A tour of our beautiful, historical city
Picture yourself in the pristine, wild Chihuahuan Desert.
A nimble roadrunner streaks by. Plump ruby prickly pears and creamy puffs of yucca paint the golden desert sand dunes.
In the valley below, civilization buzzes along and every convenience awaits — and you can join in anytime you wish — but for this quiet moment you breathe in the warm, clear air and revel in the rooted sense of place and belonging Las Cruces offers graciously to each of its dwellers.
This is home.
What makes Las Cruces “home”?
There’s plenty to love about living in Las Cruces, but here are some of the highlights that make it a splendid home for retirees and families alike:
- Beautiful weather and landscapes
- Amazing outdoor recreation
- History and culture
- Friendly people
- An active art scene
- Continued education opportunities at New Mexico State University
- A vibrant downtown revitalization
What’s most important to you as you seek the perfect place to call home? Read on to learn more about the good life in Las Cruces.
Sunshine for the soul
We’ve got blue skies for days. Around 350 days a year, in fact!
It’s no mystery why Las Cruces Made AARP’s top-ten list of sunny places to retire. The climate here is unbeatable.
Outdoor recreation in Las Cruces and the surrounding areas is prime. Average summer day temperatures are in the 90s, and winter temperatures are generally in the 50s, making hiking, golfing, cycling, and nature walks possible and pleasant all year round.
About as far south as you can go in the U.S., 45 miles north of Mexico, Las Cruces is a gorgeous blend of purple mountains, a fertile valley, and serene desert landscape.
Daytrip to the wild west!
Feeling a little rambunctious?
Why not swagger through the same leather-upholstered courthouse doors as Billy the Kid? Las Cruces and the nearby historic town of Mesilla boast a true wild west history and atmosphere.
Ignite your sense of adventure and visit an old west stagecoach stop, tour haunted villas, or seek the mythical treasure trove of the Lost Padre Mine. You can even journey along the same trails as rugged Spanish Conquistadores Don Juan de Onate and Francisco Vázquez de Coronado.
Those of us living in Las Cruces love showing off the amazing history of our area to out-of-town guests. There’s always something to learn and a new bit of history to experience.
A warm welcome
Feel like making some new friends?
The friendliness of our community is enough to make visitors decide to stay and make Las Cruces their home.
Robert, a newly retired transplant to Picacho Mountain in Las Cruces says, “We’ve met so many nice people. One day I asked my son, ‘Are there any people in Las Cruces who aren’t nice?’ He thought for a moment and said, ‘I don’t think so. I’ve never met any!’”
Las Cruces is a famously friendly community that makes it easy to plug in, wherever your interests lie. You can learn, grow, and pursue your passions with some great people here.
A community with heart and soul
For those seeking to learn new skills or stay at the top of their game, New Mexico State University offers a wealth of opportunities for continued education and an influx of fresh ideas.
Speaking of fresh, the local agriculture and passionate small business owners of Las Cruces set the scene for a laid-back, small town atmosphere that allows you to keep your money and heart right where they belong, in the community you love.
You’re gonna love visiting our walkable, bustling downtown, where a revitalization in full swing. The amazing local restaurants, shops, farmer’s market, and art galleries downtown make the sense of community palpable.
Life with a little spice
The cultural influences in Las Cruces blend with that small town sense of community to bring a special flavor to the people and art of Las Cruces — but they also create some fantastic food!
The Mexican food here is different from what you’ll find in California or Texas.
You have to think of it as New Mexican food — a uniquely delicious breed of food that owes its quality to the local chile farmers and recipes that have been carefully passed down through generations of people who know how to prepare food with love.
There’s a saying around here: “Panza llena, corazon contento,” which means, “Full stomach, happy heart.”
We think it’s more than just the food that makes so many happy hearts choose to call Las Cruces home. But the food does certainly help!
