If you do not speak Spanish yourself, going to Juarez can be confusing. Taking a friend who can speak fluent Spanish makes the experience much richer. In this way, you can get to know people through your translator.
And if all else fails, and communication is at a stand still, smile and say ''Lo siento. No hablo Espanol''.}}
'''El Paso''' is geographically divided into several parts with the Franklin Mountains and Fort Bliss cutting the city into distinct sections. Each area has its own style and culture.
The '''West Side''' of town, between the Franklin mountains and Mexico and New Mexico includes El Paso's most affluent neighborhoods along the side of the mountain. Border Hospital and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) are both located here. The UTEP area ("Kern Place") is emerging as an entertainment disctrict with restaurants and nightclubs.
'''Downtown''' is located in the Southern part of El Paso, just below the tip of the Franklin Mountains. The streets of Downtown are often difficult to navigate for first time visitors, especially with the current construction. Parking (there are many cheap areas to park your car for the day) is probably the best bet. Walking through Downtown, there are many little shops reminiscent of Mexico and many small cafes. Many of the buildings are historic and very beautiful. The Downtown area boasts a beautiful plaza in the center of the city. An art museum, theater and a Children's science museum are all located here. Extensive renovations are taking place in the Downtown area.
The '''North East''' of El Paso is home to Fort Bliss Military Base. Fort Bliss is located near the airport and is also adjacent to Biggs Airfield. Fort Bliss is one of the largest US Military bases in the world. Tours can be arranged, or if you know a service member, have them give you a tour. Fort Bliss has very obviously influenced the area. Outside of base are many military surplus stores.
The '''East Side''' part of El Paso is the fastest growing area. It is closest to the Mission Trails area and Hueco Tanks State Historic Site.
El Paso is a diverse community featuring many different kinds of people. The largest language spoken at home is Spanish, followed by Engish. Many older El Pasoans speak Spanish regularly in public and it is helpful, although usually not necessary, to understand the language.
El Paso was formerly known as El Paso del Norte (The Pass of the North) and was named by Spanish travelers in 1581. The area wasn't colonized by Europeans until 1598 when Don Juan de Onate led an expedition into the territory. In 1848, El Paso formally became part of the United States and a military post was erected there which eventually became Fort Bliss. The city was actually incorporated in 1873. [http://www.elpasotexas.gov/library/ El Paso Public Library] was the first Public Library in Texas.
This may be the easiest way to see what El Paso has to offer. Since many sites of interest are quite far apart from one another, renting a car may afford visitors the most flexibility. Cars can be easily rented at the Airport or on Fort Bliss.
Taxis in the area:
Smaller "trolley" style buses are a generally reliable (if sometimes crowded) means of traveling downtown, and the area from UTEP to the international bridges is perhaps part of the city best served by public transportation. [http://www.ci.el-paso.tx.us/sunmetro/sunroute.asp Route and Schedule Information] Fares are usually $1.00 on standard bus routes, $0.25 on trolleys, with a variety of student, senior, and other discounts.
Private bus companies may or may not operate from downtown El Paso into the center of Juarez, due to frequent changes in policy within both the United States and Mexico. Inquire with Sun Metro for whether such a service is in operation.
There are many ways to enjoy the Franklin Mountains. Ranger guided tours are available by reservation.
During the day, take Transmountain Road and stop at any of the hiking areas. These places have donation boxes for hikers who are supposed to provide $3 for the use of the trails. These trails are very steep and surrounded by native cacti, yucca and agave. Travelers may also see hummingbirds, large spiders and lizards. If the trails seem too chancy for you, pull over at the small picnic and viewing areas located throughout the Eastern half of the road. The view is amazing and you can see far off into Mexico and New Mexico.
Be aware that Transmountain road can be closed due to inclement weather.
On the East Side of the Franklin Mountains is the Museum of Archeology at Wilderness Park [http://www.ci.el-paso.tx.us/arch_museum/default.asp]. Exhibits include artifacts and reconstructions of life in the past. The museum also has numerous trails covering fifteen acres of land behind the museum that afford visitors terrific views of the Franklin Mountains and over 250 native plant species.
One of the largest US Military Bases in the world, Fort Bliss is primarily the home to Air Defense Artillery. Soldiers from Germany and Japan come to Fort Bliss for training in the PATRIOT missile system. Getting on Base is difficult, but can be done by coming through one of two main gates and obtaining a day pass. Based on threat levels, this may or may not be possible. Travelers who know soldiers personally can come easily onto base with a soldier to guide them. The Air Defense Artillery Museum is located here, in addition to the NCO Museum. Fort Bliss also owns large tracts of land that are home to herds of oryx antelope.
The University of Texas at El Paso [http://www.utep.edu/] was founded in 1914. It's located on the West Side of El Paso and is easily accessible from I-10. UTEP, pronounced ''you-tep'', boasts a beautiful campus nestled into rocky hills with amazing xeriscaped gardens.
El Pasoans are enthusiastic about their '''Miners''', especially Miner Football coached by the one and only Mike Price. UTEP has a beautiful stadium, the '''Sun Bowl''', that looks as though it was cut right out of the mountain. Every late December the Sun Bowl is played, where two 3rd, 4th, or 5th place teams from either the Pac-10, Big Ten, or Big 12 meet. This is the longest running televised bowl game in the country.
UTEP is a school rich with basketball tradition. This is due to Don Haskins [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Haskins] who changed the way college basketball was played forever in 1966. He led his all-black lineup against the all-white Kentucky team featuring Pat Riley and won the National Champsionship.Prior to Don Haskins, black players were marginalized in college basketball. Don Haskins has the basketball arena named after him, the '''Don Haskins Center''', that hosts '''Miner Basketball''' and concerts.
The '''Centennial Museum''' [http://museum.utep.edu/] has both temporary and permanent exhibits. The temporary exhibits feature life, culture and the natural environment of the Borderlands. In many cases, the galleries are made up of contributions of fellow El Pasoans. The permanent exhibits are a natural and social history of the Chihuahuan Desert. The '''Chihuahuan Desert Gardens'''[http://museum.utep.edu/CDgardens.htm], next to the museum, boasts over 600 native plant species. At the end of every April, there is a fun event sponsored by the gardens, known as '''FloraFest'''. During FloraFest, native plants such as agave, yucca, cacti and other hard to find desert plants can be purchased. For anyone interested in horticulture, especially xeriscaping, this is a must see.
The Department of Theatre, Dance, and Film produces quality plays throughout the year. Check the website for more information [http://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=12330]
Rodeos can be seen in El Paso around the months of January and February. Rodeo is a unique cowboy 'sport' where individuals compete in a number of events the most famous of which is bull riding.
The El Paso Diablos is a minor league team that plays at Cohen Stadium. Cohen Stadium was recently voted the best stadium in minor league baseball. The Diablos are affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Juarez can be accessed by foot, car or tour bus. By foot is often the easiest method with the least amount of waiting. The main tourist strip of shops in Juarez are close to the downtown bridge and easily accessed by foot. Make sure you have your passport with you for re-entry. Do, however, be aware of the dangerous 2008-2009 drug wars currently being waged in this city and many other border towns in Mexico. It is not be advised to visit at this times.
This is a working dairy famous for its Asadero cheese. It boasts a very unusual petting zoo including camels, goats, zebras and parrots. Visitors can fish for catfish at the small pond inside the petting zoo, which is filled up about weekly. It is accessed near the International bridge, off of Socorro Rd.
A number of walking tours of various parts of El Paso are available. A great resource for these tours is located at the [http://www.elpasotexas.gov/visitelpasotexas/tourism_tours.asp City of El Paso Tourism] site.
Chamizal National Memorial is a large park in the Southern part of El Paso, near the US/Mexico border. It hosts many events throughout the season, including concerts and dance performances. More information and event schedules can be found at the [http://www.nps.gov/cham Chamizal National Memorial website].
Located just over the state line in New Mexico. The casino is open every day, including holidays and has over 700 slot machines. It is easy to reach by taking I-10 West, away from Downtown. The Casino also hosts live shows and music. The Casino was established to counter the decline in horseracing and 25% of the earnings of the casino go to taxes for New Mexico. Most visitors report good experiences at the casino, with the exception of a few very competitive individuals.
Tequila is a drink made of the native agave plant. There are many varieties at different prices. Tequila can be purchased almost anyplace that sells liquor in El Paso.
'''Cincinnati Street''' has a strip of bars adjacent to the UTEP campus. Expect cheap drink specials and minimal selection of food (if any.) Watch out while crossing the streets in the area.
While El Paso has lowered much of its crime rate statistics, these rates are still on par with most major cities in the United States.
Most of El Paso is safe from violent crime, and El Paso has a very low murder rate for a large American city. El Paso is generally very quiet and peaceful during the daytime, take normal precautions at night. Areas to avoid at night may include near the international bridges - though curfews on both sides of the border have cut down on the number of aggressive, intoxicated juveniles at night. To a lesser degree, the area around Cincinnati Street and UTEP may be somewhat problematic late at night, more due to the presence of intoxicated people than anything else. Drunk driving is a problem at night. Some areas of south, central, east, and northeast El Paso have gang activity, but generally only young people who may look like members of rival gangs are directly targeted by this violence. The area around Dyer street, near Fort Bliss is notorious for seedy bars and prostitution at night.
Theft and crimes against property are a more serious concern. Auto theft is an ongoing problem. While auto theft rates are not unusually high, the proximity of the border and "chop shops" in Mexico make recovery far less likely. Always lock your car door, even for a short trip into a convenience store. Especially if you have a valuable or popular model automobile, you should have effective anti-theft devices.
Crime and safety in Ciudad Juarez is a much different issue.
'''Heat in the Summer''' During the summer months when temperatures nearly always stay around 90 degrees to 100 or more degrees Farenheit, the biggest dangers facing visitors are dehydration and heat stroke. El Paso is in a desert and it is important for all visitors to remember to drink enough water at all times. Too many people fail to take the heat seriously. The dry heat can actually feel less 'hot' than it really is to many people. Learn to recognize the signs of danger for dehydration and heat stroke. Heat stroke is '''very serious'''. Take care of yourself in the heat. And remember a cowboy word of wisdom: If you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated. For more information, consult the article for this region.
'''Sun''' Not just for the heat, but the sun can be dangerous because of UV rays which are much stronger at El Paso's altitude than at sea level. Wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. It is not uncommon to see pedestrians in El Paso walking with an umbrella to shield them from the sun.
'''Rain''' During the rainy season (usually late June to early October) be aware that flash flooding can occur during and after rainfall. Areas closer to the Rio Grande are much more susceptible to flooding and standing water. Poor drainage and the dry desert soil ensure that even moderate rainfall can result in street flooding, especially in underpasses. Visitors who are in El Paso during the rare times of rain should remember to never drive into a flooded street. In addition, since El Pasoans are not used to driving in the rain, accidents are more likely to occur.
'''Snow and ice''' While El Paso winters are generally mild, cold weather can occur. In general, winter is a dry season in El Paso; however, when snow and icy conditions exist, take extreme caution, as El Pasoans are not used to driving in these conditions.
'''Wind and dust''' El Paso's windy season is generally from January through April. During this time, high winds and blowing dust can make breathing difficult, especially for asthma sufferers. Blowing dust and sand can also reduce visibility on roads, especially in rural areas surrounding El Paso. Area highways may close during high winds.
'''Mosquitoes''' Along with rain comes mosquitoes. Yes, El Paso is a desert, but many residents own pools and water gardens. These can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The Rio Grande area also has mosquito problems. The West Nile Virus has been recorded in El Paso. The best advice is to remember to wear a good insect repellent if you will be outdoors in the evening. The area around Hueco Tanks can be very bad, mosquito-wise. Some local weather websites will tell visitors the projected mosquito danger.
'''Hospitals with 24 Hour Emergency Rooms''' Please remember that in the United States health care is private and going to an emergency room can be very expensive if the traveler does not have health insurance.
'''Sick Pet: 24 Hour Veterinary Care''' Veterinary Hospitals that run emergency rooms are also extremely expensive. This is the sort of place you might take your pet if they are seriously injured and cannot wait for medical care.