Settled by the Tigua Pueblo Indians, El Paso is in the far west tip of Texas, nestled in the Franklin Mountains between New Mexico and Cuidad Juarez, the fourth largest city in Mexico. It's the largest border city on the American side, and with a population of over 700,000, it's one of the largest cities in Texas. Because of El Paso's extreme western Texas location, many Southwestern cultures are represented which makes El Paso difficult to define culturally. The natural beauty of the area may be unsurpassed in the state.
A growing downtown arts district is home to El Paso Art Museum and the Abraham Chavez Theatre. Seven museums are in El Paso, including the sole National Border Patrol Museum in the U.S. Over 100 murals (Los Murales) can be seen throughout the city, especially south of downtown.
Drive along the historic Mission Trail on the far-east side of El Paso to visit the historic missions of San Antonio de los Tiguas and Socorro, and the presidio of San Elizario. Along the Trail, you'll find other attractions, such as the Tigua Cultural Center. The Lincon Azaderos Dairy, famous for its Azaderos Mexican cheese, has a small petting zoo, fishing lake and picnic grounds.
Across the border, Cuidad Juarez is a mecca of shopping and restaurants. Parking lots are available on the American side, within walking distance of Mexico and its whole other world of sight and sound.
Miles of hiking and mountain biking trails wind through the Franklin Mountains State Park. Rock climbing and bird watching are available east of El Paso at Hueco Tanks State Historical Park. Carlsbad Caverns Nation Park, the White Sands National Monument, El Paso Botanical Gardens and Keystone Archaeological Park all let you enjoy native plants and scenery and sometimes with a touch of history. The Chamizal National Memorial, though, is pure history, commemorating the end of a border dispute between the United States and Mexico.
El Paso sits on the edge of the Chihuahua Desert, and is in the Mountain Time Zone (rather than the Central Time Zone). It can be reached from I-25 from the north and I-10 from the east and west.
