Las Cruces, New Mexico: Stopover--hotel review; restaurant reviews; things to do

Las Cruces, New Mexico Stopover

Located less than an hour’s drive from El Paso, Las Cruces is known as the City of Crosses and the Gateway to Space.  It is New Mexico’s second-largest city.  This area, along with the neighboring hamlet of Mesilla, is noted for farming pistachios, pecans, chili peppers, and wine grapes (Las Cruces has the oldest vineyards in the U.S.). The central district of Mesilla features entire blocks of homes made of adobe and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

the Organ Mountains as seen from a guest room
at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces  

705 S Telshor Blvd., (866) 383-0443, (575) 522-4300.  Pool.  Located amid suburban sprawl, this old Spanish-style resort hotel does provide an attractive, restive pool area as well as a beautiful view of the Organ Mountains.  The beds and linens are comfortable and the organic bath products pleasant.  A portion of the room fee is donated back to local culture and preservation.

pool area at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, in Las Cruces, New Mexico

The hotel restaurant, Garduno’s, is right off the lobby along with an exceptional gift shop with an extensive selection of crosses.

crosses on wall in gift shop at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces
in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Chile Pepper Institute Farm  

Daily 8am-5pm, June-Oct.  Part of New Mexico State University, this teaching garden is planted with every kind of pepper you can imagine.  Tours are available.

chile pepper field at Chile Pepper Institute Farm in Las Cruces, New Mexico

orange peppers in chile pepper field at Chile Pepper Institute Farm
in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Christmas-bulb-colored peppers in chile pepper field
at Chile Pepper Institute Farm in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Caliches Frozen Custard  

590 S. Valley Dr., (575) 647-5066.  Daily.  The story goes that the word “caliche" is a Spanish term describing a layer of calcium carbonate--or "natural cement"--that forms in the soil of semi-arid regions.  And it is common to hear mid-western frozen custard places refer to their blended frozen custards as "concretes."  Thus the name for this business was born.  Looking like a cross between a fast-food spot and a spiffed-up diner, Caliche's is indeed a renovated burger joint but its fare is cold and sweet.  Usually.  Some items have chiles in the ingredients--like the Green Chile Sundae made with vanilla custard and green chile marmalade (it is quite tasty), though I would love to try the classic hot fudge sundae next time.

exterior of Caliches Frozen Custard in Las Cruces, New Mexico

frozen custard dispenser at Caliches Frozen Custard
in Las Cruces, New Mexico

servers at Caliches Frozen Custard in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Rad Retrocade  

201 N Main St.  (575) 556-9338.  This unique entertainment venue is inside a humongous two-story building that in 1927 was home to one of the first JC Penney stores in New Mexico.  The venue includes a restaurant and bar, more than 4,000 square feet of gaming space, and a dance floor.  With a cool collection of classic ‘80s games--Tron, Pacman, etc.--this adult-oriented spot is designed to take guests back to a time when pinball machines and arcade games were the rage   The don’t-miss meal is an appetizer of the dramatically-served bottomless bucket of chips along with a burger and icy margarita.  Deep-fried Twinkie bites anyone?

interior of Rad Retrocade in Las Cruces, New Mexico

burger tray at Rad Retrocade in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Things to do in Mesilla, New Mexico.

More things to do in New Mexico.

Things to do in nearby El Paso, Texas.

More ideas for exploring the U.S.

images and video ©2020 Carole Terwilliger Meyers