Family Fun

NORTHWEST

Gallup, Farmington, & Aztec

Northwest New Mexico is full of incredible history, culture, and, of course, adventure. These age-appropriate highlights will help you kickstart your planning across the region. 

Kiddos (5 and Under) 

Cool off at Bisti Bay 

Enjoy some wildlife viewing at the Riverside Nature Center 

Get hands-on at the E3 Children’s Museum & Science Center - younger kiddos will especially enjoy the Tots Turf 

Get up close and personal with more than 2,500 mounted animals from five continents at the Bolack Museum of Fish and Wildlife 

Big Kids (Ages 6-9) 

Stand in four states at once at the Four Corners National Monument! Kids can stand in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado at the same time 

Prepare for hours of fun at the Fly High Farmington indoor trampoline park 

Become a Junior Ranger at Aztec Ruins National Monument, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, or El Morro National Monument 

Tweens and Teens (10+) 

Experience the Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano, where they’ll make their way over an ancient lava trail before making their way down into the perpetual Ice Cave 

Lace up those sneakers and hit the Animas River Trails 

Have a wild adventure at the Animas River White Water Park 

Hike through the richly diverse volcanic landscapes at El Malpais National Monument near Grants 

Fun Events for All Ages 

Watch the Nightly Indian Dances for free in the heart of downtown Gallup from Memorial Day to Labor Day 

Don’t miss the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial in August 

Watch as more than 100 colorful hot air balloons fill the sky, backdropped by vibrant red cliffs during the Red Rock Balloon Rally in the winter 

Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary provides lifelong care for different canid species, from wolves to dingoes to the rare New Guinea singing dog! Open to the public Thursday - Sunday from 11am to 4pm with guided tours at noon and 3pm. During the summer season the sanctuary has a campground where volunteers and guests are permitted to stay to hear the wolves sing them to sleep. 

NORTH CENTRAL 

Santa Fe, Taos, and Española

Spend your next family vacation backdropped by some of New Mexico’s most famous landscapes! While North Central New Mexico is perhaps most famous for its dramatic scenery, there’s no shortage of fun and adventure to be had here. 

Kiddos (5 and Under) 

Cultivate their sense of joy and discovery at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum 

Take a scenic stroll through Santa Fe’s Botanical Garden 

Big Kids (Ages 6-9) 

Spend a day exploring Santa Fe’s Museum Hill 

Get hands-on at the Bradbury Science Museum 

Enjoy all things creepy crawly at the Harrell Bug Museum 

Experience a day in a living history museum at El Rancho de las Golondrinas 

Unleash their creativity at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum 

Get outdoors with kid-approved activities at Eagle Nest Lake State Park or Cimarron Canyon State Park 

Hop aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad – one of the nation’s most scenic trains 

Tweens and Teens (10+) 

Ski vacation on your mind? Angel Fire Resort and Red River Ski & Summer Area have play areas and kid-friendly snow activities for older kids and teens to enjoy 

Visiting outside of ski season? The region’s ski areas, including Ski Santa Fe and Taos Ski Valley still have family-friendly activities like scenic chairlift rides, hiking, fishing, and even zipline adventures during summer and fall months 

Spend the day at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu 

Don’t miss an opportunity to hike in the Valles Caldera National Preserve – New Mexico’s very own super volcano 

While kids of all ages can hike the main trail at Bandelier National Monument, older kids may enjoy climbing the ladders into the cavates 

Let imaginations run wild at Meow Wolf, a one-of-a-kind immersive art experience that’s part mystery narrative, part fun house, part jungle gym, and wholly awesome! 

Fun Events for All Ages 

Welcome spring blooms at the annual Taos Lilac Festival 

Enjoy art markets and festivals in Santa Fe all summer long 

Watch your dooms and glooms burn away during the annual Burning of Zozobra in September 

Enjoy plenty of good music and food in September during the annual Red River Folk Festival 

NORTHEAST 

Las Vegas, Tucumcari, and Raton

Northeast New Mexico – where the plains meet the mountains. Full of rippling prairies, hidden lakes, tales of the Old West, and, of course, plenty of adventure.  Frontier trails, dinosaurs, and even volcanoes – you'll find it all here. 

Kiddos (5 and Under) 

Tucumcari is home to more than 30 picture-perfect murals which will make for perfect photo ops with the little ones 

Big Kids (Ages 6-9) 

First stop: dinosaurs! Go where the dinosaurs roamed at Clayton Lake State Park and Dinosaur Trackways – home to one of the most extensive dinosaur trackways in North America 

Still not enough dinosaurs? Head to Tucumcari for a visit to the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum and Natural Sciences Laboratory 

Visit historic courthouses, watch as cowboy history and outlaw fables come to life, explore poignant ruins and landmarks, camp out under some of the darkest skies in New Mexico, and more using our Frontier Trails & Tracks Itineraries! 

Tweens and Teens (10+) 

Take a thrilling dive in the world-famous Santa Rosa Blue Hole 

Enjoy some friendly competition with a game of disc golf at the Robert Lumpkin Memorial Disc Golf Course in Tucumcari 

Experience the robust history and drama, excitement, and thrill that sprinkles Northeast New Mexico using our Frontier Trails & Tracks Itineraries 

Make plans for an ed-venture at Pecos National Historical Park 

Enjoy kid-approved outdoor activities at nearby Conchas Lake State Park, Ute Lake State Park, or Cimarron Canyon State Park 

After a day full of thrills and adventure, catch a film at the Odeon Theatre in Tucumcari 

Fun Events for All Ages 

Get rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ down to Tucumcari in May for the annual Tucumcari Rawhide Days 

Attend a Feast Day hosted by the Pecos National Historical Park in August 

Head to Las Vegas in December for some holiday cheer during their annual Electric Light Parade 

CENTRAL 

Albuquerque, Bernalillo, & Los Lunas

Central New Mexico is a cultural hub and outdoor playground for all ages! Central New Mexico is not only home to Albuquerque, the state’s largest city, but also nine Native American communities. 

Kiddos ( 5 and Under) 

Spend the day with some of Albuquerque’s wildest citizens at the ABQ BioPark 

Get wild with the animals at the Wildlife West Nature Park 

Enjoy a stroll through Albuquerque’s Historic Old Town 

Cruise down Albuquerque’s unique stretch of Historic Route 66 

Big Kids (Ages 6-9) 

Let curiosities run free in Albuquerque’s world-class museums like Explora and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science 

Surround yourself in the wonderful oddities at the Tinkertown Museum in Sandia Park 

Head to Hinkle Family Fun Center for a day of go-karts, mini golf, and more 

Tweens and Teens (10+) 

Enjoy incredible landscape views as you ride up above the mountains on the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway 

Step into the technicolor world of the Electric Playhouse 

Catch some air at the Urban Air Adventure Park 

Make a visit to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and the National Hispanic Cultural Center 

Head to Tingley Beach for wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking, or picnics 

Go hiking or biking at the Paseo del Bosque Trails 

Hike through the unique landscapes of Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument 

Fun Events for All Ages 

Attend the largest pow-wow in North America during the annual Gathering of Nations Pow Wow 

Celebrate everything lavender during the Lavender in the Village Festival 

Chow down in the summer during Rio Rancho’s annual Pork & Brew 

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October is a must-see! 

SOUTHWEST  

Silver City, Las Cruces, & Truth or Consequences 

Southwest New Mexico – home of beautiful, rugged wilderness, Old West history, green chile goodness, and the future of space tourism. 

Kiddos ( 5 and Under) 

Does your littlest travel companion have a big sweet tooth? Make plans to stop in Pie Town for a slice of mouthwatering pie! It’s definitely a tasty adventure well worth the drive 

Get the perfect photo op at the Recycled Roadrunner Statue in Las Cruces 

Big Kids (Ages 6-9) 

Get a taste of New Mexico’s Old West history with a visit to one of the area’s Ghost Towns like Chloride, Hillsboro, Kingston, and Monticello 

Venture through 47 acres of interactive fun at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum 

Get hands-on at the Las Cruces Museum of Nature & Science 

Learn about railroad history at the Railroad Museum in Las Cruces 

Spend a day exploring Historic Mesilla 

Explore the unique landscape of City of Rocks State Park near Deming 

Tweens and Teens (10+) 

Go sledding down the dunes at White Sands National Park 

Hike the trails in the Organ Mountains – Desert Peaks National Monument 

Play all day at Elephant Butte Lake State Park 

Explore the Gila Cliff Dwellings 

Space fans will love a special gem nestled in the region – Spaceport America! 

Fun Events for All Ages 

Head to Truth or Consequences in May for their annual Truth or Consequences Fiesta – a celebration of the day the town changed their name on a dare 

Experience the Great American Duck Race in Deming in August 

Prepare to get your hands dirty in July for the Silver City Clay Festival 

Watch as hot air balloons soar above the lake in August during the Elephant Butte Balloon Regatta 

Visit Hatch, the Chile Capital of the World, Labor Day weekend for the Hatch Valley Chile Festival 

Bundle up and head to the Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge in November for the Festival of the Cranes, an incredible opportunity to watch the annual migration of sandhill cranes, snow geese, and ducks 

SOUTHEAST 

Roswell, Alamogordo, & Socorro

Wild West Outlaws, alien invaders, space adventure – you'll find it in Southeast New Mexico. 

Kiddos (5 and Under) 

Hang out with the animals at Alameda Park Zoo, one of the oldest zoos in the southwest 

Walk the trails and see the animals at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park 

Spend a day on the rails at the Toy Train Depot 

Big Kids (Ages 6-9) 

Get up close and personal with alien invaders at the International UFO Museum in Roswell 

Become immersed in an alien adventure at the Roswell UFO Spacewalk 

Get a taste of the Old West with chuckwagons, gold panning, cattle roping, and more at the Flying J Ranch 

Go nuts at McGinn’s PistachioLand – home of the largest pistachio nut 

Spend a day of tubing and sledding at Ruidoso Winter Park 

Enjoy a day of bumper cars, go-karts, mini golf, and more at Pillow’s Funtrackers Family Fun Center 

Tweens and Teens (10+) 

Invade Area 52 for some laser tag and VR gaming 

Sit back and enjoy a tour through space at the Goddard Planetarium 

Get a taste of space at the New Mexico Museum of Space History 

Visit one of the largest active solar telescopes in the world at the Sunspot Solar Observatory 

Go exploring at Carlsbad Caverns National Park 

Have a blast at Ski Apache, which has kid-friendly activities in both the winter and summer months 

Plan a day of fun at the Adventure Mountain Family Fun Center 

Enjoy bottomless fun at Bottomless Lakes State Park 

Fun Events for All Ages 

Invade Roswell in July for the annual UFO Festival 

Stop by White Sands National Park in September for the annual White Sands Balloon & Music Festival 

Get in the holiday spirit in Carlsbad during the annual Christmas on the Pecos boat rides