Anyone been to Carlsbad Caverns?

**emily_hope** · 05-03-2008, 11:51 PM

My DMother has chosen this as our family vacation spot this summer. Anyone been there? Any information about what to do, where to go, etc. would be greatly appreciated. TIA!

**dianne9106** · 05-04-2008, 12:28 AM

I went there while I was in Ft. Bliss, TX and training near White Sands, NM. It is breath taking! This was in 1996, so I am sure the surrounding areas have a changed a bit. New Mexico is beautiful but a little bit on the boring side for driving. But the mountains are very pretty - rather like the "painted mountains" you see on post cards. And you can go visit some sand dunes in White Sands and the sand is the prettiest white seen I have ever seen! The Caverns themselves are just awesome! It is rather far down, but a great trip and a once in a lifetime experience. Sorry I can't help you much on the area close to there. I was in the military and we were in New Mexico for a training exercise and no I do not know about Roswell or any aliens - LOL

El Paso (TX) was a nice enough area and you could take the bridge into Mexico - Juarez I believe was the town. It is very hot and dry there - but still very nice. Enjoy your family vacation

Dianne

**emily_hope** · 05-04-2008, 10:29 AM

Thanks, Dianne! I can't wait to go. We live in Georgia and are driving. We will drive through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and into New Mexico. I know it seems crazy with the price of gas, but this is an area that my DMother has always wanted to go. She is approaching 77 and has always loved to travel. When she finally retired, my DDad got sick with cancer and we lost him in 2002. As my DDad was passing, we discovered my DMother's only DSister had leukemia. We lost her in 2004. Both of her DParents were sick prior to this and my DMother literally spent years caring for all of her family as she watched them die. So, I am trying my darndest to help make some of her dreams come true.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 05-04-2008, 11:37 AM

The drive across I -10 is either horrible or wonderful depending on your point of view. For me its wonderful. I can never get enought of looking out the window.
As you cross over La. watch for alligators and birds in the bayous.
If you tke I-20 stop and gather local fruits. You know those signs for peaches and blueberries, etc.. We had the funnest trip one year coming home from Texas we shot up to I -20 and filled the truck with food stuffs from the side of the road. We use a big cooler when traveling for drinks and it came home chock full of fun food. The truck smelled amazing with a bushel of peaches in the back. Small things like homemade jellies and jams, BBQ sauces and homemade pickles make the best take home memories. We'll sit and eat and talk about the trip as we're finishing off our goodies. Watch Southern Living Magazine they are running articles on things to do just off the interstate system. Theres also a book about the exits on the interstate system.
Likewise I did Carlsbad years ago when I was a kid with my folks. The painted desserts are beautiful. But watch the heat. Take extra water with you just incase. I remember my mom talking to us kids about the folks crossing the desserts during the 30's going to California. Yes, we stopped at some of those tousity places and took our pictures. Oh, what a hoot now to look at those pictures 30 odd years later. Use lots of film!
We crossed the bridge over into Juarez. We walked over leaving our car in the US. Dad felt it was safer. Dad who bought leather fringed jackets for him and mom. When my newphew needed to dress as a hippie for a school thing out came grandpas old jacket. Still smells like old mule! If you go watch your pockets.
Prepare your kids for those who go without. Proverty is up front and in your face. For fun review the legends of Pecos Bill and Judge Roy Bean. The history of the west is great. Mom would read to us about the area as we traveled. Made the trip more intresting and boy do I know stuff now.
If you quilt or craft stop at Chriden Craft Shop 1316 W. Mermod St. in Carlsbad. Quilts are a very regional thing and you'll see great differences between southern quilts and western ones. Used to be a fair Cowboy Museum in Hobbs. Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center.

Enjoy the trip and don't fret about the gas cost. When your old and sitting on the front porch at the county home you'll be able to look back and say, "Remember when we took that trip to...."

Laurie in Bradenton

**Grandma Lewis** · 05-04-2008, 12:46 PM

What a wonderful trip. Stop in Fort Worth and visit the Cowgirl Museum and the Civil War Museum too. There's a really neat wax museum in Arlington, Tx on I-30. I-20 splits just outside of Dallas and reconnects again west of Fort Worth. If you plan to stop and eat in Fort Worth, let me know and I can make some restaurant recommendations for you. If you are going to spend the night in Fort Worth, I can give you hotel recommendations. There's a fairly new Best Western close to me. We drove from Fort Worth to Carlsbad in one long day, so I'd consider stopping here for the night. There's not much else once you get past Fort Worth. Sure there are hotels and restaurants, but not much else.

I've been to Carlsbad several times and loved it every time. Plan to watch the bats fly out of the cave in the evening. It is awesome. I think now it is a self guided tour and it's definitely a walking tour, so if mom gets tired, you might consider a wheel chair for her. The cave is cool, temperature wise, so be sure to take sweaters. There used to be a little snackshop/grill at the end of the tour, so you can get lunch or snacks in the cave.

We stayed in Silver City. It was still quaint the last time we were there, but that was around 1993. I think there's a Ripley's type museum there with shrunken heads and the funny mirrors.

Ruidosa is beautiful too, it's in the mountains. There's horse races in the summer and skiing in the winter. Seems there was some stuff for the kids to do, so they weren't too bored in Ruidosa.

Have a fun trip, it will be worth the drive and your dear mom deserves this...good for you for taking care of mom.

**halloweenfreak** · 05-04-2008, 12:47 PM

its been many years since ive been (i was still in high school actually) i loved them it so much that im making my husband take us that route going to colorado here in a few weeks.

it is def. a different kind of veiw driving thru there, there was nothing for miles and then youd see a little house built into the side of a hill and then nothing for miles again. then there were the little indian woman sitting in the back of their trucks or in tents making and selling jewelry along side of the road.

are you stopping at anything along the way in mississippi and louisana too? we stopped and watched them fish for crab on the docks in mississippi once. my brother was very young, maybe 2, and one of the crabs got loose and ran towards him. poor kid took off running and didn't stop till he reached the end of the dock and back on land. heheheh hes 26 and we still tease him about it.

**emily_hope** · 05-04-2008, 07:50 PM

You all are getting me so excited.

**bevjean** · 05-05-2008, 03:47 PM

You're making me homesick. I'm from NM. If you go definitely stay for the evening bat flight. Somedays the bats are a bit moody and there is no set time that they'll decide to fly out, but your patience will be rewarded. An amazing site. There is a cute hotel in White City (right outside of the Caverns). Last time I was there it was a bit rundown (so I'm not vouching for it for it's quality, just its convenience). It has a small water park for customers and across the street there is small touristy shopping area. The museum mentioned above is there. It has a lot of stuff packed into it.

On the other side of Carlsbad it the Living Desert. It's a nice walk through zoo/botanical garden. Bring lots of water. Some areas aren't too shaded.

Running through town is a river that has a small paddlewheel boat (I think give tours up and down the river). At Christmas a lot of the houses up and down the river are lit up and the boat ride to see the lights is pretty nice (my parents & brother went). The same river has an area for swimming.

Carlsbad itself is not an amazing town, it's a typical small town NM. Very dry & brown, but it's still worth the trip to see the caves & Living Desert.

**Megareader** · 05-06-2008, 06:57 AM

I went there in the early 1980's...I only have 3 words to say. Take your camera!!

**PrairieRose** · 05-06-2008, 08:50 AM

Can you tell me where you'll be driving through? I don't have a map, so I can't see if you're going to be going near any of the places that we visit often. I have a nice place to eat and stay idea for you if you do........pm or something if you'd like.

**emily_hope** · 05-06-2008, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by PrairieRose

Can you tell me where you'll be driving through? I don't have a map, so I can't see if you're going to be going near any of the places that we visit often. I have a nice place to eat and stay idea for you if you do........pm or something if you'd like.

Let's see... My DMother is mapping out the route. I believe we will travel through Shreveport, Dallas, Fort Worth... I'm not completely sure. I know when we head home she wants to go to San Antonio (we've been there before and REALLY liked it!), Houston, Baton Rouge, Mobile. I was wondering now if you have to have a passport to go into Mexico. I'd like to cross the bridge into Juarez.

**dianne9106** · 05-06-2008, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by emily_hope

Let's see... My DMother is mapping out the route. I believe we will travel through Shreveport, Dallas, Fort Worth... I'm not completely sure. I know when we head home she wants to go to San Antonio (we've been there before and REALLY liked it!), Houston, Baton Rouge, Mobile. I was wondering now if you have to have a passport to go into Mexico. I'd like to cross the bridge into Juarez.

You don't need a passport - at least you didn't before. You just need a very valid ID - driver license, military ID, etc... Make sure it's no where near expiring and if you drive that your car is perfectly legal - down to the tire tread. It does cost a little money - a toll to get back across the bridge -can't remember how much though.

Enjoy your trip!

**Edna_E** · 05-12-2008, 09:51 PM

I LIVE here! Ok, not in the caverns, but in the town. There is a lot of cool stuff to do in this area, and cool stuff on the way from most places. Camping, Hiking, waterfalls, a river park, the highest mountain in Texas within an hour's drive, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, tennis, peddle-boats for rent, a small zoo, antique shops, I can show you where I work, a couple of hours north is the Dexter Fish hatchery and a really cool lake, PM me!

**Edna_E** · 05-12-2008, 09:58 PM

[QUOTE=dianne9106;895660]You don't need a passport - at least you didn't before. QUOTE]

They changed the rules about a year ago. Pain in the neck for those of us who liked to go once or twice a year and never go further afield. I'm probably not going anytime soon. If you have passports, though, it can be very interesting and picturesque. There are some wonderful restaurants in Juarez - people here often forget that it is a city of over 1 million, and has all of the class representations one would expect in a city that size - so it is not all starving waifs, although they are certainly evident. My favorite chinese restaurant is in Juarez - the Shangri La.

**Edna_E** · 05-12-2008, 10:01 PM

Laurie mentioned that you should make sure you have water. Let me be more explicit. There are long distances of highway in the desert where there is no place to stop and get anything to eat or drink - or to get your car fixed. I typically carry one gallon of water for the car (in case) and one for the passengers - though I might take 2 if there are more than 4 people. I also usually have oranges and something like chips or cookies. Since a mechanical failure can introduce a few hours delay in getting to the next "watering hole", I prefer being prepared to being uncomfortable! Then you can relax and enjoy your "murphy-less" trip!