New Mexico Activities and Attractions with Kids

Tinkertown Museum, located in Sandia Park, is a unique destination full of intricate miniature dioramas depicting scenes pertaining to the Old West.

Kids will delight in the elaborate and detailed displays, which each feature hand carved buildings, carts, and people.

And the best part is that everything moves.

All the people, vehicles, and other features are animated and automated, and their movement adds to the unique appeal and historic, classic sideshow appeal of the place.

Tinkertown Museum is open seven days a week from April 1st until November 1st, and is closed during the winter season.

121 Sandia Crest Rd, Sandia Park, NM 87047, Phone: 505-281-5233

The ABQ BioPark in Albuquerque has four elements to it, and each one is more fun than the last.

There’s Tingley Beach, where families can enjoy paddle boating or fishing on the Rio Grande, or the Botanic Garden, which is full of beautiful plants and flora, many of which are local to New Mexico and others of which are from all over the world.

Families will also enjoy the ABQ BioPark Aquarium, where they can see a huge variety of marine life including sharks, tropical fish, and more, and the ABQ BioPark Zoo, where everyone can get up close and personal with some of their favorite animals from all over the world as they learn about them.

Each facet of the ABQ BioPark is designed to showcase and teach visitors about a different aspect of nature.

903 10th St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, Phone: 505-764-6200

One of the coolest things about the Alameda Zoo is its history. It first opened in the year 1898 as a deer park, and has grown over the years to the full zoo it is today, making it the oldest zoo in the southwest region of United States.

The Alameda Zoo works hard to connect its visitors of all ages to the animals they see in the park, through a variety of multimedia experiences that include audio, visual, and tactile exhibits and interactive displays.

There are over 300 animals at the Alameda Zoo, and the 12-acre park also offers a number of family friendly amenities, such as a playground, a picnic area, and a gift shop where kids can pick out a toy version of their favorite animal to take home with them.

1021 N White Sands Blvd, Alamogordo, NM 88310, Phone: 575-439-4290

The Billy The Kid Museum in Fort Sumner is devoted to the history of the American West. The name “Billy the Kid Museum” comes from the famous outlaw, who frequented Fort Sumner when he was alive.

Several of his personal possessions are on display in the museum, including his rifle, his chaps and spurs, and the door he backed through on the night he was killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett.

The museum also contains antique transportation vehicles like buggies and even a horse-drawn hearse, as well as many small, day-to-day items that people once used.

The souvenir and gift shop at the Billy the Kid Museum has a wide variety of mugs, toys, t shirts, magnets, and other paraphernalia, both related to Billy the Kid and not.

1435 Sumner Ave, Fort Sumner, NM 88119, Phone: 575-355-2380

For Science Fans

Located in Los Alamos, the Bradbury Science Museum is the public branch of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which is most famous for its part in the Manhattan Project, the experiments which revolutionized science and warfare for the modern world.

Visitors to the Bradbury Science Museum can explore a variety of fascinating exhibits to learn about the history of the Manhattan Project, the research and testing that went into it, the science behind it, and more.

Guests can learn about computing, weapons science, health studies, and a world of fascinating scientific discovery, all through a series of interesting and interactive displays and exhibits.

1350 Central Ave, Los Alamos, NM 87544, Phone: 505-667-4444

There are over one hundred caves in this famous system in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The flowering desert plants and unique rock formations on the ground look beautiful and completely normal, and no one would guess that beneath them is a fascinating system of limestone caverns.

Visitors of all ages will be astounded by the eerie beauty of Carlsbad Caverns, which can be explored on a self-guided tour or with the assistance of a ranger.

The caves are open for people of any age, but due to the uneven floor and steep grade of the caves, strollers are prohibited and wheelchairs are only permitted in certain portions of the caves.

There are five national forests in New Mexico, and Carson National Forest is a big one, covering over 1.5 million acres of land.

Inside its bounds are some gorgeous natural sights, including Mount Wheeler, which, at over 13 thousand feet elevation, is the tallest peak in New Mexico.

Families looking to get a taste of the great outdoors will find a world of adventure and fun at their fingertips in Carson National Forest.

There, everyone can enjoy a scenic hike, go for an exhilarating bike ride, or enjoy a night under the stars as they camp in their tent and roast marshmallows over a fire.

For younger kids

The E3 Children’s Museum and Science Center Center knows it’s never too early to start learning, but they also know that kids learn best when they’re having fun.

This innovative children’s museum combines the world of science with the world of play, through a plethora of interactive games, stations, and exhibits designed to help kids learn about scientific concepts like how sound and light travel, how magnets work, and where shadows come from, as well as more creative skills like art and inventive thinking.

Very young children under the age of five will even find an entire section of the museum, called Tots’ Turf, dedicated specifically to them.

302 N Orchard Ave, Farmington, NM 87401, Phone: 505-599-1425

The Explora Science Center in Albuquerque r challenges its young guests to ask questions, try new things, and explore the world around them.

Inside the colorful dome that houses Explora Science Center, families and children will find exhibits to help kids learn about math, science, art, engineering, and more.

Exhibits are small and sized for young kids, so they can experiment, play, and learn on their own, though of course parents are encouraged to join in on the fun.

Kids can play with balls and ramps to learn about gravity, or visit the Experiment Bar for a constantly rotating activity that might involve microscopes, chemistry, or other fascinating aspects of science.

1701 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104, Phone: 505-224-8300