15 Fun Things to Do in Silver City, NM (2024)

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Looking for a hidden gem in the southwestern part of the United States for your next family vacation? Want some where that is family friendly and offers a wide range of things to do? Then look no further than Silver City, New Mexico. This small town in southwest New Mexico is off-the-beaten-path, but it is not your average small town. It is bursting at the seams with art and has more than its fair share of amazing locally-owned restaurants. To get you started, here are 15 things to do in Silver City that your family will love!

Silver City is a great place to visit. Not only does it have a ton of things to do in town, but it is really close to a number of national parks and attractions that are definitely worth visiting. This makes it the perfect place to use as a base for your vacation so you can easily take day trips to explore the surrounding area.

#1. Stop by the Visitor’s Center

The first thing you should do when you get to Silver City is to stop by the Visitor Center. Pick up a map of the area and information about things around town. The center is always staffed with a friendly local who can answer any questions you have and give you recommendations of places to eat.

You can also see some great art pieces at the Visitor’s Center.

You will be amazed at how much art you can find in Silver City. Spend an afternoon shopping for art and antiques in the many downtown shops. Even if you can’t afford to take home a unique piece, you can still have fun browsing.

#3. Explore the Silver City Museum

To learn more about the history of Silver City and the surrounding area, head down the street from the Visitor’s Center to the Silver City Museum. There, you can walk through a historic house and learn about the origins of the city, the area mines, and some of the city’s early residents.

As a bonus, head up to the third floor of the museum for unique views of historic downtown Silver City in every direction.

#4. Have fun at City of Rocks

Not far outside of Silver City, you will find City of Rocks State Park. This collection of large rock formations was created from volcanic ash million of years ago. Today, it is a fun place to get out into nature.

Camp, hike, have a picnic, fly a kite, or just let the kids run around and have fun. City of Rocks is a great and uncrowded place to enjoy the great outdoors.

#5. Play at Penny Park

If you have kids with you when visiting Silver City, head over to Penny Park to let them run free and have a blast. This is one of the best parks in America.

It is not far from downtown and has a large, unique playground with separate areas for older and younger kids. There is also a climbing wall and covered pavilions. And be sure to check out the mural on the side of the bathroom building.

You and your kids will love spending an afternoon at Penny Park.

#6. Catch a WNMU game

If you are a sports fan and want to see some live action during your time in Silver City, Western New Mexico University has you covered! Whether you prefer basketball, football, volleyball, or softball, when in town, head over to the campus for some college action.

The Mustangs are a NCAA Division II school that play in the Lone Star Conference. The games are fun. The tickets are cheap. And there’s always space for you and your family.

#7. Check out Billy the Kid’s Log Cabin

While at the Visitor’s Center, wander over to the replica log cabin on the edge of the parking lot. This small cabin is similar to one that the famous outlaw Billy the Kid lived in during his short time in Silver City.

Touring the cabin will only take a few minutes, but it will give you a real sense of what it was like to live in the area back in the 1800’s. This is a fun (and free) little diversion that your kids will enjoy.

#8. Hike the Continental Divide

If your bucket list includes hiking the Continental Divide, then Silver City is where you want to be. The Continental Divide sits right next to the city, making Silver City a great place to set up base.

From here, you can either begin your hike of the entire trail or just hike a portion of it to say you did it. Be sure to tell the staff member at the Visitor Center that you are interested in this hike. They can give you further information and hook you up with some local tips and advice.

#9. Enjoy the restaurants

I mentioned above the Silver City has a ton of delicious local restaurants. So, definitely take the time to enjoy some of them during your time here. Whether you are looking for Mexican food, a brewery with great pub grub, a cozy coffee shop, or a quiet place for lunch, Silver City has you covered!

Most places to eat in town have a great selection of dishes with the beloved green chile, so be ready for some heat! And because of the city’s small size, you can usually get into most places with little to no wait.

Be sure to read our list of places to eat in Silver City for more details on specific restaurants.

#10. Catch some live music

As you might imagine, because Silver City is home to a large number of artists, there is a pretty healthy live music scene in town as well. You can sometimes find local musicians on the street corners playing for pedestrians. You will also find several venues in and around town that have live music playing on one or more nights during the week.

Little Toad Creek Brewery, located in historic downtown, has live music quite often. Check out the calendar of events on the Visitor’s Center website for more details.

#11. Explore Gila Cliff Dwellings

The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is a fascinating look back at civilization 700 years ago. The cliff dwellings are located in the heart of the Gila National Forest, about an hour and a half drive from Silver City. The town is the best place to stay if you are planning on visiting the cliff dwellings.

This national monument is free to visit, but you will need to hike a one-mile loop to get up to the cliff dwellings and then back to the parking lot. This is a surprisingly fun thing to do, even for kids.

And to make your day trip to the cliff dwellings easier, check out our tips.

#12. Enjoy the hot springs

There are several places around Silver City to enjoy natural hot springs. Some of them are located between Silver City and the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Most of these are privately owned and require some hiking to reach. Definitely enjoy a warm soak during your time in southwest New Mexico.

#13. Admire the local art

I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll say it again: Silver City has amazing art for such a small town! There are murals and art pieces all over town. You will find them in parks, empty lots, the sides of buildings, on top of fences, and just about everywhere you look. You’ll even find art in people’s yards.

So, if you enjoy art, spend some time cruising around town admiring all the different pieces on display.

#14. Marvel at the Chino Mine Overlook

While Silver City originated as a silver mining town, the current mines in the area are copper mines. There are a couple different mines just outside of Silver City.

The Chino Mine, located on the way to Deming, can be seen from the highway. If you turn off on Highway 152, you will eventually see a sign for the Chino Mine Overlook. From here, you can get a view of the entire mine. It is impressive to see. Be sure to look for the Kneeling Nun statute high up on the cliff overlooking the mining activities.

#15. Go for a hike

Because Silver City sits on the doorstep of the huge Gila National Forest, it is surrounded on all sides by some amazing hiking trails. If your family loves hiking, this is a great place to get out and explore a trail or two.

You will find trails of all difficulty levels in the area around Silver City. So pick one that is right for your family. And enjoy the fresh air!

Conclusion

While Silver City, New Mexico is not anywhere close to being at the top of the list of the hottest tourist destinations in the United States, it does offer a lot for such a small town.

For artists, hikers, or lovers of nature, it is definitely worth a trip! It is also a great home base for exploring the Gila National Forest and other national and state parks in the area. And if you are looking for an uncrowded family friendly location, this definitely fits the bill.

You will have no problem filling your time here with these 15 things to do in Silver City. Enjoy! Happy travels!

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