Top 6 Family Activities in Albuquerque

Albuquerque is a popular destination for vacationers, adventure-seekers, and fans of the desert’s natural beauty. When visiting a new and interesting place, it can sometimes be tricky to find best family activities. Albuquerque, however, has no shortage of family-friendly activities. So whether it be a festival, go-karts, a mountain view, New Mexico river rafting, or even paintball, here are some of the best family activities in Albuquerque:

1. ABQ BioPark – Botanic Garden
2. International Balloon Festival
3. Plan a River Adventure
4. Sandia Peak Tramway
5. Petroglyph National Monument
6. Hinkle Fun Center

ABQ BioPark – Botanic Garden

Albuquerque BioPark is located right in the middle of downtown, directly off the banks of the Rio Grande. A one-and-a-half mile maze through various gardens housing different species of plants endemic to everywhere from the deserts of the American southwest to the shores of the Mediterranean. The BioPark also hosts an exhibit of up to forty native pollinators such as butterflies, beetles, and moths. The BioPark is an excellent family-friendly option for those who love to enjoy the natural beauty of the world’s plant life.

International Balloon Festival

Every year in the first week of October, the city of Albuquerque hosts an international hot air balloon festival. It is one of the city’s biggest events of the year and is quite the spectacle for anyone, tourist or local. Hundreds of Balloons launch for the festival and fill the sky around the city. If Balloons aren’t of interest, worry not, as there are still plenty of different vendors, craft stands, and shops around the festival area. This event is perfect for any family visiting Albuquerque.

Plan a River Adventure

Head out of the city and onto the river. New Mexico River Adventures offers a variety of outdoor experiences in and around northern New Mexico. Our full-day Rio Grande rafting trip is great for the older kiddos but we have an epic half-day option, the Rio Grande Racecourse, for those who are 5+ too!

If you are curious about which trip is right for your family, check out the Rapid Classification System to help you under how rafting trips are classified and which trip will be a good fit for your family.

If your kiddos aren’t river rats, we also offer New Mexico Rock Climbing & New Mexico Horseback Riding too!

Sandia Peak Tramway

The Sandia Peak Tramway is the world’s third-longest single-span aerial tramway, stretching from the top of Sandia Peak to the northeast edge of the city. The tram takes visitors ten thousand feet in the air, providing riders with unmatched views of Albuquerque and the surrounding area. Visitors can also ride up and hike down, or vice versa, if they feel like exploring. A restaurant and lounge area at the peak makes sure that even those who might wish to enjoy the view a little longer.

Petroglyph National Monument

Another fun stop in Albuquerque is Petroglyph National Monument. Just outside of the city, Petroglyph National Monument is one of the largest single collections of petroglyphs in North America. These various markings and inscriptions hold great spiritual significance to the various indigenous tribes in the area and provide insight into colonial Spanish culture. Easy trails and interesting petroglyphs make this one of Albuquerque’s more interesting stops.

Hinkle Fun Center

Any family fun in Albuquerque would be a little less so without visiting the Hinkle Fun Center. A one-stop shop for fun activities for the whole family, the Hinkle Fun Center provides anything from go-karts, to paintball, to laser tag, and bumper boats. Visitors can just visit or stay all day and never run out of things to do. A day at the fun center is a day well spent in the city, and with its proximity to downtown, it’s quite easy to leave and see the downtown views or enjoy a good bite to eat.

Albuquerque is an astounding city, with fun for anyone and everyone who visits it. Make sure to stop and enjoy the many great things that New Mexico has to offer your family in Albuquerque!