Are you planning to visit Santa Fe & Albuquerque this summer but do not know where to go or what to do?
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For out-of-state people like us, it is hard to choose what places to visit when we are in Santa Fe & Albuquerque for only 2-3 days. Both cities have so much to offer.
One other thing, everyone in the family has their preferences. There is one like nature, one like art and museum, one like food, and one like history.
And Santa Fe & Albuquerque have plenty of them.
What to do? Where to go?
But no need to worry! It happened to our family before.
After four visits to Santa Fe & Albuquerque during summertime, I came up with this list of places to visit around Santa Fe & Albuquerque for your first visit to the towns.
I hope this suggestion on what to visit in and around Santa Fe & Albuquerque will help you.
1. KASHA-KATUWE TENT ROCKS NATIONAL MONUMENT
The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is where you can see remarkable cone-shaped tent rocks formation. There are three hiking trails here: Slot Canyon Trail (3 miles round trip), Cave Loop Trail (1.2 miles), and Veterans Memorial Trail (1 mile.).
First off, hike the Slot Canyon Trail. It starts with a flat trail, turns steep, and requires climbing at the last part of the trail.
This path is famous. Despite its above-average difficulty, most people made it to the top. It is where you can see the cone-shaped tent rock formations that look amazing from above.
Even within minutes of your hike, you will be faced with incredible rock formations.
After that, you can hike the Cave Loop Trail or skip it if you must move to another location.
When someone in your group travels with a wheelchair, a few sections in Cave Loop Trail are ADA-accessible. The Veterans Memorial Trail is wheelchair accessible.
Best time to visit Early morning when it is not too hot and not crowded. There aren’t too many shades on the trail and New Mexico’s sun is not too friendly.
Hours of Operation Mon-Sun: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closing procedures begin at 3.30 p.m. to clear the Monument by 5 p.m. All visitors must leave the fee booth area by closing time.
What to bring/wear – Good hiking/walking shoes – Comfy outdoor clothing – Hiking poles – Hat/sunglasses – Plenty of water – Snacks – Sunscreen – Camera
Admission is $5 per vehicle unless you have a big group. $25 up to 25 individuals. $100 25-100 individuals. Or, free with your National Park Pass.
Address Between Albuquerque and Santa Fe on Indian Service Rte. 92, Cochiti Pueblo, NM 87072. Ph: (505) 331-6259.
Note: dogs are not allowed on the trails.
(Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is still closed as I updated this post on July 2, 2023.)
2. BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT
Bandelier is a good place in Santa Fe to see cliff dwellings built by the Pueblo people. You can also see Pueblo village ruins and petroglyphs.
Although Bandelier has over 70 miles of trail, the Main Loop Trail (1.2-mile loop trail) is the right choice for your first visit. This trail will take you through the archeological sites.
In addition, ladders along the path allow visitors to climb into cavates (small human-carved alcoves).
Unfortunately, they closed one of the cavates and took the ladder off because of vandalism. I just back from Bandelier in June 2023 and it made me mad. I just can’t understand why people vandalized this park.
If you’re not afraid of heights, instead of taking a turn towards the visitor center, continue to Alcove House for another ½-mile.
The Alcove House is located 140 feet above the floor of Frijoles Canyon. You can reach it by climbing four wooden ladders and several stone stairs. The ladders are almost vertical, and they are reasonably high.
At the top, you will see a reconstructed kiva, the underground room used for religious ceremonies and other purposes. But since 2011, tourists have no longer been going down the kiva.
The view from the top is beautiful. But it is a bit windy up there. Do not go to the edge.
If you still have time and the energy, do the three miles round-trip Falls Trail to one of the coolest waterfalls in New Mexico.
The best time to visit is in the morning. However, between 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., you must take a shuttle bus provided by the park. The bus runs approximately every 30 minutes on weekdays and 20 minutes on weekends. There are exemptions for vehicles displaying a disability tag, vehicles with a pet on board, or overnight backpackers.
What to bring/wear – Good hiking/walking shoes – Comfy outdoor clothing – Hiking poles – Hat/sunglasses – Plenty of water – Snacks – Sunscreen – Camera
Admission is $25 per vehicle for a 7-day entry permit, even when you arrive between 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Or, free with National Park Pass.
Address 15 Entrance Rd., Los Alamos, NM 87544. Ph.: (505) 672-3861 ext. 517.
Note: dogs are not allowed on trails. If you travel with a dog, make sure you are parking at the right place. Also, don’t forget to grab the Junior Ranger Program for the kids.
3. PETROGLYPH NATIONAL MONUMENT
Do you want to visit one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America? It is in Albuquerque, next to a subdivision on the west side of town.
Here petroglyphs were carved on volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago.
There is three popular hiking trails area where you can see the petroglyphs. I recommend you do Boca Negra Canyon. You will explore three short trails that take about an hour to finish.
After you arrive at the Information Center, grab the map and Junior Ranger program for the kids. Then start with the Mesa Point Trail right next to the building. The trail requires climbing and there’s no shade at all. So, do it early in the morning and wear a hat and sunglasses, and bring plenty of water.
Then continue to Macaw Trail and Cliff Base Trail either by foot or car. Once done, go to the Information Center for your kids to get sworn in as Junior Rangers.
Best time to visit Early in the morning because this is an open area, and there’s no shade at all.
What to bring/wear – Good hiking/walking shoes – Comfy outdoor clothing – Hiking poles – Hat/sunglasses – Plenty of water – Snacks – Sunscreen – Camera
Admission A $1 parking fee on weekdays and $2 on weekends.
Location Off of Unser Blvd., ¼-mile north of Montano Road, west side of Albuquerque.
Note: dogs on a leash are allowed on the trails at Piedras Marcadas Canyon and the Volcanoes Day Use Area. Dogs are also welcome in the non-petroglyph section (middle section) in Rinconada Canyon.
4. LORETTO CHAPEL
In Loretto Chapel, you will see the Miraculous Staircase, which has two 360-degree turns and no visible means of support. Some believed St. Joseph, the patron of the carpenter himself, who came to build the stairs.
It was a former Roman Catholic church, but now it is a museum and wedding chapel. Visitors can still pray and light a candle inside the chapel.
Best time to visit Anytime between 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Monday to Saturday or 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. However, it may close without notice for special events. Call in advance. And make sure you stroll around the chapel area.
What to bring/wear – Proper clothes – Good attitude – Camera
Admission is $5. Children 6 and under are free of charge.
Address 207 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Ph. (505) 982 0092.
Note: while here, venture to the neighboring Canyon Road. The street is full of art galleries and studios exhibiting a wide range of art. Then drive to Cowgirl for lunch or dinner on S. Guadalupe St. You can also visit San Miguel Mission (the oldest church in the US) or Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.
5. EXPLORA – SCIENCE CENTER & CHILDREN’S MUSEUM of ALBUQUERQUE
As they said on their website, Explora is part science center, part children’s museum, part free-choice school, part grandma’s attic, part grandpa’s garage, part laboratory, a neighborhood full of interesting people, and part of many people’s lives. Furthermore, they designed the exhibits to engage visitors of all ages.
I couldn’t agree more with their description. We could have stayed at Explora until its close time.
Our family had fun exploring all the exhibits. From the engineering gravity, life of water, moving air, light, color, shadow, and math moves, to electricity and sound. And they have science experiments led by staff at least twice a day.
You must bring your family here.
Best time to visit When they open in the morning.
Hours of Operation Mon–Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sun: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
What to bring/wear – Your curiosity – Camera
Admission
Explora members: Free.
Children (under age 1): Free.
Children (1-11): $6.
Adults (12-64): $10.
Seniors (age 65+, with ID): $7.
Students or Military (with ID): $7.
Address 1701 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104. Ph.: (505) 224-8300.
Note: You can use your ASTC Passport Program to enter the museum for free.
6. NEW MEXICO MUSEUM of NATURAL HISTORY & SCIENCE
Another museum in Albuquerque that you should not miss on your visit. Its Location is right across from Explora.
The New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science has extraordinary collections, research, exhibits, and programs. They want visitors to keep on learning.
We fell in love with this museum after we found ourselves face-to-face with Stan the T. Rex. He stands in full mode attack in the atrium.
You will learn different things from their permanent exhibits, the Naturalist Center, Fossilworks, and temporary exhibits.
Best time to visit When they just open.
Hours of Operation 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday through Sunday. Closed on Tuesdays.
What to bring/wear – Curiosity – Camera
Admission
Children (3-12): $5.
Adults (13-59): $8.
Seniors (60+): $7.
There’s an extra charge for Dynatheater and Planetarium.
Address 1801 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104. Ph.: (505) 841-2800.
Note: You can use your ASTC Passport Program to enter the museum for free.
If you have another day to spend in Santa Fe & Albuquerque, go to Pecos. It is a beautiful destination about 30 minutes drive from Santa Fe and a little over an hour from Albuquerque. You can find Pecos National Historical Park here.
Do you think about expanding your New Mexico road trip?
You can continue south to Alamogordo to visit White Sands National Park. There are two other things that you must do in the city. Visit the New Mexico Museum of Space History and stop by McGinn’s Farm for everything pistachios (they also have a winery.)
Then move southeast to visit another National Park in New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns, before going home.
