Aileen O'Catherine: Family

Aileen is the mother of a young son who is the real expert in the family. Thanks to her, he knows pretty much all there is to know about having fun with kids (and grown-ups) in Albuquerque. But luckily, Aileen is willing to share her secrets with you, too! As the former education manager at the Lodestar Astronomy Center at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History, Aileen is intimately familiar with what it takes to keep kids entertained, active and learning. She has broad and deep knowledge of the places, activities, events and things to do with kids in Albuquerque. Aileen writes for New Mexico Kids! family magazine and About.com, and she can help you plan a great New Mexico family vacation!

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Questions & Answers

Q: Our two year old grand-daughter lives near Albuquerque and we want to come to take her for the weekend. What activities would you suggest for that age group? Any particular hotels that would be good for that age?: A: For the active toddler, Albuquerque has a LOT to offer. It's a lot of fun to take young ones on the train from the zoo to Tingley Beach (you could go fishing) to the aquarium and botanic gardens. While at the gardens, be sure to take your granddaughter in to see the wonderful, magical and enormous world of the Fantasy Garden, where a dragon greets you at the door, and she can slide down the inside of a "tree." Other good options are the Natural History Museum, where she has to visit the Hands On Room, and see snakes, spiders, and lots of other objects that she can touch, smell and marvel over. Across the street is Explora, a museum dedicated to kids who love to run, explore and create. Two year olds love the Rube Goldberg device at the entryway, and can spend hours at the mable run and the pvc tube building area, where fantasy houses go up in a flash. There is a special room just for toddlers where grandparents can sit and read a story for a few minutes of quiet time.

And kids this age adore places like ABQ Jump, where they can frolic on air-filled structures that let them bounce, slide and bump through some exciting play. Taking the Sandia Tramway to the top of the mountain is fun, but you know your two year old best. Some like to ride high in the sky, and some don't until they're older. And if your granddaughter loves animals, you can make an appointment to take her to the north valley to see the alpacas. There is something completely magical about these animals, and kids are often encouraged to feed these cute, fuzzy beings. If it's a rainy day, don't rule out the indoor amusement spots. I highly recommend Golfernoggins, where kids this young can try their hand at putt putt without feeling rushed.

Q: Can we make reservations for the Sandia Tramway? We (2 adults) are coming for Balloon Fiesta 2009 and wonder whether the Tramway will be too crowded during that time. Also, is the Botanic Garden pretty in October? Thanks.: A: How wonderful that you are visiting Albuquerque during Balloon Fiesta! You've picked a marvelous time of year when Albuquerque is cool and beautiful. Enjoy seeing the wonders of the International Balloon Fiesta, and everything else Albuquerque has to offer.

You wondered if the Sandia Tramway might be too crowded during the Fiesta. Don't let the crowds deter you. The Tramway stays open an extra hour during the Fiesta, and you might consider taking one of the late night "flights" and take in dinner at the top of the tram while you're at it, or at the base of the tram at Santiago's (just be sure and make dinner reservations beforehand). Another option is to get there in the morning before the balloon festivities are over; Sandia Peak unfortunately does not accept reservations for tram flights, so that may be your best bet. The early morning hours just after Balloon Fiesta launch are most likely to be crowded, and just around sunset, so you might avoid those times.

The Botanic Gardens are beautiful year round. Although the roses are no longer in bloom, there are the Japanese Gardens and the Heritage Farm, which is a living history farm, depicting Albuquerque's agricultural roots.

During October, the Botanic Gardens features a Harvest Festival October 3 and 4th if you happen to be in town during those dates. It's a wonderful festival where you can have hand pressed apple cider, and see the farm garden's harvest. There will be docents on hand to answer questions, and old-time musicians. And the gardens will feature a "Flowers of Fall" show while you're in town. See blooming fall flowers such as chrysanthemums, and other harvest season blooms from yellow to maroon.

Have fun during your visit!

Q: We are coming to Albuquerque for a wedding this summer. We are flying in from Oregon with our three kids and I’m wondering how transportation will work for the five of us. Can we rely on the public transportation? Or should we plan on renting a car?: A: I always recommend that people rent a car when they come to Albuquerque. However Albuquerque does have a variety of public transportation options—you can catch a ride on the buses that service most parts of the city (see http://www.cabq.gov/transit for detailed schedule information), call a cab or ride the Rail Runner, a commuter rail that runs south to Belen and north to Santa Fe (www.nmrailrunner.com). Especially with a family of five, renting a car will save you a lot of time and energy and will allow you to get the most out of your trip. Safe travels!

Q: My family is planning on visiting ABQ this summer. My kids are 15, 18 and 21, and are not too into the arts and cultural sight-seeing that my husband and I have planned. What else can I tell them there is to do when we come?

Teens! Oh boy, I can’t wait! My son Noah is only 11, so I’m not quite there yet. Don’t worry, though, Albuquerque is full of lots of great options for all ages. I recommend one or all of the following:

One of our amusement centers (see www.itsatrip.org/activities/recreation-leisure/amusement-centers for a list)
Shopping at any one of our indoor or outdoor malls (www.itsatrip.org/shopping/malls)
Get outside and enjoy one of our many outdoor adventures (www.itsatrip.org/activities/sports-outdoor)
Go see an Albuquerque Isotopes baseball game. (www.albuquerquebaseball.com)

Good luck and safe travels!

Q: What can we do to entertain three little ones under the age of five in Albuquerque?

Three under the age of 5?! You are my hero! There are plenty of things to do in Albuquerque to keep your little ones busy. I recommend going to:

Explora, a great hands-on science learning center for children of all ages (www.explora.us).
The Albuquerque BioPark (www.cabq.gov/biopark) which consist of the Albuquerque Aquarium, Rio Grande Botanic Garden, Rio Grande Zoo and Tingley Beach. The park features one of the leading zoos in the nation, a 285-gallon shark tank, a 10,000 sq. ft. conservatory, a Japanese and children Fantasy Garden, a Heritage Farm, and much more. The kinds can ride a train through the park, try fishing at Tingley Beach, or explore a garden full of six-foot tall veggies!
Cliffs Amusement Park, a fantastic park that includes family rides, a kiddieland and water rides like the Water Monkeys Adventure—perfect for a hot summer day (www.cliffs.net).

Hopefully that works to tire them out—good luck!