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Things to Do in El Paso, Texas
Visitors to El Paso, Texas are pleased to find a vibrant city offering a variety of fun attractions and activities, interesting cultural events, kids attractions, museums, historic landmarks, live theatre, casinos, and other fun things to do. With so many fun attractions to see and other things to do, El Paso, Texas is a great destination for a fun family vacation or weekend getaway.
El Paso, Texas Area Attractions
Fort Bliss US Army Post.
Fort Bliss was established in 1893, and is home to more than 30,000 U.S. Army troops. The base provides anti-aircraft and missile defense services, Patriot Missile battalion maintenance and training, tank testing, and missile launch exercises. The Fort Bliss Museum and Biggs Army Airfield are also located on the Post. www.bliss.army.milBiggs Army Air Field.
Located at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, Biggs Army Airfield was established in 1916 and decommissioned in 1966. The airfield was re-activated by the US Army in 1973, and today Biggs AAF is the largest active army airfield in the world. www.bliss.army.mil/Other Sites at Ft Bliss/airfield/enter.htm [Top]
Butterfield Golf Course.
Built along El Paso’s historic Butterfield Trail, this public golf course features 18 championship holes surrounded by natural sand dunes, native plants and local wildlife. The course also offers golf classes, a pro shop, a restaurant, and a variety of special events. www.butterfieldtrailgolf.comTigua Indian Cultural Center.
Visitors can experience 500 years of Pueblo history and tradition at this attraction that features Native American dancing, traditional songs, guided Pueblo tours, baking and cooking demonstrations, a museum, and a gift shop. www.ysletadelsurpueblo.org [Top]Cielo Vista Shopping Mall.
With 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 shopper’s paradise. www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=213
Bassett Place Mall.
This shopping center 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 kids’ play area.Open Mon-Sat, 10am-9pm; Sun, noon-6pm. www.bassettplacemall.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]
White 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. Also 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.comChamizal National Memorial.
This unique memorial commemorates the peaceful settlement of the Chamizal boundary dispute with museum exhibits detailing the history of the U.S.-Mexico border and the 100-year-long border dispute between the United States and Mexico. Other features include a cultural center, art gallery and amphitheatre. www.nps.gov/cham/index.htm [Top]Viva El Paso (Seasonal).
Learn more about the cultural history of El Paso at his 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.org
El 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.org [Top]
UTEP - 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.eduEl 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]
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.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]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.comWestern PlayLand.
Enjoy a day at this family style amusement park that offers fun for the whole family with thrill rides, roller coasters, family rides and easy going kiddie rides, plus live entertainment, classic food concessions and souvenir stands. Open February-October. Check website for hours and ticket information. www.westernplayland.com [Top]Alfresco! Fridays.
This ongoing summer concert series held at El Paso’s Arts Festival Plaza invites visitors to experience some of the city’s best local bands and musicians. Weekly summer concerts include everything from big band jazz and Latin style to classic rock and more. Free concerts are held every Friday at 5:30pm, from May to August. www.elpasotexas.gov/mcad/summerprograms.asp#3Plaza Theatre.
This historic Art Deco theater originally opened in 1930 and is one of El Paso’s most popular landmarks. The theater was restored in 2002, and offers a diverse schedule including Broadway theater productions, live music, dance performances, film festivals, live presentations, and more. www.theplazatheater.org [Top]El Paso Mission Trail.
El Paso’s historic Mission Trail follows the path of the Spanish missionaries who came to El Paso to spread their Catholic faith. A highlight of the trail is 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.netWar Eagles Air Museum.
Visit this unique museum to see historic WWII and Korean Conflict era aircraft and exhibits highlighting the history of U.S. military aviation and the significant role that airplanes, pilots and support crews played during those wars. Open Tue-Sun, 10am-4pm. Children and students enter free. www.war-eagles-air-museum.com [Top]Sun Bowl Stadium.
Located on the University of Texas El Paso campus, the Sun Bowl is an outdoor football stadium that has been up and running since 1935, only second to the Rose Bowl in longevity. The Sun Bowl is home to the UTEP Miners football team, and also hosts the Sun Bowl college football bowl game each December. Opened in 1963 and refurbished in 2000, Sun Bowl Stadium features seating for 51,500 fans, plus an artificial grass playing surface, a state-of-the-art video board, three scoreboards, food and souvenir concessions, and more. Visit www.utepathletics.cstv.com/facilities/sun-bowl.html & www.sunbowl.orgMagoffin Home State Historic Site.
This historic home was built in 1875 by El Paso pioneer Joseph Magoffin. The unique mansion, located in downtown El Paso, is made from traditional adobe construction, and features Victorian-era décor and furniture, plus several interesting outbuildings and period gardens. Open Tue-Sun, 9am-5pm. www.thc.state.tx.us/hsites/hs_magoffin.aspx?Site=Magoffin [Top]El 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.orgEl Paso Community College.
Established in 1969, El Paso Community College is one of the fastest growing community colleges in Texas and offers a variety of educational courses to more than 20,000 students at its five different campus sites in El Paso. www.epcc.edu [Top]
