Carlsbad, N.M. By Joey Salvucci
Carlsbad is one of a few one-attraction towns that we’ll be traveling to—but what an attraction! Carlsbad Cavern’s “Big Room” holds the record for the second largest cave chamber in the world. It is also the only cave in America to be in the top 100 Hillman Wonders of the World, a very impressive list of all things travel-related.
You can walk in the natural entrance and hike around or take an elevator. We will be arriving bright and early after an even earlier drive—I don’t want to miss a single tour that will be available the day that we are there. Here are the ones that we’ll be trying to attend:
Left Hand Tunnel Tour 9:00 – 11:00; this tour is lit only by provided lanterns.
King’s Palace Tour Tour hours throughout the day; we will be looking at 11:00 – 12:30 if we are up to it and get back from the left hand tour early enough.
Great Room Self Guided Tour We’ll be fitting this in between other tours, and possibly using the audio guide for this huge room that would fit 6.2 football fields. Lunch will also be available.
Lower Cave Tour 1:00 – 4:00; noted for its incredible diversity of cave formations.
(From top) NPS photo by Peter Jones; NPS photo by Peter Jones
