5 Reasons Why You Should Visit El Paso, Texas

El Paso, Texas, is a city located in the far western corner of the American state. The city is situated on the Rio Grande, which forms the border between Mexico and the USA. On the other side of the river, you’ll find Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

It’s easy to find accommodations in El Paso, as there are plenty of possibilities available. If you are a budget traveler, you can stay in a hostel, and if you prefer luxury, you can choose among the many hotels in El Paso. In this article, I will share with you five reasons why you should visit El Paso.

1. Beautiful Nature

Image via Flickr by VisitElPaso

Around 15 minutes from El Paso, you’ll find Franklin Mountains State Park, one of the city’s top attractions. In addition to enjoying the beautiful views here, you can also do some outdoor sports, like hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. For rock climbing you can go to McKelligon Canyon or Sneed’s Cory in the Tom Mays Unit. If you would like, there’s also the possibility to camp here. You can find most of the campsites in the Tom Mays Unit. The campsites don’t offer water or electricity, so it’s important to bring enough water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

At Franklin Mountains State Park, you’ll also find the Wyler Aerial Tramway. This attraction features an aerial cable car, which transports visitors to the top of Ranger Peak in about four minutes. From the top, you’ll enjoy some amazing views. While waiting to depart, you can view the cable car’s machinery through a window located on the south side of the base station.

2. El Paso Zoo

At the El Paso Zoo, you can find so many exotic animals from all over the world. It’s a nice day trip for the whole family when you have some more time to spend in El Paso. Not only can you enjoy looking at all the animals, but there is also an African Star Train, the Hunt Family Desert Spring water feature, and the Foster Tree House Playground.

The zoo is open year-round from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. The zoo is only closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Adults from 18 to 59 pay $12 for a ticket. Ages 60 and over pay $9 for a ticket, as do children from 3 to 12 and teens from 13 to 17. Children under 2 years old can enter for free.

3. Ysleta Mission

Image via Flickr by ShanMcG213

The Ysleta Mission is considered the first and oldest mission established in the State of Texas. It’s also the second oldest continually active parish in the United States. Tourists frequently visit the mission to honor and celebrate the faith, history, and culture of this area.

4. Many Museums

Image via Flickr by VisitElPaso

You’ll find several museums in town, and one of the most popular is the El Paso Museum of Art. This museum was founded in 1959 and features American, European, and Mexican art. It’s definitely worth a visit for art lovers!

Other museums include the El Paso Museum of History and the El Paso Holocaust Museum. The El Paso Museum of History explores the rich multicultural and multinational history of the border region, known as The Pass of the North. The El Paso Holocaust Museum explores the history of the Holocaust.

5. Theme Parks and Water Parks

Last, but not least, the city offers both a theme park and a water park. Western Playland has attractions for both children and adults, and it’s a fun theme park to visit during your time in El Paso.

In Anthony, close to El Paso, you’ll find Wet ‘N’ Wild Waterworld, which also offers fun for all ages. Have fun on the thrilling rides, play on the playground, join a beach volleyball game, or go diving.

In conclusion, El Paso is known for its beautiful nature, especially at Franklin Mountains State Park, where you can do nice activities like hiking, climbing, or camping. When visiting El Paso, you should definitely consider a visit to the El Paso Zoo, the Ysleta Mission, the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, or the El Paso Holocaust Museum. In addition to nature, wildlife, and arts, you can enjoy some free time at Western Playland or Wet ‘N’ Wild Waterworld. If you’re a budget traveler, you can stay in one of the many hostels, and if you love to have more luxury, you can choose one of the many hotels in El Paso.

Author: Tamara

This article is part of the GPSmyCity iOS app. You can download it, read this article offline and obtain travel directions (by foot, car or bicycle) to the places mentioned in this article. Click here to download it.