Travel Tips: The Southwest Pt. 3

Welcome to the final part of our Travel Tips to the Southwest series! We are concluding with the great states of Texas and Colorado.

Southwest Texas - The Lone Star State ⭐ 

• Big Bend ☄️

  • Known for its dark sky illuminated by the stars and powerful rivers, Big Bend is the perfect getaway. Its namesake comes from the large bends in the road on your journey in the National Park.

  • Mesa’s Tip: Despite the beauty of Big Bend, it is very dangerous. From the heat, dangerous plants and wildlife, to flash floods there is danger around every corner. To protect yourself while still soaking in the wondrous place come prepared for these things and make sure the check the weather pattern before arriving. On the bright side (literally!) Big Bend has such low light pollution you are going to see the dazzling Milky Way in the night sky. Grab your partner or your bestie and go star gaze in Big Bend!

• El Paso 🐊

  • When coming to El Paso, the boot capital of the world there are so many great things to explore. The zoo and the museums all make the visit worthwhile. You will love the Plaza de Lagartos that dawns Alligator statues as an ode to the Alligators that used to inhabit the middle of the city for many years. The non-native inhabitants were moved to the zoo after 1965 to keep them safe. This is just one tidbit of El Paso’s intriguing history that you can dive into during your visit.

  • Mesa’s Tip: Fly into the El Paso Airport with Mesa and our partners! We recommend you visit the Rose Garden with over 360 species of roses or take an educational venture at the Holocaust Museum or Border Patrol Museum.

• San Antonio River Walk 🌊

  • The number one attraction in Texas is the San Antonio River Walk and we promise you, it does not disappoint. This park and public and completely free to visit, however, there are costs to attractions and surrounding engagements. At the River Walk, you can see spectacular water parades, kayaks, listen to live music, and much more!

  • Mesa Tip: Fly into San Antonio with us! We recommend not going on a holiday weekend so you can soak in the experience without large crowds.

Colorado - The Centennial State 💯

• Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater 🌲

  • Between April and November, this Amphitheater allows attendees to experience concerts carved into the mountain with excellent acoustics. From these events, you will also get concert pictures unlike any other. You can find the upcoming concerts and events here. This current season artists like the Jonas Brothers, Maren Morris, Galantis, and others are coming to the Red Rocks! If you cannot make a concert, visiting the amphitheater is still worth its while.

  • Mesa’s Picks

    • Experiences

      • Yoga on the Rocks - Concerts aren’t the only thing you can do at the Amphitheater. You can also relax with an amazing Yoga session on the steps. This early morning session is enough to reignite or spark a love for yoga.

      • Film on the Rocks - Drive-in movies immersed in the middle of the Red Rocks.

    • Hikes

      • For a leisurely walking hike, you can head to the Trading Post Trail.

      • For a more challenging hike, we recommend the 6 mile long Red Rocks Trail.

• Denver Botanics Gardens

  • This is a relatively inexpensive experience to enjoy in the outdoors. It costs $12.50 for adults and $9.50 for children. This botanical garden takes you through different regions during your visit.

  • Mesa’s Top Picks -

    • Guided Tours: If you feel overwhelmed or want to make sure you soak in every part of the garden we recommend paying $13 dollars more for a guided tour.

    • Events - the gardens are always fun events! Check them out to see if it coincides with your visit.

• Rocky Mountain National Park ⛰️

  • This National Park is a breath of fresh air coursing through its visitor’s lungs.

  • Mesa’s Top Picks

    • Hikes

      • A walk around Bear Lake is a .6 mile loop with no increase in Elevation. It is perfect for a beginner hiker!

      • The Wild Basin trail is for hikers who are up for more of a challenge. It takes you to the beautiful Bluebird Lake.

Closing

Thank you for joining us on this three-part series about the Southwest! We hope you enjoy our favorite spots! Tag us on social media if you go to any of Mesa’s Top Picks. Happy Travels!!