Text Size
Las Cruces has wonderful weather so outdoor sports can be enjoyed year-round at some of southern New Mexico's finest recreational facilities. There are plenty of places to walk, run, hike, bike or play.
Day Trips
SOUTH - Less than an hour's drive is El Paso, Texas and Juaréz, Mexico. The Mexican culture combines with a feel of the Old West at the Pass of the North (El Paso del Norte). Dog racing, bullfights, museums, unique shopping and dining give El Paso/Juaréz its appeal. Casino gaming, horse racing, an amusement park, and water park are also within minutes.
NORTH - Hot springs, water sports, fishing, camping and ghost towns are just an hour or two away. Caballo and Elephant Butte lakes are home to boats, skiers, fishermen and campers just outside the town of Truth or Consequences (formerly Hot Springs), New Mexico. The old mining communities of Hillsboro and Kingston offer scenic and interesting side trips.
EAST - Just over the Organ Mountains lies the Tularosa Basin and one of the world's wonders - the White Sands National Monument. The gypsum sands create a landscape unlike any other. Continue on to the Sacramento Mountains and to the scenic towns of Cloudcroft and Ruidoso. Cool pines and fresh mountain air are in abundant supply, as well as winter skiing, sledding and snowboarding. For those with a gambling spirit, there are Ruidoso Downs racetrack and Casino Apache, while the Inn of the Mountain Gods offers resort accommodations, dining and golf.
WEST -
Historic Silver City, the City of Rocks, Faywood Hot Springs, and the Gila
Cliff Dwellings National Monument are just a few hours
drive from Las Cruces. Camping, hiking and fishing are all available in this
beautiful setting. Don't miss Pinos Altos with its Buckhorn Bar, and melodramas
at the Opera House.
Las Cruces New Mexico Leisure and Recreation
New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage
Museum
Experience
the unique 3,000-year story of agriculture in New Mexico on a sprawling 47-acre
campus. See live milking demonstrations at the dairy barn; take a special tour
to see our Parade of Breeds which features six different breeds of beef cattle;
or visit the blacksmith shop and watch how iron is formed into valuable tools.
Schedule a catered meal in our restaurant and enjoy shopping at Eagle Ranch
Gift Shoppe, which features New Mexico wines, pistachios and many gift items.
Guided tours are conducted by appointment only and tours of 10 people or more
receive the discounted rate of $4 for adults and $2 for senior citizens. Located 1.5 miles east of Telshor on University Avenue.
Museum hours are Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sundays
noon - 5 p.m. (575) 522-4100.
http://www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org/
New Mexico Tourism
With its rich mixture of natural
resources and diverse landscapes, New Mexico is the perfect vacation escape for
families and friends, for adventure, sports and recreation: Snow and water
skiing, snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking, golf, fly-fishing, boating,
spelunking, snowmobiling, ballooning, sailing, hang gliding – the list is
endless.
From
dinosaurs to Spanish conquistadors; rocket sleds to aliens; folk art to fine
art – New Mexico is filled with wonder and packed with everything that comes to
mind when folks dream of unspoiled wilderness, spectacular views, and a genuine
Land of Enchantment way of life.
http://www.newmexico.org/index.php
Old Mesilla
One
of the area's most appealing locales is just down the road in historic Old
Mesilla. A unique assortment of shops, galleries and restaurants surround the
charming plaza with its gazebo and picturesque church. A stagecoach stop along
the Butterfield Trail, Billy the Kid was put on trial here and sentenced to
hang. He later escaped from jail in nearby Lincoln, before being tracked down
and killed at Fort Sumner by Pat Garrett. Old Mesilla was the site of the
signing of 1854 Gadsden Purchase, and the village's narrow streets and homes
have retained much of their nostalgic flavor. Mesilla offers a wide range
of historical and cultural events, shopping and dining on the town's plaza.
Enjoy a meal at the famous Double Eagle or La Posta restaurants, where patrons
can experience a wide variety of cuisine and history while they visit one of
the most historical locations in New Mexico.
http://www.oldmesilla.org/
Las Cruces Wineries
New Mexico
started producing wines in 1629, making the state’s wine industry the oldest in
the country. Today, several New Mexico wineries produce a wide variety of
fine wines, and each year Las Cruces hosts the Southern New Mexico Wine
Festival, La Vina Jazz and Blues Thing and the New Mexico Wine Harvest.
Wineries in Las Cruces
White Sands National Monument
Like No Place Else on
Earth - Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great
natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, great
wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and
created the world's largest gypsum dune field.
http://www.nps.gov/whsa/
Spaceport America
The next chapter in space transportation is being written
right now in the State of New Mexico. Forward-thinking pioneers are developing
both vertical and horizontal launch vehicles using the power of free-market
enterprise. As the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport,
Spaceport America is designed with the needs of the commercial space business
in mind. Unique geographic benefits, striking iconic design, and the tradition
of New Mexico space leadership are coming together to create a new way to
travel into space. When it comes to outer space, New Mexico is bringing it down
to earth!
http://www.spaceportamerica.com/