There are plenty of attractions in El Paso, Texas. With a name that comes from the Spanish, meaning “the pass”, El Paso provides a one of a kind vacation, where you can experience fascinating nature trips and tours that explore the history of the city, dating back 400 years. Located across the border from Mexico, in the western part of the U.S. state of Texas, this city is known for its number of unique attractions that you surely don’t want to miss! And your accommodation is sorted too; whether you’re looking for the best Vrbo rentals or the best hotels in El Paso, plenty of amazing options are available here. Without further ado, let’s check out the 13 best things to do in El Paso, Texas.
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1. Watch a show at Plaza Theater
If you’re looking for a classic and fun thing to do at night, Plaza Theater might interest you. This is one of the most famous historical sites of El Paso, Texas. The Plaza Theater is a film house that has been presenting stage shows, since 1929 and it is still operational today, with shows that include Broadway hits, musical concerts and individual performances. With its Spanish Colonial Revival style, this place is best for romantic dates, while on vacation with your loved one.
Plaza Theater
Address: 125 W Mills Ave, El Paso, TX 79901, USA
Website: Plaza Theater
2. See the El Paso Museum of Art
Located next to the Plaza Theater, the El Paso Museum of Art offers a fascinating look at the art collections of some of the famous Mexican and Southwestern American of the area. If you are lucky, you may one of the special exhibits, featured every year, which will give you the chance to see a large collection of contemporary art. You might also want to try their art classes, storytelling sessions and educational classes, if you are going to stay long in the city!
El Paso Museum of Art
Address: 1 Arts Festival Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901, USA
Website: El Paso Museum of Art
3. Visit El Paso Zoo
Travelling with kids? Then, let them have an exciting day trip while visiting the city of El Paso. The El Paso Zoo houses animals of different kinds, representing 220 species, with some endangered species like the Amur leopard and Aruba rattlesnake. Not only can you see animals being taken care of, you can also watch the animal shows, such as the sea lion show and check out some of the exotic animals from different parts of the world.
Experience their featured family attractions, like the African Star Train, the Hunt Family Desert Spring, the Foster Tree House Playground and the Giraffe Encounter.
El Paso Zoo
Address: 4001 E Paisano Dr, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
Website: El Paso Zoo
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4. See the El Paso Holocaust Museum
Are you a history buff? Then check out this museum, located in the museum district of downtown El Paso, founded by a Holocaust survivor, Henry Kellen. This museum was established with the intention of enlightening the public about the Third Reich, during World War II, thanks to donations and grants provided to help the museum.
Take note that the museum is closed on Mondays and most national and Jewish holidays. The best part? Admission is free to the public!
El Paso Holocaust Museum
Address: 715 N Oregon St, El Paso, TX 79902, USA
Website: El Paso Holocaust Museum
5. Pay a visit to St. Patrick Cathedral
Those interested in El Paso sightseeing should visit St. Patrick Cathedral. The seat of Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso, Texas is located downtown and is one of the historical landmarks of the city. Designed by the architectural firm Barnett, Haynes and Barnett, in St. Louis Missouri, the church offers a mix of Byzantine and Romanesque style.
St. Patrick Cathedral
Address: 1118 N Mesa St, El Paso, TX 79902, USA
Website: St. Patrick Cathedral
6. Buy a souvenir at the Downtown Art & Farmers Market
If you’re fond of shopping malls and buying stuff, the Downtown Art & Farmers Market is a great place to visit. Drop by and score some things you can bring home from your vacation. Situated in the Union Plaza district, this famous market takes place every Saturday, starting from 9 am. The market offers good food, with ingredients from local farmers, as well as crafts and original artwork made by local artists. And if you are tired of roaming around, you can be entertained by the performances and live music at the market or attend an event, like health and wellness workshops which are open for residents and tourists.
Downtown Art & Farmers Market
Address: 117 Anthony St, El Paso, TX 79901, USA
Website: Downtown Art & Farmers Market
7. Tour Magoffin Home State Historic Site
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Magoffin Home State Historic Site is a beautiful example of an adobe home that were built in the area before modernisation came in. Built in 1877, its architecture is heavily influenced by Spanish, Territorial and Greek Revival styles. Visitors to this homestead can take a tour of the various rooms, sprawling grounds and gardens. Visitors can also learn about the family who lived here and participated in many of the monumental events in American history, like Civil War, U.S. expansion and settlement, and more.
Magoffin Home State Historic Site
Address: 1120 Magoffin Ave, El Paso, TX 79901, United States
Website: Magoffin Home State Historic Site
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 9am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 7 USD
8. Admire the blooms at El Paso Municipal Rose Garden
Take a break from all the sightseeing in the city and visit El Paso Municipal Rose Garden. Admire the lovely blooms as you walk past rows of roses in every color. The beautifully laid out garden is maintained by a team of volunteers and is an ideal place to relax and gather your thoughts. Take a breather from the hectic city life and stop and smell the roses at El Paso Municipal Rose Garden.
El Paso Municipal Rose Garden
Address: 3418 Aurora Ave, El Paso, TX 79930, United States
Website: El Paso Municipal Rose Garden
Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)
Price: free
9. Stroll through Keystone Heritage Park and El Paso Desert Botanical Garden
Combining two beautiful and historic areas - Keystone Heritage Park and El Paso Desert Botanical Garden - this attraction has plenty to see and do for visitors. It has a desert botanical garden consisting of a variety of plants that grow in arid landscapes, a space where visitors can experience the Chihuahuan Desert, wetlands teeming with native flora and fauna, and an archaeology site that showcases the remains of an ancient village that was inhabited by the original peoples of El Paso County. Spread out over a massive area, it is a great place to spend an entire day with your family.
Keystone Heritage Park and El Paso Desert Botanical Garden
Address: 4200 Doniphan Dr, El Paso, TX 79912, United States
Website: Keystone Heritage Park and El Paso Desert Botanical Garden
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 9am - 5pm; Sun: 9am - 6pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 2 USD
10. Experience indoor skydiving at iFLY El Paso (from USD 64.0)
Want to try skydiving but too afraid to go for it? How about trying out indoor skydiving instead? With iFLY El Paso, you can easily experience skydiving in the safety and comfort of an indoor environment. Suit up in your special diving attire and sit through a short training sesssion. Then, experience a free-fall in a special and top-of-the-line vertical wind tunnel alongside your instructor. And the best part of this experience is that no prior preparation or experience is necessary.
El Paso iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
11. Order stylish boots at Rocketbuster Handmade Custom Boots
The best souvenir that you can take home from El Paso or anywhere in Texas is a pair of genuine cowboy boots. And when in El Paso, you have the option of getting a pair designed especially for you with Rocketbuster Handmade Custom Boots. As the name suggests, this El Paso establishment offers customisation services for boots, where you can pick your own designs, embellishments and colors. The boots are then handmade for you after a custom fitting session. You can also tour the shop and learn how the staff makes boots the old-fashioned way.
Rocketbuster Handmade Custom Boots
Address: 115 Anthony St, El Paso, TX 79901, United States
Website: Rocketbuster Handmade Custom Boots
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 4pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
12. Take a ride in Western Playland Amusement Park
One of the most fun things to do in El Paso with kids is to visit Western Playland Amusement Park. It is 30-acres (12.1 hectares) in size, and houses 30 different exciting rides and has over 50 years of service, since its opening in 1960. With thrilling rides, such as the Hurricane, Tsunami, El Bandido Roller Coaster, Paratrooper, Round up, Tilt-a-Whirl, Pharaoh’s Fury, Scrambler, Himalaya and more, this place is the perfect spot not only for families travelling with children but for the kids at heart.
Just make sure to check out the park’s website first, before going to the park, as they are only open from March to October, at different days and times and open mostly weekends only, except for the summer season, when they are open all week.
Western Playland Amusement Park
Address: 1249 Futurity Dr, Sunland Park, NM 88063, USA
Website: Western Playland Amusement Park
Delightful El Paso
If you’re looking for the next destination, then you can never go wrong with El Paso. This beautiful city has a perfect blend of activities to choose from. It has great tourist spots for travel enthusiasts, as well as fancy restaurants for food lovers. Plus, after your visit to this city, you can easily afford to hop on a flight to your next destination because of the cheap flights from El Paso. A good balance of sightseeing and adventure waits for you! Make sure to include El Paso, Texas on your bucket list. It will surely be one for the books!
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6 Best Historic Hotels In El Paso, Texas - Updated 2024Plarlene Juliane -
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