Dad and daughter trip to Santa Fe

Old Dec 19th, 2014, 01:54 PM
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Dad and daughter trip to Santa Fe

Taking the smaller hobbit to Santa Fe for a long weekend next month (all Friday to Monday, arrive Thurs night). Looking for suggestions - she's 4.5 and acts like she's 14. Likely going to try to get her on skis and/or go tubing, perhaps a wintry hike or two. She's ok wandering around and seeing the critters and riding on the old man's shoulders. And she'll like the arts and crafts around the Plaza and Canyon Road, et al (she's pretty creative herself). But, she is 4.5 and will get bored as easily as a child (then again, so does her dad)

Will blow the last day in Albuquerque to try to visit Tim's Place and the science museum.

Any ideas for things to do, galleries to visit, et al? Wilderness adventure? National parks? If she balks at the skiing, will need a backup plan or two and going to the nearest casino for a non-gambler and his hobbit isn't the best plan B.

Restaurant recs outside of Tomasita's and Coyote Cafe welcome.

Thanks in advance.
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Old Dec 19th, 2014, 06:04 PM
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Restaurants - loved The Shed in Santa Fe and Church Street Cafe in Albuquerque. The Georgia O'Keefe museum in Santa Fe was very nice, but also very small. As for parks, we really enjoyed Petroglyph NM in Albuquerque, as well as Sandia Peak. Closer to Santa Fe, Tent Rocks NM is excellent for a nice hike - cool rock formations, a slot canyon, then a trail going up to the top of the canyon, about a 600' or so climb. Not sure what the conditions would be in winter, though.

If you or your daughter are fans of Breaking Bad, visiting the filming locations in Albuquerque can be a lot of fun, too.
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Old Dec 19th, 2014, 08:42 PM
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Ride the ski lift to Sandia Peak--you can hike up, or hike back (downhill, dontcha know) or ride both ways. Really fun. You can also take a tramway there from Albuquerque.

We liked Bandelier NM for easy hikes, and you can climb little ladders to see dwellings and some petroglyphs, too.

(Not sure about winter conditions at either of these...)

The New Mexico Museum of Art is our favorite in Santa Fe, because the collection is interesting, but also because the building itself is interesting. http://nmartmuseum.org

For restaurants, The Shed is a classic, as is Cafe Pasqual's for breakfast or lunch. Clafoutis (french bakery) would be sweet for a brioche and hot chocolate--but you have to drive there from the Plaza. (Doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's awesome.) They serve breakfast and lunch, too.

I wonder if you could check the schedule for Native American festivals and dances while you're there? There probably aren't many that time of year, I know, but it would be worth some research to find out.
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Old Dec 19th, 2014, 10:02 PM
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International Folk Art Museum in Santa Fe will be more liked than Georgia O'keefe for a youngster, even if she thinks she's 14.

A fan of "Breaking Bad?? She's 4 and a half years old! Really, folks.

The Explora Museum in ABQ is where I'd be sure to take her, the zoo too( I can give you a tour, if you're interested).

Let me think a bit; with a granddaughter just a bit older, I'll post back with ideas. It's early here in Paris!
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Old Dec 19th, 2014, 11:10 PM
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Argh! Just lost my post. Will do this in parts so I don't lose it again.
Childrens Museum
Farmers market at rail yard on Saturday am
Los Golindrinas


These have lots of other good ideas, indoors and out, and events

http://santafe.macaronikid.com
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Old Dec 19th, 2014, 11:11 PM
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Tihs has really good info
http://www.santafechildren.com
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Old Dec 19th, 2014, 11:15 PM
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http://santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe...ds_Activities/

As far as Tent Rocks - I love it there but even on great wether it would be a challenge for someone that small. In winter, even less so. You couldn't risk carrying her on shoulders if it is winters.

Same for Sandia Peak, hiking down isn't for someone her size. Once you start, there's no fast, easy way out. I am not even sure if you can do that in winter. Dealing with cold temps, altitude, ice, rocks, is hard enough for adults.
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Old Dec 20th, 2014, 09:55 AM
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DebitNM, I'm sure you're right about hiking down from Sandia Peak in winter. Thing is, in spring we saw families with small kids doing it, via a combination of carrying them, letting them walk, and letting them roll a bit on the grassy parts. So it looked easy, but then again, we rode both ways
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Old Dec 20th, 2014, 10:57 AM
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I liked the Sandia Tram (we rode both ways) and Bandelier Park also but not sure of the weather that time of year, latest we visited was early December (and it was cold!).
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Old Dec 20th, 2014, 02:28 PM
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Oh, right. Didn't notice the 4.5 yo part. Sorry.
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Old Dec 20th, 2014, 03:26 PM
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Most of what I think of as fun for kids is in Albuquerque, and DebitNM has given you some good suggestions for that. It's been years since we visited the Santa Fe Children's Museum, but I remember it being geared to kids your hobbit's age.

There were a number of kids at Tune Up Cafe when we went there a year or so ago. http://tuneupsantafe.com/

Lee Ann
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 08:17 AM
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Thanks, all.

She has a tendency to ride on the old man's shoulders - something about working parent guilt, indulging the halfling while she's small, etc. Bandelier is probably on the table - we've been there with her brother before she debuted and he rode on daddy most of the way.

Babygirl is pretty hardy - she climbed down from a glacier overlook outside of Seward during our trip to Alaska last year and down the whole path (about .75 miles). She also kept going outside on deck during a wildlife cruise in semi-inclement weather.

No, she did not watch Breaking Bad. Percy Jackson is more her speed and I don't recall any scenes from NM there.

Is there any snowmobiling or tubing in SF area?

And Lee Ann & Deb - is there snow on Sandia? I know last year it was fairly snow-free.
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 09:55 AM
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I haven't been home in 3 months, so I'll let LeeAnn answer. If she doesn't, I'll let you know on Wednesday when I get home.

http://www.santafechildren.com/listi...nd_ice_skating
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 10:18 AM
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There's nothing like a firsthand account, but in the meantime, you can check the Sandia Peak webcam:
http://sandiapeak.com/index.php?page=ski-cam
Looks like some snow up there...
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Old Dec 22nd, 2014, 02:11 PM
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It's snowing on the Sandias right now, and the ski area was supposed to open this weekend.

Try Santa Fe's ski area for snow activies. http://skisantafe.com/snow-weather/

Lee Ann
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