Besides the spas, there are a number of art galleries in T or C.

Lee Ann

I think we'll skip the drive to GUMO, not interested in Carlsbad. Would rather use that time to spend more time in other places.

These are brewpubs I have found online. I know some are currently open but others might not be based on the limited info I found. If you live in the area or have been there recently, let me know of you know anything. Also, if there are any brewpubs/breweries that I have not listed.

El Paso area:
Sunset Brewery & Pizza
Jaxon's Restaurant & Brewing Co.
Brew
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

Las Cruces area:
De La Vegas Pecan Grill & Brewery (just opened)
High Desert Brewing
O'Ryans Tavern And Brewery

The following suggestion would probably take longer than five days but was one of the highlights of our trip last Feb. We also flew out of El Paso after renting a car in Pheonix and traveling the southern border.

Go to Big Bend National Park along the Rio Grande River in south Texas. Truly spectacular. Stay at the park facilities in the Chicos (sp?) mountains there. Could travel from El Paso to Fort Davis, Texas, (stay in the Indian Springs State Park, there) then down to Presidio, Texas then along the Rio Grande to the Park. One of the prettiest drives we have taken. On your return to El Paso you could pick out another West Texas town to overnight in.

IMO--there was not much of note in El Paso. We did visit the Indian Springs Ranch in Fabens but did not eat there as it was closed at the time--looked like a nice view though.
We did eat a La Posta in Old Mesilla. Now that was a really good Mexican meal.

Margo

We had thought about Big Bend but don't think we want to squeeze in that drive.

So far (still researching), we are looking into doing/checking out:

-brewpub visits (of course)
-Hueco Tanks
-Organ Mountains
-White Sands
-Wyler Ariel Tramway
-Chamizal National Memorial (for the city view)
-Franklin Mountains
-Old Mesilla
-White Sands Missile Range Museum
-Pat Garret Grave

Does anyone know the plot number for Pat Garrett?

What are you planning to do in the Organ Mountains and the Franklin Mountains? Are you hikers?

Casual hikers, nothing that's going to take 1/2 or an entire day. Have not fully looked into what we can do at all the places yet.

Some things I have read that are in the area:

Aztec Caves Hike
Aguirre Springs
Kilbourne Hole/Aden Crater Volcanoes
Old Tin Mines Tour

I see that the Mescalero Apache Reservation is about three hours outside of Las Cruces. Does anyone know if handmade crafts are sold in and around the Las Cruces area by locals from the reservation? I wife has collected pottery from different tribes during our travels and she does not have anything from the Apache.

I'm also interested in visiting some ghost towns. I have looked up some but have not doen much researchon them yet. Any opinions on which are worth the time that are close to the El Paso and Las Cruces areas?

My husband is from El Paso. Statistically, it is quite a safe place. Not sure but I can't recall a time that I felt unsafe while there. I am glad others have stated that Juarez is unsafe. My husband used to go across the border all the time as a teen (20 years ago) but I'm not sure he would go now unless it was during the day & it was really necessary. He was at a nightclub there about 12 or 14 years ago & saw someone get gunned down -- he believed it was a "hit". Regardless, the crime has increased significantly in recent years. Not worth the risk.

As far as any place to check out, I have not seen anyone else mention this but you must go to Chico's Tacos. It is a family-owned El Paso icon that the locals frequent. The round tacos look like taquitos but they are wonderful & super cheap. Chico's has been around for over 50 years. They have several locations but I would recommend the older locations like Montana St. Other posters can help you out with the details.

I was not impressed too much the first time I had them but I woke up wanting some the next day. Hmmmm. Now, when we go to EP we are usually only there 3 or 4 days max but we have to go to Chico's twice even if one of those times is on the way out of town. They do not accept credit/debit cards, btw. It's not about the ambiance. The tacos are special -- i.e. probably made with lard & anything else bad for you. I bought a t-shirt the last time we were there & the couple of times that I have worn it out in public in my Austin suburb neighborhood I have had one or 2 people stop me & tell me how much they miss Chico's.

Don't know what else to tell you to do. We don't get out to normal places while there. We just spend time going to relatives' homes or staying at in-laws. I would love to check it out sometime as a real visitor but that will never happen.

Is there any area we should absolutely not stay in during our trip. We are staying a few nights in Las Cruces and a few nights in El Paso. We will be staying at Choice Hotels.

Also, has anyone ever gone to the VLA? Is it worth the drive? It seems like something neat to see and we'll probably never be out that way again. Of course, coming from Las Cruces, so will probably stay one night in Socorro.

For those familiar with the areas of Socorro, Las Cruces, Silver City, and el Paso.

I am trying to get to ans see as much as possible while we are out there. We arrive on 2/13 late afternoon and leave on the 19th in the morning.

Arrive El Paso and drive straight to Socorro for the night.

Visit VLA and Kelly Ghost Town early morning and then make our way back south. Conflicted at this point on if we should drive to Silver City and stay there one night or just go back to Las Cruces for the next couple of days. of course, take into consideration stopping at some sights along the way while driving.

The rest of the time will be in El Paso area.

Yes, a lot of driving possibly.

Do you think this can be done?

Things interested in doing/seeing:
Very Large Array
Kelly Mine Ghost Town
Fort Seldon State Monument
White Sands Monument
White Sands Missile Range Museum
Organ Mountains
Old Mesilla
Pat Garrett Grave
The Bataan Death March Memorial Monument
City of Rocks State Park
Rockhound State Park
Franklin Mountains State Park
Hueco Tanks State Park
Wyler Ariel Tramway
Chamizal National Memorial

Any opinions on these? Worth it, not worth it?

You really should do more research on your own. I would recommend www.yelp.com, www.chowhound.com and www.roadsideamerica.com for reviews and recommendations

some of the things you list are basically the same thing (wyler tramway and franklin mountains state park)

In the list the only one I would skip would be Chamizal National Memorial and White Sands Missile Range Museium. Old Mesilla is tiny and can be seen in an hour or less.

I have done a ton of research on my own and the list are things I'm thinking of. It's always nice to hear what people think who live or have been there.

It's a bit of a drive from El Paso to the Very Large Array, at least three hours if not longer. We went there last May and spent about an hour taking the self-guided tour.

Lee Ann

I highly recommend the VLA. And, since you will be in Soccorro, you might also consider a visit to the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge 15 miles southeast of town. Depending on the time of your visit, there's an opportunity to see sandhill cranes and a wide array of other birds that winter there. There is a trip report with photo links on the forum. Soccorro also has a brew pub with decent beer on the square and some good art galleries.

Yep, got the brewpub on our list. :}

Is Silver City area worth all the extra driving and possibly losing some time in and around Las Cruces?

Sorry, jedivader, we haven't been to that part of New Mexico yet, but I hear Silver City is nice.

Lee Ann

Trip report coming.....