We ended up in Albuquerque on a whim after landing cheap Southwest flights and were pleasantly surprised by what a family friendly destination it was! We spent a full week exploring the entire area, so check that 6 day New Mexico road trip itinerary out for all our activities, but this post is focusing on 12+ fun things to do in Albuquerque with kids. Two of our favorites weren’t mentioned frequently in the travel research I did so I’d love to encourage other families to visit and enjoy!
I didn’t include it on the full list since it only seems exciting for kids during holidays or festivals, but the Old Town area is a great place to wander and grab a bite to eat, they have performances and music during the summer as well!
While you’re here, you might check out these posts too:
- 7 steps to plan a family vacation
- 40+ Gift Ideas for Nature Loving Kids
- Important tips for visiting Yellowstone with kids
Pin this post about Albuquerque with kids with this link or collage image:
12+ fun things to do in Albuquerque with kids
These aren’t listed in any particular order but I did put the ones we went to firsthand towards the top. The others are places I bumped into while researching and would consider going to in the future!
1. Rio Grande Nature Center – This was a fun little gem that let us hike in the city, see some animals, and learn about the local habitats with several hands on activities! It opened relatively early, even on Sunday, which is a boon for kids that wake up early. There was a small fee to park and support the park, and then a small visitor’s center. The connected trails let us see lizards, and gave the kids some freedom to run and roam!
2. Indian Pueblo Cultural Center – This is a great spot to learn more about Pueblo people in both the present day and the past! There were several areas with hands on activities for the kids; we had hoped to eat at the Pueblo Harvest restaurant as well but they had a special event that prevented us from doing so. Before your visit, call or check their website for the times that Native American dances will be held, it depends on the month and the day.
3. Albuquerque zoo – It’s a little confusing but the zoo is in a larger area that easily makes a full day of fun (keep reading for the second part). This is a smaller zoo with a fun playground (it has a water element during summer) and regularly scheduled animal interactions.
4. Albuquerque BioPark; Zoo, Aquarium, Botanic Garden, & Tingley Beach – Connected to the zoo via a fun short little train (or you can drive), we had a lot of fun on this side of the Bio Park. One of our favorite parts was the Bugarium! They had lots of exciting exhibits and interesting critters to look at. The children’s garden in the botanic garden was whimisical and fun, with a slide, sand pit, and some climbing/music elements, they really enjoyed it. We didn’t stop at Tingley Beach but there are fishing ponds, ducks to watch, and paths to walk.
5. Go on a public art hunt! Check out this map of street art murals in the area and go on a walk/drive to see some. We ran into lots of interesting art just as we drove around and if we went back, I’d love to seek more out intentionally.
6. Day trip to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument – A little under an hour away from central Albuquerque, this was one of our favorite spots! A part of the BLM, they also have a junior ranger program booklet and exciting trails. The parking lot can fill up quickly, so go early and see the amazing rock formations and canyon colors.
View this post on Instagram
7. Visit Petroglyph National Monument– Right outside the city, this area has several hiking trails and hundreds of petroglyphs to see. The visitor center has no petroglyphs but is the spot to pick up a junior ranger program and learn more about the area, also check out the cellphone tour.
View this post on Instagram
8. Explora – A STEAM focused museum with an emphasis on hands on interaction, this is one of the most popular indoor Albuquerque options for kids, it looks really fun!
View this post on Instagram
9. Albu Museum – An art focused museum with permanent and traveling exhibits, they have periodic storytimes and art making workshops specifically for families, it looks like a fun visit even without those things though.
View this post on Instagram
10. American International Rattlesnake Museum – A niche museum with more alive species of rattlesnake than anywhere else in the U.S., this is perfect for snake fans!
View this post on Instagram
11. New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science – Stop by to explore the exhibits, see the planetarium, and learn more about local fossils that have been found and see ongoing fossil preparation work at this science museum.
View this post on Instagram
12. Sandia Tramway – If heights don’t bother you, soar up above the city on this popular scenic ride! Depending on weather you can also ski up at the top or simply take in the views.
Bonus! Three options that are over an hour outside the city but well worth the trip:
Day trip to El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center – A little over an hour from central Albuquerque, this is a really interesting spot to explore lava tubes! They feel otherworldly and you can go down in some of them without special equipment. Check out their junior ranger program book while you’re there!
Trip to Bandelier National Monument –
View this post on Instagram
Visit Meow Wolf – this one is hard to explain but it is an interactive, immersive art experience that’s totally kid friendly and fun. My kids still clamor to go back and it’s been over a year! Just an hour away, this is well worth the trip and fun for all ages.
Leave a Reply