Carlsbad Caverns

On our road trip home from AZ, we made a few stops. One was to Carlsbad Caverns.

 

 

Faith was obviously not so thrilled to be there....

 

 

We took a Ranger's suggestion, and rode the elevator down 750 feet to the "Big Room"

The ranger told us the climb down the main entrance often tires little kids out before they ever get to the big room. She was wise! We had no clue that the big room was so... well... BIG! 357,000+ sq feet big! It was about a mile walk just in that room, alone.

 

We spent most of our walk trying to point out stalactites, stalagmites, columns, draperies, soda straws popcorn formations (after we educated ourselves about them first)

 

 

Giant stalagmites

 

 

A column (stalactite touches a stalagmite)

 

Lots of popcorn sprinkles about

 

This guy hung from the ceiling - a stalactite with popcorn on the end - it was called the "Lion's Tail" and very much looked the part.

 

 

Nathan enjoyed the tour!

Ruth enjoyed riding in Daddy's arms.

And Faith.... well, she was a good sport :D

 

Some soda straws (skinny stalactites)

 

This was one of the big views. Photos don't do it justice - that was a HUGE chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and as Nathan said, a GIANT skinny carrot coming up from the floor.

 

 

The bottomless pit. With the original explorer's ladder still in it.

 

 

I got her to smile, FINALLY, when she pointed out a how this stalagmite looked like poop. haha

 

Nathan wanted his photo by the stalagmite that he thought looked like a giant Christmas tree.

 

 

Even Ruthie posed for a photo

 

 

Well... Ruthie wasn't up for a photo without her Daddy! She's a Daddy's girl alright! 

 

But as long as she was in Daddy's arms, she was as happy as could be!

 

Tomorrow's going to be a rough day when they face the reality that Daddy's going back to work.

 

 

After the tour, the older kids got sworn in as official National Park Service Junior Rangers.

 

 

And the ranger photo bombed the photo I attempted with the kids and their new fancy badges. At least one people is smiling and looking at the camera... :)

 

From the parking lot, Nathan admired the landscape.

SOOO much space - you could see for miles and miles.