Playing by heart in child-friendly Santa Fe

The Fort Marcy Hotel Suites overlook the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the southernmost subrange of the Rockies. Below, local performer Annie Rose, also known as the Flower Fairy, visits with Skylar Cook, 5, at the Santa Fe Children’s Museum. (PHOTOS BY MICHAELA CAVALLARO FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE)

By Michaela Cavallaro

Globe Correspondent / December 18, 2011

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Santa Fe’s reputation with tourists is built on high-end art, a vibrant tri-cultural history, and chile so hot it will leave tears running down your face. The combination doesn’t scream kid-friendly. But in fact, New Mexico’s capital city has lots to offer families with small children - starting with museums and restaurants that not only tolerate but encourage visits from the short set.

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If You Go

What to do
Museum of International Folk Art
706 Camino Lejo
505-476-1200
www.internationalfolkart.org
Colorful rotating exhibits and an astonishing permanent collection, plus a children’s play area. Adults $9; children age 16 and under free.
Santa Fe Children’s Museum
1050 Old Pecos Trail
505-989-8359
santafechildrensmuseum.org
Indoor and outdoor play areas with a gentle educational focus. Admission $9 per person; children 12 months and under free.
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
217 Johnson St.
505-946-1000
www.keeffemuseum.org
Exhibits focus on O’Keeffe’s work and her connection to American modernism. Adults $10, age 18 and under free.
Ten Thousand Waves
3451 Hyde Park Road
505-982-9304
tenthousandwaves.com
Indulgent indoor and outdoor hot baths and spa services. Private baths start at $29 per person; prices vary for spa services.
Where to eat Tia Sophia’s
210 West San Francisco St.
505-983-9880
Traditional New Mexican cuisine for breakfast and lunch. Entrees $5-$8.
Counter Culture
930 Baca St.
505-995-1105
Eclectic healthy eats. Cash only. Entrees $6-$15.
Plaza Café Southside
3466 Zafarano Drive
505-424-0755
plazacafesouthside.com
Diner-style dining with New Mexican flair. Entrees $8-$15.
Second Street Brewery at the Railyard
1607 Paseo De Peralta No. 10
505-989-3278
www.secondstreetbrewery.com
Friendly brew pub, entrees $8-$21.
Where to stay
Fort Marcy Hotel Suites
321 Kearney Road
888-575-2775
www.allseasonsresortlodging .com
One-, two-, and three-bedroom condos with heavy New Mexican decor. From $250.