Los Alamos

The downtown area is compact, and the museums and most restaurants are within easy walking distance of the main hotels and many of the B&Bs. Public transportation by Atomic City Transit is free and includes both fixed routes and an on-demand service.

Many Los Alamos residents bicycle to work and around town. Cycling is feasible for visitors as well, but be aware that the town is at an elevation of about 7320 feet (2231 meters) and quite hilly. Puffing up the hills before you've acclimated to the altitude can be a surprisingly exhausting experience.

Road cycling is popular here, and some competitive road bicycle racers come here to train. Popular routes include NM 502 between Los Alamos and Pojoaque, and Camp May Road up to Pajarito Mountain Ski Area. White Rock is nearly a thousand feet lower and about 10 miles (16 km) away by road; riding to it on a bike can be a thrill, but oh, that hill coming back! From White Rock you can take a bus back to townsite: Atomic City Transit buses are equipped with bike racks.

Los Alamos County has an extensive trails network that is open to mountain bikes. The network is especially well developed around townsite, and connects to trails in Santa Fe National Forest and Pajarito Mountain Ski Area. In summer and fall the ski area offers lift-served mountain biking: ride the lift up and bike down easy sideslope trails or bomb down very challenging trails designed specifically for mountain biking. The ski area also has a mountain biking terrain park.

• The downtown area contains a number of artifacts of the early days of the "Manhattan Project" to build the bomb, and the even earlier days "when Los Alamos was a ranch school" (the title, incidentally, of an interesting little booklet on the history of the town that is available in local bookstores). Start at pretty Fuller Lodge, one of the old ranch-school buildings and a local landmark, and work your way out.
• 🌍 Bradbury Science Museum, 15th St. and Central Ave, ☏ +1 505 667-4444. Su-M 1PM-5PM, Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Explains the principles behind atomic energy and its uses in peace and war. Also presents the historical and social issues surrounding atomic energy. Free. (updated Jan 2016)
• 🌍 Los Alamos Historical Society, 1050 Bathtub Row (next to Fuller Lodge), ☏ +1 505 662-6272. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa Su 10AM-4PM. A small museum on the history of the area, with associated bookstore containing a number of books written by Historical Society members on local culture, history, recreational opportunities, etc., including the one listed below under "References." $5. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Fuller Lodge Art Center, ☏ +1 505 662-1635. M-Sa 10AM-4PM. An art gallery with regularly changing exhibits, held in an old timber-framed lodge that was once the main building for the Los Alamos Ranch School, before becoming a gathering place for scientists during the Manhattan Project. The art center promotes the development of local and regional artists, and provides art classes and hosts arts & crafts fairs in August on the weekend of the Los Alamos Rodeo, and another in late October. The art center also operates a gift shop that specializes in handmade artworks including jewelry, picture postcards, paintings, ceramics and more. (updated Jan 2016)

• 🌍 Pajarito Environmental Education Center, 2600 Canyon Road, ☏ +1 505 662-0460. M W F Sa 10AM-4PM, Tu 10AM-8PM, Su 1-4PM. A nature center that offers exhibits on local amphibians, birds, butterflies, fossils, energy and more. Local critters and demonstration gardens are on display, with friendly volunteers and books to purchase on the local flora, fauna and trails written by local experts. The center is also connected to the regional trail system, with trails leading down into the canyon behind the center. Free. (updated Jan 2016)
• 🌍 Overlook Park (White Rock). Contains athletic fields and a wheelchair-accessible scenic overlook of White Rock Canyon, the Rio Grande, and the mountainous country to the east, with a moderately rugged trail leading into the canyon. Pleasant for picnics, particularly in the fall; White Rock's lower elevation compared to Los Alamos proper means that it can be hot in the summer. 

• 🌍 Bandelier National Monument. Contains many Pueblo dwelling ruins to visit and other hiking opportunities. Don't forget to visit the separate Tsankawi unit of Bandelier, which is equally fascinating, but less visited. The latest hike to be opened at Bandelier is the Cerro Grande hike that rises up to the rim of the Valles Caldera National Preserve. The hike climbs 900 feet through beautiful forest and meadow and provides spectacular views of the surrounding area for miles around. (updated Nov 2016)
• 🌍 Valles Caldera National Preserve. A unit of the national park system in the Jemez Mountains. Recreational opportunities at the Preserve are still being developed; inquire locally. When driving up to the Jemez Mountains from Los Alamos on HWY 501/W. Jemez Rd., you will encounter what is locally known as "Bodman's Blocked Colon," a kink in the road with a "toll booth" like structure that provides security for the Los Alamos National Laboratory . Do not fear proceeding through the security entrance as it is open to the public unless security warning levels rise to most extreme levels. You will be able to continue on 501 unhindered; no stop is required under normal security conditions. How many places can you go and drive through a high security National Nuclear Research Laboratory site? (updated Nov 2016)
• 🌍 Pajarito Mountain. A very good and surprisingly challenging downhill ski area. Snow conditions can be marginal (indeed, during the drought years at the end of the 20th century, there were seasons when the area didn't open for months, or even at all), but when the snow is good, it's excellent value for dollar, with very small crowds. Rentals are available and a good lunch can be had. Cross-country ski trails are accessible from the same parking lot as services the downhill area; however, snow conditions are more likely to be marginal or not skiable than on the higher downhill runs. The area often runs its lifts during the summer to allow hikers, mountain bikers, etc., access to the top of the mountain. Camp May is a county park just beyond the ski area that is nice for picnics during the height of early summer heat, but skip it if you're prone to respiratory problems, as it's at very high altitude. (updated Nov 2016)
• Trails. Los Alamos County boasts 58 miles of pedestrian/bicycle/equestrian trails through town and connecting to hundreds of miles of cross-country trails in the surrounding Santa Fe National Forest. Trails west and north of townsite were damaged severely by tree falls and erosion after the catastrophic Cerro Grande forest fire in 2000, but thanks to the hard work of many volunteers, trail damage has been repaired. Since 2006, each spring a 50-mile ultramarathon foot race has been held on these trails. A pleasant (at least until summer heat sets in) set of connecting trails lead into White Rock Canyon from several points around White Rock, they are known as the Red Dot & Blue Dot trails. Beware of rattlesnakes in White Rock Canyon. A good resource for mountain bike riding is the local mountain biking club, The Tuff Riders who know the area inside and out and are always willing to provide information. Free maps are available at the Visitors Center; other maps can be purchased at Otowi Station Bookstore beside the Bradbury Museum and Mesa Public Library has a complete collection of USGS topographic maps of New Mexico. (updated Nov 2016)
• Santa Fe National Forest lies west and north of the town and offers many recreation opportunities such as hiking and exploring four-wheel drive roads. The reference book below gives more details. SFNF trails connecting to the Los Alamos trails network include:

• Trail 287, Quemazon Trail
• Trail 280, Pajarito Canyon Trail
• Trail 279, Cabra Loop Trail
• Trail 285, Guaje Ridge Trail
• Trail 69, Mitchell Trail

• 🌍 Larry R. Walkup Aquatic Center. Soak in the hot therapy pool or swim in the indoor swimming pool. On Wacky Wednesdays, Freaky Fridays, and Warm Water Weekends, the aquatic center has special recreational programs featuring pool toys and floating obstacle course. The therapy pool water is cholorinated; to soak without chorine travel to one of the undeveloped hot springs on the mountain above town, to developed hot springs in Jemez Springs or Ojo Caliente, or to Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe. (updated Nov 2016)
• 🌍 Los Alamos County Golf Course. An exceptional golfing experience at an altitude of 7,400 ft (2,300 m). Operated by the Los Alamos County Recreation Division the golf course offers a full driving range, passes and daily fees, carts, a full concession, and is able to host any and all tournaments. (updated Nov 2016)
• 🌍 Los Alamos County Ice Rink. A seasonal outdoor NHL regulation size ice skating facility. Operated by the Los Alamos County Recreation Division the Rink offers youth and adult hockey, public skating, skating lessons, holiday events, and a full concession stand. (updated Nov 2016)
• For a small town, Los Alamos attracts some very good musical groups, particularly in the classical genre. The Los Alamos Concert Association runs a subscription series of concerts by internationally-known classical performers. The professional Santa Fe Desert Chorale and non-professional but very good Sangre de Cristo Chorale and Coro de Camara perform choral music. Popular concerts occur frequently in the main community shopping center, and there are "coffeehouses" on several Friday nights a year at Fuller Lodge; inquire locally for details.
• Los Alamos Festival, Fair and Rodeo. On the second weekend of August (Friday-Sunday), Los Alamos holds its annual festival, fair and rodeo. Musical and rodeo events happen each day. On Saturday, an arts & crafts fair can be found on the east lawn of Fuller Lodge, sponsored by the Art Center at Fuller Lodge. A hometown parade goes down Central Avenue on Saturday. (updated Nov 2016)
• Fly. Take lessons from a private instructor or take a ride with a charter pilot operating out of the tiny but Air Force One capable Los Alamos airport.
• Los Alamos Events Calendar. Check this calendar for current or future events. 
• Tune in to KRSN AM1490 to listen to interviews with local movers and shakers and Topper Time, hosted by LAHS students. Check their website for a calendar of who's on and to see what time your flavor in music plays.

• 🌍 Casa Mesita Thrift Shop, 747 Central Ave, ☏ +1 505 662-7235. An interesting "local color" business. It doubles as a second-hand store and repository for the townsfolk's odds and ends, some of them very odd indeed. Proceeds from sales support a group home for girls from difficult domestic environments. 

As with many communities in New Mexico, it makes sense to categorize restaurants as "New Mexican" (specializing in enchiladas, stuffed sopaipillas, etc., with the usual "red or green?" choice of chile—red is usually hotter, green more flavorful, but inquire) or otherwise. Most restaurants cater to the community more than to the tourist, and consequently, many are closed on Sunday and some even on Saturday. Check on open days and hours before deciding where to eat.

Los Alamos contains more churches than bars, which is a probably sufficient commentary on the night life. Some of the restaurants occasionally offer live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings.

• Bathtub Row Brewing, 163 Central Park Sq, ☏ +1 505 500-8381. (updated Feb 2023)

Accommodations can be hard to find during the second week of October, when Albuquerque, 90 miles away, hosts the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. If you're visiting at that time and planning to stay in a hotel or B&B, reserve well in advance.

Violent crime is almost unknown in Los Alamos. The biggest lawbreaking threat to life and limb is drunk drivers. Northern New Mexico has an unfortunate and well-deserved reputation for DUI problems. Be alert when driving on the arterial roads after 10PM, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. Another driving hazard is wildlife. Mule deer can be seen around town all year long, day and night. Herds of elk come down from the Jemez Mountains during the winter and often congregate around the roads. If your car hits an elk at highway speed, the elk may lose, but you will most assuredly not win. Be careful driving after sundown during the winter months.

Believe it or not, one of the most important types of fatal accident sustained by townspeople is falling off a cliff—sometimes a cliff literally in the victim's back yard. The sheer canyon walls that give the area much of its natural beauty also pose traps for the unwary recreational hiker. If you're out enjoying the many hiking trails around town, stay on the trail when around a cliff unless you're doing roped climbing.

In most other regards, Los Alamos is an almost absurdly safe place. When pursuing outdoors activities, take the usual precautions, with maybe a little extra attention to fire safety; several of the disastrous forest fires the area experienced over the last 30 years resulted from poorly constructed campfires that were not well put out and thus smoldered, eventually starting up again and igniting tinder. If the national forest is closed to camping owing to fire hazard (as often happens in early summer) or forbids open fires (which can happen almost any time from May until August), please comply and seek your accommodations somewhere else. One final note: bubonic plague is endemic to northern New Mexico, and plague-bearing fleas and rodents have been trapped from within the city limits. As cautioned in the article on Bandelier National Monument, if you see a distressed or dead rodent or other small animal, leave it alone; buzzards are immune to plague, you are not.

• 🌍 Mesa Public Library, 2400 Central Ave. (updated Oct 2019)

• Santa Fe is one of the world's great travel destinations and is only about 35 miles (55 km) away by road. It would be silly to make a vacation stop to see Los Alamos and not see Santa Fe.
• Taos, another fine travel destination, is a little over an hour away. Retrace your path down NM 502, but before reaching Pojoaque, turn off on NM 30 to Española by way of Santa Clara Pueblo. NM 30 leads you to NM 68 and eventually Taos via a beautiful drive along the Rio Grande. Or, take the "high road" to Taos through a series of tiny Colonial Spanish mountain villages.
• If traveling to Albuquerque on the way home from Los Alamos, consider forsaking the highway route (NM 502 to US 84/285 to I-25) in favor of the "back road" through the Jemez Mountains. Take NM 501 west out of Los Alamos and proceed past the Camp May road to a T intersection with NM 4. Left leads back to Bandelier; instead turn right, climbing steeply and spectacularly into the mountains and through Valle Grande, the largest grass meadow of the Valles Caldera. On emerging on the west side of the mountains, NM 4 connects with NM 44 (US highway 550) which leads back to the interstate close to Albuquerque. This takes up to half an hour longer than the highway route but is worth it for the mountain scenery. Be wary of radar traps, and skip it in winter after a snowstorm, as the road through the mountains may be temporarily impassable.