Upon entering the town of Los Alamos, you are greeted with a striking vision bringing together high mountain vistas, valleys and rocky canyon walls, creating a geographic treasure worthy of discovery. The remote and high mountain location of the area (7355 ft. elevation) is the ultimate reason it was selected as home for the original Manhattan Project, a highly kept secret of the science world in the 1940s. To this day, its scientific nature rules and is showcased through several intriguing museums as well as the town’s #1 employer, Los Alamos National Laboratory, thusly earning its motto, “Where discoveries are made!”
But science is not all there is to Los Alamos. A charming city center offers galleries, boutiques, and tours throughout the downtown area. Lodging options range from charming B&Bs to moderately priced motels as well as area campgrounds.
Outdoor exploration opportunities abound with the likes of Bandelier National Monument, a testimony to its early Puebloan inhabitants and the extinct volcanic crater, Valles Caldera. Now a playground for outdoor lovers, Los Alamos’s lush meadowlands provide year round activities, including fishing, hiking, hunting and cross-country skiing.
While Los Alamos might have been the secret city of the past, the townsfolk welcome its visitors readily and share their motto, “where discoveries are made,” ensuring Los Alamos is not a secret to the lover of beauty, art, history and outdoors activities, but a destination worthy of many discoveries.
Visit the Los Alamos website here.
