This next adventure is a continuation of our two week New Mexican summer family vacation!

A completely different vibe from our Route 66 motel that we had stayed in the night before, we ventured to Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm.  Los Poblanos, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, sits on 25 acres in the Rio Grande River Valley.  This working family farm offers organic field-to-fork dining together with its lush formal gardens, farm animals and overflowing lavender fields.  The architecture was designed in 1932 by John Gaw Meem, the “Father of Santa Fe Style.” Not only is the architecture some of New Mexico’s finest, he contracted some of New Mexico’s leading arts and craftsman of the period to create artwork here. Los Poblanos is considered one of the most magnificent historic properties of the Southwest. The setting is so serene and spectacular, I did not want to leave! We originally found out about this place as we were trying to find a teepee for the family to stay in one evening (unsuccessful as she closed her business down!).  The teepee owner highly recommended Los Poblanos, and we were so glad she did.

As we arrived, our boys stumbled upon the first of many new pet friends:  a lovely peacock.  There were four roaming the property including Albert the albino peacock.  Between the roosters crowing, turkeys gobbling, cats meowing and the smell of fresh lavender … it was a slice of heaven.  Sitting in our room upon arrival was a goodie bag for each of my boys, filled with a scavenger hunt list, stickers, facts about the property, a blow up air balloon, homemade cookies, organic milk and a stuffed animal for each.  Not listed on the scavanger hunt list but discovered anyway: a cat “playing” with a field mouse. Don’t think about bringing a babysitter to this place because your kids will entertain themselves and are free to wander around, play bocce ball, and even try to pick up the chickens, kittens and peacocks (if they will let you, but they won’t)! Our young boys chased and chased the four peacocks (which can fly, if you didn’t know) until Albert and Petey (a blue peacock) shed a feather.  What a souvenir!

I was off to explore the architecture, gardens and the many quiet benches waiting to be filled. Butterflies were fluttering about in the plentiful gardens.  There are so many things for guests to do and explore such as the farm shop, barn commons, lotus pond, saltwater swimming pool, bird watching and playing bocce ball (which my boys loved).  The farm-to-table food with eggs straight from the farm helped counter act some of the richer, heavier foods we encountered upon the first few days of our road trip. I would love to come back here to spend more time, bring a good book, and just relax.  But we were all too excited about the next adventure and making it to see an alpaca farm and up the old Turquoise Trail to Santa Fe!

Here’s to hoping you check out this hidden gem of the Southwest and enjoy some amazing architecture, gardens and animals in the process! Until next week, stay inspired!

~Jenna

Jenna Wallis is a Memphis, Tennessee interior designer.