Stop and Smell the Lavender in Albuquerque.

A food, art, and nature lover’s dream, Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm is preserving the cultural and agricultural history of the Rio Grande Valley.

During their travels, people are always excited to take in the sights and sounds of their destination, but very little emphasis is ever placed on the smells experienced when traveling to a new place. In New Mexico, Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, a nearly century-old working organic lavender farm, is here to change that.

Located just six miles north of the heart of Albuquerque, Los Poblanos is a fragrant, 25-acre oasis filled with lush gardens, giant cottonwood trees, and, you guessed it, plenty of lavender to go around. The inn was originally the private ranch house residence of the owners of an 800-acre ranch in the Rio Grande Valley. The rustic estate was renovated in 1932, and now boasts an award-winning restaurant, en-suite fireplaces, plush four-poster beds, and a gardenencompassed saltwater pool, which offers sweeping views of the surrounding lavender fields set against the nearby Sandia Mountains.

A mere 15 minutes from the Albuquerque airport, and an hour’s drive from neighboring Santa Fe, Los Poblanos lies within an arm’s reach of plenty of the Southwest region’s best hiking, biking, shopping, and dining. But with lavender aroma permeating from every corner of the farm, Los Poblanos seemingly dares you to even consider leaving.

No matter when you visit, your olfactory senses will be working overtime from the moment you step foot on the property, but consider booking your trip starting in mid- to late summer, when the Los Poblanos farm team begins the annual lavender harvest. Guests are encouraged to wake up early – harvesting must take place in the morning, as the flowers are just partially in bloom, helping the team capture peak oil content. From there, dried bundles are packed into Portuguese copper stills, where they’re transformed into the essential oils used in the products that have garnered Los Poblanos the cult following it has today.

These products can be found in nearly every space throughout the property. Each suite is stocked with lavender-scented shampoos and lotions. Guests can stay hydrated on lavender lemon water from the lobby. The cocktail menu is dominated by purple herb shrubs and syrups. And the gift shop might be worth the visit alone, selling a slew of small-batch artisan lavender products, including candles, lip balms, soaps, bath salts, herb blends, honeys, and fragrances, plus a fun assortment of locally made goods and sundries.

While your nose will be working overtime throughout your stay, your tastebuds will undoubtedly be left satisfied, as well. Los Poblanos was named a “Top 10 Hotel for Food Lovers in America” by Bon Appétit, and it shows. And be sure to wake up with an appetite: the brunch served on their Campo patio (with arguably the best views on the property) was even voted Best Breakfast in New Mexico by Food & Wine.

Characterized as “Rio Grande Valley Cuisine,” the food served at Los Poblanos is rooted in seasonal organic ingredients from throughout the property or neighboring farms. As part of its ongoing preservation project, the Los Poblanos menus evolve from season to season to celebrate the foods indigenous to the region: think local heirloom corn varietals, a whole-animal butchery sourcing from nearby family-run farms, small-batch baked goods, and an array of native, organic vegetables grown on or near the property. Even the cocktail program features small-batch, barrel-aged spirits and house-made syrups, bitters, and amaris. With their commitment to regeneration and biodiversity, be prepared for inventive and unparalleled dining experiences that are as approachable as they are exceptional. It is a working farm, after all, so you know you’ll be eating well.

Los Poblanos has plenty of amenities if you’re keen on staying put: the Hacienda Spa has an assortment of treatments available, and there are many activities made available for guests year-round, including e-bike rentals, yard games, garden tours, nature walks, bird watching, live musicians, afternoon tea, and even workout classes in their “Wellness Yurt.”

Not to be outdone, Los Poblanos could itself be considered an art museum and botanical garden of sorts. The property exhibits meticulously manicured Spanish-style gardens, elaborately smithed iron gates, intricate woodcuts carved into its massive pine doors, Spanish Pueblo Revival decorative tin lights, and an abundance of paintings, murals, and prints displayed at virtually every turn. Perhaps most impressively, it is the home of the La Quinta Cultural Center, part art gallery, part social, cultural, and educational meeting space, which has hosted lectures, art exhibits, concerts, and more since it opened in the 1930s.

However, if you are eager to get out and explore the region, there’s plenty to do throughout Albuquerque. Founded in 1706, Old Town