15 Best Things to Do in Las Cruces (NM) 2024

Table of Contents Show 1 1. Organs Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument 2 2. Branigan Cultural Center 3 3. Visit Fountain Theater This Weekend 4 4. Messila Valley Basque State Park 5 5. Museum of nature and science 6 6. Picacho Avenue Antique Mall 7 7. Green Chile Trail 8 8. New Mexico Farm and Ranch…

Best Things to Do in Las Cruces

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Best Things to Do in Las Cruces

Las Cruces is a city located in the south-central part of the state of New Mexico. It is the county seat of Doña Ana County, with a population of over 100,000 people. It is also the home of New Mexico State University. The city is known as the “City of Enchantment” because of its beautiful scenery and unique culture.

The first people who settled in Las Cruces were the Spanish. The name Las Cruces means “the crossroads” in Spanish. It was named for the many crossroads in the area.

There are a number of things to do in Las Cruces. You can visit the Doña Ana County Museum. The museum features exhibits that illustrate the history of the region. You can also visit the El Paso County Historical Museum. The museum has an extensive collection of photographs and artifacts that tell the story of the region from the early settlers to modern day. There is also the New Mexico History Museum, which features exhibits on New Mexico’s history.

There are also a number of events that take place in Las Cruces. For example, the Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra holds concerts in the city every year. The city also hosts a number of festivals throughout the year. One of these is the Fiesta de Las Cruces. It is held each year in September and celebrates the Hispanic heritage of the city. There are also a number of other festivals in the city.

Let’s see the places –

1. Organs Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument

Organs Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument

The monument is a protected area of ​​about 500,000 acres. The place is famous as a hiking area in the Organs Mountains surrounding the city of Las Cruces.

Whichever trail you choose, all of them offer spectacular views over the Chihuahua Desert Mountains as well as the Organ Mountains.

Visitors can also glimpse the local flora and fauna that survive in this arid environment, and you can easily reach this monument from Las Cruces.

Address: Las Cruces, NM 88011, United States

Phone: +1 575-525-4300

2. Branigan Cultural Center

The Cultural Center is a great site with information about the history of Native American culture.

You can visit the Branigan Cultural Center to learn more about the Las Cruces area, primarily its art and culture.

As part of the Branigan Cultural Center, you will have the opportunity to visit the Museum of Fine Art and Cucumber as well as the Las Cruces Historical Museum. The centre also has a collection of local artefacts such as sculptures, photographs, textiles of the area, and historical monuments.

 

Tours & Things to do hand-picked by our insiders

 

If you are in this area, you must visit this wonderful collection.

Address: 501 N Main St, Las Cruces, NM 88001, United States

Phone: +1 575-541-2154

3. Visit Fountain Theater This Weekend

Fountain Theater

The Fountain Theater is known as the oldest movie theatre in New Mexico. The theatre is an excellent example of Period Architecture, built-in 1905 in the signature Adobe style.

The theatre is not only a traditional monument in the New Mexico region; it also regularly shows films that film lovers will love. You can visit this fantastic place with your family.

Address: 2469 Calle De Guadalupe, Mesilla, NM 88046, United States

Phone: +1 575-524-8287

4. Messila Valley Basque State Park

Messila Valley Basque State Park

Just outside of Las Cruces, you will find this fantastic place. The spectacular Messila Valley Basque State Park is dedicated to preserving the forest in the Rio Grande line.

Fantastic This park is spread over 305 acres. The park is ideal for those who enjoy hiking or mountain biking. Moreover, you can fish here if you want because there is a lake.

Due to the park’s wetlands, the area is full of birds and various animals. So those who love to see birds can come here with family.

Address: 5000 Calle Del Norte, Las Cruces, NM 88005, United States

Phone: +1 575-523-4398

5. Museum of nature and science

Museum of Nature

The Museum of Nature and Science is one of the largest museums in the Las Cruces area. It still displays various exhibitions to tourists that tell stories of local plants and animals.

There is a small zoo with about 40 examples of wildlife in the area, particularly on desert animals. And if you are interested in the arid landscapes around Las Cruz, this may be the place for you.

Located in: City Park

Address: 2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80205, United States

Phone: +1 303-370-6000

6. Picacho Avenue Antique Mall

Picacho Avenue Antique Mall

If you like antiques and want to spend the day exploring the hidden gems, be sure to visit Picasso Avenue in the downtown area of ​​Las Cruz.

This area of ​​Las Cruces is full of antique shops that feature period items from this region and are famous to people for their high quality and reasonable price, so if you want an authentic souvenir from your time here, this is the best place to explore.

Address: 1260 W Picacho Ave, Las Cruces, NM 88005, United States

Phone: +1 575-526-0006

7. Green Chile Trail

green chile trail

If you like to eat peppers, why not go on a Walk of Flame trip? All the pepper-related dishes are served in the food restaurants and bars here.

Green Pepper is the pride of Las Cruces and a research centre dedicated to studying these small green capsicums at the local university. So it is only natural that guests should try some chilli-based foods for themselves.

On the Green Chili Trail, you can visit local restaurants where you can try traditional Mexican dishes made using green peppers or eat dishes made primarily in the Las Cruces area as part of the trip.

These include some weird foods like green chilli vodka and green chilli martinis; you will find beer made with green chili.

The Walk of Flame will give you an idea of ​​the history of pepper production in Las Cruces and the strategies for growing and picking visitors.

8. New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum

Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum

The New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum are perfect for guests who want to learn more about the region’s rich agricultural history, dating back 3,000 years.

The museum provides an excellent learning environment for both young and old guests and includes examples and explanations of dairy farming in the area and local farming and cooking techniques, such as hand-feeding cows.

You can even find everything from museums in the Las Cruces area, including various cows used in agriculture, and visit animals in their corals.

Address: 4100 Dripping Springs Rd, Las Cruces, NM 88011, United States

Phone: +1 575-522-4100

9. White Sand National Monument

White Sand National Monument

Forty-five miles east of Las Cruces, visitors will see the largest gypsum mound in the world.

Travellers to the area describe the monument as a scene from another world, and the hills provide a beautiful insight into the local flora and fauna that somehow thrive in these arid and harsh conditions.

The white dunes here are primitive and intact, and there are beautiful places to picnic. There are also opportunities to surf or toboggan under the hills.

The monument stretches for 275 square miles and has guided walks like the Sunset Stroll Nature Walk guided by local guides who will fill in all the local points of interest to visitors.

Address: New Mexico, United States

Phone: +1 575-479-6124

10. La Vina Winery

La Vina Winery

Many visitors to Las Cruces do not realize that the climate here makes it a perfect place to make wine because the dry heat helps the grapes grow and ripen.

As a result, many more wineries are available throughout Las Cruces, including La Vina wineries, famous for hosting an annual wine festival in October every year.

Not only does La Vina Winery host the festival, but if you visit at any other time of the year, you can visit the facilities and testing rooms and see the latest mix of grapes for that particular vintage.

Address: 4201 NM-28, Anthony, NM 88021, United States

Phone: +1 575-882-7632

11. Railway Museum

Railway Museum

Visit the Santa Fe Depot, a historically significant part of Las Cruces, and here you will find the Railroad Museum, which is the perfect place for those who like to travel by train.

This excellent railroad museum has a range of permanent exhibits that tell visitors the story of the evolution of railroads in and around Las Cruces, and you will find relics of the exhibition period here.

You will also find model railways on the show, including model tracks and maps of railway lines.

The crowning glory of the site is an actual campus that sadly no longer operates but still gives this place a great taste of train travel in Las Cruces.

Address: 351 N Mesilla St #2567, Las Cruces, NM 88005, United States

Phone: +1 575-528-3444

12. Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market

Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market

If you visit Las Cruces on Wednesdays or Saturdays, be sure to visit local farmers and craft markets from sunrise to afternoon.

If you want to pick up souvenirs from your area, this market is one of the best places to find them. Here you can buy all kinds of lovely handmade jewellery, leather goods, and items like local ceramic and pottery pieces.

In addition to the souvenirs, you can expect lots of delicious food here, all of which are collected fresh from the farm.

Address: 221 N Main St Studio E, Las Cruces, NM 88001, United States

Phone: +1 575-201-3853

13. Las Cruces Museum of Art

Las Cruces Museum of Art

The Las Cruces Museum of Art is a beautiful place for those who love painting. A great mission statement here promotes art in the Las Cruces and New Mexico regions.

The museum houses permanent and temporary exhibitions relating to the area and around the year.

The exhibition covers various art mediums like sculpture, photography, and painting.

Fantastic demonstrations and art classes are also held at the museum, focusing on contemporary art and supporting up-and-coming local artists from the region.

Address: 491 N Main St, Las Cruces, NM 88001, United States

Phone: +1 575-541-2137

14. Fort Seldon State Monument

Fort Seldon State Monument

Since 1865, Fort Seldon has been built by the U.S. military as a fortress to protect the indigenous people who have settled in the Messila Valley area.

Much of the castle is gone nowadays, but the Adobe-style brick castle still exists for visitors to explore, and there is also an exciting and insightful visitor centre where there is a permanent exhibition that explains everything about border life.

If you attend here on weekends, you will often see live demonstrations that make you feel back in those old days.

Address: 1280 Fort Selden Rd, Radium Springs, NM 88054, United States

Phone: +1 575-526-8911

15. Old Messila

Old Messila

If you travel south of Las Cruces, you’ll come to the village of Messila, historically significant for being where the infamous Billy the Kid was kept for trial.

Nowadays, Old Messila has delightful shops that sell handicrafts from the region, and if you want to eat some authentic Mexican food, you have come to the right place.

The place is haunted by miners and historical figures who lived and died in the old days. So if you feel brave, you can join a walking tour in the downtown Plaza area that people believe is full of ghosts.

Address-Town of Mesilla, New Mexico P.O. Box 10 Mesilla, NM 88046

Phone: (575) 524-3262

Web site: https://www.mesillanm.gov

2 responses to “15 Best Things to Do in Las Cruces (NM) 2024”

  1. Zeal Avatar
    Zeal

    Wow. Las Cruces is a beautiful town. I would love to go there someday.

  2. saraelena Avatar

    I drove through here once and only got to see a little bit of the area. Beautiful! Would love to go back and check these out!

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