El Paso, with an estimated population of 700,000, is the largest metro area on the U.S./Mexican border and the region constitutes the largest bi-national metropolitan area in the Western Hemisphere. El Paso is located in farthest point in west Texas and south of central New Mexico on the U.S./ Mexican border across from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.

Here’s the short list of reasons why El Pasoans love their city, gathered from friends:

Quality of Life

• 302 days of sunshine per year
• Mild winters, with days averaging 50 degrees.
• The average commute time is 21 minutes and 72.7% of regional residents drive less than 30 minutes to work.
• El Paso is the third safest major city in America. (Morgan Quinto Survey, 2006)
• One of the seven best cities in America for retirement. (Money Magazine, 2004)
• #2 Happiest City in America (Men’s Health Magazine, March 2005)
• 2 degrees of separation (everyone knows someone you know)
• A great place to raise young kids and retire
• Big city opportunities without big city problems
• Casual, comfortable everyday clothing
• Easy pace of life.
• Close friends in Mexico
• Excellent shopping malls
• Excellent, affordable University and community college
• Genuinely friendly people
• No snow plowing or shoveling
• People give abrazos (hugs)
• Real cowboys/cowgirls
• Relatively few traffic problems
• Shirtsleeve weather year round
• Solid traditional family values prevail
• The world’s most beautiful women
• Unique bilingual culture
• World’s best Mexican food

Attractions

• Numerous public and private golf courses offer from traditional layouts to mountain courses to desert links.
• Bhutanese influenced architecture and attitudes
• Charreadas (Mexican rodeos)
• Colorful fiestas and street festivals
• Diablos baseball, Patriots soccer, UTEP Miners sports
• Don Juan de Oate King’s Highway
• El Paso Museum of Art
• El Paso Symphony, Music Under the Stars, Mariachis
• Gunfight reenactments
• Historic old Mesilla
• Magnificent zoo
• Many of the oldest missions in the country
• Mexican Bullfights
• Nationally televised Sun Bowl Games
• Polo, horseracing, Casino gaming
• The international rodeo
• Wine festivals
• Close proximity to tall pines and cool mountain air, great skiing,
• Camping and picnicking – a short drive to Lincoln National Forest, Gila Wilderness & Hueco Mountains State Park
• Hot-air ballooning, sky-diving
• Rock-climbing, mountain biking and hiking within the city limits

Natural Beauty

• Beauty and simplicity of desert landscape
• Clear dark blue wide open skies
• Cool summer nights
• Creosote bush aroma after it rains in the desert
• Bright colors due to low humidity
• Franklin Mountain landmark down the middle of town
• Spectacular sunsets
• Starry nights
• Year-round sunshine

Other Benefits

• No personal state income tax
• Cars don’t rust
• Easy access to any part of town
• El Paso International Airport
• Lower prices on entertainment
• Major road concerts perform
• No chiggers, deer ticks, and the like
• No earthquakes, tornadoes, forest fires, major floods
• Unlikely terrorist target

For additional information about the El Paso Region, please visit the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau’s website at www.visitelpaso.com