Advice needed-Western US summer trip

Santa Fe NM

You can make a drive up to the Santa Fe Ski Basin with stops along the way for short hikes. There are Forest Service Campgrounds and Hyde State Park which may have suggestions for such hikes.

A drive out to Chimayo would not be too far. Visiting the Sanctuario there is not like a museum. It is an active Catholic church with an interesting history.

If you like (New)-Mexican food, there is a really nice restaurant just up the road from the Santuario in Chimayo (less than half a mile): Rancho de Chimayo in a historic old family home.

You can also drive up at least part of the "High Road to Taos" from Chimayo to the villages of Truchas and Trampas. OR you could go all the way up to Taos on that historic road. At Taos there is the Kit Carson old house and museum which I think the boys might enjoy. You can also go out to the Martinez Hacienda (inquire locally for directions) which is well preserved. It is kind of an outdoor experience as you walk through the compound.

You can walk around the Plaza in Santa Fe, including the Gallery of the Palace of Governors with the Indian jewelery. That's more of a living museum/outdoor experience.

I'm trying to leave out all the real "museums" but the boys might enjoy walking through the Lorreto Chapel with its mysterious staircase: https://www.lorettochapel.com/staircase.html

You can make a drive down to Pecos and visit the Pecos National Monument--again an outdoor walk through experience. For lunch there is "Frankie's of the Cassanova" right in Pecos. You can make a drive north out of Pecos toward the Pecos Wilderness Area. Contact the Ranger station for possible short hikes into the fringe of the Wilderness area.

Lots of great possibilities. As you may guess, Santa Fe is one of our favorite places to visit.