Mesilla, New Mexico

The quaint little town of Mesilla is in southern New Mexico, near the Organ Mountains just outside of Las Cruces, and it has a rich and colorful past, becoming part of the United States after the 1848 war with Mexico. It was once considered the capital of the Confederate Territory of Arizona, but in the 1880s, the Santa Fe Railway bypassed Mesilla in favor of Las Cruces. As a result, Las Cruces grew, and Mesilla did not.

So today Mesilla is much as it was when outlaw Billy the Kid, frontiersman Kit Carson and revolutionary Pancho Villa roamed its streets. Original adobe and territorial-style structures with thick wooden doors still stand, and nearly all new buildings adhere to the Southwestern/Old Mexico architectural theme.

Thanks to steady tourism, fun galleries, cozy bookstores, excellent Mexican eateries and more line the streets. The historic plaza is the center of the area’s Cinco de Mayo, Mariachi Sundays and Dia de los Muertos celebrations. Performances by the Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Society always attract a full house. Wineries and farms with fresh produce for sale are on the outskirts of town.

The Rio Grande River runs through the Mesilla Valley, and two recreation areas in the Organ Mountains – Aquirre Springs and Dripping Springs – offer a variety of hiking trails.

Many residents are direct descendants of the original settlers.