Las Cruces Attractions & Things to Do
Discover interesting things to do in Las Cruces when you vacation at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces. With easy access to Las Cruces attractions, Hotel Encanto is perfectly situated for exploring the area and participating in local festivals. Popular Las Cruces attractions and things to do near the hotel include historic Mesilla, White Sands National Monument, Las Cruces Museum of Art, hiking, and the Whole Enchilada Fiesta.
Historic Old Mesilla -
A visit to the historic community of Mesilla is a step back in time to such eras as the Civil War, the Gadsden Purchase, Butterfield Stage Coach Trail, and even Billy the Kid's famous trial. In addition to historic landmarks and events that marked Southern New Mexico's history, Mesilla offers interesting museums, wonderful art galleries, boutique shopping, walking tours, restaurants, and entertainment. Visit www.OldMesilla.org.New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum -
Trace 3,000 years of farming and ranching history at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces. The museum is an interactive attraction with more than 600,000 square feet of exhibits. Exhibits touch on such topics as agricultural heritage, livestock, the evolution of farming and ranching equipment and techniques, and distinct industries to New Mexico such as dairy, beef and sheep.Visit www.frhm.org.
Fort Selden State Monument -
Fort Selden State Monument in Las Cruces was established in 1865. The fort was a safe haven on the Rio Grande that housed U.S. Infantry and Calvary units assigned to protect the surrounding Mesilla Valley from Apache Indians and outlaws. Fort Selden was abandoned in 1891. Today, Fort Selden features adobe ruins and exhibits that explain the connection between military and frontier living during the era of Fort Selden.Visit www.nmmonuments.org/inst.php?inst=10.
White Sands National Monument -
Considered a natural wonder, White Sands National Monument is the largest gypsum dune field in the world covering a vast space of 275 square miles. A variety of interesting visitor programs are offered throughout the year at White Sands National Monument such as ranger programs, interpretive programs, stargazing, sledding, photography and painting classes, and hiking. Visit www.nps.gov/whsa.Las Cruces Museum of Art -
View the dazzling collection of contemporary art at the Las Cruces Museum of Art. The museum features over 4,000 square feet of gallery space housing myriad exhibits, including traveling, invitational, juried, international and national. The museum also offers an extensive calendar of events to include lectures, guided museum tours, musical performances, and art classes for students of all ages and media. Admission to the Las Cruces Museum of Art is free. Visit www.las-cruces.org/museums.White Sands International Film Festival -
Attend the White Sands International Film Festival in April to view a host of short and feature-length documentaries and narratives films. The films shown at the festival represent all genres and focus on New Mexican and Latino filmmaking created in Southern New Mexico. The White Sands International Film Festival was established in 2005. Visit www.wsiff.com.
Southern New Mexico Wine Harvest Festival -
Celebrate the start of summer at the annual Southern New Mexico Wine Harvest Festival on Memorial Day Weekend. The festival features wine tasting, live music, food, arts and crafts, and a variety of interesting seminars and workshops. Festival goers can learn everything from the intricacies of the winemaking process to food and wine pairing for special events. The Southern New Mexico Wine Harvest Festival is held at the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds in Las Cruces.Visit www.snmwinefestival.com.
Southern New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo -
Join the fun at the Southern New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo. A family-friendly event for more than 40 years, the Southern New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo features an incredible array of fun things to do and see. Expect such traditional fair activities and exhibits and 4-H, livestock events, bake sales, and carnival-style games and rides. The fair also features the much anticipated rodeo, which is a qualifying event for the National Circuit finals. The Southern New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo is held from the end of September through the beginning of October. Visit www.snmstatefair.com.Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference -
The annual Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference offers the public a spectacular opportunity to experience the magic of mariachi music and dance. The highlight of the conference is the Spectacular Concert that features nearly 800 students performing with professional mariachi musicians and dancers. The conference also features festival activities and games, food, dancing, and arts and crafts. Visit www.lascrucesmariachi.org.
Hiking -
Hiking is a splendid activity in Las Cruces. With the Organ Mountains, Robledo Mountains, Dona Ana Mountains, Rio Grande Valley, and everything in between, hiking is at a premium in Southern New Mexico. Dozens of maintained hiking trails are easily accessible from Las Cruces and range from easy to strenuous. Many of the popular hiking trails are also well known for wildlife viewing. Visit www.mustseelc.org/Visiting/Recreation/Camping-and-Hiking.aspx.The Whole Enchilada Fiesta -
The Whole Enchilada Fiesta is a three-day festival that offers dozens of fun activities for the whole family. Among the largest festivals in New Mexico, the Whole Enchilada Fiesta attracts thousands of people each year. Fiesta activities include a 5k fun run, live music, parade, 4x4 truck and car show, horseshoes tournament, and the world's largest enchilada made with 175 pounds of grated cheese. The Whole Enchilada Fiesta is held in September. Visit www.enchiladafiesta.com.Check out more things to do in Las Cruces and day trip ideas at: NewMexicoTravelBlog.com/Las-Cruces
