Things to do with kids in Albuquerque

29 family-friendly places in Albuquerque: zoos, aquariums, playgrounds and more.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Photo: PerryPlanet at English Wikipedia, Public domain

SeeMuseum
Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
Guided walking tours of Old Town start here. An excellent example of a city-specific museum, with a large permanent collection of Southwestern art, changing art exhibitions, artifacts from the history of colonial New Mexico and Albuquerque through the years (with some pretty neat items, like conquistador armor and antique cars), and an outdoor sculpture garden. The Albuquerque Museum also operates tours of the historic home of Casa San Ysidro in the nearby village of Corrales, which offers a glimpse into Spanish colonial life in the valley.
Tue–Sun 9AM–5PM except major holidays$4, $2 seniors, $3 teens, $1 children, under age 4 free (admission free first Wednesday of the month and every Sunday 9AM–1PM)
See
ABQ BioPark Aquarium
Albuquerque's small but pleasant aquarium is well-curated, with exhibits designed to simulate the Rio Grande and the saltwater marshes of the Gulf of Mexico before moving on to ocean species. Among the sea creatures on display are jellyfish, seahorses, eels, and plenty of colorful reef fish, with the highlight being a huge tank at the end with sharks, sea turtles, and rays. Divers enter the big tank every day from 2–3PM to feed the fish.
9AM–5PM daily, except major holidays$12.50, $5.50 seniors, $4 children, under age 3 free (includes admission to Botanic Garden; train rides require separate admission, unless you have a combo ticket)
SeeNature museum
New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
This splendid museum has well-constructed geological and paleontological displays which illustrate a "journey through time", covering everything from the birth of the planet to the Ice Age. There's plenty of dinosaurs around, from the statues outside the main entrance, to a T. rex in the atrium, to one massive hall with several complete (and massive) dinosaur skeletons. Additionally, an entire wing of the museum is devoted to astronomical exhibits, and there's also an exhibit about the birth of the personal computer, which happened right here in Albuquerque. A planetarium and a large-screen theater are also in the building.
Wed–Mon 9AM–5PM, closed Tue (closed on major holidays)$8 for adults 18-59, $7 for seniors (60 and above) and children 13-17, $5 for children 3-12, under age 3 free. Separate fee required for planetarium and DynaTheater
See
ABQ BioPark Zoo
It may not be as big as your average big city zoo, but this zoo is surprisingly comprehensive for its size, with most of the popular species you can expect to find at any good zoo: polar bears, lions, zebras, tigers, giraffes, elephants, gorillas, etc. And like any good zoo, the animals are in nice, naturalistic exhibits. The highlight exhibit areas are the seals, the polar bears, a large Africa area, and a large elephant enclosure. Every day there are scheduled feedings of the seals and the polar bears; during the warmer months more feeding times, activities, and outdoor concerts are scheduled. A small narrow-gauge train runs through the zoo (Tu–Su 10AM–3:30PM at 20-min intervals), with a conductor pointing out some of the animals and explaining what goes on behind-the-scenes. A separate train line runs to the Aquarium/Botanic Garden.
9AM–5PM daily, except major holidays$12.50, $5.50 seniors, $4 children, under age 3 free (train rides require separate admission, unless you have a combo ticket) · Entry 20 USD;
SeeScience museum
¡Explora! Science Center and Children's Museum
A truly splendid science and children's museum, this museum has lots of interactive exhibits teaching science, technology, and art. There are some fantastic exhibits here, like a laminar flow fountain with water jets you can turn on and off, an experiment bar, a high-wire bike, and a robotics lab.
Mon–Sat 10AM–6PM, Sun noon–6PM except major holidays$8, $5 seniors/students/military, $4 children, under age 1 free
Do
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, play baseball in a beautiful stadium. Seats in the park are both good and cheap—$16 can get you a seat behind home plate. All the concessions and restrooms are along a big concourse behind the seats which is open to the field, so you don't miss any of the action. For $9 a ticket, you can bring a picnic blanket and find a spot in the grassy "Berm" behind right field that's perfect for kids—they can enjoy the grass and play on the playground on top of the Berm. Beware of foul balls—the park is a notorious "launching pad" for hitters that drives pitchers nuts. The park also hosts the new men's soccer team New Mexico United (below).
Season runs from April–September$9–36
SeeMuseum
American International Rattlesnake Museum
This great little museum's claim to fame is the largest collection of different species of live rattlesnakes in the world. There's lots of snakes (and various other reptiles) and snake-related memorabilia, such as artwork and films, and the gift shop is not to be missed.
Summer: Mon–Sat 10AM–6PM, Sun 1–5PM; Sep–May: Mon–Fri 11:30AM–5:30PM, Sat 10AM–6PM, Sun 1–5PM$5, $4 seniors/military/students, $3 children
DoTheme park
Cliff's Amusement Park
This is just about the only amusement park in New Mexico. Fairly small, but with a good number of rides. Thrill rides (including two roller coasters), family rides, kiddy rides, and a water play area.
Open Tue–Sun May–August, plus weekends in April and September; hours vary, may be closed for weatherDay pass (includes general admission and all rides) is $28, children/seniors $25 (parking is free)
SeeGarden
ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden
Next door to the Aquarium, this expansive botanical garden is one of Albuquerque's real gems. The place is an oasis with a variety of gardens to explore, with an emphasis on high desert plants but also with many highlight exhibits that are great for children: an indoor conservatory with lush Mediterranean plants, an insectarium with plenty of creepy-crawlies, an indoor butterfly pavilion that's open in the summer, a large Japanese garden with a koi pond and a waterfall, a recreation of an early 20th-century farm with a barnyard petting zoo, a model railroad, and a fantastic children's "Fantasy Garden" made to look as if you've shrunk down to a bug's size, with giant pretend vegetables, garden tools and bugs.
9AM–5PM daily, except major holidays$12.50, $5.50 seniors, $4 children, under age 3 free (includes admission to Aquarium; train rides require separate admission, unless you have a combo ticket)
Do
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is a nine-day event occurring in the first full week of October in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. It has over 500 hot air balloons each year, far from its beginnings of merely 13 balloons in 1972. The event is the largest balloon festival in the world, as well as the most photographed annual event, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year from around the globe.
$10, children ages 12 and under free (parking $15 per car)
SeeMuseum
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
A tourist complex operated by the 19 Indian Pueblos of New Mexico. Though there is a museum about pueblo history and culture on-site, it's rather small and tucked away, with most of the complex given over to more lucrative ventures like an art gallery, a restaurant, and a large gift shop (a better museum experience can be found at the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture up in Santa Fe). Besides the gift shop, the best reason to visit this place is the regularly scheduled Indian dances which take place in the courtyard.
9AM–5PM daily, closed on major holidays$8.40, $6.40 seniors/military, $5.40 students/children, under age 5 free · Wheelchair accessible
Do
New Mexico Lobos
UNM sports
The Lobos are big. For a deafening experience in college sports, try to catch a basketball game at "The Pit" (formally named Dreamstyle Arena), the university's semi-underground fieldhouse that has been a house of pain for visiting basketball teams for over 50 years. The women's teams have often been better than the men's in this century, and attract crowds every bit as raucous—when the teams are doing really well, games will sell out. Right across the street is Dreamstyle Stadium, home of the immensely popular Lobos football team.
Football tickets $20–40, $15–20 children. Basketball tickets $8–42, $4–19 children (women's game tickets are cheaper than men's). UNM students are free, guests of students can sometimes get a discount
See
Sandia Peak Tramway
Runs from a lower terminus in the northeast heights to the top of Sandia Peak east of the city, and is one of the longest and most spectacular aerial tramways in the world. The first upward tram departs at 9AM (except Tu in the off season), and service continues until early evening. The 15-min ride to the top is incredible, bringing you right up to the rocky face of the Sandias. The view of the city from Sandia Peak is tremendous (especially after sunset), and there is a visitor center at the top. Closed for two weeks in spring and fall for "maintenance," but spring winds are so intense that you really don't want to be on an aerial tram then anyway.
Operates every 20–30 min from 9AM until evening (no morning rides on off-season Tue), with closures in April and November for maintenance$25 round trip for adults, $20 round trip for seniors/military/students (age 13–20), $15 round trip for children, free for children under 5
EatAmerican restaurant
Frontier Restaurant
One of the most popular restaurants in Albuquerque; a big hangout for the college students at UNM. Good American and New Mexican food, the breakfast burrito here is one of the best in Albuquerque. The atmosphere is casual, and it's a great place to people-watch and witness a good cross-section of the city's population. If you can't make it to the Frontier, you can go to one of the several Golden Pride chain places around Albuquerque, which is owned by the same family and serves much of the same food.
5AM–1AM daily$3–9 · Takeaway · Vegetarian options
SeeAttraction
Albuquerque Biological Park
Includes the city's aquarium, botanical garden, zoo, and Tingley Beach (see below under Do). Combo tickets for the Biological Park can be purchased and include the price of train rides on a small narrow-gauge train running between the Aquarium/Botanic Garden and the Zoo. The train runs Tu–Su from around 10AM–4PM at 30-min intervals.
Limited wheelchair access
DoZoo
Tingley Beach
A facility of the Albuquerque Biological Park, this park along the Rio Grande has fishing ponds for adults and children, a model boating pond, a cafe, and a gift shop where you can buy fishing licenses, fishing gear, or rent a pedal boat for a ride on the central pond. Trails lead into the bosque to the edge of the river and to a pair of restored wetland ponds. A narrow-gauge train links Tingley Beach to the Albuquerque Aquarium/Botanical Gardens and the Rio Grande Zoo (listed above under See).
Daily, sunrise to sunsetFree (separate fee required for train rides)
DoTheatre
The Box Performance Space
Featuring sketch comedy, improv, children's shows, and other works. Home to Cardboard Playhouse Productions and Blackout Theatre Company.
SeeArt museum
Turquoise Museum
While the location isn't ideal (in a strip mall near Old Town, rather than in the historic district), this small gift shop and museum has some interesting exhibits about turquoise and its manufacture, history, and mythology. Reservations required.
90-minute tours Mon–Sat at 11AM and 1PM$12, $10 children/seniors/military
See
Anderson–Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
Overlooking the balloon launch field is this very interesting museum dedicated to the science and history of ballooning, with exhibits on hot air balloons and other lighter-than-air craft (including a couple of historic craft occupying the expansive hall), collections and memorabilia from famous balloonists, and extensive exhibits on ballooning in Albuquerque. If you can't make it to the Balloon Fiesta, this is next best thing, and if you can make it to the Balloon Fiesta, this makes for an excellent complement to a morning spent at a mass ascension.
Tue–Sun 9AM–5PM$4 adults, $2 seniors, $1 children, age 3 and under free (Sunday mornings free)
See
Unser Racing Museum
Operated by the local Unser racing family, this museum is dedicated to the racing legacy of the Unsers and to the sport of auto racing in general.
10AM–4PM daily$10, $6 seniors, under age 16 free
DoAmusement park
Abq Rage Room
2715 Broadbent Pkwy Ne Ste A
DoArcade
Dave & Buster's
2100 Louisiana Blvd NE
DoZoo
New Mexico Biopark Society
903 10th St SW
DoArcade
Electric Playhouse
5201 Ouray Rd NW
DoArcade
Geekon - Vintage Arcade & Pinball Repairs, Sales & Rentals
407 Central Ave SW
DoAmusement park
Zahr Archery Games
6001 San Mateo Blvd Ne Ste D3
DoAmusement park
Kids Quest - Albuquerque, New Mexico
14500 Central Ave SW
DoAmusement park
New Mexico Rattler
4800 Osuna Rd NE
DoAmusement park
The Scariest Place On Earth
1201 San Mateo Blvd SE

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Albuquerque (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).