Pros:
- The 7.5-hour daytime ride from Tucson provided a welcome break before the longer journey to San Antonio, a destination John and I had planned to visit before he earned his Angel Wings.
- The DoubleTree offered a convenient location, Amtrak shuttle service, and excellent amenities.
- There was plenty to see and do nearby, along with wonderful views.
Cons:
- Many hotels were expensive. The DoubleTree did not include breakfast or coffee, although Hilton Honors members received a daily credit based on their rewards level.
- Although the view from the 6th floor was phenomenal, a high-floor room may be inconvenient for guests with service dogs or physical disabilities.
- The surroundings could change quickly, so staying alert and walking with confidence helped reduce the chance of appearing vulnerable as a tourist.
El Paso, TX: May 9–11, 2026
We left Tucson around 7:30 a.m. and were assigned a window seat. While waiting for seat assignments, I met a woman who was uncertain whether she was in the correct line. Her daughter reassured her, and I explained that the conductor would scan her ticket, assign her a seat, and assist her with boarding if needed. She later became my seatmate. A widow traveling for the first time in nine years since her husband’s death, she was headed to a family reunion in El Paso. We talked about traveling alone, adjusting to life’s changes, and, of course, Jesus as our Savior—I had to ask. The scenery changed little, and we arrived in El Paso around 3 p.m.
I planned a two-night stay in El Paso to break up the long journey to San Antonio. The downtown DoubleTree provided a shuttle from the train station, and our room was on the 16th floor, overlooking a college baseball game and the evening fireworks. I used my daily credit at the hotel restaurant. On Sunday—Mother’s Day—we planned to visit San Jacinto Plaza, the El Paso Museum of History, and downtown’s public art. The hotel manager gave every mother a lovely six-piece box of chocolates, but mine did not make it out of Texas.
El Paso, known as the “Sun City,” sits at the far western tip of Texas along the Rio Grande, across from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. With approximately 678,000 residents, it is the sixth-largest city in Texas.
San Jacinto Plaza: Located in the heart of downtown, this beautifully designed historic square features walking paths, native plants, and a well-known alligator sculpture commemorating the plaza’s past.
El Paso Museum of History: One of three city-operated museums, along with the El Paso Museum of Art and the El Paso Museum of Archaeology, it began in 1974 as the Cavalry Museum. Its mission quickly expanded to include local and regional history, and it was officially renamed the El Paso Museum of History in 1980. Today, it serves the El Paso–Ciudad Juárez border region.
L & J Cafe: We (well I ate-Baxter slept) stopped for a late lunch to experience authentic border cuisine at this family-run restaurant, affectionately known as “the old place by the graveyard.” In business since 1927, it is known for its enchiladas, chile relleno, and fresh salsa. The enchiladas were outstanding, as was everything else I tried.
We returned to the hotel, watched another round of fireworks, packed, and settled in for the night. At 3 a.m., however, a fire alarm sent us down 16 flights of stairs. The experience was exhausting and frightening, especially for Baxter and his little legs. Praise God, a young couple came down behind us. When I told them to go around, the young man stayed with me to make sure I was all right while the young woman carried Baxter. After all that, it turned out to be a false alarm.
I did not sleep much afterward. That morning, I went downstairs to use my daily credit at Starbucks. The manager stopped me and offered me a complimentary breakfast at the hotel restaurant for the inconvenience. I was grateful— the meal kept me full all day.