Albuquerque: an under-an-hour day trip with kids.

Albuquerque is just under an hour's drive south of Santa Fe — straight down I-25, an easy run — and it makes a strong family-friendly day trip. Different city, lower elevation, different vibe. Most Santa Fe trips don't include it, and most should at least consider it.

Our standard Albuquerque day for visiting families is built around three stops: lunch at Saw Mill Market, a museum block, and the Sandia Peak Tramway to end on a high note. None of the three is overwhelming on its own; all three together fill an afternoon and evening comfortably.

Saw Mill Market is a food hall in the redeveloped Sawmill District near Old Town — multiple vendors under one roof, diverse cuisines, easy with a group where everyone wants something different. It's the lunch answer for kids who want pizza, partners who want a real bowl of pho, and grandparents who want something familiar. The market itself is a renovated 1900s lumber mill, which makes it a more interesting room than a typical food court. Plan an hour, plus a wander outside in the surrounding district.

The museum block is the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and the Explora Science Center. They're walking distance from each other, both excellent, and they take very different angles on engaging kids. The Museum of Natural History has a strong dinosaur collection (real dinosaurs from the Southwest, not casts) and a planetarium. Explora is a hands-on science museum where the entire premise is interactive — kids can spend two hours and not get bored. Pick one if you've got two hours; do both if you've got four.

End the day at the Sandia Peak Tramway. Don't miss it. The aerial tram climbs from the eastern edge of Albuquerque to the top of Sandia Peak, with panoramic views back across the city, the Rio Grande Valley, and (on a clear day) the Sangre de Cristos in the distance. Sunset rides are the spectacular ones; the city lights coming on as you descend is the moment most people remember from the day.

Practical notes. The drive is straightforward I-25; budget an hour each way plus parking time. ABQ in summer can run noticeably hotter than Santa Fe — pack accordingly. The tramway operates year-round but has weather closures; check before you commit your day to ending there. Reservations at the mountaintop restaurant if you're planning dinner up top.

Pair the trip with: a stop at Old Town Albuquerque if you want a Plaza-and-shops version of the city's older quarter (different feel from Santa Fe's Plaza, worth comparing), or skip it if the day's running long.

An easy escape from Santa Fe that resets the trip. Especially good for families with kids who've been doing a lot of museum-and-restaurant Santa Fe and need a different kind of day.