drewzilla652

My family of 4 ( w/13f and 10m) is trying to arrange a trip to albuquerque. We're going to tour Old Town, do Sandia Peak Tram, and also want to do a museum or two (air conditioning). Maybe the Pueblo Cultural Center? Any suggestions?
THANKS!!
We'll be spending the nite in Balillo, then going the backroad to Bandelier and Santa Fe the next day.

frchteaze

Do you mean Bernalillo? I've never heard of Balillo, and I looked it up online and couldn't find any hits whatsoever. If you are staying in Bernalillo, I would recommend staying in Albuquerque or Santa Fe if you're going there. There really isn't much to see or do around Bernalillo unless you have family there.

As for museums, the National History Museum is great for kids and it's very close to Old Town in Albuquerque. The Pueblo Cultural Center is interesting, but I've never really thought about it from a kid's perspective. Not sure how that would be for the little ones.

The zoo and aquarium here are also lots of fun. They aren't too far from Old Town either. (cabq.gov has links to all of these)

Vera

LOADS of things for kids that age in the area. Check www.itsatrip.org for full details. Bernalillo, if that's what you're talking about, is near the Coronado National (Park? Monument?) site where he camped over a winter and my kids liked it at that age. (Many moons ago). I think they'd love the petroglph park, which doesn't take long to walk through, although it IS outdoors. If you're there when there are some dances on the plaza of the Pueblo Cultural Museum tha would be a treat. They have a web site, too. I'd take them to the Atomic museum, too. You did not ask about food, but in Bernallilo, don't miss the Range Cafe and in Albuquerque, besides some Mexican food, go to the Diner on Central just east of downtown.

Vera

Meant to ask--when are you going?

ElendilPickle

Frchteaze is right - there's no reason to stay in Bernalillo since it's only about 10 minutes north of Albuquerque. There are a number of chain motels on the north side of Albuquerque which would be good choices.

Old Town is "Museum Central" for Albuquerque - you have the Albuquerque Museum (art) the National Atomic Museum, the Natural History Museum, and Explora (hands-on children's museum). We haven't been to Explora yet, but we hear it's very cool.

The Range is a great choice in Bernalillo - if you want, you could stop there for breakfast on the way to Bandelier. There are also two Ranges in Albuquerque itself - one on Menaul east of University and one on Wyoming south of Montgomery.

The other restaurant Vera referred to is the 66 Diner on Central just west of University. We just had dinner there the other night - it's fun, casual, moderately priced, and their food is yummy. Great desserts, too!

Lee Ann

drewzilla652

Thanks all for your replies. Yes, I was speaking about Bernalillo. The reason we're staying there is so that we can then hit route 550 (I think that's it) towards route 4 and the Jemez Mountains the next morning.

ElendilPickle

It's about six of one, a half dozen of the other as to whether you stay in north Albuquerque or Bernalillo. If you've already made reservations in Bernalillo, I'm sure that will be fine; it will cut maybe 10 minutes off your travel time in the morning.

I forgot - you asked about the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, but I haven't been there in at least 10 years. I remember they did have some stuff for kids, and they might have some dances or something going on.

When are you coming?

Lee Ann

drewzilla652

aug4. We have cancellable reservations in Bernalillo. Hotwire had the Hyatt Tamaya for $243, but I can't spend that much. I'm going to try Priceline North ABQ. We'll visit Old Town, Nat Hist Mus, Sandia Peak.

obxgirl

We're frequent visitors to Albq and wouldn't recommend using PL for anything other than airport hotels. Been burned twice in the "North Albq" zone, both times in older hotels which despite some renovations have dropped multiple notches down the food chain. Never again.

I can absolutely recommend the Drury Inn/Suites in this area, right off of I25. They follow the Hilton Homewood model with generous cooked breakfasts and evening reception. Great for families. Rooms generally run in the $100-$120 range.

obxgirl

Don't know your plans for heading up to Santa Fe but if you have time to take the Turquoise Trail up Highway 14, you can stop at Tinkertown, an eclectic, funky collection of Americana bits and pieces. Our daughter (14) has visited at least three times in the last half dozen years and always thinks it's a hoot.

http://www.tinkertown.com/

Love love love The Range in Bernalillo for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

ElendilPickle

The Drury Inn is nice; other chains in the area are Howard Johnson Express, Hampton Inn, Ramada Express, Comfort Inn and Suites, LaQuinta, etc.

We (Mr. Pickle and our almost-10yo son) went to Explora this afternoon and had a great time. We were there for almost four hours and we could have stayed longer, but it was closing time. Lots of hands-on science exhibits. We saw kids of all ages, including the adults, enjoying themselves. You could spend half a day at Explora and half a day at the Natural History Museum pretty easily - they are right across the street from each other, and within easy walking distance of Old Town.

Lee Ann