Santa Fe's highly appealing outdoor amenities are celebrated year-round at Hyde Memorial State Park. You'll find several excellent spots to enjoy a picnic or just relax as you toss the frisbee around with the kids and enjoy the scenery. There's also more fun to be had on the hiking trails that offer still another chance to get closer to the amazing natural beauty of the park. Camping is another attraction, as the park offers 350 acres of woods and meadows. Plus, the park is located just three miles south of the Santa Fe Ski area which makes it a great stop during ski season.
Santa Fe's Center for Contemporary Arts continues its longstanding mission of identifying, promoting and presenting the work of visionary contemporary artists who are both emerging and established in their creative endeavors. The whole family will find these presentations and attractions fun and fascinating, as there are several multimedia films and rotating exhibits that are sure to capture everyone's attention and imagination.
There are museums, and then there are "living museums" that the kids (and mom and dad) will surely find interesting. El Rancho de las Golondrinas is such a place. See attractions like original colonial buildings on this site that date back to the early 18th century as well as other buildings that have been reconstructed to reflect the style of that time period. The buildings and other items presented here tell the fascinating story of the early settlement of New Mexico. The museum is closed from November through March.
The Bandelier National Monument is an attraction that stands as a dramatic reminder of the astounding culture that has inhabited Santa Fe and its surrounding areas for hundreds of years. The Monument itself is a beautiful canyon that is 45 miles west of Santa Fe and was home to ancient Pueblos in AD 1100 to 1550. The rustic area features 65 miles of trails that also include some visually arresting abandoned Pueblo villages.