Family of 3.5 with a 3-yr old and 8-month infant. We'll be in town for the Balloon Fiesta (see DebitNM & Lee Ann -- I got it right that time) and wonder about good lunch and dinner options in Coronado Mall, UNM and Old Town area. Budget is sub-$20 for dinner entrees, the larger hobbit will mostly eat from our plates (and snatch the sopapillas). New Mex, new New Mex, Mex-New-Mex, Italian, Asian Fusion, non-chains (that means not national or regional chains because we're from Texas so we'll have them; a NM chain if it exists is a different story)?

Resources for good easy hikes or walks in the area (Sandia Peak, parks, etc.) and/or other things to keep the halflings entertained (interactive museums?) also appreciated.

Thanks.

I would not take kids [the age of yours] up to the Crest/Sandia PEak to hike. You really want a walk not a hike, I am guessing.

I would absolutely go to the Zoo, your 3 years old will love it. {I will be there all day on Saturday, if you decide to come then}
http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/zoo/

Then take the train over to the Botanical Gardens and Aquarium, get a combo pass before Noon to do all 3 and it includes the train.

The Children's Explora for sure: http://www.explora.us/en/

Rio Grande Nature Center: http://www.naturediscovery.org/ You can walk along the Bosque there, too.

For meals - Flying Star, on Central and Carlisle, Frontier on Central across from UNM. Garcia's for New Mexican. Marios on San Pedro, just south of Menual for Italian and pizza [close to your hotel]. Orchid Thai on Central. Range Cafe on Wyoming, La Provence on Central just east of UNM. All of these are kid friendly and will meet your $$ requirement. Just remember, restaurants are REALLY busy this week and expect to wait, so go earlier to avoid crowds and to allow for wait time before kidlets get cranky.

Have you seen my ABQ restaurant post?
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...tnms-picks.cfm

Thanks.

I forgot about your restaurant post.

Deb has, as usual, given you great suggestions. I'll also throw in the Natural History Museum and Petroglyph National Monument.

If you decide to drive up to Sandia Crest, stop at Tinkertown Museum on the way. www.tinkertown.com It's chock full of stuff to entertain and intrigue halflings and their adults. Bring quarters!

You could do a short walk along the Crest and spend some time at the scenic viewpoint.

It's not Asian fusion, but we like Viet Taste on Menaul between San Mateo and San Pedro. They seem to be pretty child friendly.

Lee Ann

BigRuss- check out Stories in the Sky, tomorrow morning at Balloon Musuem:

http://www.cabq.gov/balloon

Unfortunately, we'll be en route then.

Deb -- the hobbits loved the explora museum and the boy couldn't stop talking about the polar bears at the zoo (Dallas and FW zoos don't have them, something related to complete absence of real winter) . . . especially because he likes seeing streams, fountains, waterfalls and other running water sources and the fountains flow in the Albuquerque Zoo's polar bear exhibit.

Glad to know the suggestions worked for you.