Beat the Heat and Immerse Yourself in a Fantasy World at Meow Wolf in New Mexico

We're halfway through summer, and yet there's still time to do all sorts of fun and exciting things. However, on those blistering hot days, spending time outside in New Mexico may not be the best option. In Santa Fe, summer temperatures can reach into the 90s, and let's not forget the monsoons that douse the desert landscape with heavy rains and keep us indoors. So, what is there to do when the weather isn't favorable, whether it's too hot or raining (or both)? Lucky for us that we have a few incredible indoor attractions like Meow Wolf Santa Fe's House of Eternal Return. This indoor art experience is immersive, mind-bending, and may make you question reality — and it's all part of the fun!

Meow Wolf first opened in Santa Fe in 2016. Founded by artists based in New Mexico's capital city, it's a one-of-a-kind interactive art experiment like nothing else you've ever experienced. The artist collective works with a variety of mediums from sculpting, fabricating, and painting to graphic design, writing, and technology. Together, their talents have led to one of the most acclaimed immersive art experiences in the country.

The House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe is the original Meow Wolf location — several additional locations have opened since. If you haven't been here yet, I urge you to go this summer. Not only is it an indoor activity to get you some relief from the hot New Mexico weather, but it's a wildly different art gallery where you become a participant as opposed to a passing observer. My kids are huge Meow Wolf fans, having been to two locations. Their favorite? The original, of course!

Meow Wolf Santa Fe has 70 rooms and experiences, all uniquely themed and evoke a sense of wonder to anyone entering their space. One favorite awe-inspiring rooms is the The Forest, an ethereal space filled with magical creatures, mushrooms, and treehouses. Another room is Fancy World, an eccentric and otherworldly space that also serves as Meow Wolf's concert space (yes, they hold concerts here!). In the Selig House, those who enter can explore rooms and secret passages, while the Portals of Bermuda takes visitors on fantastical excursions to worlds you never dreamed of. You never know what sort of world you'll experience once you enter a room, and that's the mind-bending beauty of Meow Wolf.

Because the original Meow Wolf in Santa Fe became so wildly popular, it has expanded to other cities including Las Vegas, Denver, Houston, and Grapevine, Texas, with two more locations coming soon to LA and NYC. No matter which location you visit, after spending time at Meow Wolf, you may never look at anything the same again.

To purchase your admission tickets to this mind-bending, interactive art installation, visit the Meow Wolf website. To get the most out of your experience, it's advised to download the Meow Wolf app before your visit.

Looking for more things to do when it's hot out? Take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Summer Fun in New Mexico for numerous bucket list-worthy ideas!