The Comfortable Cookie Cutter Home Guidebook

Elise & Nate
Elise & Nate
The Comfortable Cookie Cutter Home Guidebook

Recreation with kids

This is a hike 5 year-olds can do on their own. It is a bit of a drive to get to, the road to get there is a bit bumpy, and you need to leave the park before 5pm or they shut the gate on you and you are forced to find off the path routes to get out. But you get an interesting view of the Organ Mountains, and it is just a nice hike.
Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park
56501 N Jornada Rd
This is a hike 5 year-olds can do on their own. It is a bit of a drive to get to, the road to get there is a bit bumpy, and you need to leave the park before 5pm or they shut the gate on you and you are forced to find off the path routes to get out. But you get an interesting view of the Organ Mountains, and it is just a nice hike.
It's hot, and you need an air conditioned place for the kids to play on the playground. Might as well eat a chicken sandwich too.
Chick-fil-A
1105 East University Avenue
It's hot, and you need an air conditioned place for the kids to play on the playground. Might as well eat a chicken sandwich too.
This trail can be done with children. It isn't very steep, and it dead ends into the mountain which has a drizzle of water flowing down it. It was appropriately named, unless it rained the day before then it will be a flowing spring.
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Area naturale di Dripping Springs
15000 Dripping Springs Road
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This trail can be done with children. It isn't very steep, and it dead ends into the mountain which has a drizzle of water flowing down it. It was appropriately named, unless it rained the day before then it will be a flowing spring.
OK, you see it in the picture. That over-sized bird is completely made of dumpster garbage. You have to get real close to know it though. We have seen many sunrises from this place.
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Scultura del Correcaminos Riciclato
32 AL-106
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OK, you see it in the picture. That over-sized bird is completely made of dumpster garbage. You have to get real close to know it though. We have seen many sunrises from this place.
Pretty flat hike. But you have nowhere to hide from the sun so bring plenty of water. The entrance gets locked off for the evenings, so be sure to pay attention to closing times.
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Soledad Canyon Day Use Area
13300 Soledad Canyon Road
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Pretty flat hike. But you have nowhere to hide from the sun so bring plenty of water. The entrance gets locked off for the evenings, so be sure to pay attention to closing times.
These are white sand dunes. You can sled down them, you can take a picnic, you can go during full moons, but make sure you bring plenty of water.
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Parco nazionale White Sands
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These are white sand dunes. You can sled down them, you can take a picnic, you can go during full moons, but make sure you bring plenty of water.
If you want to stretch your legs on a Wednesday or Saturday morning, this is a nice way to get a taste of some local flavor. It is located downtown, but not too far from the house.
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Mercato degli agricoltori e degli artigiani di Las Cruces
221 N Main St
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If you want to stretch your legs on a Wednesday or Saturday morning, this is a nice way to get a taste of some local flavor. It is located downtown, but not too far from the house.
This park is nearby and has plenty of shade as well as a splash pad, a zip-line, a large grassy field, and all of the usual playground equipment you find at parks.
Metro Verde Splash Pad and Park
Park Drive
This park is nearby and has plenty of shade as well as a splash pad, a zip-line, a large grassy field, and all of the usual playground equipment you find at parks.

Food scene

RanchWay is our favorite restaurant. If you like red chile, go to La Posta, Green chile, Andele Restaurant, but if you want something spicy go to Si Senor.
This New Mexico Pizza chain is great. Their salads are substantial, they have plenty of seating available, and they are very close to the house. We recommend the "Special", it is basically a supreme pizza with green chile.
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Dion's
3950 E Lohman Ave
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This New Mexico Pizza chain is great. Their salads are substantial, they have plenty of seating available, and they are very close to the house. We recommend the "Special", it is basically a supreme pizza with green chile.
This is the best Japanese restaurant in Las Cruces, and it is really close by. They have tables, Hibachi, and a sushi bar you can sit at. We like their sushi a lot. We recommend their dumplings for an appetizer, the spicy tuna rolls (obviously), and the Las Vegas rolls.
Sakura Japanese House
3961 E Lohman Ave
This is the best Japanese restaurant in Las Cruces, and it is really close by. They have tables, Hibachi, and a sushi bar you can sit at. We like their sushi a lot. We recommend their dumplings for an appetizer, the spicy tuna rolls (obviously), and the Las Vegas rolls.
Nate actually worked here all through out college. This is showing up as a bar, but it is a family friendly restaurant that has a bar, though they are known for their margaritas. It is located in a historic building on the plaza of Mesilla, so walk around a bit before or after you eat. There are birds and fish in the lobby, a bar, several rooms, and a full menu of traditional mexican food. They have the best red chile sauce in the area, so we recommend getting the red sour cream enchiladas with an egg over medium on top. But the combination plates are a great way to get a bit of everything.
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La Posta De Mesilla
2410 Calle De San Albino
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Nate actually worked here all through out college. This is showing up as a bar, but it is a family friendly restaurant that has a bar, though they are known for their margaritas. It is located in a historic building on the plaza of Mesilla, so walk around a bit before or after you eat. There are birds and fish in the lobby, a bar, several rooms, and a full menu of traditional mexican food. They have the best red chile sauce in the area, so we recommend getting the red sour cream enchiladas with an egg over medium on top. But the combination plates are a great way to get a bit of everything.
You are in the desert, go get some ice cream! This is really close to the house. We love the "Gizmo", strawberry malt milkshake, and root beer floats.
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Caliche's Frozen Custard
590 S Valley Dr
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You are in the desert, go get some ice cream! This is really close to the house. We love the "Gizmo", strawberry malt milkshake, and root beer floats.
This restaurant can cater to large groups. We really like their salsa bar. Not to mention, they have the best green chile sauce in the area. We recommend their green chile chicken enchiladas with an egg over medium we also add sour cream. Across the street is the Andele Dog House, which has the same menu with a few mexican style hot dogs, and patio dining.
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Andele Restaurant
1950 Calle Del Norte
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This restaurant can cater to large groups. We really like their salsa bar. Not to mention, they have the best green chile sauce in the area. We recommend their green chile chicken enchiladas with an egg over medium we also add sour cream. Across the street is the Andele Dog House, which has the same menu with a few mexican style hot dogs, and patio dining.
Our favorite place to eat. This is a hole in the wall restaurant where you order up front, sit down, and they call your number when your food is ready. This is where Nate likes to go for his birthday. We crave their beef flautas, get the plate with one, you don't need two. If you are thinking "I don't really like rolled tacos", neither does Nate. These flautas have mesquite smoked brisket in them, are thick, and covered in green chile sauce and cheese.
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Ranchway BBQ & Mexican Food
640 N Valley Dr
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Our favorite place to eat. This is a hole in the wall restaurant where you order up front, sit down, and they call your number when your food is ready. This is where Nate likes to go for his birthday. We crave their beef flautas, get the plate with one, you don't need two. If you are thinking "I don't really like rolled tacos", neither does Nate. These flautas have mesquite smoked brisket in them, are thick, and covered in green chile sauce and cheese.
Best Thai restaurant in the area. We get either the curry, or pad thai. If you have a sweet tooth, get the mangos and sticky rice for dessert.
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Renoo’s Thai Time
16151 U.S. 70
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Best Thai restaurant in the area. We get either the curry, or pad thai. If you have a sweet tooth, get the mangos and sticky rice for dessert.
OK, this will take you a 45 minute drive to get to since it is in Hatch, NM, the green chile growing capital of the world. However, it is way better barbeque than anything you can get in town, yes Rudy's is close, much closer, and there food isn't bad until you go to Sparkys. You will go through a border patrol checkpoint to get there, so just smile and be polite in English. Be sure to check there hours online before you drive up there. They are closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Those are days when Rudy's is much much better.
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Sparkys
115 Franklin St
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OK, this will take you a 45 minute drive to get to since it is in Hatch, NM, the green chile growing capital of the world. However, it is way better barbeque than anything you can get in town, yes Rudy's is close, much closer, and there food isn't bad until you go to Sparkys. You will go through a border patrol checkpoint to get there, so just smile and be polite in English. Be sure to check there hours online before you drive up there. They are closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Those are days when Rudy's is much much better.
This is another mexican food restaurant that can accommodate large groups. You go here if you like spicy food. They have 4 different types of salsas, and are the only restaurant that has a white salsa in town. All around, you will like whatever you order here if you can handle the heat.
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Si Señor Restaurant
1551 E Amador Ave
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This is another mexican food restaurant that can accommodate large groups. You go here if you like spicy food. They have 4 different types of salsas, and are the only restaurant that has a white salsa in town. All around, you will like whatever you order here if you can handle the heat.
It is a little ways towards El Paso, but it is worth the drive. This is a great steakhouse, better than what you find in Las Cruces. Unless you order yours well done, in that case, it won't matter, you are better off at the Texas Roadhouse. But if you are a medium rare person like everyone else, you will really enjoy this place. I like their aged smoked steak the best.
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Great American Steakhouse
600 Valley Chili Rd
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It is a little ways towards El Paso, but it is worth the drive. This is a great steakhouse, better than what you find in Las Cruces. Unless you order yours well done, in that case, it won't matter, you are better off at the Texas Roadhouse. But if you are a medium rare person like everyone else, you will really enjoy this place. I like their aged smoked steak the best.
This is the oldest Italian restaurant in Las Cruces and coincidentally, the best. If you want to go to a much busier, overrated Italian chain restaurant, Olive Garden is closer. But I would rather eat at Lorenzo's.
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Lorenzo's Italian Restaurant
1753 E University Ave
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This is the oldest Italian restaurant in Las Cruces and coincidentally, the best. If you want to go to a much busier, overrated Italian chain restaurant, Olive Garden is closer. But I would rather eat at Lorenzo's.
This is another great local Italian restaurant. Pizza, pasta, dessert.
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Pastaggio's Italian Restaurant
3000 Harrelson St
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This is another great local Italian restaurant. Pizza, pasta, dessert.

Grocery Stores

As the name suggests, this is a grocery store which focuses on organic foods.
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Natural Grocers
3970 E Lohman Ave
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As the name suggests, this is a grocery store which focuses on organic foods.
This is our favorite grocery store. It offers the best of both worlds for organic and non-organic foods. Many more options than Natural Grocers, but not as vast as Walmart.
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Sprouts Farmers Market
2340 E Lohman Ave
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This is our favorite grocery store. It offers the best of both worlds for organic and non-organic foods. Many more options than Natural Grocers, but not as vast as Walmart.
This is the farthest grocer from the house, but is right next to NMSU if you are going to be in that area. It does offer more local products than other grocery stores.
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Toucan Market
1701 East University Avenue
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This is the farthest grocer from the house, but is right next to NMSU if you are going to be in that area. It does offer more local products than other grocery stores.
This is a very nearby place to get food and gas.
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Walmart Supercenter
571 Walton Blvd
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This is a very nearby place to get food and gas.

Hiking

This is a steep hike. Our oldest daughter has made it to the top, but I wouldn't recommend this hike for kids.
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A Mountain, NMSU
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This is a steep hike. Our oldest daughter has made it to the top, but I wouldn't recommend this hike for kids.
This is the inactive Volcano on the other side of town. From the top you have a Great view of the Organ Mountains, and the rest of the world. Be sure to give yourself extra time. It's easy to lose track of the time and lose light quickly while hiking back down.
Picacho Peak Trail
This is the inactive Volcano on the other side of town. From the top you have a Great view of the Organ Mountains, and the rest of the world. Be sure to give yourself extra time. It's easy to lose track of the time and lose light quickly while hiking back down.
Longer hike.
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Baylor Pass West Trailhead
4842 Baylor Canyon Rd
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Longer hike.

Golfing

This is by far the most shaded of all golf courses in Las Cruces.
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NMSU Golf Course
3000 Herb Wimberly Dr
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This is by far the most shaded of all golf courses in Las Cruces.
This is a great course with absolutely no shade. Don't walk it, you will burn. Wear a hat, take sunscreen, get a cart, don't play verses the sun.
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Campo da golf di Sonoma Ranch
1274 Golf Club Rd
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This is a great course with absolutely no shade. Don't walk it, you will burn. Wear a hat, take sunscreen, get a cart, don't play verses the sun.
This is the newest and most challenging golf course in Las Cruces.
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Red Hawk Golf Club
7502 Red Hawk Golf Road
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This is the newest and most challenging golf course in Las Cruces.

Consigli per viaggiatori

Da non perdere

The Saturday farmer's market is a must

From 8:30 am to 1 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, there is a farmer's market in downtown Las Cruces. You can learn more at: https://www.farmersandcraftsmarketoflascruces.com/
Muoversi in zona

Beware other drivers during bad weather conditions

The roads get pretty crazy when they are wet or frozen. So if it is raining, or snowing, just know the person driving next to you, in front of you, and behind you, probably don't have much experience driving in these types of situations.
Frasi utili

Red or Green?

It's our state's question; red chile or green chile? If you're unsure, ask your server which is hotter at the moment. Also, for those who can't decide, ask for "Christmas style" which is both red and green chile!