Meow Wolf
01Cerrillos Road
An immersive, interactive art experience unlike anything else. Kids absolutely love it — and adults do too. Wonderfully weird, creative, and unforgettable.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY
Santa Fe with the kids.
Where to take the family on a slow day, and a few worth the short drive to Albuquerque.
THE BIG PICTURE
What you should actually know.
We've raised our kids on Santa Fe trips. We can tell you which restaurants will hand them crayons and which will tolerate but not love them. We can tell you which hikes work for short legs and which ones become a forced march by mile two. We can tell you that an afternoon at Meow Wolf will buy you two solid days of dinner conversation and that a private hot tub at Ten Thousand Waves is the best way for everyone to actually decompress at the same time.
The real secret with kids in Santa Fe is the rhythm. Mornings outside (a hike, the children's museum, a slow breakfast on a patio). A long midday break back at the house — the courtyard, the firepit, the hot tub if the kids are old enough. Then a kid-tolerant dinner, ideally early. The town and the altitude both reward a slower pace, and the kids get the best version of you when you give in to it.
THE ONE PLACE WE'D BOOK FIRST
Meow Wolf
Cerrillos Road
An immersive, interactive art experience unlike anything else in the country. The kids absolutely love it, the adults absolutely love it, and you will think about it for months afterward. Wonderfully weird, creative, and unforgettable. Buy tickets in advance.
01
In Santa Fe
Santa Fe Children's Museum
02Old Pecos Trail
Engaging hands-on exhibits designed specifically for kids — plenty of interactive fun. Ideal for younger children and families.
Tumbleroot Pottery Pub
03Downtown
Make pottery while the grown-ups enjoy a brew. A favorite afternoon stop with the kids.
FROM OUR FAMILY ALBUM
Real photos. Our trips.
"Wonderfully weird. Creative. Unforgettable. The kids talk about Meow Wolf for months after."
02
Worth the Albuquerque Drive (about an hour)
Explora Science Center
01Albuquerque
An interactive science museum perfect for curious kids of all ages. Combine your visit with lunch at Saw Mill Market, a nearby food hall offering diverse dining options.
New Mexico Museum of Natural History
02Albuquerque
Fascinating interactive exhibits and displays — an enjoyable educational outing for the whole family. Easily combined with a visit to Explora.
Sandia Peak Tramway
03Albuquerque
The tram climbs nearly 4,000 feet in about fifteen minutes, and the whole Rio Grande Valley opens up below you. Consider reservations if dining at the mountaintop restaurant.
KEEP EXPLORING
Nine more chapters of Santa Fe.
Restaurants, hikes, galleries, spas — every category has the family's full take.