1. Catch a rodeo. During intermission, the youngest can ride woolly rams and ewes. The Rodeo de Santa Fe (505/471-4300) takes place June 21-24.
2. Fly-fish along the trails of the Pecos Wilderness Area. For a reliable guide, call Santa Fe Fly Fishers School & Guide Service (800/555-7707 or 505/757-3294) or High Desert Angler (888/988-7688 or 505/988-7688).
3. Float over the Rio Grande Gorge in a hot air balloon. Liftoff is before dawn, when the conditions are calmest. Completion of the hour-long flight is celebrated with an apple cider toast (Paradise Balloons; 505/751-6098; $195 per person).
4. Hike the Jemez Mountains and Valle Grande caldera, and see the pink cliffs of volcanic ash and the black lava mesas up close. Ask the Santa Fe Guiding Co. (505/466-7964) to help plan and lead your expedition.
5. Learn to rock climb on the walls of Las Conchas canyon. Southwest Climbing Resource (505/983-8288) specializes in guiding families, beginners, and intermediates. Kids can brush up their skills at the Santa Fe Climbing Gym (www.climbsantafe.com 825 Early St., Suite A; 505/986-8944).
6. Go white-water rafting on the Rio Grande. Kokopelli Rafting Adventures (800/879-9035 or 505/983-3734) will set up a trip for kids and adults of all skill levels.

Places to take the kids

• Santa Fe Southern Railroad
  This is a working railroad, but it offers rides just for fun, too, and is a great half-day adventure for young train buffs. The Santa Fe Southern Railroad's run goes south to Lamy, where riders get off to enjoy their picnic lunches. During busier times (summer and holiday weekends), a caterer typically meets passengers near the Lamy depot offering Frito pie, a favorite local concoction of chili topped with cheese, tomatoes, onions, and plenty of Fritos corn chips. On Saturday nights, the railroad runs a barbecue dinner special and around Halloween they add ghost stories. Make sure kids check out the funky Flintstones-inspired views en route. Don't bother paying more for the expensive luxury-car seats; most kids and families prefer the open air and basic benches of the lower-priced car. Santa Fe Depot, Santa Fe; (505) 989-8600; The Santa Fe Southern Railroad
• The Plaza in Santa Fe
  The plaza, arguably the heart and soul of Santa Fe, can be very difficult to get to given the winding streets, lack of parking, and ever-growing traffic. For older kids, it's worth the trouble to see what was once the center of this region; here you can stroll by the Native American women who sell their silver and turquoise trinkets on beautiful blankets spread on the sidewalk. Unless you get lucky and find parking on a nearby street, plan to walk several blocks--or try to find a parking garage.
• Genoveva Chavez Community Center
  3221 Rodeo Rd.
  505 955 4001
  This community center tops most in the world. Santa Fe is very proud of this facility. It has a full sized ice skating rink with rentals, snack shop, indoor pools including laps pools and kiddie pools with slides, an indoor running track, a full size gymnasium for basketball, volleyball, racquet ball courts, and a workout facility with weights, cardio machines, two workout classrooms, lockers, showers, and restrooms. I think this is another must for families allow the kids to go swim, or ice skate while the parents take a yoga class, or fit in a quick workout.
  This facility has excellent summer programs as well as year round classes.

Skiing

• Ski Santa Fe
  Chipmunk Corner is a full service, on-site children's complex complete with ski and snow play areas and a rope tow. The building facility offers its own ticketing, rentals, lunchroom, playroom and restrooms. Children's instructors receive special training designed specially for your youngsters. Thay also offer a children's ski school - a full service facility offering separate ticketing, rentals, lunchroom, playroom and restrooms. Lessons are offered for children ages 4 to 9. www.skisantafe.com
• Taos Ski Valley
  Kids like to have fun and in Taos the Children's Center is all about fun. At our state-of-the-art children's ski school and daycare facility, children receive personalized attention in a creative learning environment complete with its own lifts, terrain and sports accessories shop. Parents can ski knowing their children are in the care of specially trained instructors who excel at turning kids into confident lifelong skiers. www.skitaos.org
• Angel Fire Resort
  Angel Fire Resort has daycare with both indoor and outdoor activities and a Children's Ski and Snowboard Center.
  http://www.angelfireresort.com
• Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort
  22 miles southeast of Taos, New Mexico, Sipapu offers varied terrain for downhill skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing. Sipapu offers private and group snowboarding and skiing lessons for both adults and children. During the summer and fall, there is an abundance of activities including fly-fishing, horseback riding, hiking, biking, rafting, and rock climbing along with motorcycle rallies and Arts & Crafts fairs. A myriad of informational and instructive workshops, ranging from the art of painting to the art of fly-fishing, are held at the lodge throughout the summer.
  www.sipapunm.com
• Pajarito
  www.skipajarito.com