Family-Fantastic Santa Fe

Make family memories in the oldest state capital in the United States— The City Different!

A well-planned trip to Santa Fe can be fantastically fun and memorable for the entire family, no matter the ages of the children, no matter the season, no matter your interests—active and athletic, outdoorsy and environmental, artsy and historic, exploratory and adventurous.

You’ll find endless possibilities in multiple neighborhoods to walk or stroll amid restaurants, shops, museums, galleries, and public art installations along leafy, shaded sidewalks. And much, much more.

What type of experience is your family game for?

ACTIVE AND ATHLETIC

CLIMB the walls at the Santa Fe Climbing Center. Rentals and instruction available.

SWING from the ropes at LiggettVille amid a food court in Santa Fe Place Mall.

SKATEBOARD the parks. Check out DeVargas Park or General Franklin E. Miles Park. Need some schooling? Try Skate School.

ICE SKATE the rinks at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center. Rentals available. Snack bar.

ROLLERSKATE among aliens at Rockin’ Rollers Event Arena. Rentals and snacks.

SWIM in the lazy river, slide the froggy and spiral features, and loop ‘round the toilet bowl at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center Leisure Pool. Sloped entry for little ones and their caregivers.

BOWL, billiard, dart, and bocce at The Alley Lanes. Great food, too!

ENJOY playgrounds and recreation centers with tennis, basketball, swimming: Ft. Marcy Complex and Park/Mager's Field, Frenchy's Field, Patrick Smith Park, Railyard Park, Salvador Perez Park, Ragle Park, and SWAN Park.

CHEER ON some minor league baseball with the Santa Fe Fuegos.

OUTDOORSY AND ENVIRONMENTAL

EXPLORE Bandelier National Monument’s petroglyphs, home dwellings in rock cliffs, and standing walls for evidence of Ancestral Pueblo people from 1150 CE to 1550 CE.

HIKE an easy 1.3-mile loop around the Santa Fe Canyon Preserve.

PICNIC & PLAY at the Randall Davey Audubon Center. Bird, wildlife, and nature walks, shaded picnic areas and the Nature Discovery Area, including a treehouse and a seed library.

WALK and gaze at local flora and enjoy special event programming at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden.

BIKE 25 miles of dirt trails at La Tierra Trails or pump and practice at Alto Park. All levels welcome.

SLED, hike, and camp at Hyde Memorial State Park or Black Canyon Campground, just minutes from downtown.

SKI at Ski Santa Fe. Just 16 miles from downtown, terrain for all levels. Rentals and instruction. Two cafes.

GOLF the 9-hole Great 28 at Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe. Rental carts and clubs. Great cafe.

FISH the nearby waters with guidance and equipment from The Reel Life.

ARTSY AND HISTORIC

FLY like an acrobat at Wise Fool New Mexico. Trapeze, gymnastic classes, and performances.

ENJOY musical theater featuring local kids with Pandemonium Productions. Buy tickets for seasonal performances.

SEE dance performances featuring local kids at National Dance Institute New Mexico.

EXPLORE the history of the area at El Ranchos de las Golondrinas, celebrating 50 years. Interactive exhibits, festivals. Their sister spot Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve is a must-go, too.

WALK the Cross of the Martyrs, just off the Plaza for the history and views.

TOUR one of The City Different’s many museums and ask about kid-friendly approaches to the exhibitions.

DANCE and picnic with the community during the summer at the St. John’s College-sponsored Music on the Hill and with the AMP Concert series on the historic Plaza and in the Railyard.

ROAM and play at Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return.

READ and shop at Bee Hive Books. Check for storytimes.

VISIT the local libraries near the Plaza, on the Southside, and in Midtown.

DRAW and paint at Dragonfly Art Studio.

EXPLORATORY AND ADVENTUROUS RIDE the rails on adventure trains with Sky Railway.

CATCH a movie at Violet Crown Cinema or Jean Cocteau Cinema. Great food and indoor/outdoor space on the Railyard.

PLAY all day long at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum.

ESCAPE! Try the Puzzah escape room for a live-action adventure.

EXPLORE and scavenger hunt all over Santa Fe with DiscoverSantaFe.