Santa Fe has always appealed to me for its art, culture, adobe architecture and those ubiquitous chile peppers. This is the oldest capital city in the United States with plenty of history from the Pueblo Indians to the Spaniards. Our family enjoyed visiting this colorful city and lucky for us there were free attractions. Those money savings were great for souvenir artwork and to splurge on all their delicious food. Here are 5 free things to do in Santa Fe New Mexico with kids.

1. Walk around Historic Santa Fe Plaza

This National Historic Landmark is considered the heart of the city since its founding around 1610. It used to be a fort and eventually the end point of the Santa Fe Trail trade route. Many shops and restaurants surround the plaza in adobe structures. If the kids want snacks, there were also a few food cart vendors. The aroma from some of the carts was very enticing. The plaza has plenty of open areas kids loved, a gazebo and benches for relaxing. The trees were leafless during our visit but I’m sure this park-like setting would be absolutely beautiful during spring and summer.

One of the plaza’s main buildings is the Palace of the Governors. It is the country’s oldest public building that used to be a fortified adobe, a governor’s residence and government seat. It is now a history museum. Kids 16 and under are admitted free into the museum.

Many Native American vendors were along the covered sidewalk to the museum. There was an abundance of crafts and beautiful turquoise and handmade jewelry at reasonable prices here. My tween loved walking around here and we saw plenty of teenage girls having a great time shopping too. 

2. Visit Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

I love visiting old churches and of course, I couldn’t pass up a visit to the city’s largest church which was located near the historic plaza. Named after the patron saint of animals, its Romanesque style was a sharp contrast to the adobe buildings surrounding it. The church is an architectural beauty outside but its interior is just as grand.

Since it’s a Roman Catholic church, we attended Sunday mass here. The church had many stunning and colorful stained glass windows with a lot of light streaming in. It created a rainbow effect many times which enhanced our experience here. I’ve taken my kids to enough churches and I’m grateful they have actually started to appreciate and like stained glass windows.

The cathedral is a historical landmark and was completed in 1886 where old churches once stood. We stayed afterwards to get a closer look at the church’s remarkble details and altar. The altar panel had a statue of St. Francis in the middle surrounded by paintings of various saints. The La Conquistadora Chapel to the side had a relic collection of various saints which included bone fragments and teeth. My kids throught it was a little disturbing but thought it was still interesting.

Don’t miss the stunning bronze front door which tells the story of the history of the church. There is also a large grassy area next to the church for kids who want some outdoor fun. Outside are statues of Saint Kateri, first North American Indian to be beautified and Bishop Lamy who was the first bishop of the Santa Fe Diocese and contributed to building the church as well as one of St. Francis of Assisi.

3. Santa Fe Railyard Park and Plaza

This railyard is one of Santa Fe’s historic location. It was a hub of activity for many years since it first brought visitors by train in 1880. The area has been revitalized by the city. For many little boys, like my son, who loves trains, it’s a wonderful place to see trains pull in or leave. The New Mexico RailRunner Express, the commuter rail between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, is a constant fixture here.

There’s more than a train depot here though. There is a farmer’s market, an artisan market on Sundays, restaurants, shops, studios and art galleries at the pedestrianized plaza area. It was built as an “all-ages destination” and with something for both residents and visitors. Check the calendar for free concerts and events.

The 10-acre Railyard Park has a children’s play area with many amenities like jungle gyms, rope courses, walking labyrinth and climbing walls. It also has plenty of hike and bike trails for the entire family. Get some delicious food at the farmer’s market and head to one of the picnic areas near the gardens and amongst the over 300 trees here.

4. Hike and Explore

With 320 sunny days a year, Santa Fe has plenty of activities to enjoy the great outdoors. The city has 30 miles of scenic hiking trails and more than 50 parks. Located six miles from the plaza, the Chamisa Trail is close enough to town and easy enough for kids. Sangre de Cristo Mountains is only a few miles from downtown but offers many trails that’s sure to meet everyone’s hiking abilities. The 10-mile Aspen Vista Trail  is the most popular trail in this mountain area. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks  is located about 35 miles (56 km) from Santa Fe but takes you to an otherworldly landscape of unique rock formations.

5. Stroll down Canyon Road

Santa Fe has more than 240 galleries. Canyon Road is the center of the city’s art community lined with over 100 art galleries and studios. Many of them housed in historic adobe structures with strings of chile peppers or ristras hanging near their doors said to bring good health and luck. The seven block district also has restaurants and boutiques.

My husband isn’t a huge art fanatic but really enjoyed walking around and seeing the many varied sculptures displayed outside the galleries. It was wonderful to leisurely stroll through the courtyards and alleys and see the diverse themes and mediums from each gallery.  We gave the kids our smartphones to take pictures to engage them and see which art pieces they found fascinating. The loved sculptures of children.

Santa Fe is the country’s second largest art market. Canyon Road clearly showed us why many people visit the city for their vast selection and distinct art experience. This is a detailed map of Canyon Road’s art galleries and is a great resource.

Honorable Mentions:

• There are self-guided free walking tours at Visiting Santa Fe’s website that range from Chocolate Lovers (one we highly recommend) to Art Legacy Tours.
• Visit the New Mexico State Capitol and book a free guided tour (Mon.-Fri.) by calling 505.986.4589. We would have liked to do this tour but we were here on a weekend. Self-guided tours are also available Mon.- Fri between 7AM and 6 PM. Kids may even enjoying sitting in during legislative sessions in January. It has an impressive Capitol Art Collection showcasing 600 artworks by New Mexican artists displayed inside and around its garden and grounds.

Occasional Freebies:

• Many of the art galleries hold free exhibition openings and artists receptions every Friday and Saturday.
• Every Friday from 5:00 to 8:00 PM admission is free to the Museum of Fine Arts, Palace of the Governors/New Mexico History Museum, and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. All are within easy walking distance of one another downtown.
• There is a program of free music at the Santa Fe Plaza during the summer
• The Santa Fe Farmers Market is free every Tuesday and Saturday, April through October.

*What other free attractions in Santa Fe can you add to the list?

This is a part of a series called Five Free Family Friday which is a collective guide of free family-friendly attractions from places all over the world.  If you’d like to contribute with the free attractions in your home city, I would love your guest posts. Thanks!

5 Free Things to do in Santa Fe New Mexico with Kids

Who knew rock art could be interesting? We visited Petroglyph National Monument a few months ago which totally changed our perception. This is one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America with over 25,000 petroglyph images within the 17 mile boundary of the park. Petroglyphs come from the two Greek words – petro meaning rock and glyph which means carving or engraving. Other common terms for it are rock writing and rock art. These memorable images held many meanings and was filled with so much history.

Petroglyphs were made by directly pecking into the rock’s surface by using hammer stones and chisels to remove the thin exterior layer of the rocks. Some were also made by grinding the surface or a combination or pecking and grinding.  With all these volcanic rocks here, they certainly had many choices for their canvas.

Archaeologists believe the Pueblo Indians carved the petroglyphs to tell stories, show trails or communicate messages to each other. Some were tribal or religious symbols or recorded events. It was an early form of cultural expression whose meanings were only known by the carvers.

An estimated 90% of the petroglyphs were created by today’s Pueblo Indian’s ancestors.  A majority were believed to have been carved between 1300 and 1700 AD. Some of images were traced to early Spanish settlers which settled the area in the late 1600s after the Pueblo tribes were driven out.

This outdoor gallery has long been considered a sacred place by Pueblo Indians nearby but was in a surprising location by suburban housing developments near Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was easily accessible and convenient. The monument has four trails with varying difficulty levels and length but all had well-preserved and easy to find petroglpyhs. The rangers recommended Boca Negra Canyon for us which was near the Visitor’s Center and could easily be done with kids.

Our first hike was on Mesa Point Trail. This was an uphill climb overrun by volcanic rocks but with an easy to follow path including some paved steps and handrails. It was great for all ages. We saw various people walking up from toddlers to groups of seniors.

We caught sight of the first set of petroglyphs at the start of the trail. It was amazing how there were so many of them along the trail. My kids enjoyed spotting as many as they could walking up and trying to figure out what they resembled.

Some were recognizable and some defied explanations.  Some were simple enough that they looked like doodles but probably meant something important. It was astoundingto see these rock art up close and knowing they’ve been here for centuries with so much history and mystery behind them.

I admit there were some instances when we doubted the authenticity of some of the petroglyphs. The park was easily accessible to the public and easy enough for pranksters and vandals to make their way here. It was pretty surprising to find that most of the rocks were not roped off. But, the park was well maintained and many of the rocks were well-preserved.

The trail looped at the top which was a mile above sea level looking over the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande Valley which was first occupied 3,000 years ago. It was the perfect spot to take a rest and do some of the Junior Ranger activities like sketching your favorite petroglyph and decipher its meaning.

I liked that many of the petroglyphs stimulated the kids’ imaginations and captured their interest. It prompted many curious questions from them and from us. What does that look like? What do you think it means? Why do you think they carved it? Of course, there were no wrong or right answers here.

We also explored the nearby Cliff Base Trail at Boca Negra Canyon which was mainly a flat path with a bit more vegetation. We saw more interesting and thought provoking rock art here.

These were probably some ceremonial figures but looked like aliens to my kids which they found fascinating. My seven-year-old son was convinced the early settlers were drawing the aliens they saw. Who knows? He could be right.

Our last stop was at Rinconada Canyon which required a little bit more walking to see our first set of petroglyphs.

The path here was very sandy and on a windy March day was not the best place to hike. Needless to say, we cut this hike short after sand kept going in our eyes.

The Native Americans especially and the Spanish settlers provided an insight into their culture and beliefs with these long-lasting and valuable records. It was a fascinating visit that raised more questions than answers for us. We all came away wanting to know what these carvers were trying to tell us. We only spent a couple of hours here but delighted to have peeked into the past. These rocks seem more vulnerable and I hope they withstand the test of time, people and weather for future generations to enjoy.

Visiting Petroglyph National Monument Tips and Basics

• Petroglyph National Monument is a day-use park. No camping areas and the visitor’s center and trail parking lots close at 5 PM.
• Stop at the Visitor’s Center first to get maps and trail guides. The rangers were all great with answering questions.
• Grab the Junior Rangers’ booklet for the kids to enhance their park experience. Kids ages 5-9 complete 5 activities and get a patch, badge and certificate upon cpmpletion. Older kids can complete 5 or more activities.
• Boca Negra Canyon has a parking fee of $1 on weekdays and $2 on weekends. There were no attendants during our visit but money was deposited in a box.
• Bring plenty of water when hiking especially during the summer months. Hats and sunscreen are also recommended since there are hardly any shaded areas. Wear layers during other times. It was windy and a bit cold during our visit in March.
• Wear good, closed-toe shoes especially in the Rinconada Canyon trail where it was very sandy.
• Beware of Rattlesnakes on some of the trails during spring and summer. According to the national Park Service, “most of the snakes found in Petroglyph are harmless and nocturnal.” Be aware of your surroundings when walking and keep your ears open for their hissing sound.
• Get the pocket-sized Easy Field Guide to Southwestern Petroglyphs which gives you some clues of what the petroglyphs could possibly mean. It was a wonderful guide for kids.

 *Have you visited Petroglyph National Monument or other petroglyph sites?

Related Post:

• 5 Free Things to Do in Albuquerque with Kids

This post is part of Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox , Friday Daydreaming at R We There Yet Mom? and Oh the Places I’ve Been at The Tablescraper.  Do some armchair traveling and please visit the sites for other travelers’ wonderful photos and posts.

Hunting for Rock Art at Petroglyph National Monument

This week’s Disney Almost or Wordless Wednesday theme is Character Movie Stars. I decided to focus on some characters that were nominated for or won an Academy Award for the theme. Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film nominated for the Academy’s Best Picture in 1991.

The Academy Award for Best Animated Feature was a new category that was first handed out in 2002. Lilo and Stitch was nominated in 2002.

The Incredibles won a much-deserved Oscar in 2004.

Cars was nominated in 2006 but lost to a bunch of dancing penguins. Though, it will always be a winner for little boys everywhere.

Up won an Oscar in 2009 for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year but was also nominated for Best Picture.

Toy Story 3 also won an Oscar in 2010 which was a great send-off for the series.

Finally, I had to include one of my favorite character movie stars, Mary Poppins. Eeyore is a bonus in this picture.

A big Thank You to Deb for hosting. Please check the button below for more Disney posts and pictures.

Disney Wordless Wednesday: Character Movie Stars!

Located at the center of Copenhagen, Denmark is an international acclaimed art museum that credits its founding from beer. The Ny (New) Carlsberg Glyptotek boasts the largest collection of ancient art and antiquities in Northern Europe. The Glyptotek is mainly a sculpture museum but also houses over 10,000 works of art spanning 6,000 years. The imposing and beautiful architecture outside was a great preview of the art treasures it housed inside.

The Glyptotek was founded by Carl Jacobsen of Ny Carlsberg Brewery fame and opened in 1897. The legacy and influence of the Carlsbergs are visible all over Copenhagen. He also commissioned the famous Little Mermaid statue in the city.

Mr. Jacobsen was an avid art collector and many of the pieces here was from his personal collection which he donated to the public in 1899. He greatly admired King Ludwig of Bavaria who created the Glyptotek in Munich with ancient sculptures and named his collection storehouse the Glyptotek which also means collection of sculptures.

This was located across the street from the city’s famous amusement park, Tivoli Gardens. The museum’s centerpiece is the Winter Garden filled with palms, a goldfish pond and a variety of other plants. It was like an oasis in the middle of the museum. There were plenty of seats to relax and enjoy this beautiful and tranquil area topped with a large cast iron and glass dome.

I can imagine how much this haven injects some relief and joy during those cold winter months in Copenhagen. I loved how they set up this rotunda alongside the café and how there was so much light coming in here.

We were greeted by this striking white sculpture called Water Mother by Danish sculptor, Kai Nielsen.  It was a depiction of a woman with 14 naked babies crawling on her. The baby propped up on her arm is supposed to be Venus, the Roman goddess of love, beauty and fertility. I found it interesting but beautiful and I guess it was supposed to signify a woman’s fertility. My kids thought the babies were adorable.

The museum collections include Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities as well as  Danish and French art from the 19th and 20th centuries. As we started exploring, it wasn’t just the impressive collection of marble statues that were amazing but the floors, walls and ceiling art that surrounded them.

It almost felt like we were visiting a palace or one of those very ornate European churches instead of a museum. Clearly, Mr. Jacobsen spared no expense with these buildings to house his beloved collection and treasures.

The number of white marble sculptures here was astounding. They ranged in many different subjects from romance to hints of violence. Yes, some were a bit disturbing for young kids but mine came out mentally unscathed. There were so many wonderful sculptures here but these were a few of our favorites.

One of my kids’ favorite area was the Egyptian collection. The museum had more than 1,900 pieces dating back to as early as 3,000 BC. It was amazing to see how well-preserved some of these sculptures were. There’s also a mummy collection in its own chambers.

We found this room full of Roman busts very interesting. The details on these pieces were stunning. After awhile, it got a little creepy with all those rows of eyes looking at you though.

We loved the hall of columns filled with sculptures and sarcophagi. It felt like we were transported back in time to one of the ancient emperor’s gallery.

We liked that many of the sculptures were well marked with wordings in both Danish and English. I just wish some of them had a little bit more descriptions. These buildings were constructed well to allow a lot of light to come into the rooms to clearly see the details of the sculptures.

Most areas of the museum were laid out well. But, there were quite a few stairs and some sculpture rooms were laid out like a maze. So, it may get complicated navigating some of the rooms with wheelchairs and prams/strollers. Kids do find these sculptures looking at them fascinating.

I probably would have been a little nervous visiting this place a few years ago with an active toddler. Some of those sculptures looked very attractive to touch for curious kids. My son managed to do a fist bump with this impish creature.

We were happy to see a collection of 35 sculptures from Rodin since we missed visiting the Rodin Museum during our visit to Paris. My husband tolerates my affinity for art museums but he is a big fan of sculptures and Rodin so he was excited to see a roomful of some of his famous bronze casts like The Thinker. The Rodin collection here is supposed to be the largest outside of Paris.

My daughter’s favorite sculpture here was Degas’ famous ballerina sculpture called The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer. The bronze ballerina is in a pose with her tulle skirt and silk ribbon on her hair. My daughter gravitates towards anything with young girls or babies whenever we visit art museums so this was no surprise.

While it’s primarily a sculpture museum, there is also a vast collection of French impressionists (Monet, Cezanne, Renoir) and Danish paintings. Paul Gauguin’s paintings which focus on Tahitian women represent most of the paintings in the French collection with over 40 of his works.

The Glyptotek was a wonderful place to spend a few hours and stroll through its rich collection of sculptures and galleries. We didn’t make it to the outside garden which also had plenty of statues. We came here late on a Sunday but it wasn’t as crowded as we expected. It was a change from Copenhagen’s other attractions or other museums but definitely a worthwhile visit even with the kids who only had amusement parks and castles on their minds.

Visiting the Glyptotek Copenhagen Tips and Basics

• Free admission to the public on Sundays.
• Admission: Adults – DKK 75 (EUR 11/$14 US); Children under 18 years old are Free.
• Free Admission along with other museums and attractions with the Copenhagen Card.
• Closed on Mondays; Tuesday – Sunday 11 AM – 5 PM
• Located near the Copenhagen Central Station (Københavns Hovedbanegård)
• There are lockers at basement to store all bags. Cost is 20 DKK but machine returns coin after use.
• There is also a lunch area in the basement to enjoy packed lunches or for snack breaks.
• Check the calendar or information desk if treasure hunt for the kids is going on.
• Give the kids a camera and see what interesting images they capture.
• From May to August, they offer free guided tours in English every Sunday at 1:00 PM. No advance reservation so granb the limited tickets (2 per person) at the ticket desk.

*Have you visited the Glyptotek or other sculpture museums?

Related Posts:

• Cruising Copenhagen’s Canals
• The Magical World of Tivoli Gardens
• Copenhagen with Kids: 5 Free and Fun Attractions
• Changing of the Danish Royal Guards and Amalienborg Palace
• Climbing Copenhagen’s Church of Our Saviour Spire
• Treasure Gawking at Rosenborg Castle

This post is part of Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox , Friday Daydreaming at R We There Yet Mom? and Oh the Places I’ve Been at The Tablescraper.  Do some armchair traveling and please visit the sites for other travelers’ wonderful photos and posts.

Exploring Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek Copenhagen

This week’s Disney Almost or Wordless Wednesday theme is the Letter K. The first thing that came to mind for this letter was “Kiss the Girl” from one of my favorite movies, Little Mermaid. This was from the ride at California Adventure.

King Triton giving his blessing to the happy couple on the ride.

King Triton’s Kingdom at Tokyo Disneysea.

A Knight at Disneyland’s Fantasyland.

A big Thank You to Deb for hosting. Please check the button below for more Disney posts and pictures.

Disney Wordless Wednesday: Letter K