Albuquerque - American Southwest - page 253

2601 Central Ave. NW. & 505/764-6200. www.cabq.gov/biopark. Admission $7 adults ($12 with Rio
Grande Zoo admission), $3 seniors 65 and over and children 12 and under ($5 with Rio Grande Zoo
admission). Ticket sales stop a half-hour before closing. MC, V. Tues-Sun 9am-5pm (June-Aug Sat-Sun
until 6pm). Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
American International Rattlesnake Museum Finds Kids This unique
museum, just off Old Town Plaza, has living specimens of common, uncommon, and
very rare rattlesnakes of North, Central, and South America, in naturally landscaped
habitats. Such oddities as albino and patternless rattlesnakes are included, as is a display
of baby rattlesnakes, popular with youngsters. More than 30 species can be seen, followed
by a 7-minute film on this contributor to the ecological balance of our hemisphere.
Throughout the museum are rattlesnake artifacts from early American history, Native
American culture, medicine, the arts, and advertising. You'll also find a gift shop that
specializes in Native American jewelry, T-shirts, and other memorabilia related to the
natural world and the Southwest, all with an emphasis on rattlesnakes.
202 San Felipe St. NW. & 505/242-6569. www.rattlesnakes.com. Admission $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3
children 3-12. AE, DISC, MC, V. Summer Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 1-5pm; winter Mon-Sat 11:30am-
5:30pm, Sun 1-5pm.
Explora Kids As a center for lifelong learning, Explora houses more than 250
hands-on transactive exhibits in science, technology, and art. Visitors of all ages make
their way through the mazelike museum exploring topics as diverse as water, the Rio
Grande, light and optics, biological perception, and energy. The museum features exhib-
its utilizing technology that is creatively accessible to the public and exhibits that engage
visitors in creating all kinds of art. My favorite is the Laminar Flow Fountain in which
water leaps across spaces, seeming to come alive. Younger kids especially enjoy the arts
and crafts workshop, where they can make art to take home. You could spend anywhere
from an hour and a half to a full day here.
1701 Mountain Rd. NW. & 505/224-8300. Fax [phone]. www.explora.us. Admission $7 ages
12-64, $5 seniors 65 and over, $3 children 1-11, free for children under 1. Mon-Sat 10am-6pm; Sun
noon-6pm.

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New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Kids A trip
through this museum will take you through 12 billion years of natural history, from the
formation of the universe to the present day. Begin by looking at a display of stones and
gems, and then stroll through the “Age Jurassic Super Giants” display, where you'll find
dinosaur skeletons cast from the real bones. See the latest display “Triassic: Dawn of the
Dinosaur.” You can ride the Evolator (kids love this!), a simulated time-travel experience
that moves and rumbles, taking you 1 1 / 4 miles up (or down) and through 38 million years
of history; soon, you'll find yourself in the age of the mammoths and moving through
the Ice Age. Be sure to check out the museum's Planetarium. That exhibit, as well as the
DynaTheater, which surrounds you with images and sound, costs an additional fee. A
gift shop on the ground floor sells imaginative nature games and other curios. Plan to
spend 1 to 2 hours here, more if you take in extra attractions.
1801 Mountain Rd. NW. & 505/841-2800. www.nmnaturalhistory.org. Admission $7 adults, $6 seniors,
$4 children 3-12, free for children 2 and under. DynaTheater, Planetarium, and Virtual Voyages cost extra,
with prices in the $7 range for adults and $4 range for children. Buying ticket combinations qualifies you
for discounts. Daily 9am-5pm. Jan and Sept closed Mon except major holidays, when it's open Mon; also
closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.