volcanogirl

Hi, guys - I have a dear friend who is taking her young family to Santa Fe for Spring Break. Are there any things you would recommend doing with young elementary age children there? She's asked me for ideas, and I really only know adult things like museums, churches, shopping, great restaurants, art galleries, GOK home, etc. Can you guys recommend some thing that would be fun for them? They plan on staying in the SF area. Thanks so much for any guidance you can give.

emalloy

I would take the kids out to Bandelier NM and let them crawl through some of the ancient dwellings there. I have a few pictures of it at www.flickr.com/photos/emalloy2009/sets in the 2008 set.

I would also take them up to Taos.

Hope they have a fantastic trip.

Digbydog

My kids loved Bandelier. They also were fascinated by the prairie dog colony at Jackalope.

DebitNM

Can you be a bit more specific -ages, gender for starters? Do they like "active" outdoor activities [hiking etc]?
FWIW - I don't think that Santa Fe is particularly a kid's town, I think ABQ has more things for elementary aged kids.

For a start:
In Santa Fe: International Folk Art Museum -
http://www.internationalfolkart.org/

A trip to the Zoo in ABQ is really a great idea:
http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/zoo/

Also the Exlpora in ABQ -
http://www.explora.us/en/home/calendar-events

DebitNM

http://www.santafechildrensmuseum.org/

http://santafe.org/Visiting_Santa_Fe...ies/index.html

1reviewer

The Wildlife Center in Espanola... http://www.thewildlifecenter.org/index.php

The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque... http://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/

The Wildlife West Nature Park in Edgewood... http://www.wildlifewest.org/

volcanogirl

Bandelier looks awesome - they are two little boys who love to climb on things, so I think they would love it, and the native American dwellings are a big plus with the petroglyphs and everything. Thank you for all the other suggestions. I'm off to check them out.

DebitNM

little boys may not care for the Int'l Folk Musuem.

volcanogirl

Yea, I don't think museums would interest them much unless there were something hands on for them to do.

DebitNM

The musuem I listed in ABQ [Explora] is very hands on, I haven't been to children's museum in SF, but I am guessing it is hands on - most children's museums seem to be.

ElendilPickle

The Santa Fe Children's Museum is hands-on, but the last time I was there it seemed geared to young children (8 and under). Explora in Albuquerque is great for all ages, IMO.

My kids were never impressed by the Folk Art Museum, but I haven't been there for several years, so things may have changed.

Bandelier is a lot of fun for kids. They may also enjoy Tent Rocks, which is off I-25 near Cochiti Pueblo.

Lee Ann

volcanogirl

Thanks, guys! Is there a possibility of skiing this week, or is it getting too late in the season?

DebitNM

Looks like Ski Santa Fe is still open:
http://skisantafe.com/

volcanogirl

Okay, that's good news - sledding, skiing, etc. are possibilities too.

killintime

Will the Sandia Peak Tramway be running? We bumped into what appeared to be a class field trip when we rode it last fall, and the kids all seemed to be having a good time.

DebitNM

The tram runs year round.

killintime

But will it be carrying skiers or sightseers?

ElendilPickle

Sightseers - the ski area is closed for the season.

Lee Ann

DebitNM

The tram is not for skiing, it is just to get to the crest for hikers, sightseers etc. It does not go to the ski area.

The ski area is separate and has different lifts etc. They are not physically in the same place.

killintime

Actually, the tram does access one of the ski areas. There are ski lifts up to the same peak from the backside of the mountain. At least, that's what I think we saw when we rode it last fall. And I believe I recall the narrator/guide during the ride talking about it being used by skiers.

Anyway... I think it would be fun for volcanogirl's friend's kids.