Carlsbad Travel Guide

CARLSBAD CAVERNS

The Carlsbad Caverns are some of the most fascinating and beautiful caves in the world. If you are in the area take a day and explore this natural wonder. The most of the cavern can be explored easily by people of all ages. It is cool in the caves, so you may want to take a sweater or jacket with you even in the hot Summer months. The Carlsbad Caverns are open to visitors every day of the year, except for Christmas Day. You can either explore the caves on your own, or take a guided tour. Tour schedules and fees are located on the website provided and are subject to change. I would recommend planning your tour of the caves in the middle of the afternoon so you can see the nightly bat flight at sunset. Call the park prior to your visit to get an accurate time for bat viewing. It's worth it.

Phone: 800-967-2283 or 505-785-2232

Address: 3225 National Park Highway, Carlsbad, New Mexico

Website: http://www.carlsbad.caverns.national-park.com/

Other Contact: http://www.nps.gov/cave/

A lot of my friends like wild, unspoiled caves, in as close to a natural state as possible - in other words, wet, dank holes in the ground. I hate those caves. I like caves with lighted trails, elevators and snack bars that look like sets from a 1960s sci-fi movie. If you're like me, then Carlsbad Cavern is for you. Also, it's still amazingly beautiful, despite all the human fingerprints on everything.

When you go to Carlsbad it seems like a very small town, but make sure to stop for the day and go to the caverns. Granted it will take a majority of the day to walk through them but it is very scenic and worth it. After you get done with the caverns they have a showing where bats come up from the cave. It does take some time for them to come out, but its pretty amazing to watch them all come up.