Most kids require entertainment or to be hooked on something fun in order to get their attention. That’s likely the reason parents struggle so much when trying to get them interested in museums and educational places; children grow bored easily.
Thankfully, there are plenty of places in Santa Fe, New Mexico that will keep kids entertained while still teaching them something new. Kids and parents alike will find plenty of enjoyment here, making this a win-win scenario!
Here are some of our top picks for entertaining yet still very educational destinations near Santa Fe
Where: 1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe, NM, USA
Hours: 9AM – 5PM Wednesday / 10 AM – 6:30 PM Thursday / 10 AM – 5 PM Friday & Saturday / 12 PM – 5 PM Sunday.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
As its name says, this is a museum, especially for children!
Once kids step foot in the Santa Fe Children’s Museum, it will become their favorite place! The Museum offers more than 30 hands-on, interactive and educational exhibits as well as a 1.5-acre garden, magnetic building tables, a dress-up puppet theatre and so much more! There are also many special events and weekly programs if they want to have an excuse to go back!
Where: 302 North Orchard Avenue, Farmington, NM, USA
Hours: Tuesday- Saturday 10 AM- 5 PM
The E3 Museum and Science Center offers many learning opportunities for families with kids!
Children will find exhibits and activities that teach about sound, light, shadows, art, magnetism, and more.
Children five years old and younger will have a great time in Tots’ Turf, which is a developmentally appropriate environment for their age group.
Where: 4250 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM, USA
Hours: Monday through Saturday– 10 AM- 6 PM | Sunday 12 PM – 6 PM
This unique, family-friendly experience in Santa Fe features mounted insects from all over the planet.
Kids will get to explore the museum, and they may also find the collection of over 150 live animals including spiders, insects, millipedes, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and more!
Where: 1350 Central Ave, Los Alamos, NM, USA
Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM, Tuesday – Saturday | 1 PM – 5 PM Sunday & Monday.
The Bradbury Science Museum is Los Alamos National Laboratory’s official museum!
Visitors will learn all about the laboratory’s research and history and see over 40 interactive exhibits. Families will not want to miss this interesting place in downtown Los Alamos.
Where: Taos, NM 87571, USA
Taos Pueblo is a place you will want to visit in New Mexico with the family.
Taos Pueblo is a living Native American community. The multi-storied adobe buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years. Make sure you visit the village when you travel to Northern New Mexico!
Where: 84 Rd 2900, Aztec, NM, USA
Hours: Daily 8 am – 5 pm
Is there anything more enriching than seeing the actual ancient structures of a culture face to face?
Aztec Ruins National Monument is the keeper of a community of archaeological sites along the Animas River. Visitors can go on an Aztec West self-guided tour, and children can become Junior Rangers and pledge to protect the national parks!
Where: 706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, NM, USA
Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM daily | Closed Mondays Nov to April, and some major holidays
This is the perfect museum to learn about diverse cultures and see one of the largest collections of International folk art on the planet!
The Museum of International Folk Art offers many family-friendly events and programs to enjoy with your little one.
Where: 1807 2nd Street, Santa Fe, NM, USA
J.F. Mazur Fine Art Studio located in Santa Fe, NM, specializes in children’s classes, private lessons, and commissioned artwork.
Kids and adults can learn new skills and techniques from New Mexico painter Jillian Mazur, who has 10 years of teaching experience!
Where: 1800 Upper Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM, USA
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM
This outdoor educational spot is a great option for places to learn about history and nature.
Families will get to see bird species, tour the gardens, and understand the native plants’ lives.
Get ready to be introduced to a world of history and nature at the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary!
Where: 113 Lincoln Ave, Santa Fe, NM, USA
Hours: 10 AM- 5 PM | Open daily from May to October then closed Mondays from November to April
The New Mexico History Museum is a great place to visit with the entire family!
From exhibitions and programs that will teach you about New Mexico’s historical experiences and collections about New Mexico’s heritage, this place serves as a history center for research, learning, and education. If you want your little ones to understand New Mexico’s diverse cultures, this is the right spot!
Where: 715 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
Hours: Santa Fe Botanical Garden at Museum Hill: November – March: Friday-Sunday, 10 AM-4 PM | April-October: Thursday-Monday, 9 AM-5 PM (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) | Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve: 9 AM- 3 PM Saturdays and Sundays.
The Santa Fe Botanical Garden celebrates, cultivates, and conserves the rich botanical heritage and biodiversity of the region.
Families can enjoy fun events and amazing education programs for all ages in both of the Garden’s locations.
Where: 1513 3rd Street, Santa Fe, NM, USA
At Dragonfly Art Studio, both kids and adults can express themselves through art, learn new techniques, and have a great time!
Kids will have a blast with the different class themes designed by the studio to enrich their learning experiences! They will be encouraged to express themselves artistically and individually.
