El Paso might fly under the radar among Texas destinations, but this border town delivers big on romantic ambience. Dramatic desert sunsets, hillside wine tasting, and OO-la-la fine French cuisine set an amorous mood against the rugged backdrop of Franklin Mountains and the Rio Grande.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Scenic Drive | Enjoy breathtaking views of El Paso and its surroundings. |
| Hiking Adventures | Explore natural beauty on trails in local parks. |
| Ballpark Visit | Experience a game together for fun and excitement. |
| Historic Missions Tour | Discover El Paso’s rich history and architecture. |
| Aerial Tramway Ride | Witness stunning cityscapes from above. |
| Picnic at a Park | Share a quiet, romantic meal outdoors. |
| Gourmet Dining | Indulge in fine dining at local restaurants. |
| Stargazing | Marvel at the night sky at a local observatory. |
| Sunrise Balloon Ride | Start the day with a breathtaking balloon ride at sunrise. |
From sightseeing strolls to hot springs getaways, use this guide to plan an unforgettable couples vacation exploring all sides of this bicultural community.
Scenic Drive Airport Overlook
Name and Location: The Airport Overlook sits atop the Franklin Mountains providing views overlooking El Paso International Airport and the city beyond.
History and Significance: The Airport Overlook offers one of the most stunning panoramas of the El Paso area with views across the whole valley, especially dramatic at sunset with the planes coming and going below.
What to Expect: Visitors take in views of downtown El Paso, Ciudad Juárez, the airport flight paths and surrounding mountain ranges from this lofty vantage point accessible by car up the Franklin Mountains.
Visitor Information: The overlook is located off Scenic Dr in Franklin Mountains State Park. Park hours: 5AM-10PM. Best views in late afternoon when airports busiest.
Venture to the eastern edge of Franklin Mountains State Park for secluded views of the borderlands from the airport overlook picnic area. Cuddle up on the shaded stone benches to count down departing flights soaring past below between embraces. When the desert heat leaves you thirsty, savor specialty coffee drinks from The Bean Juice Truck Cafe parked onsite Friday through Sunday. Then explore additional scenic stops like Panther Point and Ranger Peak along the winding nine-mile road through the mountains if you feel compelled to stretch your legs while holding hands.
Hiking Tom Mays Trail
Name and Location: Tom Mays Trail is located within the Franklin Mountains State Park traversing over 1,000 feet of elevation gain to the North Franklin Peak.
History and Significance: As one of the most popular trails in the Franklin Mountains, Tom Mays provides access to panoramic views of El Paso, New Mexico and Mexico beyond after a strenuous hike upwards.
What to Expect: Hikers traverse switchbacks under the desert sun leading through vegetation zones unique to the Franklins. The 360-degree summit views are the rewarding payoff.
Visitor Information: Tom Mays Trail is open year-round for free public access. Hike respectfully and bring plenty of water. Park hours 5AM-10PM.
Bond while admiring spectacular views along this moderate two-mile trail in the Franklin Mountains’ Tom Mays Unit. Set out early to catch golden light flooding the desert canyon before the afternoon sun intensifies. Pause for refreshing sips kissing your partner’s cheek at a viewpoint bench halfway through your peaceful trek among the prickly pear cacti. Then complete the loop before continuing your romantic outing at the onsite picnic area or nearby eateries back in town.
Southwest University Park
Name and Location: Southwest University Park is located at 1 Ballpark Plaza, El Paso, Texas, home field of the El Paso Chihuahuas baseball team.
History and Significance: Opened in 2014, the state-of-the-art Triple A ballpark ushered an era of family entertainment, public pride and downtown El Paso investment centered around its home team Chihuahuas.
What to Expect: Visitors enjoy Chihuahuas baseball within an intimate setting praised for fan comfort and views of El Paso atop the Franklin Mountains. Offseason events also occur. Fans relish the on-site Kids Zone playground and concession variety.
Visitor Information: Southwest University Park hosts Chihuahuas games April-September. Tickets can be purchased online. Public events also held year-round like music concerts and movie nights.
Cheering on the home team provides plenty of opportunities for stolen embraces at downtown’s new riverside baseball stadium. Cuddle up in the cushioned seats or sway together to live music playing throughout the intimate 9,000-person capacity venue. Celebrate hits from the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas with smooches as big as the mountain vistas filling the panorama beyond centerfield. And nothing bonds new couples faster than friendly rivalry trying local ballpark specialties like raspas snow cones or churros dripping in chocolate sauce from the comfort of your seats.
El Paso Missions Trail
Name and Location: The El Paso Missions Trail follows San Antonio Ave through downtown El Paso, connecting Ysleta, Socorro and San Elizario – El Paso’s historic Spanish missions.
History and Significance: These historic missions represent the earliest roots of El Paso, first inhabited by indigenous tribes before Spanish settlers arrived in the late 1500s, laying foundations for future growth.
What to Expect: Modern visitors can take self-guided tours of Mission Ysleta, Mission Socorro and Mission San Elizario to explore original adobe structures and imagine frontier history of the Paso del Norte region.
Visitor Information: The missions are open year-round for visitors to walk through on their own during daylight hours. Some brochures available on site. Special events occur monthly.
Immerse yourselves in El Paso’s long history strolling hand in hand between four early Spanish Colonial missions dotted along the valley. Hear love’s timeless power recounted through centuries-old murals revealing the region’s complicated past on your scenic road trip. Lingering touches and tender gazes come easily wandering lush courtyards filled with roses and bougainvillea. Finish by toasting your own devotion over glasses of Communion wine from nearby wineries on New Mexico’s pastoral side of the dusty mission trail.
Wyler Aerial Tramway
Name and Location: The Wyler Aerial Tramway ascends the Franklin Mountains from 1700 McKinley Ave in El Paso to Ranger Peak, over 1500 feet above.
History and Significance: Constructed in 1959 by KTSM founder Karl O. Wyler, the tram has offered 60 years of scenic rides up the Franklins. Its midway unloading station accesses historical museum exhibits.
What to Expect: Riders glide above canyons in under 10 minutes to reach the top. An observation deck and revolving restaurant await up top amid biking and hiking trails with panoramas tourists adore.
Visitor Information: The tramway operates seasonally March-September. Tickets range $8-$18 and should be purchased online in advance when possible. Open hours vary by month.
Nestle side-by-side in the skytram ascending over 1,500 vertical feet overlooking El Paso and Juárez below. Up top at Ranger Peak, lightweight titanium and mesh gondolas allow for close snuggling with continuous views of desert mountains and Rio Grande waters. Capture the romance with championship-silhouette smooches in front the bronze Franklin Mountains State Park sign at the summit. Best of all, there’s no awkward chair-lift-style center pole obstructing you two lovebirds from getting lost in each other’s eyes all the way up and down the breathtaking ride.
Sunland Park Date Night Package
Name and Location: Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, located at 1200 Futurity Drive, Sunland Park, New Mexico, just minutes from El Paso.
History and Significance: Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino has offered casino gaming and live horse racing since 1959 and 1999 respectively, providing prime entertainment unique to the borderland area.
What to Expect: The Date Night package includes dinner for two at Ventano’s Steak & Tequila; two drink passes; two racing programs; reserved seats at the Turf Terrace race viewing area; and $20 free slot play credits all for $100 (plus fees).
Visitor Information: The Date Night package is available every Friday and Saturday night during live horse racing seasons in the spring and fall when reservations are made at least 48 hours in advance. Guests must be 21.
Book a package deal including dinner and entertainment to keep your date night stress free and sensuously focused solely on each other. Sunland Park’s Casino and Racetrack makes it easy by pairing your choice of steakhouse, Mexican cantina or casual dining with admission to their dance club, lounge comedy acts and free live racing or sportsbook action. Hold hands en route to your intimate table for two. Then snuggle over cocktails while wagering on horses rounding the track or numbers spinning on the giant roulette wheel visible across the vast entertainment complex totally dedicated to adult recreation in their onsite hotel tryst zone.
Picnic at Keystone Heritage Park
Name and Location: Keystone Heritage Park encompasses 21 acres at the base of the Franklin Mountains in El Paso, Texas with covered picnic spots amid nature.
History and Significance: From its rich Native American roots through cattle ranching days, today’s Keystone park preserves cultural landscapes and serves as an urban nature escape with awe-inspiring views.
What to Expect: Families enjoy the Greenhouse picnic area’s shade, grills and proximity to Keystone’s Wetlands trail. Kids venture through the desert landscape to explore while adults relax at tables.
Visitor Information: Keystone Heritage Park is open daily with free admission. Greenhouse picnic area available 8AM-5PM unless reserved. Some grilling supplies sold on-site.
Pack gourmet snacks like artisan cheese, fresh fruit and chocolate confections for an intimate meal under El Paso’s endless skies at Keystone Heritage Park. Located near downtown in the former Rio Grande smelting plant, the sprawling green space connects through metal bridges with panoramic views across Sunland Park. Find a secluded spot among the botanical oasis next to artificial ponds where fountains dance to serenade you and your partner. Then unwind walking through restored mining structures and past sculptures lining expansive lawns dotted with native cacti before heading home under the golden hour glow.
Dinner at Amigos Restaurant
Name and Location: Amigos Restaurant is located at 2000 Montana Avenue, El Paso, Texas, known for Tex-Mex eats since 1981.
History and Significance: Amigos has earned its place as a stalwart of authentic El Paso cuisine for over 40 years. Family-owned and operated, their recipes represent the area’s proud cross-border food traditions.
What to Expect: Hungry guests feast on sizzling fajitas, velvety queso, freshly made tortillas, mesquite-grilled meats, hand-rolled enchiladas and more Tex-Mex specialties as mariachis perform.
Visitor Information: Amigos Restaurant serves daily 10AM-10PM. Indoor and patio seating available. Reservations accepted for groups 6+ but walk-ins also welcomed. Take-out orders popular.
Savor contemporary twists on classic continental cuisine paired with gorgeous vineyard views overlooking El Paso’s valley from Amigos Restaurant. Kick off your intimate dining experience with gracious host Leo Duran as your personal wine steward guiding you through the extensive list of old and new world varietals sourced through his family’s nearby vineyard. Then toast lasting friendship over multiple courses artfully presented with fresh seasonal ingredients grown on-site beside the cozy adobe-style dining room warmed by a crackling fireplace.
Scenic Drive to Cloudcroft
Name and Location: The 60-mile drive from Alamogordo up Highway 82 to Cloudcroft, New Mexico winds steeply through Lincoln National Forest from the Tularosa Basin to the Sacramentos.
History and Significance: Constructed in 1898 for railway access to area logging camps, the breathtaking switchbacks scaling zigzagging ridges to reach alpine Cloudcroft at 9000 feet became renowned as the most beautiful drive in the Southwest.
What to Expect: The scenic journey by car whisks travelers from the desert floor to cool mountain forests filled with great views, picnic areas, hiking trails, camping and the historic mountain village of Cloudcroft at journey’s end.
Visitor Information: The drive from Alamogordo up to Cloudcroft on NM-82 typically takes 1 to 1.5 hours each way. Watch for steep curves lacking shoulder room. Obey speed limits.
Venture an hour outside the city into New Mexico’s Sacramento Mountains for an amorous mountain getaway that feels worlds away. Stop for photo ops capturing you two lovebirds posing with the nostalgic Smokey Bear sign in Lincoln National Forest along the easy 60-mile drive to the charming resort village of Cloudcroft. Check into a room at the historic lodge property in the pine-fresh forest 9,000 feet above stress levels – and clothes if you prefer! Sip hot toddies as dancing flames reflect in your partner’s eyes before drifting to sleep bundled up together in the cozy mountain chill.
Hueco Tanks Stargazing
Name and Location: Hueco Tanks State Park is located 32 miles northeast of El Paso, Texas, renowned as an International Dark Sky Park for astronomy.
History and Significance: Hueco Tanks’ location far from city lights provides exceptional night sky viewing in the area. Its certified Dark Sky Park status testifies to efforts sustaining this key resource for visitors’ education and wonder.
What to Expect: At guided Astronomy Talks, visitors use telescopes to study planets and deep space objects. Self-guided observers find rocky vantages to watch seasonal meteor showers, see the Milky Way with the naked eye and more.
Visitor Information: Hueco Tanks SP hosts frequent astronomy programs—usually free. Light pollution is monitored to maximize awe-inspiring night sky sights year-round.
Escape the city glow for unparalleled views of the Milky Way glittering above West Texas desert sky at Hueco Tanks. As daylight fades, find an isolated spot among the park’s signature hollowed rock formations and settle onto a blanket with your sweetheart. Identify heavenly constellations twinkling overhead as you swap old stories and new dreams. Meteor sightings invite wishes sealed by tender kisses under the starry canopy far from intrusive big city light pollution. Pack up only when the moon illuminates your walk back hand in hand to the parking area.
Dinner at le Central
Name and Location: le Central is an upscale French bistro located downtown at 1109 Texas Avenue, El Paso TX
History and Significance: Since opening in 1996, family-owned le Central has refined El Paso’s dining scene by importing European techniques to elevate steakhouse and continental classics for a sophisticated night out.
What to Expect: Guests enjoy white tablecloth service alongside premium appetizers like lobster bisque, classic French onion soup gratinee, steaks matched with fine wines and classic desserts like creme brûlée and bread pudding.
Visitor Information: le Central serves dinner nightly 5-10PM, plus Sunday brunch. Reservations recommended, especially on weekends, but walk-ins accepted pending seating. Smart casual attire requested.
Indulge in the finest French cuisine and old world ambience without leaving Texas at Chef Elizabeth Visage’s signature restaurant nestled inside Hotel Paso del Norte. Allow knowledgeable sommeliers to guide you through the award-winning international wine list over multiple courses paired perfectly – like you two – as you cozy into white-glove service in the dimly lit leather lounge or tableside in the Parisian-inspired dining room. If lucky, Chef Visage herself might step out to ensure your meal meets her uncompromising standards for intimate epicurean excellence on par with Europe’s Michelin-recognized masters.
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride
Name and Location: Hot air balloon rides lift off from various launch sites around El Paso and Las Cruces depending on weather and wind conditions.
History and Significance: Floating silently over the dramatic Paso del Norte landscape in a hot air balloon basket allows appreciation for borderland nature and architecture spreading below. It’s a memorable perspective not easily forgotten.
What to Expect: Passengers watch the colorful balloon inflate and fill with fire-heated air before climbing skyward for panoramic sunrise views from above with the morning stillness adding magic.
Visitor Information: Book sunrise rides through companies like Above and Beyond or Octopus Sky Ballooning for tours lasting about an hour. Please wear closed-toe shoes and arrive early to watch setup.
Watch the desert awaken flooded in shades of gold, orange and red 1,000-feet overhead from an intimate hot air balloon carrying you and your loved one. Well before dawn, meet for safety instructions and climb into the basket for a unmatched spectacle silently sailing high over sleepy El Paso homes, farms and desert landscapes. Let childlike wonder and excitement spark new conversation while you cling to steady embraces. Then commemorate your flight of fancy with a cider mimosa toast and commemorative photo from your pilot team guiding your gentle landing back to earthly pleasures.
Picnic at Hueco Tanks
Name and Location: Hueco Tanks State Park contains scenic picnic areas with shade scattered around the historic North Mountain site northeast of El Paso in Texas.
History and Significance: Hueco Tanks has attracted visitors to its otherworldly rock formations and seasonal water pools for generations to rest and refuel before exploring trails through landmarks bearing evidence of 8,000 years of human habitation.
What to Expect: Families take advantage of the park’s picnic tables and BBQ grills to enjoy lunch while appreciating panoramic views of the Tularosa Basin and Hueco Mountains before hitting popular hiking routes to park sights.
Visitor Information: Designated picnic areas at Hueco Tanks are open for day use year-round during daylight hours in permitted areas. Grills/tables first come, first served. Bring supplies.
Pack a basket bounty to fuel amorous explorations of the 860-acre state park filled with fascinating rock formations harboring ancient treasures. Hike hand-in-hand discovering rocky hollows that collect rainwater nourishing lush palms not found elsewhere across the arid valley terrain. When peckish, steal away to a secluded grotto where you can feed each other chocolate-dipped fruit gazing up at secret desert petroglyphs untouched for centuries. Then spread out a blanket between mammoth boulders that seem to form natural privacy rooms perfect for slowing down alone together appreciating earth’s patient artistry – and your good fortune having found love in the borderlands.