Santa Fe might not immediately register as a kid-friendly destination. You might envision high-end shopping, desert art galleries, and historic architecture. Although Santa Fe does offer all of those things, there are plenty of kid-friendly choices as well. Check out these five things to do in Santa Fe with kids.
Five Things to do in Santa Fe with Kids
Learn about the History of Folk Art at the Museum of International Folk Art
The Museum of International Folk Art expands the understanding of folk art and encourages dialogue about traditions, cultural identity, community, and aesthetics. Their collection and programming provide important connections between past, present, and future folk art and related traditions.
It is also a great place for families with children. Their exhibitions are all created with the visitor experience in mind, including engaging ages 3 to 103. Families with toddlers might specifically enjoy the “Tree of Life” play area and the permanent exhibit in the Girard Wing.
The Tree of Life toy lounge is filled with toys and books that encourage imagination. The newly renovated book and toy area encourages imaginative play with discovery boxes, miniature tree houses, puppets, a make-a-tree activity, and books. A favorite destination for kids of all ages!
The Museum of International Folk Art is included on the New Mexico Culture Pass, which I strongly recommend checking out if you’re going to spend some time in New Mexico. The New Mexico Culture Pass includes single admissions to museums and historic sites across the state. At $30, it’s an awesome deal.
Explore the Unique World of Meow Wolf
Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return is an explorable art for people of all ages. It takes participants on a macrocosmic adventure of seemingly endless possibilities. Featuring over 70 rooms of immersive art, it’s colorful, fun, and unique.
The Meow Wolf’s main attraction, The House of Eternal Return, is something families must experience. As visitors enter, they’re given a small snippet of information about a family. Something mysterious has happened. And, then you are off to explore and investigate as you walk, climb, and crawl through a fantasy world in search of answers.
We had so much fun at Meow Wolf that it made our New Mexico bucket list. Check out this bizarre and wonderful experience to see why.
Santa Fe Children’s Museum
Discovering the joys of learning, play, and community.
The Santa Fe Children’s Museum is a definite must-do for families with young kids.
It’s packed with engaging, interactive exhibits. It features a climbing wall, a garden, a train station, water stations, and a puppet stage.
Hit the Slopes with Ski Santa Fe
If you’re looking for a family-friendly ski spot, check out Ski Santa Fe.
Located just minutes from the Santa Fe city center, you’ll find great prices, lessons, equipment rentals and more.
Ski Santa Fe is a major ski resort located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Santa Fe County. It includes 7 lifts and 86 runs at elevations of over 10,000 feet.
They offer Family Ski Lessons for 2-5 people (ages 6 and older). The Family Package is designed for traveling parties who want to ski/snowboard together and learn with their own instructor. Children ages 4-10 can participate in group lessons at Chipmunk Corner. Children are grouped by age and ability and instructors stay with the group throughout the lesson. Children ages 5-12 can participate in Youth Multi-Day Programs. Additionally, they offer private lessons for all ages, levels, and abilities.
Enjoy The Outdoors at The Railyard District
The Railyard is truly the new gathering place for all of Santa Fe’s citizens and its visitors. Bustling with food, shopping, art and one of the largest farmers’ markets in the country, the Santa Fe Railyard is a cultural center filled with family fun.
Sometimes, all kids need to have an amazing day is time to play outdoors. The Railyard Park is designed to embrace the areas natural beauty. This unique park has shady groves, drought-resistant plants, picnic areas, an outdoor performance space and a creative children’s play area with natural and constructed structures to climb, slide, and play on.