We knew when good friends of ours gave us a US map that identified the national parks in this country that we were in trouble. Not bad enough, you could identify your personal weaknesses by seeing all the “un-visited” parks we had yet to darken. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, in Carlsbad, NM was on that list.

You should know first that I am claustrophobic. One year for Fathers Day I suggested that we as a family drive up to Ruby Falls, which is technically a waterfall some 1,100 feet underground.   A cavern. Tight spaces. No air – that might be a slight exaggeration. Karen and the kids said, “Ahh, dad, are you sure this is what you want to do for Fathers Day?” Me: “Oh, hell yeah!” We drive up there, ride the elevator 1,100 freaking feet underground; I get off the elevator and immediately I realize I have made a HUGE mistake. So I turn around, get back on the elevator and return to earth, leaving Karen to fend for the young.

So with that as premise, when I told Karen I wanted to see Carlsbad Caverns she, as a nurse, felt my forehead and said, “Honey, are you sure you want to do this?” Me: “Oh, hell yeah!” Only this time results varied. I got to the bottom (750 feet below ground level) and while momentarily getting my sea legs, entered the cavern.

Let me tell you – this is AWESOME! I will share some photos, but these pictures DO NOT capture the stunning beauty of Carlsbad Caverns! This is a “must see” and we are now so glad (more than before) that we received that gift map which caused us to go here. A most excellent adventure!

I am not a geologist (I haven’t even played one!), but there could be a certain Freudian interpretation to some of these cavern structures. Or maybe that is just me. Let me just say I felt like a bit of an underperformer here.   Don’t judge me. But do visit here!