el paso
 

We are heading down to El Paso for the Sun Bowl and are looking for some interesting things to do or places to see. Any ideas? Thanks. We will be there 4 days.

The best thing to do in El Paso is shop for cowboy boots as all the major boot manufacturers have outlets there.

I like to head into the Mercado in Juarez, but you'll need to check through your hotel on the status of processing tourists at the border. After 9-11 it had become cumbersome and I don't know how it is now. There is a small downtown in El Paso and an old hotel there -- Rio something. It is really beautiful and a nice place to stay. I'll try to pull up the name. There are some really excellent Mexican restaurants all over the city.

When is the Sun Bowl? Carlsbad is a 3-hour drive from El Paso, a gorgeous drive through the Chihuahua mountains. In Carlsbad, there is Carlsbad Caverns, which is a good way to wile away half a day. There is also Sitting Bull FAlls, a very interesting unique falls at the bottom of a recessed box canyon. This is a park and there is a well-made series of concrete ramps that take you to the bottom of the 40 or so foot falls. The falls will be inactive in the winter until the snow melts on the mountains.

Another spot which is also 3 hrs. from El Paso is Riudosa and Cloudcroft and White Sands. Riudosa is a mountain town with lots of shops and galleries and some museums. Cloudcroft is a ski spot with a great view of the valley from the old hotel on the mountain top. White Sands is a National Park.

Thanks so much for the info. The game is Friday at noon. We will have part of the day Thursday and all day Saturday to do our sight seeing. We may try to go to one of the places you suggested. We would enjoy both.
Thanks again.

The historic hotel is Hotel Paso del Norte, and it's really neat. The most distinct feature is the Tiffany art glass dome in the lobby. The interior features marble surfaces and a Tiffany-designed art glass dome. It's been a long time since I stayed there, but I don't recall it being all that outrageous.

If you do go across the border, don't eat, even at recommended places. I got really really really sick after Mexican food and a margarita at a place suggested by Texas Monthly magazine. Sorry, can't remember the name of the place, but I am scarred for life! hehe

rb, you might want to consider a loop with a one-night stay in either city, to cut down on the driving. For instance, drive to Carlsbad and enjoy the Caverns. If it's still cold, bypass the Falls and head on to White SAnds and Cloudcroft, spending the night in Riudosa which has some good restaurants. You might take in an old west show and Cook-out, there is at least one in Riudosa. There is the Museum of the Horse there too, but I've not been to it.