El Paso: A City Like No Other

The Roads

Let’s talk about the road system in El Paso first. Whoever designed it must have been channelling their inner sci-fi enthusiast. Overpasses, underpasses, and ramps twist and loop like a rollercoaster—cue The Jetsons theme music! It was disorienting at first but oddly fun once we got the hang of it.

The RV Park

Mission RV Park was a gem of a stop. The highlight? A heated indoor pool and hot tub—pure bliss! We made it a point to either swim or soak every single day. The park also had a convenient off-leash dog park where our chihuahuas could stretch their little legs, and our walks around the park sparked a few fun conversations with neighbours.

Speaking of neighbours, we had quite the cast of characters. One man set up a mini outdoor gym next to his RV and did a light weight-training routine every morning. Another RV parked at a bizarre angle that baffled us all. Then there was the infamous Bill and Edna, a couple who took an epic 90 minutes to park, managing to squish a sewage spout in the process. John the Rockstar Husband Laverty and I found ourselves invested in their saga, and when we woke to find them gone the next morning, we genuinely hoped they were okay.

Exploring the Town

First, let’s clear something up—this is not the “town of El Paso” from Marty Robbins’ song. With a population of 700,000, El Paso is a thriving border city bursting with culture and history.

Our first stop was the historic downtown. It’s an area of contrasts: stunning old buildings on one side and a bustling gateway to Mexico on the other. The streets leading to the border bridge were alive with shops, street vendors, and buskers playing everything from Elvis to traditional Mexican ballads. We even stumbled upon a pawn shop displaying Pancho Villa’s trigger finger in a jar—only in El Paso, right?

Just a few blocks north, we found elegant historic hotels, high-end restaurants, and—much to the dogs’ delight—a Starbucks with pup cups.

Later, we discovered Dead Beach Brewery, where the dogs were welcomed inside. This was a first for us, and the pups behaved like seasoned brewery-goers. John did a beer flight, bought a t-shirt, and I couldn’t resist a taste of their blueberry beer—it was delicious!

Retail Therapy and Authentic Eats

The next day took us to the outlet mall, where we indulged in some shopping: a pair of Birkenstocks for me and Adidas shoes for John. We even sat with a glass of wine watching kids line up to meet Santa—a surreal moment in the warm Texas sunshine.

On our way back, we followed a recommendation from our RV park neighbour April and picked up dinner at Leo’s Mexican Food Restaurant. She wasn’t kidding—those enchiladas were the real deal, bursting with authentic flavours.

A Walk Along the Rio Grande (Sort Of)

One afternoon, we decided to explore the Rio Grande River Walk, imagining a peaceful stroll along the famous river. But to our surprise, the Rio Grande in El Paso has been dry for years! The river channel in El Paso-Juárez now only fills during the irrigation season – what season are we in? Not irrigation season I can tell you that. SO, instead of the river life we’d hoped for, we found ourselves walking along a bed of sand, accompanied only by the sound of kids zipping around on four-by-fours. It wasn’t the serene outing we’d envisioned, but we made the best of it and enjoyed the unique desert landscape nonetheless.

Staying Longer Than Planned

We originally planned to spend only a few days in El Paso but ended up staying for five. Between the charm of the city, the comforts of the RV park, and our newfound love of Tex-Mex cuisine, it was hard to say goodbye. But the open road called, and there was still so much more to see.

Goodbye, El Paso—you’ve been unforgettable!