Las Cruces can fly under the radar sometimes, but it’s a beautiful place well deserving of your travel time, whether it’s a quick weekend destination or a stop on a longer road trip. Tucked in the scenic Mesilla Valley and bounded by the impressive Organ Mountains, Las Cruces offers great hiking spots, delicious food (be sure to have your fill of Hatch green chile), and a host of hotspots for lovers of outer space. And there are plenty of places in Las Cruces for book lovers to explore, too!
Let’s break down a bookish daytime itinerary for your Las Cruces visit! But first, coffee.
Stop #1: Grounded
Offering specialty coffee and tea, beer and wine, and a selection of baked goods and food items — all served in an artsy, vibrant atmosphere — Grounded is a great place for a light breakfast and a caffeinated pick-me-up. There’s lots of space to settle in, with the café itself settled nicely on Main Street so you can take in the charm of Las Cruces’s downtown.
Want to get a jump start on your reading? Bring a book with you and enjoy a leisurely coffee alongside your current read.
Stop #2: COAS Books
When you’ve finished your coffee, head down the street to COAS Books, conveniently located on the same block. (Quick tip: Snap a picture of the Las Cruces mural across the street from COAS Books.)
COAS Books is a delightful Disneyland for book lovers. New Mexico’s largest new and used bookstore, it houses more than 500,000 books in a maze of aisles that are so satisfying to wander. Take your time picking through their stock and making some choice selections for your TBR pile.
Stop #3: Andele Restaurant
You might want to stop by your car to tuck your new books safely away (you didn’t leave COAS Books without getting something, did you?), but be sure to linger on Main Street a bit longer. You’ll find interesting spots including Zia Comics, the Museum of Nature & Science, and the Las Cruces Museum of Art. If you’re here on a Saturday, don’t miss the Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Hint: Get some popcorn from Southwest Kettle Corn at the farmers market; they boast delicious New Mexican flavors — green chile and biscochito are my personal favorites. You’ll thank me later!)
When you’re feeling hungry, circle back to your car and take a quick 10-minute hop over to Andele Restaurant. This Mexican place has a hefty salsa bar with lots of offerings — including a scrumptious Hatch green chile salsa. Walk off your meal at the scenic Mesilla Plaza and maybe take a book with you to read on a park bench.
And that’s a wrap — coffee, a bookstore, and a restaurant to complete a cozy bookish day in Las Cruces! Save our Google Maps itinerary for quick directions when you need them. Then drive safe, have fun, and read more books!
More Las Cruces Sights to Add to Your Itinerary
Our quick bookish itinerary leaves lots of space to fit in more of Las Cruces. If you’re planning a Las Cruces trip, consider these popular attractions:
- White Sands National Park
- Tombaugh Observatory
- New Mexico Museum of Space History
- The Chile Pepper Institute
- Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
- Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park
Thank you for exploring with us! Until next time, may the pages and paths ahead of you be great.
