Managing the holidays is always a challenge, especially with kids. Lucky for us, Santa Fe offers all sorts of fun and enriching seasonal programs and cold-weather activities.
It really comes down to having the resources at your fingertips when you hear the scream “We’re bored!” Most kids want to go non-stop during December, and if you had the time and energy, they would check every last item off this holiday help list.

 

Santa Fe Climbing Center
986-8944, 825 Early Street, Ste. A
www.climbsantafe.com
While the holidays may have you climbing the walls, take a deep breath and consider the Santa Fe Climbing Center. Kids thrive on the challenges of these indoor facilities—a safe, structured environment where they can let loose.
Drop off the kids on Monday from 5-7 p.m. or Saturday from 1-3 p.m. for $12. Another option is the afterschool program (Monday, Tuesday or Friday, 3-5 p.m.) or teen climbing club (Thursday, 4-5:30 p.m.), which they can join for the month of December. Prices start at $45. Youth programs also make great gift certificates.
Parents are invited to watch, participate, or even learn to belay. The intro class ($25) is designed to teach you the ropes, so you and your child can climb the walls together.

 

Santa Fe Mountain Adventures
60 East San Francisco, 988-4000
www.santafemountainadventures.com
Winter’s a lot more fun when you have snowshoes or cross-country skis on your feet. Explore the Sangre de Cristos, following trails through spruce, fir, and aspen. Find animal tracks and learn about the natural world. Santa Fe Mountain Adventures outings are designed to match your family’s desire, fitness, and experience, even if it’s your first time.
The company says it’s offering half-day trips during winter break with a special rate for New Mexico Kids! family magazine’s readers ages 8-12: snowshoeing $69/child and cross-country skiing $79/child (adults add $10), which includes transportation, gear, snacks, gratuities and a subscription to Outside magazine. Families need a minimum of four participants and children must be age 8 and up.

 

Santa Portrait
471-5535, 3561 Zafarano Drive
How about a twist on the traditional photo of the kids on Santa’s lap? Bring along the family pet during the first and second weekends of December and get a unique Santa Portrait at Pet Smart.
Pet Smart provides the space, Santa suit, and camera, while the Santa Fe Animal Shelter runs the show. The cost is $5, more with a frame, and the proceeds benefit the shelter, which also accepts donations of toys and treats for the animals.

 

Skate School
825 Early Street (Suite H), 474-0074
www.skateboardsafety.com
Joe Lehm, owner of Santa Fe’s Skate School, calls all riders, rippers, racers…and beginners. Even if the kids have never been on a board, they can get started with half-hour lessons ($20)—all ages, abilities, everything included. When you pick up the kids, they’ll be talking non-stop of long boards, jump-to-switch, and shoot the duck.
The indoor facility, which is open everyday from noon-8 p.m., features a 28-foot-wide ramp, plus quarter pipes and banks. Open skate runs between $3.50-$5/hour depending on the package. And purchase last-minute gift certificates for goods and services at the pro shop, which specializes in protective safety gear.

 

Painted Dish
995-1165, 839 Paseo de Peralta, Ste. F
Take some of the “gimme, gimme” out of the holiday by letting kids create something for grandma, like hand-painted pottery. The Painted Dish is great for children, with kid-friendly buckets, small tables and items like critter mugs, pet bowls, and piggy (castle, duck) banks.
If kids are independent, they can be left for an hour or so to work on projects. And one price, which averages $18-$22, does it all—piece, supplies, and firing.
Painted Dish is running a special into January: 5 and under, Monday through Friday, 25 percent off. The studio is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Sunday (noon-5 p.m.).

 

Santa Fe Children’s Museum
989-8359, 1050 Old Pecos Trail, www.santafechildrensmuseum.org
Tried and true, always a favorite, the Santa Fe Children’s Museum educates and delights kids throughout the year with hands-on exhibits and interactive programming. During the holiday season, the museum comes to life with two family-oriented festivals – Winter Solstice and Holiday Performance Series.
On Dec. 22 from 5-7 p.m., celebrate the old-fashioned way with a magical outdoor evening in the Earthworks Garden. The highlight is the Farolito Labyrinth, with more than 350 lights. Kids can enjoy storytelling in the heated yellow tent, plus music, dancing, lantern parade, hot cider, and cookies.
From Dec. 26-30, evening performances entertain the entire family. Each night is different—stories, dance, music, puppets, magic and more. Showtime is 6 p.m. and tickets cost $5/person. The museum is appropriate for preschoolers through 3rd graders, although all children are welcome.

 

The Planetarium
428-1677, 6401 Richards Avenue
www.sfccnm.edu
Bring the stars to your kids with a visit to The Planetarium at Santa Fe Community College. Learn about the Christmas star during a special program that is sure to entertain and inform. ‘Tis the Season, presented Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., looks at a range of theories from meteors to comets to exploding stars.
The planetarium offers a unique idea—stars as gifts—and your $25 contribution helps provide free educational programming for public and private school children. The star purchase includes information and location, a certificate with a beautiful crystal star, and an inscription on the official planetarium scroll.
The planetarium is suitable for children 5 and up, and an adult must accompany them. Tickets cost $3/child and $5/adult.

 

BODY of Santa Fe
986-0362, 33 Cordova Road
www.bodyofsantafe.com
You may know BODY as a boutique, yoga studio, cafe, or spa, but kids can learn asanas through gym-style play, where poses tell a story and guided movement and singing are part of the fun. Special classes for $8 include Kids Yoga (Wednesday, 4:15-5:15 p.m.) and Toddler Rave (Thursday, 2:45-3:45 p.m.).
In addition, mark your calendar for an unusual and free BODY event, Zen of Cardstacking, with world record holder and acknowledged inventor of the sport, Bryan Berg. How strong is a house of cards? The kids won’t believe it when Berg pulls out the leaf blower, and they can even try building a tower of their own. The afternoon program sheds light on the secrets of this master card architect. Berg will discuss his start as a little stacker (age 8), inspired by science, nature, and his grandfather. The talk and workshop, which is open to ages 8 and up, will be held Dec. 17 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Reserve your space. Berg will sign cards after the event in exchange for donations to the local Habitat for Humanity or canned food for St. Elizabeth’s Shelter.

 

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
946-1007, 123 Grant Avenue
www.okeeffemuseum.org
How are we the same as and how are we different from a family in India, China, or around the block? This year’s free holiday family program at the O’Keeffe Museum is called World Family Celebration.
Held at the Education Annex on Dec. 28 from 1-4 p.m., the program focuses on family diversity. Children will write, dance, and make art as they explore the question “Who are my neighbors, here and worldwide?”
In addition, you can visit the museum, which is located at 217 Johnson St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and Fridays are free from 5-8 p.m. The museum is closed Wednesdays, November through April.

 

The Wildlife Center
753-9505, 19 Wheat Street
www.thewildlifecenter.org
Travel north of Santa Fe and enjoy a real gift – a genuine wildlife rehab facility. Paul Trebbel, executive director of the center, says, “We always strive to release our animals back to the wild, but sometimes that is not possible.”
The 22 education animals include bald and golden eagles, several species of hawks and owls, a raven, a turkey vulture, grey foxes, bobcats, robins, a turtle, and a kangaroo rat. Kids are wide-eyed at the size of the birds and the beauty of a wild cat.
The center welcomes visitors Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but the 45-minute tours (11 a.m. and 1 p.m.) are the way to go. You are free to ask questions of a knowledgeable guide and each animal has an interesting story.
Look for the brown wildlife center signs on U.S. 84/285, a few miles south of Española. Dress to be outdoors and call in advance for the tour. The suggested donation is $1/children and $3/adults.