LAS CRUCES, NM

Land of spice and space

BY LORENA LOZANO | PHOTOS COURTESY OF VISIT LAS CRUCES

IF YOU’RE A FAN OF GREAT FOOD and the great outdoors, Las Cruces, New Mexico is well worth the trip. Las Cruces is located in the Chihuahuan Desert where the foot of the Organ Mountains and the Rio Grande meet. Built on more than 4,000 years of agricultural traditions, the area is best known for its open spaces, rugged terrain, vineyards, pecan farms, and iconic red and green chiles. 

The stunning terrain surrounding Las Cruces provides plenty of places to discover. From a famed national park to a sprawling national monument, Las Cruces is a natural playground for adventurers. There is something for people of all skill levels to explore, including trails that are dog friendly.

Nearby, the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument is made up of 496,000 acres of various mountain ranges rich in prehistoric, historic, geologic, and biological resources. Your opportunities for recreation and exploration here seem endless, highlighted by the 22-mile Butterfield Stage Trail, Kilbourne Hole National Historic Landmark, Billy the Kid’s Outlaw Rock, and Geronimo’s Cave. There are 243 known petroglyph and archeological sites located in this spectacular national treasure, with thousands left to be discovered. Less than an hour from Las Cruces, White Sands National Park is a bucket list-worthy destination with expansive white gypsum dunes created thousands of years ago.

Many foodies claim that Las Cruces is home to some of the best New Mexican food. The red and green chiles draw many to restaurants to sample them in a variety of ways. Plan to dine along the Las Cruces Walk of Flame Green Chile Trail which boasts a range of exciting New Mexican dishes. A fusion of Pueblo and Mexican cuisine, New Mexican favorites include green chile cheeseburgers, red and green enchiladas, chile rellenos, posole, and sopaipillas. Check out the menus at Andele’s, La Nueva Casita, and Los Compas, where you can sample New Mexican specialties with rich flavors found only in the southern part of the state. Stop into a locally owned winery, distillery, craft brewery, or coffee roasting shop to sit back and chat with locals. Most will have plenty of advice on where to have your next meal. Wherever you go, expect to find inventive concoctions such as green chile wine, pecan beer, green chile sundaes, red and green chile hollandaise, and fried chicken drizzled with red chile honey.

To truly appreciate the homegrown foodie culture, you can get a glimpse at where it all started at The New Mexico Museum of Farm and Ranch Heritage. The museum’s rotating exhibits, art, and interactive displays and demonstrations serve as an affordable, family-friendly look into the region’s rich agricultural industry and traditions, many of which are still practiced today.

Local wineries are popular places to relax with a glass in hand while enjoying live entertainment and dancing. Winemaking in the region dates back more than 400 years and the wine industry is still going strong. You can choose from a variety of award-winning wineries offering tours, tastings, and grape-picking in the early fall. Southern New Mexico is home to La Viña Winery, the state’s oldest winery and host of New Mexico’s oldest wine festival, which takes place annually in October.

Visit in the fall when the heavenly scent of freshly roasting chile wafts in the air. The holidays are a sight to behold, highlighted by Mesilla Christmas Eve on the Plaza, a festive celebration aglow with the lights from thousands of luminarias. The annual Las Cruces New Year’s Eve Chile Drop is a wonderful way to see in the new year New Mexico-style, with a lighted chile drop—whether it’s red or green will depend on the voting crowd. Or visit in winter when the trails are cooler and bird-watching opportunities are at their peak.

Plan Your Trip

GETTING THERE
By car, Las Cruces is located about 10 hours east of San Diego, where I-10 and I-25 meet, and about one hour from the El Paso International Airport.

WHERE TO STAY
The luxurious Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces is a Heritage Hotel & Resort property offering scenic views of the Mesilla Valley. 

MORE INFO
visitlascruces.com