Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/19029
AREA GUIDES sands of beautiful specimens of petri- fied wood, fossils and minerals No meeting or vacation in Las Las Cruces Railroad Museum If variety is the spice of life, then Las Cruces,haswhat you need.Choose from 49 different hotels, motels, Bed & Breakfast Inns and RV Parks. Las Cruces has everything from national properties like, Best Western and Holiday Inn, to local B&Bs and RV parks. Accommodations include the 160- room Days Inn & Suites, a full service hotel offering 160 finely appointed rooms and suites. Amenities include in-room coffee, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, 25” TV, with microwaves and refrigerators in some rooms. The property, close to historic Old Mesilla and shopping, boasts a restaurant and lounge with outdoor patio bar, nightly entertainment, and a large heated seasonal outdoor pool and Jacuzzi.. Other options include the 139- room La Quinta Inn that recently completed their Gold Medal renova- tions; Hilton Garden Inn, with 114 rooms including 12 suites; 114-room Ramada Palms Hotel and Conference Center, boasting over 6,000 sq. ft. of meeting and exhibit space and largest ballroom in Las Cruces;Hampton Inn with 117 rooms newly renovated rooms; 73-room Drury Inn & Suites; When the workday is done, there is no shortage of things to do and expe- 62 Photo Credit: Las Cruces CVB rience in Las Cruces. To get the true flavor of the local culture, try visiting the Las Cruces Farmers & Crafts Market, open every Wednesday and Saturday morning from 8 a.m. - noon on the Las Cruces downtown mall, where you can find hand-crafted items and seasonal local produce. For more culture, Las Cruces offers an extensive array of art organizations, galleries, museums, studios and public art that display and showcase a range of sculptures, fine art, paintings, photographs, his- torical artifacts and performing arts and theater. Here, visitors have the chance to not only observe the tal- ents of many local gifted artisans, but also to learn about the history, cul- ture and diversity of the people and how all these factors work to inspire their creativity. Possibilities include The Branigan Cultural Center , The Las Cruces Museum of Art , Las Cruces RailroadMuseumMuseum of Natural History,NewMexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, New Mexico State University Museum - Kent Hall, Shalam Colony & Oahspe Museum, White Sands Missile Range Museum & Missile Park, and The Zuhl Geological Collection at New Mexico State University, which showcases thou- Cruces would be complete without a visit to nearby Historic Old Mesilla. Mesilla is a small town by today’s standards but 150 years ago it was the major stop for those traveling between San Antonio and San Diego. Mesilla hasn’t changed much over the years, allowing visitors to see what an 1800’s border town looked like. Western Legend Billy the Kid once stood trial for murder in a Mesilla courtroom, and the Mesilla Plaza was once a major stop for the Butterfield Stagecoach. Originally, Mesilla was part of Mexico, but with the signing of the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, the village became part of the United States. Mesilla is anchored by the Basilica of San Albino. The church, originally built of adobe in 1855, still offers masses today, both in English and Spanish. Outside the church is a memorial to parishioners who died in combat. Today, Mesilla offers a wide range of events as well as shopping and dining on the town’s plaza. Enjoy a meal at the famous Double Eagle or La Posta restaurants, where patrons can enjoy real local cuisine while they visit one of the most his- torical locations in New Mexico. Most air travel is through the El Paso International Airport, located less than one hour south of Las Cruces in El Paso, TX. The airport accommodates most major commer- cial airlines and has direct shuttle services from the airport to several points in Las Cruces. The Las Cruces International Airport is equipped to service instate commuter, private and charter aircraft. For those traveling to Las Cruces by car, they are located at the intersection of interstates 10 (east-west) and 25 (north-south) in southern New Mexico. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Las Cruces CVB - (575) 541-2444 cvb@lascrucescvb.org Black Meetings & Tourism September/October 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com