With the 27,000-acre (about 40 square miles) Franklin Mountains, there are over 100 trails to take a short trek or day-long walk.  Another option is to make your reservation to camp out for a night or a ‘stay-cation’ close to home.

Bring your bikes, climbing gear and hiking boots.  If you are in to geocaching, this is a top spot to head out for a day-long adventure. 

Camp sites do not have water or electricity so plan ahead.

San Jacinto Plaza
An icon of our magnificent city, San Jacinto Plaza is another place to take a walk with your pup while surrounded by history in every direction.

In the center, take in the fiberglass sculpture by Luis Jiménez which honoring the city’s colorful past – when real alligators graced San Jacinto Plaza sits in the center of downtown!

Today, it is wrapped with places to play or put your feet up for a few.  Take a stroll over the bridge or park yourself on a bench for a game of chess, play a little ping-pong, or stop in for refreshments and a snack at the café.

Chamizal National Monument
Looking for some peace and quiet for you and your pup?  The Chamizal National Monument and surrounding trails as the ideal place to slip away for the day. As their website notes:

Chamizal is more than just an urban park to recreate or enjoy a quiet afternoon. These grounds are a reminder of the harmonious settlement of a 100-year boundary dispute between the United States and Mexico. We celebrate the cultures of the borderlands to promote the same mutual respect that helped to diplomatically resolve an international disagreement.

Whether you are there for a stroll or staying longer to enjoy some entertainment, do keep your dog on a leash as required by the park rules.

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Whataburger
A fab place for Fido, family and friends, too, Whataburger welcomes everyone to their dog-friendly establishment.  See their list of “Signature Burgers’ built with tons of topping combinations like the Chorizo Burger or Avocado Bacon Burger. Not into burgers? No problem. Come in with a sweet tooth for their classic Apple Pit or good old-fashioned malt or shake. You can satisfy your sweet tooth with a hot apple pie or a cold shake and malt. A drive-thru window is also available if you don't want to tie your dog up outside while you go in to order.

Gringo
This may be the best spot in El Paso to pass the time with the entire family. Gringo Theory Patio Bar is super pet friendly.  The entire staff takes time to welcome your furry friend and offers water bowls to cool them off during our sweltering summer days.  Recently they added an enclosed Dog Park to their bar.  Think: classic cocktail, local brew, and happy puppies, too!
They also host a variety of some of the best Food Trucks in El Paso.

150 Sunset
Touting “creative food with a healthy twist,’ 150 Sunset is yet another dog-friendly establishment in El Paso.   While dining in their open patio or side patio with your pub, you can sit back and savor a classic Roasted Chicken entrée, Chicken Artichoke Pasta or our favorite for the big splurge, Beef Tenderloin.  Lighter bites are offered on the menu as well with appetizers, salads, soups and daily specials.  
 
Along with their core services, they also also have a unique Gift Shop, offer in house and off-site catering, full wedding and event design and planning services and more. 

The Hoppy Monk
For something out of the norm, head to The Hoppy Monk.  Boasting “a delicious variety of innovative pub eats and potent potables in a casual tavern style atmosphere,” you can feast on mouthwatering options like mac and cheese, tuna tostadas, mushroom melts, rabbit barbacoa tacos, wagyu strip steak, and bacon and egg burgers. 
Wash down the goodness with a selection from the impressive lineup of craft brews from across the globe.
Check this out.  We found this on their website and thought you’d enjoy reading it as much as we did:
OUR “I DIDN’T REALLY LIKE THAT BEER” POLICY:

We strive to bring to you a beer menu, both on draught and in bottle, which is not your everyday ho-hum selection of every day ho-hum beers. These beers tend to be more expensive and harder to find due to their craft brewed, artisanal nature. We want you to step up and taste real, artisanal beer. However, we will not refund the cost if you simply “don’t care for your beer”. You can purchase a five-ounce taster glass of almost any  artisanal beer.

Where to take your dog off-leash in El Paso?  

Stay tuned to next month’s feature on the “Best off leash’ parks in El Paso!
 

The post Best Dog-gone Friendly Restaurants in El Paso, TX (Part Two) appeared first on Cantera Apartments Blog.

Aceitunas Beer Garden
Located at …. Aceitunas Beer Garden is one of our favorite places to sit back with a cold on and dine on a myriad of appetizers to please every pallet.  It’s one of the city’s more casual bars that offers a pet-friendly environment just outside. 

Ripe Eatery
Hands-down, this is one of our favorite places to dine with our furry friends.  We just can’t get enough of their iconic Pecan Crusted Salmon, Swedish Meatballs, and Buttermilk Fried Chicken.  And that’s just the beginning. Come for a burger, overstuffed sandwich or a healthy salad.  Although the food is worth every cent, their passion overflows from the kitchen to its dog-friendly setting.  
As stated on their website: 
Our Passion ~ It all starts with family and friends and the enjoyment of sharing a meal with people you care about. That enjoyment becomes a desire to bring great food to a great community. Ripe Eatery is dedicated to providing an experience where a passion for delicious food meets heartfelt friendship. Brunch with friends, business lunch, romantic dinner or catering for a special event, let us share our culinary creativity and family hospitality with you. Savor the flavor… Eat Ripe.

501 Bar & Bistro
Like bacon? Sweet Oatmeal with raisins, brown sugar and fresh nuts and stuff?  501 Bistro is by far our favorite spot for breakfast.  Locals love the Enchiladas Con Huevos.  We recommend their French Toast Minis that have an over-the-top Citrus Brown Sugar Glaze!  Not into breakfast, head their with your furry friends for lunch or dinner anytime you are seeking an absolutely delicious dining experience.  
Their lunch menu includes appetizers, salads, soups, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and unique sides such as Charro Beans, Sauteed Vegetables, Spanish or Basmati Rice, and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. 501 favorites include Fish Tacos, Street Style Tacos, and its award-winning Stuffed Green Chile..

Coco.Miel
Pizza anyone?  Coco.Miel welcomes locals and visitors alike, and of course, dogs of all shapes and sizes.  It’s an ideal spot to sit in and around their outdoor patio while you savor some of the best pizza in town. Coco.Miel's menu includes shareable plates, calzones, pasta dishes, sandwiches, salads, and specialty pizzas such as Salmon Spring, Soho Shrimp, Mexican Meat Lovers, Spicy Hawaiian, and more. 

Save room for dessert and be sure to order their classic Tiramisu or Ice Creme Crepe Pizza.  
 

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Where does the time go? It seemed like just last week when we shared our ideas on how to enjoy the holidays in El Paso, TX!  And here we are talking about springtime in Austin.

As we all look forward to getting out of our apartments in El Paso, we thought we would jump-start the spring season and share some of our favorite things to do in and around our Cantera apartment community.

Take a Hike!

When we get the feel to get out into the great outdoors from our apartment in El Paso, we head to El Paso’s Rio Grande Riverpark Trail.  With over 20 miles of expansive paved terrain, you can enjoy strolling, jogging, or walking along the magnificent Rio Grande.  Birdwatchers in particular love to spend a day seeking sights of their favorite feathered friend.

In the spring, the wildflowers are just coming into their colors so be sure to bring your camera and picnic for a day of peace and quiet, fresh spring air, and spectacular scenery.

Dogs are welcome on a leash so bring Fido along to take in the views of the many mesas of New Mexico and surrounding Franklin Mountains.

Walk Within the Wildflowers

Another option for getting out of the house this spring is a trip to the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park.  Home to 372 acres of riparian wetlands that once flourished along the Rio Grande, this well established and professionally maintained trail system is the ideal spot to soak in some Vitamin D while capturing its natural treasures. 

In the springtime, the wildflowers wrap around its kid and dog friendly trail system.

Through the information we researched on the Visit El Paso website, we learned more about its home to over 240 species of birds throughout the seasons. Here is what the site noted:

“If you like to go bird watching, this is the spot for you. More than 240 species have been recorded here, with common nesters including burrowing owls, greater roadrunners, blue grosbeaks, and painted buntings. Each season has something of its own to offer, with winter seeing an abundance of raptors and all the majestic yellow blooms of the annual Forb Bittersweet in the spring. Visit at any time and you will always see something new. For additional information contact 915-534-0600.”

Get Your Motor Runnin’

When is the last time you went on an off-road adventure?  We think spring is the best time in El Paso to do so!  Thanks to UTV Off-Road Adventures, you and your friends can get behind the wheel of their UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicles) and explore some of the most beautiful terrain less than an hour from your home at Cantera apartments.  The owners always focus on safety and are well-prepared to ensure you and your friends have a trip of a lifetime.  Through their website you can learn all about their guided tours that are offered for 1.5 hours or 2.5 hours.

Here are some highlights from their website about what you will experience while touring through the popular Red Sands region on your off-road adventure.

“Red Sands has been a popular area for off-road enthusiasts for over 40-years! RED SANDS is approximately 21 square miles in size and is located just west of Hueco Tanks State Park off Montana Ave (US Hwy 62/US Hwy 180). Red Sands is comprised of both private and public lands, featuring rolling sand dunes, hills, compact dirt trails and more! RED SANDS was under an ancient sea approximately 34 million years ago.”

For complete details, visit RentAUTV.com.
 

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ll the pet-lovers out there understand the benefits of having a furry friend at home. Their loyalty and love offer comfort and companionship. The time you spend cuddled up or playing outside can end up being the most relaxing part of your day. It's wonderful, but pets often spend a great deal of time alone. And that's when they can get into trouble.

Living in an apartment, the damage a pet can cause can get expensive. Between stains and actual destruction of furniture, walls or door frames both cats and dogs can rack up a big repair bill. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways to curb destructive behavior and avoid pet damages in your apartment.

Pet policies, fees and deposits

There are a few ways a property manager can collect money from you in anticipation of pet damage. Often, an existing pet policy goes into the lease as a pet agreement. This is a set of rules you, as a pet owner, must follow. It can include provisions related to permitted animals or breeds and pet weight-limits, among other restrictions.
 

If required, management collects pet fees or deposits at the beginning of your lease. This is like a security blanket for anything a property owner has to address after you move out. Deposits are refundable if there's no damage, a fee is not.

These precautions help cover the expense of addressing common damages that can occur with both cats and dogs.

1. Carpet stains

Carpet is an easy target for staining, especially with pets. Almost all of them have at least one accident in their lifetime. It's so common, property owners look for stains first when a pet owner vacates an apartment.

“This is the most common and easily noticed pet damage," says Olivia Beck from Goodlife Property Management, “usually in the form of pet urine." If an older pet has regular accidents, it's best to take them to the vet for a check-up.

Pets can't tell you when something is wrong, and accidents can be one way of attempting to communicate with you. If you have a younger pet, repeat accidents are sometimes a sign of a behavioral issue. Limiting their access to carpeted areas can help reduce accidents.

Keep it clean

Once an accident happens, it's best to clean it up as soon as you're aware of it. Keep carpet and floor cleaner handy that addresses pet stains and odor. Every carpet stain won't get completely erased, but you'll definitely keep things looking much cleaner.

It's also possible to prevent accidents, and carpet stains, from happening. For cats, accidents can result from too few litter boxes in your apartment. A good rule of thumb is one per cat. Place it in a quiet place. If there's a lid, consider removing it. Cats don't like it when they can't see above themselves as they go.

For dogs, accidents happen when they don't have access to an outside space to go. Consider bringing in a dog walker once a day or even crating them when you're at work. According to Paws, “a crate helps satisfy the dog's instinct to be in a den…" and helps them associate the outdoors with the proper place to do their business.

2. Cat scratches

When cats want to scratch, nothing is safe. Furniture, blankets, walls and carpet all fall victim. Damage of this kind happens fast in an apartment. The next thing you know, a doorway or couch arm is destroyed. It's possible, though, to distract them from their destructive ways.

Redirect their energy

“A scratching post is essential for any healthy, well-adjusted cat," says Shelley Wester on Petfinder. It provides them with an appropriate outlet for their urge to scratch, along with a place to stretch and exercise. With a sturdy cat scratching post that stays upright, they'll come here first and stop damaging your apartment.

Another way to redirect a cat's energy is with a variety of toys. Motorized options or things with lasers do especially well. These capture a cat's attention when you're not there to play with them.

3. Doggie destruction

Dogs can get destructive when they're lonely. Long periods at home also mean pent-up energy they can't release. "It could be a puppy, it could be an older dog, but if you find that you come home and your dog is just destroying things … they need more exercise…" says Dana Humphrey a.k.a. “The Pet Lady," who discusses this issue in the Hartford Courant.

Energy levels in dogs can vary by breed. The ones needing the most exercise include Labs, German Shepherds, Terriers and Retrievers, as well as certain collies and huskies. These might not make the best apartment dwellers, but regardless of breed, you can provide an outlet for too much energy.

Address the problem and make adjustments to avoid pet damages in your apartment

The best reaction to have when your pet is damaging your apartment is to stop the problem from being a regular issue. Modifying your pet's behavior with the right toys, accessories and services can prevent future damage from occurring. This allows you to repair the problem to the best of your ability to ensure an easier move out when the time comes.

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