need suggestions for a week itinerary for Santa Fe, New Mexico

Maojor cliff dwellings and ruins are several hours away from Santa Fe - Chaco Canyon is about 2 hours, Mesa Verde about 5 hours. Bandelier is the closest, http://www.nps.gov/band/

A good tip for helping determine if a attraction is toddler friendly or toddler wise is to check out their accessibility policy. It will often tell you how condtions are and if they are accessible for handicap or seniors, then it will usually work for kids.

Not sure how good an idea it is w/ toddlers either. Often these sites involve climbing, steep paths, rocky terrain, hot, sunny, ladders to climb, etc.

Musuem Hill, International Folk Art Museum might interest toddlers. http://www.museumhill.org/

The zoo in ABQ is wonderful; I know you have a nice zoo in Houston, but honestly, I think ABQ zoo is perfect for toddlers. http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/zoo/index.html

Children's Explora, near Old Town, in ABQ is great:

http://www.explora.us/en/
Also in ABQ, Tinkertown Museum might enteretain them as well
http://www.tinkertown.com/

You could certainly take a day trip to Taos, but not sure there is anything in particular that would interest toddlers.

There is also a small aquarium and botanical garden in ABQ.
http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/aquarium/

I personally find ABQ to have more things for kids to do than Santa Fe.

Deb

Sorry, I missed some of your other questions: Hot springs - 10,000 Waves is the nicest http://www.tenthousandwaves.com/

http://ojocalientesprings.com/ is another.

There are "natural" hot springs [just out in the open and free]that are out in nature, but we they really aren't all that big and there will be nude people there [soda dam, battleship].

Restaurants:
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/santa-fe-restaurants---trip-report.cfm

For ABQ restaurants
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/albuquerque-restaurants-debitnms-picks.cfm

And don't forget to check out the Fodors suggestions - http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/new-mexico/santa-fe/
Deb

Wow. Thanks for all the great info. Bandelier sounds great. Are there any ruins we can get to easily? We didn't plan on going to ABQ. But it seems you strongly suggest that we do. I will look more into going now. Where do you think will be the important places to go see? We could always leave the kids with the Grandparents for the day. Thanks

Marie

How much time do you have for this trip?

The natural hot springs at Battleship Rock do attract quite a few nudists, and it's a long, hot hike in July.

Bandelier is near Los Alamos, not far from Santa Fe. You could take the kids hiking there; it's mostly flat and you can look into the kivas and climb a couple of short ladders to see cliff homes.

There is a long ladder at the end of the loop trail which leads to a cave with a kiva. Mr. Pickle took our then-4yo son up there while I stayed below (I don't really care for heights). You can't really see the kiva area from below.

Suddenly, I heard Mr. Pickle yell, "Matthew, stop!" followed by my son wailing. Apparently he decided to run toward the edge of the cliff - providentially, he tripped and fell before he fell off. So if you try the ladder, hang on to your kids!

Santa Fe has a children's museum, but it is fairly small. The exhibits are more geared to younger kids, so your crew might enjoy an hour there. As Deb said, Albuquerque has more to offer kids.

Lee Ann

Bandelier is very recommendable. Practically on the way to Bandelier, on the road to White Rock Overlook (scenic vista) there is Tsankawi pueblo, a low-key site of cliff dwellings which can be visited by walking a 1-mile trail (no visitor center, no entrance fee.. just park your car and walk).

Taos Pueblo will also be a good destination for a daytrip - IMO it is the most beautiful living pueblo at all.

Maybe a railroad trip? http://www.sfsr.com/

Here is a list of Santa Fe playgrounds:
http://www.sdcmountainworks.com/kids/playgrounds.php

Here is the Children's Museum's website:
http://www.santafechildrensmuseum.org/

We will be there for one week. Which hot springs are not geared towards a spa like atmosphere? Not the nudist one. My kids are curious enough. Thanks again for all the suggestions.

I almost got my day trip itinerary filled up.

first day - White Sands, Railroad
second day - Bandelier
third day - Museums and Santa Fe tour
fourth day - Hot springs (?) not sure which one
fifth day - ABQ zoo
sixth day - Shopping Spanish Market
seventh day - relax

Marie

I assume you will be stopping in White Sands on the way to Santa Fe, not as a road trip from Santa Fe??

The two hot springs I listed are not "spa" in the traditional sense ie Elizabeth Arden type. Ten Thousand Waves is a serene, natural type place, with Oriental inspirations. Ojo Caliente is also very natural like, wouthwestern type. If you are wanting a hot spring that you can just hike to or "wander" up to and soak your feet, there aren't any that I know of other than soda dam and battleship rock.

Spanish Market is very nice, usually very crowded and I don't think it is a whole day activity and not sure your kids would care all that much for it.

Deb

Yes, we will be stopping by White Sands on our way to Santa Fe. I think my in-laws would love TTW. Maybe I can add another trip to the Spanish Market. Does Tao's have ruins we could visit?

Marie

Taos is an active pueblo, not a ruin. 4500 people still live and work there; it is one of the oldest continually occupied communities:

http://www.taospueblo.com/


Deb

Is ten thousand waves a natural hot springs or just a bath house?

Here are some more ideas

Tent Rocks is pretty cool.

http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/rio_puerco/kasha_katuwe_tent_rocks.html

Rafting on the Rio Grande. 3, 4yo might be too young, but it's something the parents might enjoy. Even in July the water is refreshingly cool.

Bandolier is a definite IMO. The cliff dwelling loop trail is easy & you can climb easy 10' ladders into some of the small caves. The tall ladders at the end of the loop trail that Lee An mentions definitely aren't for the faint hearted, and one parent can't supervise 2 young kids going up/down. Even if you don't climb the tall ladders the short walking path to there is nice, well covered with trees & much cooler than being out in the direct sun. There's also a small creek next to it that the kids may enjoy splashing in to cool down.

The museum at Los Alomos might be interesting for a science/history buff, but is probably too much for a young kid.

The heat, low humidity, and altitude mean that you must be very careful to stay well hydrated. It's easy to feel like you're not perspiring but it's a must that you carry water bottles and refill them whenever you get a chance.

Is ten thousand waves a natural hot springs or just a bath house?

The water comes from a natural hot spring. They have various hot tubs, co-ed, men only, women only, private.

By natural hot springs, do you mean water bubbling up through the rocks and forming a natural pool, out in the open? If so, neither Ojo or Ten Thousand fit that category. Battleship and Soda Dam do, but again, that means au naturel.

Check out the websites in by June 14 post above and look at the pictures - it should show you what they are like.

Tent Rocks is excellent, but it is very hot, sunny if you don't go at the crack of down and I think it would be too difficult for 3 & 4 year olds and I don't think you would want to try and carry them while climbing - it would be dangerous for all of you. It would be ok for adults only.

LOTS of sunscreen in addition to water, a HAT is a must as well, especially for kids. Do not carry food into ruins, it attracts vermin which destroy the ruins.

Deb

I just found this and thought it might answer your hot springs question:

http://www.discovernewmexico.com/hotsprings/index.htm

We called Ten Thousand Waves and they said their water does not come from the natural hot springs. I think Ojo Caliente you suggested is what I was more looking for. Their water actually comes from natural springs water and have different minerals used for different types of healing. Is White Sands worth the drive? With kids and all. Seems far. What is the best route to go from Houston? I would like to pass some sites on the way there.
Thanks everyone.

Marie

We just spent 4 days in Santa Fe with our 2 year old and we really enjoyed the Shidoni Foundry in Teseque as well as the Santa Fe Children's Museum. The Foundry had some beautiful pieces and was a perfect place to turn the little one loose to explore. We also enjoyed the Museum of International Folk Art on Museum Hill - they also have a whole section on "Visiting With Children."

Some of the restaurants that we ate at that were child friendly were: the Shed, Cafe Pasquale, Tia Sophia's, Upper Crust Pizza, Il Vicino and the Museum Hill Cafe.

Oops...that should have read that the Museum of International Folk Art has a whole wsection on "Visiting with Children" on their website. Sorry!

The Shidoni grounds are a great place for you to have a picnic with your kids. It's a short drive out from Santa Fe and the sculpture garden there is large and grassy. You can see bronze pours, watch a glass blowing demonstration, browse the shops and have lunch all in one place.

Have a great trip!

Thanks. I will look up Shidoni in Teseque.

Marie

question for debit? what about the spa and hotel just before you get to Santa Fe, Bishop's Lodge...any comments? We have passed it multiple times and eaten brunch there many times but never stayed there. Coming to NM soon and wondered? is it worth the expense?

I'm not Debit but I've been to Bishop's numerous times.
is it worth the expense?
Are you asking about staying at the lodge or the spa?

Bishop's Lodge is improving but still rough around the edges with service. At least the attitude has improved a great deal and back to appreciating the individual traveler and not the corporate retreats.

I've not used their spa as I'm a huge fan of Ten Thousand Waves.

The newer rooms are very nice and there are some that aren't as "fresh" as them but they are alright. I go there for the surroundings more than the room itself. We like to stay near the horse paddock as it's very peaceful.

The dining room and the library/fireplace room was under renovation when we left Memorial Day. You may want to check on other renovations as well.