Carlsbad RV Park Campground Review

While we were in Carlsbad, NM., we stayed at this RV Park for a couple of days.

It was o.k.  ;)

There is no way I would stay any longer than we did.  It was a little deceiving.  Their website says they have an indoor pool and gameroom.  They DO, BUT, the pool is not open (management switch-paperwork-stuff), and the gameroom was filled with games that were 'out of order' which was frustrating.  That was the main reason we picked this campground.

Now, their bathrooms were old, but clean and has code locks.  This campground is the closest one to Carlsbad Caverns, which was convenient.

Price- $30/n for full hook ups

Amenities- Laundry room was small, but worked well and we had fun playing Pac-Man in the gameroom.

I think I would stay somewhere else next time we were in the area, or just make sure their 'extras' are REALLY functioning before I commit.  :)

Blessings,
Steph

Carlsbad Caverns

What an amazing place!  In Carlsbad, NM., we visited the caverns and pretty much had the place to ourselves.  ;)  It is the wrong time of year to see the 'Bat Flight' so we will just have to come back again one summer.  

The National Park system has done a fantastic job making the trails paved and safe in 'The Big Room.'

 We saw unbelievable stalacgtites and stalagmites, draperies and popcorn made from calcified water.

We walked one and a half MILES under ground!

It was beautiful and creepy all at the same time!  :)

We had a great time as we did another Jr. Ranger program.

Great job Golden Gang!

Blessings,
Steph

Little Green Men?!

After driving through the snow in Ruidoso, we headed to Roswell, NM., "home of the aliens."  :)

This place is famous because of Area 51 and all the alien 'sightings' in past years.  

So, we had a contest to see who could spot their first alien!  The winner got a quarter.  :)  You see, it doesn't matter how much $$$, it is the competition that makes it fun!  The kids were totally silent, searching with anticipation for at least 30 minutes- ( ya mom!)  :)

Zach found the first alien and won his 25 cents fair and square, but it did not stop the rest of us from trying to spot even more of them around the town.

While Roswell may not be a 'destination' place, it is a quirky and unique place to drive through on your way to or from Carlsbad.  It also gave us an opportunity to talk about the falsehood of aliens.

Only in Roswell, can you find a McDonald's in the shape of a spaceship!

All the light posts in town have these faces.  :)

Blessings,
Steph

Oliver Lee State Park Campground Review

While we were in Alamogordo, NM., visiting White Sands National Monument, we stayed at this state park.
I saw a couple of the other RV parks in the area and I feel that this was the best choice.  The grounds were very clean and the park has a small visitor's center and hiking trails.  It is also about 20 minutes from the National Monument and about 10 minutes to town, so it is very quiet and scenic.

Price-$18/night for full hook-ups

Amenities- Very clean restrooms/showers and each site has its own picnic table and fire ring.  :)

We stayed here for 3 nights and had to rearrange some of our plans while we were here.( Drove back to Las Cruces to replace our AC compressor- yeah for warranties!) :)

I would definitely stay here again.  It felt very safe and was a nice location.

Blessings,
Steph

Snow!

 When we left Alamogordo, NM., we knew that there was going to be possible snow in the area.  However, by the time we hit the road, the snow was pretty much melted.


Then we came upon Ruidoso.  SNOW!  It was everywhere!

We just do NOT get this in TEXAS!  Well, we do not get this in Houston, Texas......

It was just beautiful.  :)



So, what did we do?

Yep.  Todd literally pulled over on the side of the freeway so the kids could play in the snow!  I know.... :)
Nothing like spontaneity!

After about 3 minutes, literally, the kids were complaining about the snow.
Why might you ask?

Bare hands and no winter gloves are NOT a good idea!!  Their poor hands were freezing!  Try as they may, the kids were throwing snow balls and running around, but it was just too cold.

Now, Zach was the 'lucky' one.  Notice the ONE glove?  He could not find the other one in the short amount of time we had to play! HA!
Oh well, beggars can't be choosers, right?!

Blessings,
Steph

White Sands National Park!!

 White Sands National Monument is located in Alamogordo, NM.  This place is also famous for its detonation of the first atomic bomb and the birthplace of missile testing!

No, it is not snow!  It is gypsum crystals ground down into sand!  For miles and miles, out in the middle of no where, are these beautiful dunes of white sand.

At the visitor center, you can rent sleds for the day!
Of course, to go sledding, you have to hike up the dunes.  That's the hard part.....

But, oh, it is SOOOO worth the hike!  Whoo Hoo!!!

This is such a fun place!  You feel like your playing in the snow, but it is not cold!  :)
The kids were flying, rolling and jumping all over the place!

The kids kept trying to do different tricks in the dunes and had races down, too.  :)

It was a great day to go sledding!

Even Parker had a blast.  ;)

Until he got a bunch of sand down his pants!  We had sand all over, from head to toe.  :)

They even surfed!

It was truly worth the work and the dirt!

They also worked on the Jr. Ranger books inside the informative museum.

Our Ranger was such an interesting person.  She has worked in over 19 National Parks, and is a former police officer, firefighter, EMT, Helicopter pilot, and search and rescue specialist!  She loved to talk to the kids and was a great teacher, too.  :)

Way to go Golden Gang!

White Sands National Park is DEFINITELY one of our favorites!  We had so much fun!

Blessings,
Steph

Dream Catcher SKP RV Park, Campground Review

We stayed a couple of days in Deming, NM. at this SKP park, and visited City of Rocks State Park one afternoon.

The park is pretty much a gravel parking lot, but it is level and clean.

Price- $13/n plus electricity which came to about $18/n.  We were running the heaters during the night, or it would have been even less.  :)

Amenities- Great laundry room with newer washer/dryers.  The shower/restrooms were very clean and roomy.  They also have a nice sized fellowship hall with a flat screen, library, and movies.  There is also a pool table.

I really appreciate the SKP parks.  Everyone is SOOO helpful and takes care of the park.  The prices are very affordable and they have great amenities.  Some have pools, putt-putt, and playgrounds and some give the basic necessities.

I would definitely stay here again.

Blessings,
Steph

The City of Rocks!

 We were in Deming, NM. for a couple of days and decided to visit City of Rocks State Park.  It was perfect weather for "Hide-N-Go-Seek!"  :)

The kids spent some time climbing around and finding little cracks and nooks within the rocks.

Here, Todd and Parker JUST made it to home base!  Tanner was IT in one of the many games we played.

Hannah and Emily love to 'name' their caves or rocks.  :)

We had so much fun.  I haven't run that much, that fast, in a long, long time!
(yes.....my legs are STILL sore!)  Ha!

Blessings,
Steph

State #18!! New Mexico & Aztec Ruins National Park

After leaving the 4 Corners Monument, we went to the northwestern side of New Mexico.  We will be leaving soon, heading on to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but will visit some more of New Mexico later.  :)

In the small town of Farmington, NM, there is a National Park: Aztec Ruins.
What is kind of funny about this though;  it was never occupied by the Aztecs!  It was rumored that they lived here about 1000 years ago, and they even named a town close by, Aztec, NM., but it was not the Aztecs, but the Pueblos that lived in these dwellings.  ;)  They were able to figure this out after a little research and many artifacts found in the area.  In fact, the Aztecs never moved farther north than Mexico.

With that explained, we visited the Aztec Ruins, that never occupied the Aztecs, and earned another Jr. Ranger badge!

 Hundreds of Indians could live in these ruins.  (the boys thought it would be fun to have an air-soft gun-fight in the ruins!)   :)

 This is the 'Grand Kiva' where they would hold their worship services.
Below, is the inside of the 'Grand Kiva.'

This ladder is around 900 years old, and could still hold a grown man today!

The Yucca tree was used to make baskets, blankets, bowls, clothing and tools for the Pueblo Indians.

Yeah Golden Gang!

Blessings,
Steph