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City in New Mexico, United States
Photo: Flickr user: David Herrera https://www.flickr.com/people/dph1110/, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Las Cruces is a city in New Mexico. The name means "the crosses" in Spanish. It is the state's second largest city, with a population of over 111,000 (in 2020), and is the site of New Mexico State University.
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It is in Las Cruces, with an interesting museum or two, a large conference center, and a comfortable student union.
In Kent Hall at NMSU. Emphasis on local archaeology and culture.
In the Alumni Center at NMSU. Fossils, minerals, and petrified wood.
East of NMSU on the way out into the countryside. This is a fairly substantial site based on a working cattle ranch, with demonstrations. You can spend half a day here; there are picnic tables as well as food available for purchase.
A small museum dealing with local history.
Predominantly contemporary art with a regional emphasis.
Includes a small collection of live animals. 7 days, with evening hours on Friday; free, but donations requested.
The museum interprets the impact of the railroad on the Mesilla Valley and Las Cruces.
It is a separate town just to the west of Las Cruces which is an older settlement than Las Cruces and contains a historic district with numerous adobe buildings surrounding a plaza and the adjoining church. A visitors center is located at 2231 Avenida de Mesilla, in the Mesilla town hall.
Just east of town offer good hiking and rock climbing. Follow University Avenue east from NMSU past the Farm and Ranch museum to one of the primary trailheads, in a small park (fee) with interpretive exhibit. Trails lead from here into the mountains. Some campground space is available (additional fee). The Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument was established May 21, 2014.
Warm atmosphere, live music, great food and wine selection. French country menu includes interesting appetizers like European cheese plates that pair wonderfully with flights of wine. Entres include dinner salads, fish, steak, pastas, and more.
Italian; lunch and dinner. Also has a location in Mesilla and a new location in the shopping center on Lohman & Roadrunner.
To the southwest of Las Cruces is on the El Camino Real traveled by Onate and Coronado and is the home of many restaurants.
More of an upscale restaurant. Standard New Mexican fare and locally-inspired dishes. One of the few places in town that serves aged steak. Supposedly haunted, local lore says star-crossed lovers perished here and continue to visit one of the dining rooms. Their bar has an extensive liquor selection, suitable for all tastes. The ambiance is almost unmatched in the area. The Sunday brunch is a popular choice.
Mexican with a salsa bar. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Check out the green chile pork enchiladas, tacos al cabon and roasted jalapenos.
New Mexican food with a European flair; Seasonal dishes using fresh ingredients. Open breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It offers the best rellenos in New Mexico. The restaurant is located approximately 12 mi scenic south of University Ave on Highway 28, which winds through the Stahmann's Pecan orchards.
Microbrew beer and excellent food. Try their seasonal brews (Hefeweizen in summer and Holiday Ale in winter are choice) and order their outstanding nachos. Beware, the portions (especially on the nachos!) tend to run large, ask your server for advice. Open for lunch, dinner, and a pre-bed beer. Live music many nights, but no cover, ever.
Best chips & salsa in town (available to-go). You will not be hungry leaving Si Señor.
Great Thai food in Organ up the hill east of Las Cruces. Prices are moderate and servings are very large. A great addition and worth the drive.
The main bar in town. Live music. Unique smell.
An upscale cosmopolitan restaurant serving creative cocktails, wine, delicious appetizers, and dinner entrees.
Beautiful bed and breakfast housed in an art gallery.
Adequate if unexceptional lodging in a commercial area; not adjacent to NMSU, but still reasonably convenient for visitors to the university.
More adequate, unexceptional lodging.
A full-service pet friendly hotel near the convention center. Meeting & wedding facilities, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
Newly remodeled, and rooms include breakfast.
All-suite hotel.
Las Cruces has some degree of public transportation by the city bus line RoadRUNNER Transit. Service is limited to Monday through Saturday and ends by 7:30 in the evening. Buses can carry bicycles.
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Las Cruces · Regional · LRU
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