Things to do in West Texas
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Rib Hut
Go all caveman-like and join the UTEP crowd over a serious plate of ribs in this funky little A-frame building with typical campus-adjacent decor. Wednesday night is packed for rib night, when ribs are $1.75 each.
reviewed
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Chicos Tacos
With several locations, Chicos Tacos specializes in its namesake fare – with lots of garlic. Expect a crowd from about 10pm to midnight, when El Pasoans citywide experience a collective craving.
reviewed
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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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Chuy’s Spanish Inn
Hungry? Stop off for a little Tex-Mex at Chuy’s Spanish Inn. It’s right on the highway, so you can’t miss it. Chuy’s has earned a place in ‘Madden’s Haul of Fame,’ so named by US football broadcaster John Madden. Because he won’t fly, the well-traveled Madden spends a lot of time crossing the US by bus, and this is one of his favorite restaurants.
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.
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Magic Pan Restaurant
Not to be confused with the crepe chain of the same name, this cute little courtyard cafe is a treat. By day, enjoy ultrafresh soups, salads and sandwiches under the shade trees on the breezy patio. At night, it takes on more of a fine-dining tone, with twinkle lights illuminating said shade trees and an upscale menu ranging from paella to tenderloin.
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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Cafe Central
If you’ve got someone to impress, this is the place to go in town, the kind of place where, if you drop your napkin, someone will have picked it up, folded it and handed it back to you before you even notice. The seasonal cuisine is stellar, and the small but elegant dining room attracts El Paso’s finest diners.
reviewed
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Cattleman’s Steakhouse
This place is 20 miles east of the city, but local folks would probably drive 200 miles to eat here. The food is good, and the scenery is even better. Come early and wander around the grounds of the Indian Cliffs Ranch, then catch the sunset either before or after your meal. It’s 4.5 miles north of the I-10 at Fabens.
reviewed
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Aceitunas
A unique spot in El Paso, this open-air beer garden is a great place to wind down after a long day of hiking or mountain biking in the Franklin Mountains. The folks here are some of the friendliest you will meet. Many west-side locals call this place home. There’s live music Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday.
reviewed
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Abraham Chávez Theatre
The sombrero-shaped Abraham Chávez Theatre is host to most of El Paso’s major performing organizations and many touring concerts and plays. These include El Paso Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Community Concert Association and El Paso Opera Company.
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Crazy Cat Cyclery
Crazy Cat Cyclery is the best source of local cycling information and equipment. Some of the city’s best mountain biking is five minutes away, and they’ll point you in the right direction and sell you a map if you’d like one. They also offer scheduled group rides led by enthusiastic cyclists.
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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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