Being Savvy: Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers and kids in Albuquerque, NM

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5 Things To Know About the Bonanic Garden

by Alison

August 11, 2009

A huge garden may not seem like most fun outing for you and your preschooler, but Albuquerque's Rio Grande Botanic Garden is more than just your ordinary garden and so much fun too! Here are five things to know about this local gem.

1. Admission included with Aquarium. That means one price gets you access to both places (they share a common parking lot and entrance patio). For a few dollars more you can visit the zoo as well (a train will take you between venues).

2. The Children's Fantasy Garden is very much designed with children in mind. There are mazes to explore, large ants to climb on, a pumpkin to walk in, and a tree to slide through.

3. The Heritage Farm is a recreation of a 1930's era Rio Grande Farm. Your child is sure to love the cows, pigs, horses and goats that call it home. During the summer months, horse-drawn wagon rides are often offered.

4. The Butterfly Pavillion is a seasonal exhibit home to several hundred butterflies that fly all around you. It is open from late May through Labor Day. It's a no-touch exhibit (in that you should not touch the butterflies) so be sure to prep your child for that.

5. The Botanic Garden is the perfect picnic spot. There's a large grassy (and shaded!) area near the entrance. Lots of room for you little ones to run around while you enjoy the beautiful scenery.  Read more...

5 Things To Do Before Summer is Over

by Alison

August 04, 2009

Summer is wrapping up, soon it will be back to the routine that is the school year which will soon be followed by the hectic holiday season. Here are five things I'd like to do before summer is over.

1. Visit I Scream Ice Cream - I've mentioned this fun and quirky ice cream spot (located at Carlisle and Indian School NE) many times on this blog, but can you believe I've never actually been there? Summertime is perfect for ice cream, so I hope to be able to take the kids there sometime soon.

2. Go to Storytime - It's been so long since my boys have been to storytime. My oldest will be starting kindergarten in a few weeks and I'd love for him to have another opportunity to go before it becomes an activity I do with the younger kids while he's at school. Many of the libraries take a storytime hiatus over the summer, so I'm thinking we may hit oneat Barnes and Noble

3. Go to a Farmer's Market - I love the sights and smells that are only found at a farmer's market. We're trying to work through our own garden's produce so we haven't had much of a need to visit a farmer's market, but I'm thinking a visit is in order very soon. I've heard great things about the Downtown Growers Market (check out that vendor's list - so much more than just fresh produce!).

4. Go to the Zoo - We've spent a lot of time at the Aquarium and Botanic Gardens this summer and the zoo has taken a backseat. Time to visit before school starts up and we don't have as much free time on our hands.

5. Plant more flowers - Two months ago, my kids helped me plant some marigolds. They are doing great and I want to add something else to the flower bed.

What's on your list?  Read more...

Gardening Without a Garden

by Alison

March 10, 2009

Spring is just around the corner, which means many people are deciding what to plan in their gardens. From learning how plants grow to learning about life cycles and appreciating nature, gardening offers a multitude of learning opportunities for preschoolers.  Just because you don't have the space for a formal garden doesn't mean your child has to be left out, though.  Here are some ways your family can take advantage of a garden without having a full-fledged garden of your own.

Container Gardening
Do you have a patio or porch?  Then you can have a garden!  Many vegetables can be grown very successfully in small containers.  Let your preschooler have one container of his own to plant and take care of.  Want more information? Try this guide to container gardening or just do a google search for "container gardening"

Community Gardens
Simply put, a community garden is a piece of land gardened by a group of people. Individuals, families, or groups have their own plot in the garden to plant, tend to, and harvest (or donate!). The Rio Grande Community Farm offers a community garden. Call 345-4580 or send an email

Community Supported Agriculture
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) allows your family to take advantage of fresh garden produce without any planting or growing!  This is a great way to introduce your children to new vegetables that they may not otherwise be exposed to.  You simply pay for a "share" of a farm and then each week your family can enjoy a box of locally grown fruits and vegetables.  Los Poblanos Organics offers year-round service, while Erda Gardens offers produce from May through October.  Each garden has slightly different policies and procedures, so read carefully to see which one works best for your family. Visit this link for a full list of CSAs around the state.  Read more...

How To Cultivate a Green (and Very Tiny) Thumb: Fall Garden Fun

by Alison

September 18, 2008

Does your preschooler know where the vegetables and fruits that you try and make him eat really come from? Fall in Albuquerque is a great time to show them. Planting seeds and watching them grow is an exciting activity for young children. If you have your own garden, be sure to involve your children. If you don't, all you really need is a paper cup, some soil, and a seed packet to  Read more...

More of Our Favorite Activities and Things to Do in albuquerque

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Creatures & Critters:
Our Urban Jungle

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Do, Re, Mi! Places to Hear, Sing & Play a Tune

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Artistic Endeavors:
Our Favorite Art Venues

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Room to Run:
Run, Jump & Wiggle Outdoors

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Rainy & Quiet Days:
Cozy & Crazy Indoor Fun

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A Sense of History:
Our City's Stories

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Tot's Science Fair:
Science & Nature Sites

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Splash, Spray, Play! Local Spots to Get Wet

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The Most Fun in Life Is Free!

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The Best of... Our Top Can't-Live-Without Spots

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