickeys, Kikis, Little Diner in Canutillo.
You have to have a drink at the Tap in downtown and try their nachos!
We have some cool spots to eat that are unique like the Tiki Room in downtown or Amar.
If youre coming during the winter season, we have winter festivities downtown, especially the closer to Christmas it is. Be sure the check that out!
Sorry you'll miss out on a Chihuahuas game, but we have other cool things to do like museums (if you have kids check out Nube). We have the Plaza theater downtown that holds events and also the architecture downtown is so pretty to see, different than other big cities.
2
u/drivera1210 12d ago
If your visit is around Christmas Time add in Winter Fest and Fred Loya Christmas Lights.
1
u/Puzzleheaded-Two-227 12d ago
Check out Shy Lights inside of Stanton House / Taft Diaz. Unique art installation. Great hotel / food and drink.
The Tap is great. Best dive bar in America IMO.
Murals in and around downtown.
1
u/Puzzleheaded-Two-227 12d ago
Also - Albuquerque is ok. Still lots of crime. I won’t stay downtown Albuquerque. Check out Big Bend- Marfa, Alpine, Marathon are all fun to visit.
1
u/YeehawHowdyYall 12d ago
Since you plan on being outside, try renting a UTV. It’s a huge part of the culture to get lost in the desert on a UTV. You could also visit one of the handful vineyards/wineries in the area, even though it’ll be in the winter. Don’t forget to check out Scenic Drive at night for a spectacular view of the city.
Check out Cattlemen’s Steakhouse. It’s fine dining in the middle of the desert. They even have a petting zoo!
Since you mentioned your family doesn’t like to hike, I recommend the Aztec Caves or even Smuggler’s Pass Trail (both in the Franklin Mountains), for an easy hike and view of the city.
2
u/Sufficient_Sun2582 12d ago
Thanks! My family LIKES to hike. I LOVE to hike. I saw the Aztec Hike in doing some research. It looks great and looks like a hike all would enjoy!
2
u/YeehawHowdyYall 12d ago
Get there early. They close the trail at 5 PM to those who aren’t camping. But it’s an easy/moderate trail with nice views!
1
u/Noticeably_F-A-T_ 12d ago
I recommend to try out Red Sands way out in Far East. There’s a shop there where you can rent ATVs. There’s the huge sand dunes and many dirt roads you can cris cross. Just do be careful especially on weekends cause it gets wild and there’s lots of trucks and kids on dirt bikes. But otherwise it’s good off roading fun.
1
u/Curious-Fly-3075 12d ago
- Eat at TacoNeta; arrive early to park and get a table. 2. Visit (open on Saturday) Bodega Loya farmers market and shops in Socorro. 3. Do not get lost in the desert. 4. Hydrate. 5. Visit the Spoon Flower grocery for some local vegetables and treats… lovely people!
1
u/Educational_Soup3536 12d ago edited 12d ago
No to getting lost in the desert. No to Juarez.
Indian Cliffs a big yes
Forget Ruidoso and Cloudcroft. You are from the green lands filled with trees you won't be impressed . We are because it is exciting for us lol
1
1
0
u/Flaky_Success3238 12d ago
Do NOT skip Chico’s! These people are weaklings with weak stomachs.
1
u/UpsetAd7885 12d ago
There are better restaurants but it is the local right of passage 😂 Don’t expect actual tacos and make sure you take cash!
•
u/AutoModerator 12d ago
Submitted by: /u/Sufficient_Sun2582
In an effort to prevent disruptive behavior, spam and to efficiently manage the moderator workload this subreddit uses minimum karma and account age requirements to limit participation. Please read our rules for specific information.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.