Blog
Day 1
Jump right into things and get your day started at the El Paso Zoo. What’s more family-friendly than giraffe feedings or monkeying around at the Foster Tree House Playground? There’s a lot of continents and areas to visit. Make sure that you also take flight with the daily Wings of the World bird show. For lunch, you can either stay at the zoo and pick up something from their two cafés or you can venture out. Take the kids over to The Pizza Joint, where you can either order pizza by the slice (satisfy everyone) or order a whole pie for the family. There is a huge chalk wall that the kids can have fun drawing on, too. Or, bring out the kid in everyone and head over to Dave and Buster’s. They have great quality food as well as over 200 games and various entertainment for the entire family to enjoy. After your energy has been replenished by food, take a trip over to the El Paso History Museum. The spot you’ll all be sure to enjoy is the DIGIE Wall, an interactive screen of images depicting El Paso’s rich history. You can take your own picture and include it in the wall as well! Since you’re already downtown, walk over to San Jacinto Plaza for some more adventure. Rent out a chess or Pingpong table or try your luck at horseshoes. If you’re here in the summer and need to cool off, the splash pad is the perfect place. If all the walking has you needing a snack, the snack bar is full of El Paso favorites like corn in a cup and other savory snacks. Finish the day off with a baseball game at the Southwest University Park. Get the kids some Chihuahuas gear and take them out to the ol’ ball game. If it’s off-season, Western Playland is a fun alternative for the thrill-seekers. The roller coasters will be sure to wear them out, plus you’ll have pictures documenting just how much fun you had going down the ride (maybe not flattering, but definitely funny). If you’re a more cinematic family, then Alamo Drafthouse is a win-win place for you. Grab yourself a drink while the kids munch on bottomless popcorn and enjoy a good flick.
Day 2
For a traditional El Paso breakfast with the kids, stay central and head to Delicious Mexican Eatery—it’s all in the name. For the more health-conscious family, there is Healthy Bite, where you can treat your taste buds to delicious food without the guilt. And while you can spend the day at the hotel’s pool getting a tan (while kids play on the aforementioned slide), you can also test your limits at Rockin’ Jump Trampoline Park. Get the family bouncing and flipping around into the foam pit or play a game of dodgeball.
For lunch, head on over to the Fountains at Farah outdoor mall. There’s tons of choices for even the pickiest in the family. If you just need something to hold you guys over until dinner, you can get a snack at either Hana Banana or the Tropical Smoothie Café. You can also get some shopping done while you’re there.
If the day has you tired, take a quick nap back at the hotel before you head to the main event: dinner at Cattleman’s Steakhouse at Indian Cliffs Ranch. Though it’s a bit of a drive (35 minutes from downtown), it’s well worth it. You’ll eat the best steaks of your life—award-winning cuisine—plus the kids can enjoy hay rides, a playground, maze, snake pit, petting zoo and more!
Day 3
For your last day here, make it full of adventure. If you want to make a splash, take the family over to Wet N’ Wild Waterworld. Bring your own food to grill and have a blast hopping from water ride to water ride. Don’t have much time? Continue with arcade games and outdoor fun and visit Adventure Zone. There are bumper boats, go-karts and more for the entire family to enjoy. Don’t leave if you get hungry. Adventure Zone is home to the famous McCrory’s tacos. Or you can head to Bob O’s Family Fun Center and battle it out with laser tag or test your swing at the batting cages.
If you’re more of the outdoorsy family then head to the Franklin Mountains. The perfect hiking experience offers over 100 miles of scenic desert trails ranging from moderate to difficult. Check out our unique landscapes filled with native plants and animals—plus, the views from the top are breathtaking. Before you head out, you can also visit the area’s oldest inhabited village at Keystone Heritage Park and El Paso Desert Botanical Gardens. The 52-acre park is a migratory stop and home for more than 200 species of birds. Test the kids and see how many they can spot before you leave town.