<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1aruDX_0vF2NG3z00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1aruDX_0vF2NG3z00" width="980" height="735" ><figcaption>Iris Lopez</figcaption></figure>When a three day weekend comes along most El Paso families will be planning to relax with family or friends, but if you’re like me and you want to spend the extra days off out of El Paso then let’s talk mini-road trips!For me, road trips are how me and my now teenage son continue to bond! Back when my son was a cute little toddler we would take mom and son trips alone and it was the best bonding experience EVER!<h2>Mini-road trips are a single moms bestfriend!</h2>We had to put a pause on those trips due to car problems, money issues and my son growing up. *Cries in dramatic Mom*Well, this momma got a new car and I decided to plan a mini-road trip with my favorite little human so we could get back to our mom and son bonding experiences!Since it’s been a while that I have taken a mini-road I decided to ask the people of El Paso for the best suggestions on where to head out for a mini-road trip and they did not disappoint with their suggestions.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2q8dXG_0vF2NG3z00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2q8dXG_0vF2NG3z00" width="960" height="720" ><figcaption>Iris Lopez</figcaption></figure>Ruidoso, NM: 2 hour 30 min tripOn top of the list was taking a trip to Ruidoso, NM.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2rwpWE_0vF2NG3z00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2rwpWE_0vF2NG3z00" width="1600" height="1067" ><figcaption>Ray Horvath Productions via YouTube</figcaption></figure>The 2 ½ hour trip is really a very scenic one, and if you love camping, hiking, or anything having to do with the outdoors then I agree the Ruidoso is a great place to get away for the weekend.<blockquote>"Ruidoso!! It’s a short drive, with good food, and beautiful views.""Mine likes the Casino in Ruidoso . . Short drive, with beautiful views, with the smell of pine trees, a variety of food, hiking trails, boats, etc."</blockquote>Cloudcroft, NM: 1 hour 49 min tripCloudcroft is just a short drive away from Ruidoso and although it’s a much smaller town it’s great when you just plan on relaxing for a few short days.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3iVUpS_0vF2NG3z00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3iVUpS_0vF2NG3z00" width="1080" height="1080" ><figcaption>Iris Lopez</figcaption></figure><blockquote>"Cloud croft camping at silver lake."-Alex Garcia"Go up to Cloudcroft for some fresh air and beautiful scenery!"-Elsa Rey Contreras</blockquote>Carlsbad, NM: 2 hr 45 min trip<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1duAuJ_0vF2NG3z00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1duAuJ_0vF2NG3z00" width="594" height="414" ><figcaption>UIG via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I went to Carlsbad. I was so young that I wouldn’t mind heading over there again to try and trigger my childhood memories.<blockquote>"We took our kids (4 and almost 2) to Carlsbad to the lake! The boat rides are fun and if you don't want to swim in the lake there’s a public pool in the same park! The kids loved it! And you can also go to Carlsbad caverns!!"</blockquote>Albuquerque/Santa Fe NM: 3 hours 45 min tripA very popular suggestion was to head to Albuquerque, NM to enjoy their Zoo and aquarium and all the museums they have. All of which are things I am VERY familiar with.My son always loved escaping El Paso for a few days to enjoy all the fun Albuquerque has to offer. <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4RTPhW_0vF2NG3z00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4RTPhW_0vF2NG3z00" width="960" height="720" ><figcaption>Iris Lopez</figcaption></figure>The best part was that Santa Fe, NM was only one hour away if we wanted to head to Meow Wolf one day.<blockquote>"Meow wolf….or in Albuquerque they have ready one, and an amusement park."-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/casandra.martinez.77?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDo3NjIzNTc2MTE4MjA4OTNfNzc4ODE3NDgzNTcyMTgy&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW_vv8UUSjyTiECkZYeE-D6FFlL3h0IzOllWHke1IUh24h3l_E7G2taflCcLuJOHHd0CezvzYl7Ux9r6xMvYUdwj-OHJFQNxbAx-LuJ0jFyCWiRHwa5cUi6-YtYUrfCPQfCx0OVlhTKBrV0JkfaStVu&amp;__tn__=R]-R">Casandra Gomez</a></blockquote>Fact: The amusement park, CLIFF’s Amusement Park, really makes you feel like a kid again. Especially when you win the big prizes!<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=29MhEK_0vF2NG3z00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=29MhEK_0vF2NG3z00" width="720" height="960" ><figcaption>Iris Lopez</figcaption></figure><blockquote>"Take him to Meow Wolf. It’s so much fun!"-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ana.olivas.923?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDo3NjIzNTc2MTE4MjA4OTNfNTc4OTQ4OTkwNTk1ODU4&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW_vv8UUSjyTiECkZYeE-D6FFlL3h0IzOllWHke1IUh24h3l_E7G2taflCcLuJOHHd0CezvzYl7Ux9r6xMvYUdwj-OHJFQNxbAx-LuJ0jFyCWiRHwa5cUi6-YtYUrfCPQfCx0OVlhTKBrV0JkfaStVu&amp;__tn__=R]-R">Ana Olivas</a></blockquote><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2xgIZy_0vF2NG3z00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2xgIZy_0vF2NG3z00" width="720" height="960" ><figcaption>Iris Lopez</figcaption></figure>Honorable Mentions:<blockquote>“Silver City has a gem &amp; rock show."-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/elyn.clarke?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDo3NjIzNTc2MTE4MjA4OTNfNzYwNjM2MzE1MjIxODIz&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW_vv8UUSjyTiECkZYeE-D6FFlL3h0IzOllWHke1IUh24h3l_E7G2taflCcLuJOHHd0CezvzYl7Ux9r6xMvYUdwj-OHJFQNxbAx-LuJ0jFyCWiRHwa5cUi6-YtYUrfCPQfCx0OVlhTKBrV0JkfaStVu&amp;__tn__=R]-R">Elyn Clarke</a>"Hiking at Mckittrick Canyon. The weather will be beautiful."-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/shauna.baca?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDo3NjIzNTc2MTE4MjA4OTNfNjQ1NDc5NzA2NzQ4NTM5&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW_vv8UUSjyTiECkZYeE-D6FFlL3h0IzOllWHke1IUh24h3l_E7G2taflCcLuJOHHd0CezvzYl7Ux9r6xMvYUdwj-OHJFQNxbAx-LuJ0jFyCWiRHwa5cUi6-YtYUrfCPQfCx0OVlhTKBrV0JkfaStVu&amp;__tn__=R]-R">Shauna Parraz</a>"Alameda park Zoo in Alamogordo."-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008926009263&amp;comment_id=Y29tbWVudDo3NjIzNTc2MTE4MjA4OTNfNTk3NzYxNDE4NjM3NzAw&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW_vv8UUSjyTiECkZYeE-D6FFlL3h0IzOllWHke1IUh24h3l_E7G2taflCcLuJOHHd0CezvzYl7Ux9r6xMvYUdwj-OHJFQNxbAx-LuJ0jFyCWiRHwa5cUi6-YtYUrfCPQfCx0OVlhTKBrV0JkfaStVu&amp;__tn__=R]-R">Monica Realyvasquez</a>"Space museum, The big pistachio, White sands, The apple barn in Cloudcroft, The museum next to Cloudcroft high school, The trails.""Go to Marfa for the light festival. Also, get some BBQ from Convenience West."-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/annalyn.zubia?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDo3NjIzNTc2MTE4MjA4OTNfODExOTc3NjIwMTY1MTA5&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW_vv8UUSjyTiECkZYeE-D6FFlL3h0IzOllWHke1IUh24h3l_E7G2taflCcLuJOHHd0CezvzYl7Ux9r6xMvYUdwj-OHJFQNxbAx-LuJ0jFyCWiRHwa5cUi6-YtYUrfCPQfCx0OVlhTKBrV0JkfaStVu&amp;__tn__=R]-R">Annalyn Zubia</a>"I love going to Scottsdale for a weekend &amp; Airbnb is extra cheap there right now. I can give you lots of suggestions. Cloudcroft, Ruidoso, or Carlsbad Caverns are all fun too."-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/tanya.vonmittenwald?comment_id=Y29tbWVudDo3NjIzNTc2MTE4MjA4OTNfODUxNDgzMTM5MDg1NzAx&amp;__cft__[0]=AZW_vv8UUSjyTiECkZYeE-D6FFlL3h0IzOllWHke1IUh24h3l_E7G2taflCcLuJOHHd0CezvzYl7Ux9r6xMvYUdwj-OHJFQNxbAx-LuJ0jFyCWiRHwa5cUi6-YtYUrfCPQfCx0OVlhTKBrV0JkfaStVu&amp;__tn__=R]-R">Tanya von Mittenwald</a></blockquote>I love living in El Paso because there are so many hidden gems all around us that make for a great mini-road trip.Where do you love taking min-road trips to?! Let us know by sending us a message through our FREE station app!<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4GZecT_0vF2NG3z00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4GZecT_0vF2NG3z00" width="960" height="720" ><figcaption>Iris Lopez</figcaption></figure><h2>LOOK: Must-do activities at every national park</h2><a href="https://stacker.com/stories/3501/must-do-activities-every-national-park">St﻿acker</a> lists the must-do activities at every national park ranked by the annual number of visitors. </div></body>

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These Texas Mini-Road Trips Are Perfect For A Three-Day Weekend!

When a three day weekend comes along most El Paso families will be planning to relax with family or friends, but if you’re like me and you want to spend the extra days off out of El Paso then let’s talk mini-road trips!. For me, road trips are...