Info on Downtown shopping and other places to take guests (El Paso: buying, living)

[needhome]

Friends will be visiting us in a couple of weeks so I've been trying to figure out what we are going to do while they are here. I've been looking for free (or low cost) things to do and have found a few recommendations on this forum. We might go over to the Border Patrol museum (has anyone been here? Is it nice?), stop up on transmountain to check out the view and then I was thinking of walking around the downtown area. The problem is that, although we have been living here for 1 1/2 years, I have not been down to that area (I've driven through it but not walked through it). Is it worth the time? Are there nice shops there? What streets are the streets that have the best shopping?
Are there any other places you'd recommend? We live down the street from the botanical gardens (it's on Doniphan) and was thinking of going there. I think it only costs $2 per person to get in...but is it nice and worth going to? I would hate to take them over there only to find out it was a waste of time.
They will only be here for the weekend and I don't want to waste time going to crappy places.

Thanks so much!

J

[HookTheBrotherUp]

I would not take them there lest they think buying clothes by the pound is the norm!

[needhome]

Wow, is it really that bad? I'll probably mark that off my list! Thanks for the info!

[XChucoresident]

I don't know. I bought some nice new backpacks on Stanton street for my upcoming trip to Japan and they were pretty cheap. you can probably just see what they have and then if you think it is cheap or something, just leave. But I always go when I am in town!

[malamute]

Originally Posted by needhome

Wow, is it really that bad? I'll probably mark that off my list! Thanks for the info!

Depending on where they're from, they might think our Downtown is interesting at least. I don't think you need to rule it out -- it's different.

I'd take them to Old Mesilla for sure, and you can shop and have lunch there. The Franklin State Park at least for a picnic but hiking is good there too and the views are nice.

If they like antiques there are some good places up and down Doniphan.

[needhome]

How far is Old Mesilla from El Paso?

[Caltep]

If you and they like baseball, Diablos games are cheap. Love it when they have .25 cent hotdogs and ice cream sandwiches and $1.00 beer. We also like White Sands (pretty cheap entrance fee...bring your own picnic) but of course right now it's weather dependent and stopping in Mesilla for late lunch early dinner at La Posta afterwards (Mesilla is about 37 miles from EP in/near Las Cruces). Ice skating at the Coliseum on Sundays is pretty cheap. Or the War Eagles Museum in Santa Teresa is pretty good also.

I suppose it depends on what they/you are into. Museums, attractions, outdoor/rec activities, sports?

[HookTheBrotherUp]

That should be nice, eh?

[mistabinks]

I always recommend Ascarate Lake. Always a good time.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by needhome

How far is Old Mesilla from El Paso?

From the West side it's not too far, about 25-30 miles, you would want to take Hwy 28 through La Union and the pecan orchards. You can take them to Stahmanns or one of the other pecan farm stores, they might like that. There are places to eat along the way or after you get there.

The scenery is nice, the whole route is scenic. Beautiful view of the mountains and you drive through some large pecan orchards. You also pass by the polo pony place, the alpaca farms, cotton fields, corn fields, alfalfa. Old Mesilla is an old historic town, La Posta is an old stagecoach stop. The shops tend to be nicer than what we have downtown El Paso -- but El Paso's shops are nice if you like the Chinese-made dollar items.