Kids Activities in Sunland Park

With 24 rides and counting, Western Playland Amusement Park entertains kids of almost any age. Here's a sampling of the thrilling attractions. Rides that reach for the sky Younger kids test their fear of heights as they ascend the Frog Hopper or pilot a plane on the Red Baron ride; their older siblings get a bird's-eye view of the park in the Sky Glider, then test their mettle on the Bandido Roller Coaster. Satisfy the need for speed The gleaming Hurricane roller coaster takes riders taller than 50" on a twisting jaunt; younger kids get their free-falling feet wet on the slightly tamer Miner Coaster. Classic rides For a bit of nostalgia, visitors take a turn on the merry-go-round, make their heads spin on the tilt-a-whirl, or battle it out in the bumper car arena, the one place where it's okay to high-five someone after you rear-end them. Rides for toddlers The tiny set can cruise the park too?on pint-sized boats, cars, and ladybugs.

Set in the comfy country cornstalk confines of the century-old Maldonado Maze, the Del Arroyo Arts Festival welcomes revelers to a sensory buffet of arts and entertainment. Watch real-life fire-dance troupes blaze as they boogie or pay tribute with a strictly metaphorical disco inferno, as you shimmy to the live musicians. Meanwhile, vendors, regular raffles, and a silent auction sit on the periphery of spoken-word open mics, live painting showcases, and a graffiti jam. After the feast, guests are free to walk through the stalk maze to test their mind matter and recount their troubles to the perceptive ears of corn.

Open since 1955 and named one of the Best Things to Do in El Paso in 2009 by UpTake, Ascarate Golf Course combines a challenging course with a recently remodeled clubhouse where patrons can unwind at the end of clubbing adventures. The par 71, 6,579-yard course boasts verdant tifdwarf bermuda greens, 18 bunkers, and caretakers carefully pushing each jostled blade of grass back into place. An included cart helps club-wielders conserve energy for putting balls successfully down the fairway, enjoying picturesque views of Franklin Mountain, or chasing away tag-along sand traps.

This 35-acre zoo in the heart of the city offers numerous opportunities to get close to the animals. Daily events include elephant trainings, giraffe feedings, and birds of prey demos that wow crowds. And, for kids who feel like aping the zoo’s apes, there’s also a treehouse playground that allows kids to play 16 feet off the ground.

Balls hurtle down 40 polished pathways at Fiesta Lanes as bowlers lace up rented shoes and set their sights on demolishing 10-pin clusters. Flashing lights illuminate players? faces as they plot out angles on the lanes, and pop music blares through the loudspeakers to heighten the drama of each frame. Seasoned staffers fit patrons for custom balls and tri-tone kicks in the pro shop, and partygoers shot put balls toward pin-shaped pi?atas in one of three large meeting rooms. Chirps and beeps fill the air in a full video arcade, and bowling rivalries reignite on billiard tables. Players can warm up their fingers before games by lifting burgers or hot pizza slices at Frankie?s Sports Grill, located next door.

Vibrant murals of palms, cabanas, and beaches surround 40 bowling lanes at Oasis Lanes, evoking the spirit of a tropical getaway. In some ways, the alley is an island of recreation unto itself, equipped with 130 video and redemption games and four amusement rides including the Cobra roller coaster. Billiards, darts, and shuffleboard round out the list of projectile-based amusements, and a full bar and grill offers a place to kick back and catch the game. Special events include teen nights, holiday parties, and glow bowling, during which black lights draw extra attention to neon bowling balls and freshly bleached pinafores.