Hi everyone! I hope all is going well for you! A big thank you goes out to Vincent Nezzer for his guest post. 

By Vincent Nezzer

It’s easy to fall into a routine. We are practically programmed to complete dozens of daily obligations. Don’t let your tendency to repeat the same things keep you from trying fun, new activities with the ones you love. Use this guide to change things up and plan an adventurous afternoon in El Paso.

Wyler Aerial Tramway State Park

Get a better view of El Paso from 18 feet up at the Wyler Aerial Tramway. This cable car trails down the east side of the Franklin Mountains and over the west side of the city. You’ll see cactus gardens, rock formations and maybe even some wildlife. The tram is closed during bad weather so call ahead to make sure it’s running.

• Cost: $8 for 13 and up and $4 for 12 and under

• Location: 1700 McKinley Avenue

El Paso Zoo

The tramway is fun for adults and kids, but it won’t keep you busy all day. Stop by the zoo for hours of fuzzy entertainment. You can plan your visit with this interactive map, or catch a show on the events calendar. Special events include giraffe feedings, elephant training sessions and lectures about birds from all over the world.

• Cost: $12 for 13 and up and $7.50 for 12 and under.

• Location: 4001 E Paisano Drive

Butterfly and Botanical Garden

If you’ve been to the zoo recently, check out the butterfly and botanical gardens at Keystone Heritage Park. You and your family can spend a few hours learning about different butterfly and plant species and experience various art sculptures throughout the gardens. Pick a date for your reservation here. The gardens are open on all weekdays, except on Mondays.

Cost: Donation based–at least $1 for kids and “a couple bucks” for adults.

Location: 4220 Doniphan Drive

Mom-made scavenger hunt 

This DIY activity is perfect for creative parents and it can last as long as you think your kids will stay entertained. My mom used to organize a scavenger hunt for my birthday party every year. All the kids would run around like crazy using clues to hunt for goodie bags. It can be done with virtually anything. For example, hide a sheet of paper that reads, “Which movie are we renting tonight?” Then, hide clues that lead to the next question. When all the clues have been found, the winner can pick the movie! Nature scavenger hunts are fun too.

Cost: Varies.

Location: Anywhere you want!

Licon Dairy

If you and the kids like to get outside, you’ll love exploring the Licon Dairy. Spend your day fishing at the pond or feeding animals in the petting zoo. Kids will love seeing the buffalo, sheep, llamas, deer, goats, ostrich, donkeys, peacocks, longhorns, parrots and more.

Cost: FREE (animal food costs $1 bag)

Location: 11951 Glorietta Road

Science Museums

Here, I want to recommend two places. First, visit the Museum of Science and Technology. With five exhibits on vastly different topics, you can truly spend all day exploring. There’s even a Groupon to help spare your wallet. Next, stop by the Gene Roddenberry Planetarium. The exhibits are awesome and free during the summer. If possible, catch the special show too. It’s designed for kids!

Museum of Science and Technology location: 521 Tays Street

Gene Roddenberry Planetarium location: 6531 Boeing Drive

Amusement Parks

El Paso has a variety of amusement parks. While they may not be your least expensive options, some parks are also fun for adults. For toddler-aged kiddos, I recommend Bob-O’s Family Fun Center. When it’s not too hot, Western Playland offers plenty of classic rides and roller coasters. They also have junior rides for children between 34 to 41 inches. I personally don’t think they’re worth it. Visit the park with children who are 42 inches or taller and avoid the restrictions. On an overcast day, I prefer both of these over the Wet N’ Wild Waterpark, but most summer afternoons in El Paso are better spent in the water.

Community Parks

If you only have an hour to kill, stop and play at one of El Paso’s beautiful community parks. The Sue Young Park has water features on the playground and the Ascarate Park has two pools and a lake. Several parks around town also offer many splash pads and pools.

Whatever you choose, you won’t go wrong. If you’re new to the city or have a few days to kill, try all of these activities!

Vincent Nezzer is a blogger from Las Cruces, New Mexico. He earned an English degree from the University of New Mexico and cut his teeth writing web content for the Anderson School of Management. He makes his living writing stories for a variety of online publications. He plays videos games and hangs out with his dogs, Peaches and Rose in his spare time.

Follow Vincent on LinkedIn here.

Photos from Pexels & my own.