Summer is my favorite season of the year. Yes, it’s hot, and yes, my kids do occasionally make me crazy. But I love the slower pace, being able to sleep in, and having later nights. I love the extra time together, the play dates, and everything else that summer brings. My kids are currently five and two. My house is loud. As much as I love our days at home, we do often need time away from the house. Here are some of our favorite toddler (and slightly older) things to do together in Albuquerque.
1. Indoor Play Dates
We have some GREAT options for indoor play in Albuquerque. A favorite for us is Liv and Mimi’s Play Cafe. Bonus, they have a really great retail area, and Bristol Doughnut Company is right next door. Your kids get a chance to play, and you can grab a treat for yourself. They have a lot of special events and even nights just for moms, so make sure to check out their schedule!
It’s not in Albuquerque, but We Rock the Spectrum is another favorite for everyone in my house. They have some great pretend play and climbing equipment for toddlers, but they also have some fun stuff for bigger kids too.
2. Kid Runs
My husband is an athlete, and lately he has loved running. For the past three years, he has been signing up for 10k and half marathon races. Some of these actually have kids’ races attached to them with no age limit. My son started running the kids’ k races (just over a half mile) when he was three, and it has become a tradition.
We love doing the Fourth of July Runs, but we are all planning to sign up for this run this year. Yes, even my toddler will be joining. They get medals and popsicles, and it makes for really sweet memories.
3. Movies
My older son saw his first movie when he was about three. He loves a movie (and the popcorn), but we have yet to take his younger brother. Summer is a perfect time to take your toddlers to their first movie because there are so many discounted movie options.
4. Ride the Train
I am a boy mom, which means I have every vehicle all over my house all the time. I have a deeper appreciation for trains than I ever thought I would, and we have some great local options. My boys have been begging me to take them on the Railrunner. From June 1 to July 31, all youth 17 and under ride for free, so this summer is the time to go!
5. Ice Cream Dates
I don’t know about you, but ice cream is its own event in my house. There are some incredible local spots! We also like having sundae bars at home and getting out all the toppings. Bonus: turn on the sprinklers after, and your toddlers are no longer sticky.
6. Museums
Admittedly, we don’t do this as much as we should. But when we go, it’s all we talk about for weeks. We all like to get out of the house and learn. They are also mostly indoors, so you won’t be out in the heat! You can even check out your local library to check out museum passes, so it can be totally free!
7. Airports
Even if you aren’t flying anywhere this summer, the Sunport or the Double Eagle Airport are both great places to spend an afternoon. My kids and I love to sit outside at the viewing area with a picnic and watch planes take off and land. There are also some great exhibits before you get to TSA. Did you know that you can even apply for a FlySide Pass? This allows you to access the terminal and everything beyond TSA without having a ticket! You can shop, eat, or sit at the gate and watch planes. It is free, but you do have to apply ahead of time.
8. Story Time
There are so many incredible story time opportunities in Albuquerque. Whether you are going to a library or the balloon museum, they are a great opportunity for your littles to interact and listen to stories, and for you to sit down for a few minutes!
9. Biopark
This one seems obvious, but there is so much more to the biopark than just the animals. We love taking a picnic to a zoo concert or garden music. Plus, it’s slightly cooler in the evenings, making for a perfect, laid-back summer night.
10. Have a Campout
I may be the world’s least experienced camper, but my husband and kids are all about it. While we have not yet made it on a big camping trip, we love a backyard campout, complete with s’mores and hot dogs cooked in the fire pit. Bonus: Mom gets to sleep in bed while the babies are just in the backyard.
11. Bowling
This is high on our list of priorities this summer. If there is a ball, my kids are there. You can even sign your kids up for a free bowling pass, so you can make it a frequent indoor event.
12. Check Out a Game
This may just be me, but I was basically raised to live and breathe baseball. It’s a year-round problem for me, but summer is the perfect time to catch a game. Equally as popular in my household are New Mexico United games. My kids love the crowd and the energy of live sports.
13. Splash Pads
Splash pads are a huge hit for the littles. And honestly much less stressful for moms. Pack a picnic and some popsicles and have them run around in the water. They get tired without getting hot. It’s a win. If you want to stay at home, throw a sprinkler in the lawn, or pull out a water table.
14. Take a Hike
I understand how crazy this sounds with a toddler in tow, but there are some incredible toddler-friendly hikes in the Albuquerque area. A lot of them are a short drive and mean cooler weather too. Honestly, we could probably all benefit from some time in nature.
15. Movie Nights
Watch it in the backyard or snuggled up on the couch. Friday night movie nights are a huge hit in my house. If I am feeling extra creative, I will even plan out a menu around the movie. In a toddler-friendly way, of course!
16. Crafting
This seems to be something that everyone can get behind. My toddler is currently obsessed with drawing and will sit happily with a drawing pad and some crayons, while I get some laundry done. My older son is always happy to paint or work on his drawing skills.
17. Farmers’ Markets
One of my personal favorite things to do is wander around farmers’ markets in the summer. I love interacting with new people and supporting our community. It’s fun for my kids to try new things and get to meet new people.
18. Family-Friendly Brewery Hangs
Not sure if this is for the kids or parents, but we all love a laid-back brewery hang. And Albuquerque has some really great spots!
19. Neighborhood Adventure
We love our neighborhood. And we love being active. Almost nightly, you can find us on walks, scooter rides, or bike rides. We like to check out some of our area parks. We like to do neighborhood scavenger hunts and count how many ant hills we can find. Also, we like looking at lizards and seeing how many flowers we can find. We have a hefty collection of flowers, rocks, and pinecones.
20. Tinkertown
Just outside of Albuquerque, Tinkertown is a great spot for kids to explore. If you have not been, it is definitely incredible for the whole family. They are only open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 10-4, so you do need to plan, but it is definitely worth the drive!
Other Boredom Busters
- Water painting
- Toy car wash
- Ice block treasure hunts
- Sensory bin
- Backyard movie night
- Build a fort
- “Box car” races (build cars out of boxes and have your kids run)
- Repurpose a water table
- Try a new recipe together
- Stuffed animal tea party
- Living room sleepovers (you do lose sleep on this one)
