New Mexico

The web site links we have provided above relate more to our local area.   Most of what I am going to tell you about will pertain to the immediate area of Mesilla and the Mesilla Valley.   But first I want to provide you with another web site for the entire state of New Mexico, a state we refer to as "The Land of Enchantment".

Go to www.newmexico.org and you will notice that their Visitors Guide can be down loaded in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.   This one web site will provide you with more information than most will want to know.

New Mexico has no less that 22 different Native American Indian pueblos/reservations.   Native Americans, Hispanics or Mexico Americans, and the Anglo (white)   populations live together providing a rich diversity of all three cultures.   These three cultures have co-existed in New Mexico for the last 400 years or more.

New Mexico is the third largest art market in the nation behind Los Angeles and New York.

New Mexico consists of over 100 lakes and rivers, 13 National Monuments and Parks, 29 State Parks, 5 National Forests, and 12 ski areas providing stunning beauty and abundant animal life.

With fewer than 2 million people in the fifth largest state in the nation, one can easily find solitude, great outdoor experiences, all of the arts imaginable and friendly people to greet visitors.

Mesilla and the surrounding area

The little town of Mesilla, referred to by locals as "Old Mesilla," is located on the outskirts of Las Cruces, New Mexico, approximately 45 miles from the U.S / Mexican boarder.   A short history can be reviewed by clicking on "Historic Sites in Old Mesilla" above.   Our historic Plaza continues to host many Mexican celebrations (see "Events in Old Mesilla" above).   It has a slow pace and it is completely safe to walk the streets at any time of the day or night.  

Our property is located just 2 blocks West of the town Plaza.   Within five square blocks around the Plaza there are no less than 13 great restaurants.   A few of our favorites are:   La Posta, Los Mariachi, El Comedor, Café Don Felix and Andele Restaurants all serving great New Mexican / Mexican American food.   The red and green chilie dishes are to die for.   If a steak or lobster is more to your liking, try the Double Eagle Restaurant.   If Italian or pasta is your pleasure, don't miss Lorenzo's Restaurante Italiano.   Live entertainment can be experienced at El Patio Cantina located on the Plaza (jazz on Wednesdays and rock on the weekends) and at Palacio Bar just several blocks from the Plaza where you can hear and dance to Mexican music.   Just a half block off of the Plaza one can see art films at the Fountain Theatre every evening and Sunday afternoons.  

The church bells ring every morning calling the faithful to worship.   On Sundays there is a Farmer's Market and quite often Mariachi Band concerts are performed.   On and off the Plaza there are approximately 34 shops and boutiques featuring everything from lady's clothing to fine jewelry and art galleries.

There are a host of Motels and RV Parks on the road leading from Las Cruces to Mesilla, but Mesilla boasts two great Bed and Breakfasts:   Happy Trails and Meson de Mesilla.   In addition to being a B & B, Meson de Mesilla is also a gourmet restaurant and full service cocktail lounge.   All of the above within a five square block area.

A favorite activity of many of us Mesilleros is bicycling (our streets and country roads are flat) and walking the "ditch banks" on the canal system that brings water from the Rio Grande to the farms.

Within the Mesilla / Las Cruces area there are no fewer than five live Theaters, four museums and many different art galleries.   The performing arts are very much alive and well in our community.

There are several great day trips or overnight trips we can recommend.   Again, we refer you to the web sites we have provided above, but here are some of our favorites: Silver City is a 2-hour drive northwest of Mesilla and is situation at the edge of the
Gila National Forrest.   Back packing in these pine-covered mountains is breathless.   Silver City, a small college town, has an abundant history and has become a favorite place for artists to live.   One hour north of Mesilla is the largest lake in the state where boating and fishing are popular sports.   All along the Rio Grande one can visit Indian Pueblos and do a little gambling at the reservation Casinos.   Northeast of Mesilla about 2 hours away is Ski Apache (great powder snow) along with old mining towns.   This is the area known as Lincoln County where Billy the Kid's famous escapades occurred.   Southeast about 4 hours away are the Carlsbad Caverns.   And, or course, 45 minutes away is Juarez, Mexico.  

It is true.   If you drive around long enough you will see people in "cowboy" attire.   Yep, the old West is still alive with our farms and ranches.   Near New Mexico State University is the Farm and Ranch Museum - worth visiting.

This brief sketch of our community is inadequate.   If you appreciate cultural diversity, beautiful desserts, tall pine-covered mountains with beautiful streams, live Theaters, art galleries and museums and rich wonderful traditional foods - you will love visiting Mesilla, New Mexico.