Find Your Reason

In a recent survey of group and leisure travelers, top activities for tourists included sightseeing, national parks, dining, shopping and art museums. Las Cruces, New Mexico offers all these things and so much more! These are a few ideas to get you started. Visit Las Cruces has an extensive list of partners to assist in your trip planning. Choose what you want and we can make it happen!

Above and Beyond: Space Tourism Historic Mesilla Experience the new frontier in New Mexico. Learn about the future Set your own pace or take a guided tour, enjoy award-winning of space tourism while touring the Spaceport America Visitor Center. margaritas and southern NM cuisine. Enjoy unique shops, galleries, Explore the NM Museum of Space History and the Las Cruces Museum festivals and markets – all set in the historic plaza. of Nature & Science. Enjoy stargazing through one of the clearest night skies in the country. Golf High-ranking championship golf courses. Ranked Golf Digest Best in Agriculture State and Best New Courses. NCAA tournament host. Driving ranges, Learn about the Mesilla Valley’s rich agricultural heritage. Tour farms, putting greens, pro-shops and restaurants. harvest your own produce, visit the Chile Pepper Institute and The NM Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, and learn about innovative “Walk of Flame” Green Chile Trail agricultural research at NMSU. (Pair with Cuisine & Culture for a total Experience green chile like never before. Visit the Chile Pepper farm-to-table experience.) Institute and its teaching garden, enjoy a roasting demonstration or visit restaurants and specialty shops that all use this ingredient in a Ale Trail unique way. Enjoy a flight of locally-brewed and New Mexico-brewed craft beers and get a growler to go. Tours, demonstrations, live music and food Military History pairing. From past to present - re-enactments and history at Fort Selden State Monument, War Eagles Museum, and White Sands Missile Annual Events Park. Take part in the Bataan Memorial Death March, visit the Plan your visit around a local event or celebration. Las Cruces is Veterans Memorial Park featuring the Bataan Statue and Walkway. packed with festivals year-round that celebrate art, music, food, wine, beer, culture and history. Nature & Wildlife Enjoy birdwatching at the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, learn Art Experiences about the region’s plants and animals at the Chihuahuan Desert Chose from over 40 galleries and museums, guided nature Nature Park, or their unique adaptations at White Sands National photography hikes, learn about regional art forms and chose a hands- Monument and explore the changing landscape as you hike through on experience resulting in your own masterpiece to take home. the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument.

Country Music Festival Outdoor Adventure Three days of food, fun and that will rock your soul! Past Hike the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument or take a artists have included Kenny Rodgers, The Charlie Daniels Band, Dustin stroll on one of our many walking paths. Play tennis or go swimming Lynch, and the Swon Brothers. Event concludes with at facilities peppered throughout the City. Cycling opportunities a Cowboy brunch and western wear fashion show. abound that include road or mountain bike options.

Cuisine Infused with Culture Religion and Faith Learn about southern New Mexico’s history and culture while you Learn about Franciscan beliefs, the secret history of Sephardic enjoy our one-of-a-kind cuisine. Sample varieties of locally-grown Jews or the Royal Road of the El Camino Real traveled by Spanish produce and enjoy cooking demonstrations while creating your own explorers. Visit the Basilica San Albino off the historic Mesilla Plaza or meal with a local chef. (Pair with Agriculture for a total farm-to-table attend the Blessing of Fields held each year, a Catholic and Tortugas experience.) Indian tradition.

Day Spas Shopping Pamper yourself with massages, cleansing facials, gel manicures, Shop till you drop. Unique boutique and jewelry shops, modern mall, deluxe pedicures, sugar body scrubs and hair styling. Treat yourself outlets stores, locally made clothing and jewelry. right with gentle yoga classes, guided meditation, Reiki therapy and acupuncture. Theater & Performing Arts Enjoy a wide variety of performing arts in unique settings such as Day Trips the oldest two-story adobe theatre in the country, New Mexico’s Just a short drive in any direction will allow you to immerse yourself oldest movie house and NMSU’s brand new performance art building. in southern New Mexico’s many wonders. Explore caves, hike through Choose from musical acts that range from mariachi to classical, plays, mountains or over gypsum sand dunes. Visit and learn about ghost independent films or traditional and modern dance performances. towns, prehistoric sites, historical events or unique geologic features. Wine Trail Farmers & Crafts Market Discover over 500 years of wine history while you visit any of the 10 Voted #1 Large Farmers Market in the nation and ranked #20 out 100 wineries and wine-tasting establishments. Wine and food pairing with Best Farmers Markets. Hundreds of food, craft and produce vendors. award-winning vineyards in a beautiful setting. Live music and entertainment throughout the day. Year-round on Wednesday and Saturday.

For more information, contact: For more information, contact: Rochelle Miller-Hernandez, Tourism Sales Manager Rochelle Miller-Hernandez, Tourism Sales Manager 575-541-2169 | [email protected] 575-541-2169 | [email protected] VisitLasCruces.com