Like Bugs Bunny, if you “take a left turn at Albuquerque” on I-25 headed south . . . you will find yourself in the village of Los Lunas just 20 miles south of Albuquerque.
About five years ago we took a leap of faith and moved to this small town of Los Lunas that has captured our hearts and we now proudly call home. We have discovered there is so much to do in this incredible small town!
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When we first moved to Los Lunas, I thought it was a Walmart and a gas station. I had never even explored the area before making an offer on a house. (But I do not recommend this method of home buying). However, I was pleasantly surprised when I found out there were multiple grocery stores and retail stores like Ross, Rue 21, clothing boutiques, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Home Depot, Lowes, and lots of awesome antique stores.
General Info
There is pretty much any property style you could want here, from apartments to large acreage agricultural land. (These are typically at a lower price point for comparable properties in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho). Los Lunas is on the upswing and growing exponentially with new jobs and land development.
Parks, Recreation, and Family Fun
We have some amazing parks, but my favorite is Daniel Fernandez Park with a free splash pad all summer long! You can also explore Cerro de Tome, River Park, or hike the ruins at Salina Pueblo Missions. Have a picnic lunch there. Then make your way back to town and eat at one of the many local family-run restaurants with true New Mexican flare. (Weekly karaoke and live music are easy to find.)
For dessert, there are small local bakeries like Manny’s to grab a green chile apple fritter or paleta bars to cool off on hot summer days. There is even the coziest and cutest European cafe called Europa that is worth the drive to Los Lunas by itself!
If you are looking for indoor activities, the local Library on Main Street has a great children’s program. They also have adult activities like coloring, book clubs, and paint nights for some mommy time. There is an amazing studio for painting, jewelry-making, kids classes, acrylic-pour, woodcarving, leather working, and crocheting. Heritage Museum on Main Street is always interesting. And my favorite part of Los Lunas is all the farms with produce and animals. There are local fairs, weekly growers markets, events, and apple orchards nearby. Los Lunas even has its own drive-in movie theater!
Schools
Los Lunas has some great options for public as well as charter schools. There are 16 public schools in Los Lunas. There is one K-12 S.T.E.M charter school in Los Lunas. Also, there are some homeschool and hybrid programs offered, both public and private, for a non-traditional schooling route.
Amenities
Really, you would never need to leave Los Lunas because pretty much anything you need is in this amazing village–dentists, doctors, car dealerships, banks, optometrists. You name it! If you do need to leave for work, it is only about 20 minutes away from downtown Albuquerque.
Potential Drawbacks
Because Los Lunas is a historic town originating in 1808, there is some truly amazing and incredible architecture such as the Luna Mansion. Along with it being a town of continual growth, some of the neighborhoods are quite diverse with an intermingling of new builds and the occasional uninhabited house or trailer. Though it can add great diversity to your neighborhood, you may want to drive around a little and see if it’s a good fit before deciding on a certain area.
Why I Love Living Here
As I sit here on my porch after a walk along the river watching my daughter play with our goats and chickens, I have really come to fall in love with this town. It is the perfect small town while still being close to a major city. Plus there’s so much to do, see, eat, and enjoy!
I am thankful that I took that left turn at Albuquerque. And I hope you do too.
For information about other areas in and around Albuquerque, check out our Ultimate Guide to Moving to Albuquerque.
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ABQ Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
