A quick look at the school calendar for the coming year has the kids with two days off in a row during October which is highly unusual. Thinking of taking the kids to New Mexico for hiking and balloon festival possibly Palo Duro Canyon in West Texas as well. What are some things to go in Santa Fe, Albq and other areas that kids would enjoy and what is the best schedule to work from for a day at the balloon festival

Thanks in advance

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Hmm, not sure what that means.

The good thing about the balloon fiesta is the mass ascension when all the balloons take off and fill the sky. It's early in the morning on most fiesta days. After the mass ascension, everyone buggers off. Seriously - there are some vendor stands to buy food or knickknacks but once the balloons go up there's not much to do until and unless there is an evening activity set at the park.

The bad thing about the balloon fiesta is the weather - Albuquerque is on a plateau and can be very windy. The balloons do not go unless the wind is < 8 mph. In October, that can be infrequent.

Depending upon the kids, Santa Fe isn't really "kid-friendly." It has art museums and a boatload of galleries (both near the Plaza and on Canyon Drive) but if your kids aren't arty, then what's the attraction? Bandelier National Monument and Tent Rocks are both nice, and the kids may like the museum at Los Alamos. All are outside the "city" (SFe is really a large town).

Albuquerque has more for the hobbits: Explora, the Zoo (which is a pretty good one, all told), the Biological Park, and the Nuclear Science Museum are all good. Plus the cable car up Sandia Peak but look for a discount somewhere - it ain't cheap.

How old are the "kids" and what do they like to do?

I don't know anything about Palo Duro Canyon, but don't bother with west Texax. There's plenty to do right here in NM and 2 days is really short.

There are some nights that have events, so check the calendar on the Balloon Fiesta website.

I concur with what BigRuss has said. The weather is a big factor, so much so, that you should plan to keep both mornings as possibility.

You need to get there EARLY, the balloons go up at daybreak but watching them cold inflate and prepare to launch down on the field is an awesome event.

It is usually VERY COLD in those early predawn hours. Dress in layers and you will be peeling them off as the sun comes up. We are talking hats, gloves, almost winter like clothes. Really.

Depending on where you are staying [note: book hotel yesterday, it is the busiest time of year here and you are already late at this] you may drive to the park [expect long lines to get in] or take a bus from a park and ride location.

Speaking of car, you will also need to rent a car - again, do this now. Make reservations that can be cancelled, and check back to see if rates go down, though I doubt they will. Try costco.com even if you aren't a member. You can price the cars out and if you save more than $55, you can join to save $ on rental.

Guessing you might be from New England due to name. In any case, check out Southwest to fly into ABQ. They have a sale going on now. You can also check back after you book to see if prices go down and get credits back for the difference if it does drop. No fee to change.

Lots to see and do in both ABQ and Santa Fe. [Tent Rocks IS a great hike.] Lots of others too. Acoma Pueblo is a must see in my book.

Give us kids ages, and can be a bit more specific. Big difference if they are 4 or 5 or 13 or 17.

Thanks for the responses. Kids are 6 9 and 12 Traveling from College Station Texas which is about 11 hours away.

We actually will have 5 days total for the trip of which one will be late night driving while kids are asleep

I think that planning for the 6am launch for a couple of days is a good idea based upon wind conditions. Wife and i have always wanted to see the festival but with kids in tow we were looking for other things to do.

We have planned the route to New Mexico with a couole of stops on the way and thinking hiking in Palo Duro for the way back.

Kinda of trying to get a feel for a timetable of a daily schedule and things to do with kids in the afternoon and evening.

ABQ is very kid friendly. My inlaws lived there for years. Take in all of the museums (you could see one a day), the zoo, walk around Old Town, go see Acoma Pueblo, go to the Pueblo Cultural Center, ride Sandia Tram. Santa Fe is not nearly as kid friendly. If you want kid stuff--stay in ABQ.

Check out the Fodors guide link on this website-look for museum listings. You will be pleasantly surprised at all there is to do there to keep kids busy. (We even liked the Rattlesnake Museum!)