Just scratching the surface of the huge state of Texas.
We’ve visited two main areas of Texas: Houston and South Western Texas. We covered South Western Texas during a road trip around New Mexico and loved the food and nature!
This trip took place March 2023.
Check out our full vlog here:
During our time in Texas we saw El Paso and Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
El Paso
We visited El Paso at both the beginning and end of our New Mexico road trip (you can check that out HERE). It made for a perfect jumping off point for a fun adventure!
Our very first stop after picking up the rental car was exactly what it should have been: tacos. We headed to Tacos Don Cuco, a small local spot that immediately felt like the kind of place you know is doing something right when it’s packed with locals.
After lunch, we decided since we were closer to Mexico than we had ever been without actually crossing the border, we should go see it for ourselves. We drove out to Ardovino’s Desert Crossing, a beautiful restaurant property right near the border wall. Seeing the wall in person was definitely interesting and gave a very different perspective than just seeing it on the news.
Later we drove up toward UTEP and parked near Silver Zone Parking Lot 4, where there are sweeping views across El Paso and into Mexico in the distance. One thing that surprised us about El Paso was how dramatic the landscape feels, with mountains rising right out of the city.
One of the stranger and more memorable stops in El Paso was La Casa de Azúcar (“The Sugar House”) at 4301 Leavell Ave. It definitely feels a little odd pulling up to someone’s private home, but several other people stopped while we were there, and the owners seem pretty used to visitors respectfully taking photos.
The house is covered in an incredible collection of handmade decorations, sculptures, and colorful creations that have been added over the course of more than 50 years. It one of those roadside attractions that feels both personal and completely unforgettable.
Dinner that evening was at L&J Cafe, which ended up being one of our favorite meals of the trip. The restaurant is extremely popular and for good reason — the food was fantastic. If anything, El Paso mostly left us wishing we had more time to eat our way around the city.
That evening we drove the Scenic Drive, a winding road climbing into the hills above the city with overlooks facing both El Paso and Mexico. There are plenty of pull-offs for photos, and it’s especially beautiful around sunset when the city lights start turning on below.
Before leaving town, we also visited the El Paso Zoo. It’s not a huge zoo, but it was well done, affordable, and exactly the kind of stop our kids are always excited about. Even on the day we visited, it was surprisingly busy.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
On our drive from Carlsbad back toward El Paso, we made a stop at Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Compared to some of the more famous national parks nearby, Guadalupe felt quieter and much less crowded, which we honestly appreciated.
While there, we hiked the Smith Spring to Manzanita Spring Trail, a 2.3-mile loop that starts near Frijole Ranch. The trail was fairly easy overall and had great open views across the desert landscape, along with a peaceful spring area near the turnaround point.
Most of the trail is pretty exposed though, and even visiting in March we were getting hot by the end. I can only imagine how intense this hike would feel during the middle of summer.
We also spent a little time at the visitor center before continuing on toward El Paso.
Overall, Guadalupe Mountains was a worthwhile stop and a nice place to stretch our legs during the drive, especially if you enjoy quieter parks and desert scenery. While it didn’t quite rank among our favorite national parks, we were still glad we took the time to visit.
Texas has a lot to offer, and we’ve just scratched the surface. Hopefully this guide helps if you’re looking for a good weekend trip idea, or for a starting/ending point for a road trip like we did.
Like this guide? Let us plan your next adventure!
If you need a custom travel itinerary for your next trip, get in touch here!