Los Alamos Nature Center, operated by PEEC — Attraction in Los Alamos

This place is amazing! My kids love it. There's so much to learn here, a huge outdoor play area, and lots to play with inside. they have a lot of cool programs to encourage kids to hike and explore the pajarito plateau. There's a quiet little Library where you can watch animals play outside through a one-way window , with microphones set up so you can hear them too. A few live insects and small animals to observe, a little art station, a puppet theater, guides to the different rock formations of the area, a large topographical map, and an amazing view of the canyon. ...

This is a fantastic place for old and young alike. They have programs throughout the week, from trail walks to toddler crafts, and the staff is always knowledgeable and extremely kind. They sell topo maps for the area (thank goodness! I was tired of getting lost on Los Alamos' poor marked trails) and if your go while one of the bird experts are on staff in the back room (Wednesday mornings I believe) you will be able to see many local birds and quickly be able to identify them for yourself. Many, if not most, of the programs are free....

Pajarito Environmental Education Center, or PEEC for short, is a beautiful building with a lot of programming available to connect visitors to nature, the environment, ecology, and so much more. I loved the quiet room overlooking the dropoff where I watched a variety of birds feed, a chipmunk avoiding the rain, and listened to relaxing sounds. The interpretive signs in the bathroom were new to me and I love the opportunity taken to educate a captive audience about animal bathroom habits!

I hope to bring my son up and hike a few...