Think of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and you might envision high-end art galleries, beautifully handcrafted Native American jewelry and fancy dining. But Santa Fe’s tourism office also wants families to consider it as a kid-friendly spring break destination.
For a third year, the city is hosting Kids Free Spring Break from March 1-April 21. Several Santa Fe hotels and tourism venues are offering deals for ages 12 and younger. Among them are plenty of things kids will love to explore, from chocolate-making workshops to Italian sodas at the fascinating hands-on Meow Wolf art museum.
Meow Wolf is expanding into Las Vegas this year, and recently announced it’s opening an exhibition and hotel concept in the Roosevelt Row Arts District in downtown Phoenix (in a few years) in addition to its expansion plans in Denver and Washington, D.C.
Launched in March 2016 with support from the “Game Of Thrones” creator George R.R. Martin, the Meow Wolf House of Eternal Return is an interactive, immersive art project where guests discover a multidimensional mystery house with secret passages, portals to magical worlds, climbing apparatus, and surreal, maximalist and mesmerizing art exhibits, along with a children’s learning center, music venue and cafe.
Other family-friendly Santa Fe attractions include:
- El Rancho de las Golindrinas living history museum recreates 18th and 19th century ranch life and offers “Josafina Tours” based on the American Girl doll whose story takes place on a similar ranch in 1824. Guided tours can be scheduled Monday through Friday in April and May for $7-$10, which includes museum admission.
- Inn of the Governors hotel offers prime downtown Santa Fe accommodations including breakfast and a heated pool, plus a free pass to the Harrell House Bug Museum and Science Shop.
- At the Art of Chocolate’s Family Chocolate Experience, Parents and kids ages 5-11 learn about cacao, make their own bar and wrapper and learn a Mayan Folk tale about cacao.
- We’re told Tumbleroot Brewery and Distillery offers kids play space inside and out. But the real draw is the beer, the live music and entertainment.
- El Farol restaurant offers Flamenco and live music performances and a Spanish tapas menu.
- The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum offers a free Spring Break Family Program with hands-on art activities and a scavenger hunt throughout the Museum galleries.
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