Las Cruces International Airport :

• El Paso Airport - located less than one hour north of Las Cruces at 6701 Convair Road, this is the closest airport servicing commercial airlines. Las Cruces International is for private and charter aircraft only.
• Las Cruces - bordered on the east by the spectacular peaks of the Organ Mountains and on the west by the mighty Rio Grande River, Las Cruces is located in the Mesilla Valley, and was home to the Native American Mogollon tribe when the first Spaniards, led by Don Juan de Onate, arrived in search of gold in 1598. Both civilizations had a lasting impact on the culture of the town that would become Las Cruces, and you can view evidence of these cultures at places like the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, Fort Seldon State Monument, the village of Old Mesilla, and the Gasden Museum.

• Fountain Theatre - built in 1905, this is New Mexico's oldest movie house, originally showing silent moveis. It is now home of the Mesilla Valley Film Society which presents daily showings of independent, foreign, documentary and other alternative cinema. Located at 2469 Calle de Guadalupe.
• Las Cruces Chamber Ballet - offering two major performances a year, including a presentation of The Nutcracker Ballet for the holidays.
• Las Cruces Museum of Fine Art - over 5,000 square feet of multi-use exhibition space. The gallery features curated, traveling, juried, and invitational exhibitions of contemporary art. Located at 490/500 N Water Street in the Museums of the Cultural Complex.
• Las Cruces Symphony - presenting concerts August through May, many featuring nationally-known guest artists. Performances are held at the New Mexico State University Music Hall. Check website for performance calendar and ticket information.
• No Strings Theatre Company - presenting classic and contemporary plays in the Black Box Theatre. Located at 430 N. Downtown Mall.

• Fort Selden State Monument - built in 1865 to protect settlers from outlaws and Apache Indians, this post was decommissioned in 1891. A visitor center provides exhibits of 19th century military life and living history demonstrations are given on weekends in the summer. Open daily 8:30am - 5:00pm. Located at 1280 Ft. Selden Road in Radium Springs, NM, 15 miles north of Las Cruces on either Interstate 25 or Highway 185.
• Gadsden Museum - this history museum features Indian and Spanish and Mexican artifacts, santeros, Civil War artifacts, and items of the Penitente lifestyle. Open Monday - Saturday, 9:00 - 11:00am and 1:00 - 5:00pm and Sunday 1:00 - 5:00pm. Located at Barker Road and Highway 28 in Mesilla, NM.
• Museum of Natural History - exhibits on natural history, science and the environment of the Chihuahuan Desert. Open Monday - Thursday, 10:00am - 5:00pm; Friday 10:00am - 8:00pm; Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm and Sunday noon - 5:00pm. Located in the Southeast corner of the Mesilla Valley Mall next to JC Penney.
• New Mexico Farm and Heritage Museum - this interactive museum on 47 acres brings to life the 3,000-year history of farming and ranching in New Mexico. The main building contains more than 24,000 square feet of exhibit space, along with a restaurant, gift shop and theater. Open Monday - Saturday, 9:00am to 5:00pm; Sunday noon to 5:00pm. Located at 4100 Dripping Springs Road.
• New Mexico State University - "the Home of the Fighting Aggies" is a 6,250-acre campus with many points of interest, including the Planetarium and the Art Museum. The NMSU Museum houses exhibits of historic and pre-historic Native American culture, art exhibits, and traveling feature shows, and is located in Kent Hall on University Avenue and Solano.
• Old Mesilla - a New Mexico village dating to the 1500's. Mesilla was the crossroads of the El Camino Real and the Butterfield-Overland Stagecoach route. Billy the Kid was once convicted of murder here and broke out of jail before his sentence was carried out. Located three miles south of Las Cruces on Highway 28.
• Three Crosses -the name of Las Cruces (City of the Crosses) dates back no further than 1830 when a group of forty or more travelers from Taos were surprised and slaughtered by Apaches while encamped in the vicinity. The forest of crosses which marked the burials suggested the name. The crosses may be viewed at the corner of North Main and Solano.
• White Sands National Monument - the largest gypsum sand dune in the world, with brilliant white sands covering 275 square miles. Located approximately 60 miles northeast of Las Cruces on Highway 70 East., the monument is in the center of the Tularosa Basin, at the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert near Alamorgordo, NM.

• Golfing in Las Cruces - four courses are available in the area: the Las Cruces Country Club, the course at New Mexico State University, the Pichacho Hills Country Club and Sonoma Ranch.
• The Organ Mountains - the rugged mountains to the east of Las Cruces offer two recrreational areas: Aguirre Springs and Dripping Springs. Both have excellent facilities for hiking and camping, as well as
• Rock Hound State Park & City of Rocks State Park - this park includes 50 foot high rocks formed from flowing lava and a museum of local natural wonders. To get to Rock Hound State Park, take Interstate 10 west to Deming, then south and east on NM 11 and NM 141. For City of Rocks State Park, take Interstate 10 west to NM 180 north. Watch for the signs about 25 miles after you're on NM 180. For more information call, City of Rocks. 536-2800, or Rock Hound State Park.
• Sunland Park Race Track and Casino - this park has thoroughbred racing from December through May and simulcast racing seven days a week as well as 300 slot machines. Open daily 365 days a year. Located 40 miles south of Las Cruces on Interstate 10 east. Take the Sunland Park exit and go west.