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Follow the Sunshine - Warm hospitality and rich culture await you in El Paso.
The sun-drenched, West Texas city of El Paso is hundreds of miles away in both spirit and geography from traditional San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston. El Paso offers a wealth of history and culture, born more than 400 years ago when the early explorer Don Juan de Oñate crossed the river and dubbed the land El Paso del Norte. Visitors marvel at the city’s heritage, as well as its fine selection of shopping, entertainment, and legendary Mexican food.
El Paso’s stark desert landscape, deep-blue skies, and ever-present sunshine offer continuous inspiration for both visual and performing artists who offer a vibrant cultural scene.
Outdoors enthusiasts appreciate the three national parks and three state parks within a 200-mile radius of the city. El Paso has long been a place for exploration, and hikers, cyclists, and adventurers find plenty to stimulate the senses. El Paso’s climate is especially friendly, with 202 days of sunshine per year and an average temperature between 50 and 76 degrees.
Visitors have many opportunities to learn about El Paso’s colorful history. Mission Valley (home to one of the three oldest missions in the country) and Fort Bliss (including Fort Bliss Museum and Study Center) are both near. A stop at the downtown El Paso Convention & Visitors Bureau offers a list of activities and some self-guided tour books to help you along your way.
El Paso is the largest international metroplex in the world. You can be in Mexico within minutes, and New Mexico — “land of enchantment” — is only 40 miles from the El Paso city limits. There are guided tours to both Juárez and nearby cities in New Mexico, but many people simply follow their noses.
Sometimes, El Paso is the most beautiful at night, especially during the summer months when the sun goes down and leaves behind a warm glow that inspires music, laughter, and fun. It’s also a great time to enjoy a margarita! Many bars in El Paso and Juárez claim to be the home of the margarita, and visitors love to put them to the test.
Whatever the day brings in El Paso, you’ll find people happy to see and welcome you. So bienvenidos — welcome. We hope you enjoy your stay!
Don’t Miss - Larger Than Life
The Equestrian Monument, located at El Paso International Airport, is the largest equestrian bronze statue in the world. Created by John Sherrill Houser, the statue is the second of 12 sculptures comprising XII Travelers to the Southwest (the first is the statue of Fray Garcia in downtown El Paso).
The Equestrian, which is 36 feet high and weighs 34,000 pounds, was created in Mexico City by Houser, his associate sculptor Ethan Taliesin Houser, and five crew members. It was shipped to the Shidoni Foundry in New Mexico for bronze casting in 2003, and in 2006 Eagle Bronze Foundry in Lander, Wyoming assembled the sculpture and added patina. The statue was installed at the El Paso International Airport in April 2006.
