Sights in West Texas
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Border Patrol Museum
At first, this may seem like a weird little niche museum, but the more time you spend in west Texas, the more you recognize the Border Patrol as an integral part of the culture. There’s not much nuance to the exhibits – it feels like they just stuck some of the more interesting stuff they had in storage into one big room, with some rather big and intimidating chase vehicles at the other end. But there are some interesting artifacts representing both sides of the river. As for the gift shop: what little girl wouldn’t be thrilled with a plush pink pony with a Border Patrol logo embroidered on it?
reviewed
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Guadalupe Mountains National Park
We won’t go so far as to call it Texas’ best-kept secret, but the fact is that a lot of Texans aren’t even aware of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. It’s just this side of the Texas–New Mexico state line and a long drive from practically everywhere in the state. Despite its low profile, it is a Texas high spot, both literally and figuratively. At 8749ft, Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in the Lone Star State. The fall foliage in McKittrick Canyon is the best in west Texas, and more than half the park is a federally designated wilderness area.
reviewed
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Wyler Aerial Tramway
You can get instant gratification with a ride on the Wyler Aerial Tramway. It only takes about four minutes in the Swiss-made gondolas to glide 2400ft, gaining 940ft in elevation, to reach the viewing platform on top of Ranger Peak (5632ft), where you’ll enjoy spectacular views of Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. For maximum enjoyment, bring binoculars and a jacket – maybe even a picnic to enjoy at the top (but leave alcohol and glass bottles at home).
reviewed
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Hueco Tanks State Historical Park
About 32 miles east of El Paso is Hueco Tanks State Historical Park. The 860-acre park contains three small granite mountains that are pocked with depressions (hueco is Spanish for ‘hollow’) that hold rainwater, creating an oasis in the barren desert. The area has attracted humans for as many as 10,000 years, as evidenced by pictographs. Park staff estimate there are more than 2000 pictographs at the site, some dating back 5000 years.
reviewed
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Franklin Mountains State Park
At 23,863 acres, Franklin Mountains State Park is the largest urban park in the US, capped by 7192ft North Franklin Peak. Although it’s in the middle of a city, it’s home to ringtail cats, coyotes and a number of other smaller animals and reptiles. The park has 118 miles of mountain-bike, hiking and equestrian trails. The most popular hike, the Ron Coleman Trail, takes off from Smuggler’s Pass and winds 3.5 miles to McKelligon Canyon.
reviewed
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Big Bend Ranch State Park
Big Bend Ranch State Park is much less explored than its big brother, but the easily accessed turnouts for hiking or picnicking along the river road shouldn't be ignored. Make the easy 0.7-mile trek into narrow Closed Canyon, where the cliffs rise above you, blocking out the sun. Camping is off Casa Piedra Rd, but you have to register at the Fort Leaton State Historic Site, which is past the park.
reviewed
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Santa Elena Canyon Trail
Down in the desert, the 1.5-mile Santa Elena Canyon Trail, 40 miles southwest of Panther Junction, is one of the most popular treks in Big Bend because of the stunning rock and river views. It's rated easy, but you have to wade through a stream and climb stairs in the canyon wall. The adventurous (and ecoconscious) might seek out the trail that's left off maps. Hint: there are falls and lots of vegetation for the desert.
reviewed
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Historic Fort Stockton
You can view several original and reconstructed buildings of a 19th-century fort on the Texas frontier at Historic Fort Stockton. The site includes Barracks No 1, a reconstructed building, houses the Fort Museum where exhibits and a short video describe the post’s history. Living History days are held the first weekend of each November, with demonstrations, encampments and entertainment.
reviewed
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Annie Riggs Memorial Museum
Housed in a former hotel and boarding house, this museum is named for the frontier woman who owned and ran the hotel for many years. The building is a documented example of Territorial architecture and is featured in some trade books. It is unusual in that the walls are made only of adobe and no stucco has ever been added to preserve it. Historic photographs and Texas memorabilia line the walls.
reviewed
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Tigua Cultural Center
The surrounding community of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo is sovereign home to the Tigua tribe and is recognized by many as the oldest town in Texas. Despite Spanish influences, the Tigua have strived mightily to retain their identity as the oldest identifiable ethnic group in Texas. A visit to the Tigua Cultural Center proves the struggles have not been in vain.
reviewed
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Socorro Mission
Two miles from Ysleta is Socorro Mission. Originally built in 1681 by the Piro Indians, who later assimilated into the Tiguas, the church was repeatedly rebuilt after Rio Grande flooding. Although the outside is fairly plain, the inside has some impressive decorative touches, including beautifully hand-painted roof beams rescued from the 18th-century mission.
reviewed
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El Paso Museum of Art
This thoroughly enjoyable museum is located in a former Greyhound station (though you’d never know it) with 104,000 sq feet of space. They’d want us to brag about their Madonna and Child (c 1200), but their Southwestern art is terrific, and the engaging modern pieces round out the collection nicely. All this, and it’s free?! Well done, El Paso, well done.
reviewed
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Big Bend National Park
This national park is almost as big as Rhode Island. When you’re traversing Big Bend’s 1252 sq miles, you come to appreciate what ‘big’ really means. It’s a land of incredible diversity, vast enough to allow a lifetime of discovery, yet laced with enough well-placed roads and trails to permit short-term visitors to see a lot in two to three days.
reviewed
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El Paso Zoo
Home to a large number of endangered animals, including the Asian elephant, Sumatran orangutan, Indo-Chinese tiger and the rare Amur Leopard. All told, 700 animals represent 240 species packed into 35 acres. It’s not the biggest or most impressive you’ve ever seen, but it’s worth a visit. And it’s mercifully shady for both the animals and you.
reviewed
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Magoffin Home
One of Texas’ best kept secrets, this El Paso landmark was built in 1875 for Joseph Magoffin, an early El Paso politician and businessman. With 4ft-thick adobe walls and many original furnishings, the home is a fine example of the Southwest Territorial style of architecture prevalent during the late 19th century.
reviewed
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Terlingua Ghost Town
In the Terlingua Ghost Town, hippies and hard-core desert dwellers have turned the clay brick-built former mining shanties into minihomes. most residents don't have electricity or running water. Buy a beer inside the store and hang out on the porch with locals at sunset; it's the thing to do.
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Mission Ysleta
The best known of the three is Mission Ysleta, Texas’ oldest continually active parish. Although the original structure from 1682 is long gone, the current church built from adobe bricks, clay and straw dates back to 1851, and a beautiful, silver-domed bell tower was added in the 1880s.
reviewed
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San Elizario
The presidio chapel of San Elizario is located on a military fort established for the Spanish government in 1684. Today, peaceful San Elizario is notable for its 1882 church and the adjacent town plaza where de Oñate issued his 1598 proclamation claiming the region for Spain.
reviewed
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Insights El Paso Science Museum
Play scientist for a day at this fun, hands-on museum, which brings science to life with interactive exhibits. Needless to say, it’s a hit with the kids, but adults can get into it, too (especially if they show up after all the school buses depart).
reviewed
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El Paso Museum of History
This museum has a shiny, new location in the heart of the downtown museum district. It’s not huge and sometimes there seems to be a lot of reading, but it’s an easy stop-off if you’re already at Insights or the Museum of Art.
reviewed
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El Paso Holocaust Museum
It may seem a little anachronistic in a predominately Hispanic town, but the Holocaust Museum is as much a surprise inside as out for its thoughtful and moving exhibits that are imaginatively presented for maximum impact.
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Viva El Paso
For a lively introduction to local history, head for Viva El Paso!, an outdoor theatrical extravaganza held every summer in McKelligon Canyon Park’s amphitheater. Singing! Dancing! History! Exclamation points!
reviewed
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US Army Air Defense Artillery Museum
The US Army Air Defense Artillery Museum is the only one of its kind in the US. Its exhibits focus on the history of air defense artillery since 1917, including an outdoor weapons park.
reviewed
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Frijole Ranch & Museum
The Frijole Ranch & Museum, a mile or so northeast of Pine Springs, has historical exhibits, including an 1858 stagecoach similar to the kind used on the Butterfield Overland route.
reviewed
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Fort Bliss Museum
The Fort Bliss Museum is housed in a reconstruction of the fort’s 1854–68 location. It depicts life at the post in 1857, right down to the 31-star flag hanging outside.
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