A Taste of Southwest New Mexico

Enjoy a Taste of Southwest New Mexico along with a “Spaceport America Behind the Scenes Tour” and “Chile Farm-to-Table Experience”

Three Day/ Two Night Fall Itinerary

Day 1Arrive at the El Paso International Airport, met by deluxe motorcoach tour company.

Spend time in Mesilla, a historic town with a perfect blend of the past meeting the present. Walk around Mesilla Plaza while enjoying shopping and the rich history of the area in way you’ve never experienced before.

Enjoy lunch at La Posta de Mesilla Restaurant with margarita pairing and an owner-led tour of the historic site, which was an important stop on the Butterfield Stagecoach Line. During the 1870’s and 1880’s, the Corn Exchange Hotel, one of the finest lodges in the Southwest, operated from the building and is now a renowned restaurant.

Walk to the Mesilla Valley Store. Constructed in the 1850’s then remodeled and expanded after the first of the 20th century, not much has changed about this beautiful building. Guests get to sample locally grown pecans from the Salopek Farm, as well as award winning salsas from Andele Restaurant.

After shopping, take a tour of the J. Paul Taylor Home and Museum. Inside, you will find a rich trove of over 4,000 treasures including a unique collection of art, furnishings and textiles spanning four centuries, telling the story of Mesilla, New Mexico and its borderlands.

Depart Mesilla and head for Truth or Consequences.

Check-in at Historic Sierra Grande Lodge & Spa. Built in 1929, Sierra Grande Lodge & Spa provides its guests with a relaxing vacation experience complete with exquisite amenities unmatched by other area hotels, including an exceptional dining experience, luxurious Spa and exceptionally unique outdoor activities.

Dine at Sierra Grande Lodge Restaurant, enjoying chef-inspired creations and personally meeting Chef Tatsu Miyazaki.

Afterwards, soak in geothermal hot springs and indulge in a traditional massage at Sierra Grande Lodge & Spa or Riverside Hot Springs Resort, complimenting with aquatic therapy while overlooking the Rio Grande River.

Day TwoStart your day with breakfast at Sierra Grande Lodge Restaurant choosing from Mesilla Valley Favorites: Hatch Dream Omelet or Huevos Rancheros, both made with world-famous Hatch green chile.

Get ready for a Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Spaceport America, the first commercial and tourist space flight complex in the world. Your journey will begin at the Truth or Consequence Spaceport Welcome Center for security check-in. Located in the Jornada del Muerto desert basin, Spaceport America was officially declared open on October 18, 2011. Tenants VirginGalactic, SpaceX, UP and Armadillo Aerospace have all operated from the Spaceport, conducting both vertical and horizontal launches.

A Taste of Southwest New Mexico

foR MoRE InfoRMATIon ConTACT RoCHELLE MILLER-HERnAnDEZ

575-541-2169 | rhernandez@las-cruces.orgVisitLasCruces.com

After returning back to Truth or Consequences, you will travel to Lujan farms, a three generation family-owned business in the Mesilla Valley for over 70 years, known for growing some of the best green and red chile in the Southwest. While you tour the farm, you will pick and roast your own world class Mesilla Valley chile.

Afterwards, you will take your chile to Pecan Grill & Brewery, a popular locally family-owned restaurant in the heart of Las Cruces. Create a farm-to-table dinner from chile picked and roasted at Lujan Farms, guided by Executive Chef Keith Leroux. While preparing your meal, sip on Signature Pecan Beer, the perfect blend of pecan extract and amber ale made in-house.

Check into Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, premier hotel of southern New Mexico, immersed in Spanish and Mexican Colonial history and tradition with furnishings designed after the New Mexico Museum Foundation Collection. Boasts one-of-a-kind works of art from old Mexico along with the vibrant and rich colors of New Mexico.

Spend the evening doing one of the three (Visitor’s Choice)

Take a tour of the Las Cruces Ale Trail, which boasts established and newly opened microbreweries and brew pubs featuring award-winning craft beers. Learn about the art of malting, milling and roasting different grains and hops to create a unique brew served at its peak of freshness. Ever tried pecan or green chile beer? You can in Las Cruces!

Enjoy Yoga at Sunset at the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument, declared a national monument in May 2014 by Presidential Proclamation in order to protect prehistoric, historic, geologic, and biological resources of scientific interest. Over 496,000

acres in size, the monument provides the perfect setting for hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, camping and relaxation.

OR:

Spend a night at the Theater enjoying an event or performance. The Historic Rio Grande Theatre is the only remaining two-story adobe theatre in the country. While you are there, meet the artists! Once the only cinema house in downtown Las Cruces, the theatre was renovated and reopened in 2005. The state-of-the-art performing arts venue can seat 422 and features local and international stars.

Day ThreeEnjoy breakfast prepared by Garduños Restaurant and served on Hotel Encanto’s garden terrace overlooking the resort-style pool. Garduños has been offering savory local cuisine since 1969. Indulge in Mesilla Valley Pecan Pancakes served with homemade whipped cream, Hatch Red Chile Posole, and Honey Drizzled Bananas dusted with Heart of the Desert chopped pistachios.

Tour the Chile Pepper Institute, the only international, non-profit organization devoted to the education and research related to Capsicum, or chile peppers. Located on the New Mexico State University Campus, you will discover the complexity of the chile pepper, learn about the hundreds of seed varieties and taste culinary delights made with this spicy ingredient. A quick drive down the street will take you to the Fabian Garcia Horticultural Center, a public teaching and touring garden, which showcases 150 chile pepper varieties from around the world.

Depart Las Cruces to travel to El Paso International Airport.