If you are a Duke City native like myself, Hinkle Family Fun Center is an Albuquerque staple. In fact, they are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. Maybe you are like me and the last time you visited Hinkle Family Fun Center was during high school or maybe you are new to town and have always been curious about the massive American flag and big waterfall you see as you drive along Tramway. Or perhaps, you are a Hinkle Family Fun Center frequent visitor (and in that case, feel free to share your favorite tips & tricks with all of us in the comments!) No matter what your experience is with Hinkle Family Fun Center, if you are looking for a fun day this summer, you have to go check them out! Plus, your kids will have a blast and keep asking when they can go back.
Earlier this summer, Hinkle Family Fun Center hosted the Albuquerque Moms Blog team. Over 20 local families came out to enjoy all that Hinkle has to offer and we have compiled some Mom Tips for your next visit!
- Hinkle Family Fun Center is for all ages, but we found that toddlers between 18 months to 2.5 years old may get easily overwhelmed or frustrated. Most of the attractions (bumper boats, bumper cars, go-karts, etc.) require the child be 44 inches tall. Younger babies seem to do fine. Our team recommends to bring an easy-to-push umbrella stroller or to babywear.
- Make sure you have proper footwear. Even though summer in Albuquerque is prime sandal season, you may want to wear sneakers (or at least bring a pair to change into in). The rock climbing wall requires sturdy shoes, so just come prepared.
- If you can, bring another adult along to split rides. Even if your kiddos are over the 44-inch height requirement, go-karts and a few other attractions require they ride with a taller person. Plus, having another set of eyes and hands is always a good idea. This will allow you to relax a bit and not be so stressed.
- Ditch the scorecard. Mini golf is a blast, until your kids start getting ultra competitive or angry that you keep rocking the hole-in-ones. If you have younger kids (under 5), forget the traditional rules. Just let them have fun getting their ball into the hole.
- Summer fun doesn’t always have to include the kids! A few of our team members came with their young infants or left the children at home with a babysitter and had a fun date night out. Hinkle Family Fun Center is a nice change from the typical dinner and a movie date. A couple who has fun together, stays together.
