Sun City: El Paso is Rich in History, Culture and Outdoor Activities

El Paso may be off the beaten path in extreme western Texas, but this bustling border city features 400+ years of history and 300+ days of sunny weather and is worth the trek with its rich cultural and outdoor activities.

It’s hard to call El Paso a well-kept secret — it’s the sixth largest metropolitan area in the Lone Star State with more than a million area residents when you figure in nearby Las Cruces, New Mexico. That population more than doubles when you consider Juarez on the Mexico side of the border.

“Nestled between the scenic Franklin Mountains and the Rio Grande, the City of El Paso … spans over 255 square miles of high desert terrain. Located at the confluence of two countries and three states (Texas, New Mexico and Chihuahua, Mexico), El Paso serves as the epicenter to a population of 2.5 million people, forming the largest bilingual and binational workforce in the Western Hemisphere called the Borderplex Region,” says the City of El Paso.

El Paso is a Vibrant City with Stunning Sunsets

Abundant days of sunshine and stunning sunsets has earned El Paso the nickname “Sun City.”

“It’s a hiker’s paradise and a foodie heaven, an escape for artists and an oasis for explorers. El Paso is a community rich in culture, with history built into every corner,” says Visit El Paso.

A time zone away from Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and the state’s other large cities, Tripadvisor calls El Paso an alternative Texas experience.

“Located far from the bright lights of Dallas or San Antonio … along the sparkling shores of the Rio Grande, El Paso boasts a different feel than its eastern counterparts. A true melting pot of American and Mexican culture, the combination is noticeable everywhere,” says Tripadvisor.

The nearly 11-hour drive from Houston and more than 9 hours from Dallas is worth making, according to Tour Texas. “Travel through the wide-open plains of West Texas and you’ll reach the border town of El Paso. Sitting in the foothills of the majestic Franklin Mountains, El Paso is the picturesque home to a range of cultures unlike anywhere else in the Lone Star State,” says Tour Texas.

Those who make the drive will find an economic and cultural area unlike any other in Texas, and perhaps the United States. “One glance at a map will show why this city along the Rio Grande has become the transportation and business hub for southern New Mexico and West Texas, as well as a destination for outdoor adventurers and history buffs,” says Fodors. “Most residents speak English and at least some Spanish, and the mix of American Indian, Spanish and American cultures is evident in the city’s art and music, architecture and cuisine.”

El Paso Traces Modern History Back to 16th Century Spanish Expeditions

El Paso can trace its modern roots back to 16th century Spanish expeditions who called the area El Paso del Norte or “the Pass of the North.” This historic crossroads can lay claim to the oldest town in Texas with the current day El Paso community of Ysleta, the site of the first Mass in Texas, celebrated on Oct. 12, 1680.

The Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) handbook says that the El Paso area already had 5,000 people by the middle of the 18th century.

An El Paso historical timeline, according to TSHA, includes the following:

• The El Paso area became part of Mexico in 1821 with Mexican independence from Spain.
• While area agriculture, ranching and commerce flourished, the Rio Grande also overflowed its banks frequently, causing damage to fields, crops and adobe structures.
• The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ended the Mexican War in 1848 and fixed the boundary between the two nations at the Rio Grande.
• In the 1850s, a settlement called Franklin became the nucleus of the American side of El Paso.
• El Paso County was established in 1850 with San Elizario (today in the El Paso metro area) the first county seat. El Paso was made the county seat in 1883.
• Fort Bliss was established in 1854 in El Paso and the Butterfield Overland Mail arrived in 1858.
• In 1859, Texas pioneer Anson Mills completed a plat of the town of El Paso on the American side — creating confusion as Juarez on the Mexico side of the border was then called El Paso del Norte. In 1888, El Paso del Norte changed its name to Ciudad Juarez.
• EL Paso’s growth kicked into overdrive with the arrival of the railroads in 1881 with its population reaching 10,000 by 1890.
• Becoming a “boom town” had its downsides as El Paso was sometimes known as the “Six Shooter Capital” and “Sin City,” but reform-minded citizens reigned most signs of lawlessness and vice by 1905.
• Population swelled to nearly 80,000 by 1925, partly because of those fleeing the Mexican Revolution.
• Fort Bliss and the military were responsible for much of El Paso’s growth during the 1940s and 1950s — with military personnel making up a quarter of the city’s population at one point.
• El Paso’s educational and cultural roots are also deep with the State School of Mines and Metallurgy starting classes in 1914 (today it’s the University of Texas at El Paso), the El Paso Symphony Orchestra starting in 1893 and the El Paso Museum of Art opening in 1947.

El Paso Getaway: From Museums to Scenic Hikes

There is plenty to do on an El Paso getaway with enough museums in the area to satisfy any art and culture lover and outdoor activities from hiking to biking to climbing to bouldering.

Let’s look at some of the activities El Paso holds for visitors:

Museums: El Paso as a wide array of museums for visitors including:

• El Paso Museum of Art: A must-see on any El Paso itinerary, this museum houses a permanent collection of over 7,000 works of art from the Byzantine era to the present.
• El Paso Museum of Archaeology: Museum’s grounds include 15 acres of nature trails, outdoor exhibits and desert garden.
• El Paso Museum of History: Learn about the history of El Paso del Norte in this museum’s six galleries.
• National Border Patrol Museum: This unique museum has exhibits on the history of the United States Border Patrol from the Old West to current operations.
• 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum: Features the 168-year history of Fort Bliss in El Paso and history of the 1st Armored Division. 
• El Paso Holocaust Museum: Located in the museum district of downtown El Paso, this is the only fully bilingual Holocaust Museum.
• Other museums to check out include: Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens, Crystal Mine Museum, Eduardo Pedregon Memorial Veterans Museum, Heritage House at UTEP, La Nube STEAM Discovery Center (children’s museum and science center), Los Portales Museum, Magoffin Home State Historic Site, Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Center for the Visual Arts (at UTEP), The Noncommissioned Officer Heritage and Education Center (at Fort Bliss), War Eagles Air Museum, and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Cultural Center.

• Botanical Gardens: Garden lovers have plenty of choices from the Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Desert Gardens (created in 1936!) to the El Paso Municipal Rose Gardens (500 varieties of roses) to the Keystone Heritage and Desert Botanical Park. Featherlake Wildlife Sanctuary is based on a 40-acre wetland built by the City of El Paso in 1969 where 219 different species of birds have been identified, and Rio Bosque Wetlands Park is a 372-acre city park.
• Climbing and Bouldering: Climbers can practice indoors at Cave Climbing and visit Hueco Rock Ranch where semi-primitive camping and climbing takes place on 10 acres. Sessions Climbing and Guiding is another option.
• Walking, Hiking and Biking: Visit El Paso’ guide to walking, hiking, and biking features 37 different locations! Some of the highlights include Franklin Mountain State Park Tom Mays Unit, Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site and Hueco Tanks chain trail, Chamizal National Memorial Trail, and the popular Thousand Steps Trail (where dogs are welcome!).
• Horseback Riding: El Paso’s history is entwined with the horse and visitors can ride at El Paso Trails and Chihenne Ranch, Jackie and John Middagh Horseback Riding, and Miller Horseback Riding and Tours among other places.
• State and National Parks: El Paso is a great destination for state and national parks with many options a short drive away including:
  • Balmorhea State Park
  • Big Bend Region
  • Carlsbad Caverns National Park
  • Franklin Mountains State Park
  • Guadalupe Mountains National Park
  • Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site
  • Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument
  • Transmountain Road
  • White Sands National Park

• L & J Café: Historic family-owned restaurant serving Mexican favorites since 1927.
• Café Central: One of the oldest restaurants in the EL Paso del Norte region (it opened in 1918), with sophisticated dining.
• Los Bandidos De Carlos & Mickey’s: Tex-Mex restaurant with mariachi music and colorful décor.
• Kiki’s Mexican Restaurant: As featured on the Food Network, this spot has attracted celebrities and locals for decades.
• The Hoppy Monk: Great selection of beers on tap and inspired pub food.
• Zino’s Greek & Mediterranean Cuisine: Serving up gyros, kebabs, and other standards in an unassuming strip mall location.
• Ripe Eatery: New American cuisine located in a mall food court.
• West Texas Chophouse: One of the best steakhouses in Texas, known for its dry-aged and wet-aged steaks.
• Ardovino’s Desert Crossing: Old-school Italian eatery located on the site the family opened in 1949 as Las Lomas del Rey.
• Taft-Diaz: Sleek hostel restaurant with black and white décor located at the Stanton House where U.S. President William Taft and Mexican President Porfirio Diaz met in 1909.

 El Paso offers an unmatched blend of history, culture and adventure. With its stunning landscapes, rich heritage, vibrant culinary scene and endless outdoor activities, it’s a destination that captivates visitors and leaves a lasting impression. Whether you're exploring its museums or hiking its trails, Sun City invites discovery and delight.