Down in the West Texas town of El Paso, you’ll still find the passion captured in Marty Robbins 1959 hit song. But today, you’ll also find the world’s largest metroplex brimming with worldly culture, sophisticated class, incredible cuisine, and most of all, a community that invites visitors to experience the many qualities of life that make up this international city.
El Paso is as proud of its 400-year multicultural past as it is of its strong future. It’s the birthplace of the margarita (Franciso “Pancho” Morales is credited with creating the famous concoction at Tommy’s Place Bar on July 4, 1945), as well as the seventh fastest growing U.S. city in the nation (according to CNNMoney.com).
It’s still a romantic crossroad, where the unique cultures of Texas, Mexico, and the American Southwest have melded into a city like no other. And in addition to its colorful history, El Paso’s bright future as an economic center is underscored by its booming business, reinvigorated downtown, and its commitment to the arts and humanities for its growing population and increasing visitors here for business and pleasure.
Thanks to Fort Bliss, the University of Texas at El Paso, and more than 70 Fortune 500 companies and counting, El Paso is enjoying a strong and stable economy. The metro area’s population is 740,000, and the surrounding area, including Ciudad Juárez, is 2.4 million.
There are more than a dozen museums here, including the El Paso Museum of History, Gene Roddenberry Planetarium, and Fort Bliss Museum. The El Paso Museum of Art is a must-see showcase of European masters from the 13th century to contemporary works, including the renowned, late Luis Jimenez. (See “Attractions” for a list of area museums.) The El Paso Symphony Orchestra is right at home sharing the stage with the best mariachi musicians in the world.
If you’d like to take a walk on the wild side, check out the newly expanded 18-acre El Paso Zoo (4001 E. Paisano Dr., 915-544-1928).
For a truly wild time, explore Franklin Mountain State Park, 37 square miles of outdoor playground totally surrounded by El Paso. Forming the iconic backdrop to El Paso, the mountains are a favorite destination for hikers, rock climbers, mountain bikers, nature lovers, and anyone seeking solitude from the city. In the spring, the foothills are covered in a blanket of orange desert poppies, and other wildflowers splash color throughout the year. The view of the city lights from the mountains is spectacular. The Wyler Aerial Tramway takes visitors to the top of 5,632-foot Ranger Peak, where they absorb a 360-degree view of three states and two nations.
After all of this exploring, you’ll probably be starving. You couldn’t be in a better place. While fare of all flavors can be found in El Paso, you’d be missing out if you didn’t go Mexican. Authentic dishes from literally just over the border are found here, and chefs who grew up making these masterpieces in their homes now prepare them for you.
El Paso enjoyed the Roaring ’20s (Conrad Hilton built his first high-rise hotel here in 1930), and when Prohibition hit, the party simply moved across the Río Grande to Ciudad Juárez. El Paso works hard, but at night it knows how to play hard, too. Nightlife abounds in the city, from Texas blues bars to Latin hip-hop, and alternative music clubs. Of course, salsa, jazz and live Latin music thrive, as does flamenco dancing.
So find one of any number of outdoor dining patios, order a margarita, guacamole, and some sizzling fajitas, and drink in a legendary El Paso sunset as you plan your next El Paso adventure.
