If you were new to El Paso TX

[aircooled]

Besides all the well known Juarez advice and the El Paso western songs, any El Paso recommend areas to avoid or to recommend? if visiting to scope out the area for re-location? I plan to head out there for about a week later in the summer. i hear it's actually much nicer than it was 15 years ago when I drove through it. What's it like nowadays?

 

[brianmanahan]

Avoid anywhere in Texas.

 

[Bignate603]

Avoid anywhere in Texas.

I don't know, I've driven through some terrible parts of Texas but my sister lives in Austin and that was a pretty nice area when we visited her.

When we drove through El Paso though it didn't look that great.

 

[aircooled]

I liked van horn

 

[techs]

Avoid the INS.

 

[punjabiplaya]

 

[Dr. Zaus]

I liked van horn

wtf? how could anyone like van horn?

You must be looking for po-dunk nowhere full of stupid;

Which, of course, explains why you are interested in el paso in the first place.

I, personally, am relocating to Las Cruces, a much more proper city located 30mi north of El Paso.

The real problem with ElPaso is Juarez. Soo man Mexicans, so much pollution!

You have no idea what they allow in the air over there, and it's RIGHT THERE! If the wind blows wrong (which of often does) El Paso is filled with deadly Mexican smog.

I kid you not, the place is the kind of shit hole I wouldn't live in even if it was the only place that would accept me as a student.

Las Cruces, OTOH, is about 30mi north (a 30min/45min commute); Protected from the third world cesspool that is Juarez by mountains and distance and an incredibly friend community consisting of smart kids going to the university or kindly old folk who've moved there to retire.

I'm from Texas, I like something about all of our major cities... but the only thing to like about El Paso is that it has a zoo worth visiting and it's fun to take the mountain pass in-order to bypass the crazy bad traffic on 10.

 

[aircooled]

wtf? how could anyone like van horn? i stopped there one night driving thru texas. it was like a ghost town. my ex-wife hated it. i love it by default.

You must be looking for po-dunk nowhere full of stupid; or maybe i'm looking for $40 a year taxes on 10 acres of land with zero building restrictions and plenty of free energy in the way of wind and sun

Which, of course, explains why you are interested in el paso in the first place. i just want to be able to navigate the area in a non-tourist way

I, personally, am relocating to Las Cruces, a much more proper city located 30mi north of El Paso.

The real problem with ElPaso is Juarez. Soo man Mexicans, so much pollution!

You have no idea what they allow in the air over there, and it's RIGHT THERE! If the wind blows wrong (which of often does) El Paso is filled with deadly Mexican smog.

I kid you not, the place is the kind of shit hole I wouldn't live in even if it was the only place that would accept me as a student.

Las Cruces, OTOH, is about 30mi north (a 30min/45min commute); Protected from the third world cesspool that is Juarez by mountains and distance and an incredibly friend community consisting of smart kids going to the university or kindly old folk who've moved there to retire.

I'm from Texas, I like something about all of our major cities... but the only thing to like about El Paso is that it has a zoo worth visiting and it's fun to take the mountain pass in-order to bypass the crazy bad traffic on 10.

responded in bold above

 

[potluv]

I visited in 2001 before you know what went down, stayed around the airport, went to some Mexican restaurant on Paisano Dr right on the river and next to some monument. Looks like the restaurants closed now... there's only one free standing Chick-Fil-A for a city of 650k. Watch out for retired soldiers panhandling in parking lots, and supposedly when it rains everyone crashes into each other. The south side of town (Alameda Ave) is where all the ghetto areas are, but overall safe.

 

[iGas]

I don't know what it is like. But it was okay to me 15 years ago, however some local weren't that friendly.

 

[potluv]

I don't know what it is like. But it was okay to me 15 years ago, however some local weren't that friendly.

I was offered an 8th of some dank looking weed from a guy that worked at what used to be the Airport Hilton, said it was from Boulder. I was also 16 at the time, and could pass off as Chicano even though I was only white & asian.

 

[MoMeanMugs]

My old man is a cop there. No way you could ever convince me to move there.

 

[DesiPower]

Avoid anywhere in Texas.

Talk about presumptuous ATOTer...

Texas is a vast and diverse State. its east west north south and center, all are totally different... stupid is as stupid writes

 

[DesiPower]

I liked van horn

Van Horn?????????? dude, that's like nothing in the middle of nowhere...

 

[DesiPower]

Avoid the INS.

Its now USCIS.... has been now for YEARS.... wake up..

 

[DesiPower]

I drive to PHX area once a year from TX, have been doing it for years. I just drive thru Drugtown Paso, never even though of stopping even for gas, even the broad day light... Although I have heard that there is a new University, or maybe an old one recently expanded or something, the area around that is nice and safe... If you can avoid the town then avoid it. back to my trip, If I leave late in the day then I stay in Van Horn, stopped there 3 times. If I can leave earlier in the morning, I stop at Las Cruses, stopped there for the night 3, 4 times. Most of the time, I just go non-stop. Both are nice and safe places the spend the night at, El Paso... well... just stay away unless you absolutely have to... its not worth the risk. Although I must add, I have never heard or read about tourists or passerbys getting hurt there.. but, there is always a first time.

 

[Texashiker]

If you were new to El Paso TX

I would keep driving.

El Paso has the some of the highest un-employment rates of the entire state of Texas.

I would stay out of West Texas in general, not enough water or trees for my taste.

 

[Kirby]

aircooled makes an appearance

 

[foghorn67]

For scouting, stay on the west side. Which is west of the osorco smelting plant. Nice and inexpensive.
If you like Mexican food if tex mex, bbq, steak houses, its awesome.
Things to do. Not much. Carlsbad Caverns is only two hours away. There is a huge pecan ranch about half hour away. However, there is some decent mountain ranges in New Mexico for outdoors stuff. Camping, fishing, resorts, casinos.

 

[jjzelinski]

I lived in El Paso for a while, unless some kind of bomb went off in the last 8 or 9 years it's not nearly as bad as is portrayed here. I lived both near McRae and right next to the university over the course of 3 or 4 years, and what stands out the most is how boring it is and how amzing the food is. Two of my all time favorite restaraunts are Avillas and Alexandros. Absolutely to die for (pun intended

 

[KoolAidKid]

I live near there and go there pretty often. My thoughts:
* It's ugly
* Some good Mexican food
* Violence in Juarez =/= violence in El Paso
* City sprawl at its worst, arguably worse than LA
* More strip malls than people
* Fairly boring place to live. El Paso doesn't really have as much to do as other cities of its size that I have visited/lived in.

I would avoid living there if I could help it.

 

[KoolAidKid]

LMK if you want recommendations/insight/etc. I have lived in Las Cruces since 2007 and like it surprisingly well considering that I grew up in Seattle.

wtf? how could anyone like van horn?

You must be looking for po-dunk nowhere full of stupid;

Which, of course, explains why you are interested in el paso in the first place.

I, personally, am relocating to Las Cruces, a much more proper city located 30mi north of El Paso.

The real problem with ElPaso is Juarez. Soo man Mexicans, so much pollution!

You have no idea what they allow in the air over there, and it's RIGHT THERE! If the wind blows wrong (which of often does) El Paso is filled with deadly Mexican smog.

I kid you not, the place is the kind of shit hole I wouldn't live in even if it was the only place that would accept me as a student.

Las Cruces, OTOH, is about 30mi north (a 30min/45min commute); Protected from the third world cesspool that is Juarez by mountains and distance and an incredibly friend community consisting of smart kids going to the university or kindly old folk who've moved there to retire.

I'm from Texas, I like something about all of our major cities... but the only thing to like about El Paso is that it has a zoo worth visiting and it's fun to take the mountain pass in-order to bypass the crazy bad traffic on 10.

 

[BurnItDwn]

If I was in El Paso I would take a trip to mexico for hookers and blow. Isn't El Paso near the border, or no?

 

[Drako]

If I was in El Paso I would take a trip to mexico for hookers and blow. Isn't El Paso near the border, or no?

Oh look, free kidneys!!

 

[stargazr]

Oh look, free kidneys!!