"I never camped as a kid, but I really got into camping and sleeping outdoors. I've also done some amazing river floats in New Mexico [...] It's peaceful and awesome." - Conor Oberst
It wasn't always peaceful and awesome in New Mexico, since there was some nuclear bomb testing going on during WWII. For better or worse, the world entered the nuclear era in 1949, when Robert Oppenheimer and his group, based near Los Alamos, witnessed the explosion. Don't worry, the bomb site itself is over 200 miles to the south. These days, Los Alamos is a lovely small town of about 12,000 people who call it home. Located on the eastern slopes of the mountains surrounding Valles Caldera National Preserve, it's an area teeming with outdoor recreational opportunities and beautiful landscapes.
Deciding to relocate to this part of New Mexico might take a little planning, simply because of its distance away from other areas
"I never camped as a kid, but I really got into camping and sleeping outdoors. I've also done some amazing river floats in New Mexico [...] It's peaceful and awesome." - Conor Oberst
It wasn't always peaceful and awesome in New Mexico, since there was some nuclear bomb testing going on during WWII. For better or worse, the world entered the nuclear era in 1949, when Robert Oppenheimer and his group, based near Los Alamos, witnessed the explosion. Don't worry, the bomb site itself is over 200 miles to the south. These days, Los Alamos is a lovely small town of about 12,000 people who call it home. Located on the eastern slopes of the mountains surrounding Valles Caldera National Preserve, it's an area teeming with outdoor recreational opportunities and beautiful landscapes.
Moving to Los Alamos
Deciding to relocate to this part of New Mexico might take a little planning, simply because of its distance away from other areas. The nearest city is Albuquerque, almost a two hour drive to the south, so that's a consideration. That means if you are going to be working in Los Alamos, you want to find housing in town as well. With not super-high vacancy rates, it's smart to begin your search as soon as possible. It's much better to have to turn down a couple of rental apartments because you found something more suited to your needs than to have to settle for something that doesn't meet them.
Neighborhoods in Los Alamos
Take a look at the list below for what Los Alamos has to offer you in terms of neighborhoods.
Western Area Park: The part of town that encircles this small city park includes primarily detached homes and is a good place to look for rental houses in Los Alamos. Like the rest of town, its looping streets are atop one of the four mesas that hold most of the community.
Museum District: On the east side near the airport is where you will find the Los Alamos Historical Museum and Bradbury Science Museum. There are some small complexes where it's possible to find studio apartments for rent and larger units if more space is needed. It's also where you will find the biggest concentration of retail stores in the city.
Barranca Mesa: Cul-de-sacs and short streets with detached homes make up the bulk of this part of the community. At the west end in Los Alamos Municipal Golf Course.
Diamond Drive: This is another good area to look for a home to rent. Lying to the east of the golf course, Diamond Drive arcs gracefully atop the hills, offering great views and clear desert air.
Living in Los Alamos
Set among a mountain backdrop with natural wonder all around you, it's no surprise that residents of this town love the outdoors. The town is laid out like long fingers, with development atop the mesas and green space in the middle. Los Alamos offers an Aquatic Center, outdoor ice skating rink, a woodsy golf course below the Jemez Mountains, movies in the park and the High Mountain Mudfest, which combines everyone's two favorite things: volleyball and mud. The topography lends itself to traffic patterns that helped to make it a little different when it comes to getting around. Going back to one end of a mesa to get connected to another section can mean taking a little extra time to get where you are going. That said, it's such a beautiful and interesting town design that you can't help but be drawn into wanting more!
