# Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Albuquerque: the parent guide > Albuquerque is easy with little kids: Explora’s Toddler Time, a zoo with New Mexico resident pricing, River of Lights in December and free storytimes at 19 library branches. - Last checked: 2026-10-18 - 15 places for ages 0–6, with admission and menu prices from each place’s own site - Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/guide/ - This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/index.md - Visiting guide (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/visiting/index.md - City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/llms.txt ## Kid-friendly restaurants ### Flying Star Café (Nob Hill) (Nob Hill, 3416 Central SE) - A busy local café open from breakfast to dinner, with a long kids’ menu (pancakes, egg breakfasts, grilled cheese) that comes with a juice box. - Price level: $$ - Menu prices: kids’ meals $8–$12.50 (juice box included), breakfast and lunch plates ~$12–$18 - Hours: Mon–Thu 7am–9pm; Fri–Sat 7am–10pm; Sun 7am–9pm - Good for: An early breakfast or an easy dinner, any day of the week. - Skip if: you need table service; you order at the counter. - Price source: https://order.flyingstarcafe.com/order/flying-star-cafe-central-3416-central-se (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.flyingstarcafe.com/locations/nob-hill/ ### The Shop Breakfast & Lunch (Nob Hill area, 2933 Monte Vista Blvd. NE) - A small breakfast-and-lunch spot near UNM, known for New Mexican breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros. - Price level: $$ - Menu prices: breakfast plates $13–$18 - Hours: Wed–Sun 8am–3pm - Good for: A New Mexican breakfast before the zoo or Explora. - Skip if: it’s Monday or Tuesday; it’s open Wednesday to Sunday. - Price source: https://theshopabq.com/ (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://theshopabq.com/ ### Frontier Restaurant (Across from UNM, 2400 Central Ave. SE) - An Albuquerque tradition since 1971: order at the counter, grab a seat in one of five dining rooms and watch for your number. Breakfast burritos, homemade tortillas and the famous sweet roll. - Price level: $ - Menu prices: breakfast burritos and plates $6.45–$10.60; 3-piece chicken strips with fries $6.15 - Hours: Daily 5am–midnight - Good for: A cheap breakfast at any hour, from 5am. - Skip if: you want table service; it’s counter ordering. - Price source: https://www.frontierrestaurant.com/menu (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.frontierrestaurant.com/ ## Indoor play and rainy days ### Main Library (Downtown, 501 Copper NW) - The downtown library, with baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. - Price level: Free - Good for: Free storytimes. - Skip if: it’s a Sunday; it’s closed. - Website: https://abqlibrary.org/hours-locations ### Cherry Hills Library (Northeast Heights, 6901 Barstow NE) - A branch with back-to-back baby and preschool storytimes on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. - Price level: Free - Good for: Baby & Toddler Storytime. - Skip if: you’re staying on the west side. - Website: https://abqlibrary.org/hours-locations ### Kids Empire Cottonwood Mall (Westside, Cottonwood Mall) - A big padded maze with slides and ball pits, plus a toddler zone with mini slides and soft blocks. - Price level: $$ - Tickets: kids 1–17 $19.90 all day; adults 2 adults free per child; Under 1 free with a paying sibling - Hours: Mon–Thu 10am–8pm; Fri–Sun 10am–10pm - Good for: A cold or windy day when everyone needs to run. - Skip if: you forgot socks and don’t want to buy a pair; they’re required. - Price source: https://www.kidsempire.com/store-locator/kids-empire-cottonwood-mall (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.kidsempire.com/store-locator/kids-empire-cottonwood-mall ## Parks and outdoor play ### Tingley Beach (Near the BioPark, 1800 Tingley Dr. SW) - Free fishing ponds beside the Rio Grande bosque, next to the ABQ BioPark. - Price level: Free - Tickets: Free; anglers 12 and up need a NM fishing license - Hours: Daily sunrise to sunset - Good for: A free sunny morning near the zoo. - Skip if: it’s after sunset; it’s open sunrise to sunset. - Price source: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/tingley (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/tingley ### Rio Grande Nature Center State Park (2901 Candelaria Rd. NW) - Indoor and outdoor wildlife viewing over the ponds, a native plant garden and a pollinator garden, with trails out to the Rio Grande and the bosque. - Price level: $ - Hours: Park daily 8am–5pm; visitor center hours vary, so call (505) 344-7240 - Good for: Duck-spotting from the indoor viewing area on a chilly morning. - Skip if: you want to bring the dog onto the trails; pets stay in the parking area and city trails. - Website: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/spd/find-a-park/rio-grande-nature-center-state-park/ ### Petroglyph National Monument (West Mesa; visitor center at 6510 Western Trail) - Free trails past rock carvings. Start at the visitor center; the viewing trails are a short drive from it. - Price level: Free - Tickets: Free to visit - Hours: Boca Negra Canyon daily 8:30am–4:30pm (last entry 4pm); visitor center store 9am–4pm - Good for: An early walk with a carrier before it gets hot. - Skip if: you need water fountains everywhere; Rinconada and Piedras Marcadas have no water. - Price source: https://www.nps.gov/petr/planyourvisit/fees.htm (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.nps.gov/petr/planyourvisit/hours.htm ## Museums, zoos and big outings ### Explora (1701 Mountain Road NW) - A hands-on science center and children’s museum, with Toddler Time on Monday mornings. - Price level: $ - Tickets: kids 1–11 $7; adults $11; Under 1 free - Hours: Daily 10am–5pm; Toddler Time Mon 9–11am - Good for: Toddler Time, Mondays 9–11am. - Skip if: it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas Day; it’s closed. - Price source: https://www.explora.us/visitor-information/ (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.explora.us/ ### ABQ BioPark Zoo (ABQ BioPark) - The city zoo, with keeper chats and storytimes included with admission. New Mexico residents pay less. - Price level: $ - Tickets: kids 3–12 $5 NM residents / $11 non-residents; adults $10 NM residents / $19.50 non-residents; 2 and under free - Hours: Daily 9am–5pm - Good for: A morning with toddlers. - Skip if: it’s a Monday between Veterans Day and Presidents Day; it’s closed. - Price source: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/about-the-biopark/tickets (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/about-the-biopark/tickets ### ABQ BioPark Aquarium & Botanic Garden (2601 Central Ave. NW) - One ticket covers the aquarium, with its journey down the Rio Grande to the Gulf of Mexico, and the Botanic Garden next to it. The BUGarium and Children’s Fantasy Garden are closed for renovations right now. - Price level: $ - Tickets: kids 3–12 $7 NM residents, $13 non-residents; adults $12 NM residents, $21.50 non-residents; 2 and under free - Hours: Daily 9am–5pm (last entry 4:30); closed Mondays in winter - Good for: A morning of fish and gardens; add the zoo with a combo ticket. - Skip if: it’s a winter Monday; it closes Mondays from Veterans Day to Presidents Day. - Price source: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/about-the-biopark/tickets (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/aquarium ### New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (Old Town, 1801 Mountain Rd. NW) - Dinosaur fossils, a planetarium and exhibits on everything from volcanoes to space. - Price level: $ - Tickets: kids 3–12 $5 NM residents, $10 non-residents; adults $8 NM residents, $14 non-residents; 2 and under free; planetarium and Dynatheater shows extra - Hours: Wed–Mon 9am–5pm; closed Tue - Good for: A dinosaur morning; plan two hours if you add a show. - Skip if: it’s Tuesday; it’s closed Tuesdays. - Price source: https://www.nmnaturalhistory.dca.nm.gov/visit/tickets-and-admissions/ (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/visit ### Albuquerque Museum (2000 Mountain Rd. NW) - The city’s art and history museum, with a sculpture garden and classes for children of all ages. - Price level: $ - Tickets: kids 4–12 $3; adults $5 NM residents, $6 out of state; 3 and under free; free for everyone Sundays 9am–1pm and the first Wednesday of the month (not during Balloon Fiesta) - Hours: Tue–Sun 9am–5pm - Good for: A free Sunday morning stroll before lunch in Old Town. - Skip if: it’s Monday; it’s open Tuesday to Sunday. - Price source: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/albuquerque-museum/plan-your-visit/admission-ticketing (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/albuquerque-museum ### Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum (Albuquerque) - A museum all about hot-air balloons, run by the city. - Price level: $ - Tickets: kids 6–17 $3; adults $5 NM residents, $6 others; 5 and under free; free for everyone Sundays 9am–1pm and the first Friday of the month (not during Balloon Fiesta) - Hours: Tue–Sun 9am–5pm; closed Mon - Good for: A free Sunday morning or first Friday with a balloon-mad kid. - Skip if: it’s Monday; it’s closed Mondays. - Price source: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/balloonmuseum/plan-your-visit-1/admission-online-ticketings (checked 2026-10-18) - Website: https://www.balloonmuseum.com/ ## Free things to do - Main Library - Cherry Hills Library - Tingley Beach - Petroglyph National Monument ## Best for under 3s - **Explora**: Toddler Time. - **ABQ BioPark Zoo**: 2 and under free. - **Main Library**: Baby and toddler storytime. - **Cherry Hills Library**: Baby storytime. ## With a baby or a 1-year-old ### Baby and lap-sit storytimes - **Baby & Toddler Storytime** (Public Library Albuquerque and Bernalillo County): Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:15am · Cherry Hills Library. Enjoy an interactive storytime with your child that includes early literacy fun with books, songs, fingerplays and body movement. https://libevents.abqlibrary.org/ - **Baby Storytime** (Public Library Albuquerque and Bernalillo County): Fridays at 10:30am · Lomas Tramway Library. Enjoy an interactive storytime with your child that includes early literacy fun with books, songs, fingerplays and body movement. https://libevents.abqlibrary.org/ - **Baby and Toddler Storytime** (Public Library Albuquerque and Bernalillo County): Mondays at 10:30am · Main Library (Downtown). https://libevents.abqlibrary.org/ - **Baby/Toddler Storytime** (Public Library Albuquerque and Bernalillo County): Fridays at 11am · South Valley Library. Enjoy an interactive storytime with your child that includes early literacy fun with books, songs, rhymes and body movement. https://libevents.abqlibrary.org/ - **Baby/Toddler Storytime** (Public Library Albuquerque and Bernalillo County): Thursdays at 11:15am · Taylor Ranch Library. https://libevents.abqlibrary.org/ - **Baby & Toddler Storytime** (Public Library Albuquerque and Bernalillo County): Fridays at 10:15am · Tony Hillerman Library. Enjoy an interactive storytime with your child that includes early literacy fun with books, songs, fingerplays and body movement. https://libevents.abqlibrary.org/ ### Babies get in free - **Kids Empire Cottonwood Mall**: Under 1 free with a paying sibling. https://www.kidsempire.com/store-locator/kids-empire-cottonwood-mall - **Explora**: Under 1 free. https://www.explora.us/visitor-information/ - **ABQ BioPark Zoo**: 2 and under free. https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/about-the-biopark/tickets - **ABQ BioPark Aquarium & Botanic Garden**: 2 and under free. https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/about-the-biopark/tickets - **New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science**: 2 and under free; planetarium and Dynatheater shows extra. https://www.nmnaturalhistory.dca.nm.gov/visit/tickets-and-admissions/ - **Albuquerque Museum**: 3 and under free; free for everyone Sundays 9am–1pm and the first Wednesday of the month (not during Balloon Fiesta). https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/albuquerque-museum/plan-your-visit/admission-ticketing - **Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum**: 5 and under free; free for everyone Sundays 9am–1pm and the first Friday of the month (not during Balloon Fiesta). https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/balloonmuseum/plan-your-visit-1/admission-online-ticketings ## Library storytimes - **Public Library Albuquerque and Bernalillo County**: Most weekday mornings, plus Saturdays at some branches. Free baby, toddler, preschool and family storytimes at branches across the county. https://libevents.abqlibrary.org/calendar ## Happening this week - **Boo at the Zoo** (Sat 9am–5pm (timed entry)) at ABQ BioPark Zoo. $15 adults; $10 ages 3–12; under 2 free. https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/#e-boo_at_the_zoo_abq - **Monster Mash Trunk or Treat** (Sat 4–7pm) at Alamosa Community Center. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/#e-monster_mash_alamosa - **Ghostly Storytime for Families (Juan Tabo Library)** (Sat 11am–12pm) at Juan Tabo Library. Free. https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/#e-ghostly_storytime_for_families_juan_tabo - **Family Story Time at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center** (Sat 10–11am) at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Free for children and an adult family member. https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/#e-ipcc_family_story_time - **Free Sunday Morning at the Albuquerque Museum** (Sun 9am–1pm) at Albuquerque Museum. Free general admission (special exhibits may cost extra). https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/#e-free_sunday_albuquerque_museum Full list with every outing: https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/index.md ## Holiday pages - [Santa in Albuquerque: breakfast with Santa, photos and Santa trains (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/santa/index.md) - [Christmas lights in Albuquerque for little kids (2026)](https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/christmas-lights/index.md) ## About this list - Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city. - How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com). - Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list. - How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote. ## FAQ ### Is Explora good for babies? Yes. Under 1 is free, and Toddler Time on Monday mornings is reserved for the youngest visitors. ### Are there free things to do with little kids in Albuquerque? Yes. Main Library, Cherry Hills Library, Tingley Beach and Petroglyph National Monument are free or have a free entry. See [the free list](https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/guide/#free). ### What can we do in Albuquerque on a rainy or cold day with a toddler? Go indoors: Main Library, Cherry Hills Library and Kids Empire Cottonwood Mall. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time. ### Where are the free storytimes in Albuquerque? Public Library Albuquerque and Bernalillo County: Most weekday mornings, plus Saturdays at some branches. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See [library storytimes](https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/guide/#storytimes), and this week’s dated sessions are on the [ABQ weekly list](https://littlesweekly.com/albuquerque/). ### How do you choose the places in the Albuquerque guide? Every one of the 15 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 12 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 18, 2026. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/). ### How much is the ABQ BioPark Zoo for a toddler, and who gets in free? 2 and under free; kids 3–12: $5 NM residents / $11 non-residents; adults: $10 NM residents / $19.50 non-residents. We checked this on [its official site](https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/biopark/about-the-biopark/tickets) on Oct 18, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.