El Paso, Texas, offers plenty of exciting things for everyone to enjoy, especially children. Whether you live in the area or you’re just visiting, if you’re planning a day of fun, everyone will have a great time when you check out some of these best kid-friendly activities.
El Paso Zoo
A day at the El Paso Zoo is always an exciting adventure. The zoo is home to over 220 species of animals. It’s divided into three major areas: Animals of the Americas, Animals of Africa, and Animals of Asia. In the Animals of the Americas exhibit, you can see Mexican wolves, spider monkeys, American alligators, and Galapagos tortoises. Head to the Animals of Africa exhibit to see lions, giraffes, and zebras. In the Animals of Asia exhibit, you can spot tigers, elephants, and orangutans.
Franklin Mountains State Park
If you’re interested in spending some time outside with your kids, Franklin Mountains State Park is the perfect destination. If you want to do some hiking, you’ll find over 100 miles of trails that wind through the 24,247-acre park. Kids can also become Junior Rangers by picking up an activity booklet and borrowing an explorer pack for all the tools they need to learn more about the plants and animals in the park. The park also offers opportunities for camping, rock climbing, and mountain biking.
El Paso Museum of Archaeology
At the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, you can learn about 14,000 years of history in the El Paso area. View the dioramas depicting the everyday life of Native Americans in the region from the Ice Age to the 20th century. You can also explore artifacts from the different cultures in the area, including ceramics, stone tools, baskets, and textiles. When you’re done touring inside the museum, head outside to explore the 15-acre Chihuahuan Desert Garden and Nature Trails.
Western Playland Amusement Park
When you’re looking for some thrills, travel 7 miles outside of El Paso to Sunland Park, New Mexico, to find Western Playland Amusement Park. It offers rides that every member of the family can enjoy. Young children will have fun on the carousel, helicopters, train, and Red Baron airplanes. If you love roller coasters, make sure you hop on the Himalaya, Hurricane, and Bandido. Plus, everyone can cool down with a trip on the Tsunami water ride.
Hueco Tanks State Historic Site
Another interesting spot in El Paso to learn more about the history of the area is the Hueco Tanks State Historic Site. For thousands of years, people came to this area for the rainwater that pooled in the natural rock basins, or huecos. Today, you can take self-guided and guided tours to discover more about the area’s natural and cultural history. You can also view some of the pictographs and petroglyphs left by the early hunter-gatherers of the region.
Whether you and your children are interested in fun and games or learning about history, you know everyone will have a good time when you plan a day at one of these top kid-friendly destinations around El Paso.
Image via VisitElPaso | Licensed under CC BY 2.0
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