Sandia Park’s modern sleek adobes in the exclusive Paa-Ko Ridge community contrast with the older wood frame homes and Northern New Mexico ranch style homes found throughout the heavily wooded towns of Cedar Crest and Tijeras. All three are influenced by the Sandia Mountains that tower above and offer snowy winters and cool summers to encourage residents to use the multiple use trails that criss cross the range. Birdwatchers have 261 species to seek out or watch from their backyard gardens. Many homes have fireplaces or wood stoves in their great rooms for winter days. Outdoor patios provide al fresco summer dining with superb mountain views. Sandia Park’s Paa-Ko Ridge is an upscale residential community with a nationally recognized golf course that is open to all and offers unique challenges with its downhill terrain.

It is also home to East Mountain Charter High School, whose high standards enable many of its graduates to gain entry to the best colleges. Tinkertown, a museum of handcrafted novelty dioramas is reflective of the creative impulses of the area’s residents. Tijeras has a rich history and its federally run Pueblo Archaeological site provides residents with volunteer opportunities and school children with educational outings. Tijeras’ craftsmen show their wares every weekend at the village’s crafts market. The village lies in the saddle between the Sandia and Manzano mountain ranges astride Interstate- 40 that whisks residents into Albuquerque in just 12 minutes.Centrally located, Cedar Crest is the gateway to the Sandias with its restaurants, retailers, bed and breakfasts and riding stables. It’s well insulated homes are hidden in the ponderosa pines providing sanctuary from the state’s most populous city Albuquerque. East Mountain residents have come from all over the country and former New Yorkers and Californians peacefully coexist sharing their love of the Sandias.

Founded by homesteaders in the 1930s, the town of over 2000 residents still has a pioneering spirit and values that harkens back to the early 20th century. With its conservative values and many churches, Edgewood is family-oriented with a deep love of the outdoors. Driving down some of the town’s dirt roads you are as likely to see your neighbor riding an appaloosa as a pick-up truck. The town is located in southern Santa Fe County and sprawls for 16 miles along the flat mountain plains. Most homes have views of either South Mountain to the North or the Sandias to the West. I-40 and Route 66 run through the town offering residents a 30 minute commute to Albuquerque. Commuter bus service is provided both by the state and Torrance County Project office. Edgewood has become the commercial hub of the East Mountains with the opening of the region’s first Walmart. A 10-screen movie theater is slated to open in 2011 and there are many locally owned stores and restaurants along Rt. 66. Wildlife West Nature Park is a popular attraction and hosts a summer music festival. The East Mountains Tennis Club is based here and has over 30 members. New athletic fields are being added in summer 2010 increasing youth soccer and little league baseball participation. Most homes have two to five acres offering plenty of room for stables, fruit trees and vegetable gardens. Many adobe homes dot the pinon pine and sagebrush covered high mountain plains country and there are few cookie cutter homes as most are custom made. Neighbors tow each other out in winter and gather around the grill for summer barbeques to talk about their kid’s achievements and how to best shape the town’s future.