Mesilla, New Mexico (a.k.a. La Mesilla, Old Mesilla) 

This small town is just two miles off I-10, adjacent to Las Cruces. The centerpiece of the Old Mesilla plaza is the adobe San Albino Church, built in 1855. During the American Civil War, Mesilla briefly served as capital of the Confederate Territory of Arizona. The La Mesilla Historic District was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Mesilla remains much the same today as it did in 1881, when the railroad passed it by, freezing its growth. At one time, the shops and restaurants surrounding the plaza were formed as protection against Apache raiders. Now, the greatest threats to Mesilla tourists are to their credit card balances. Mesilla offers 40 shops and galleries. If you like the shopping in Mesilla, you will love Old Town Albuquerque.