Southwest
Carlsbad, White Sands, Gila Cliff Dwellings, City of Rocks, Big Bend, San Antonio
Day 1: Your trip begins after arriving in San Antonio and beginning an all-day drive to Carlsbad, New Mexico (over 6 hours), where you will get some dinner and then check into your hotel for the night. If you are there between April and October, consider driving to Carlsbad Caverns National Park before sunset to see the resident bats as they fly out of the cave for their evening forage. Day 2: You begin your day with a tour of awe-inspiring Carlsbad Caverns, where you will be amazed at the size and wonder of this famous cave. Take the self-guided tours and inquire about joining one of the guided tours (though it’s best to make a reservation in advance), including some tours where you are issued gloves and knee pads for crawling through tight spaces. When you are ready to return to the light, drive for a few hours over the mountains to Alamogordo, where you will stay the night. Day 3: In the morning, drive to nearby White Sands National Monument, where you can take off your shoes and feel the soft white sand between your toes. Consider buying a plastic saucer to sled down your favorite dune. After shaking out the sand, drive a few hours to City of Rocks State Park, where you can wander through a forest of oddly-shaped stone monoliths. End a fun day by driving a few more miles to Silver City, where you will lodge for two nights. Day 4: Today, you will need to drive a few hours on winding roads to get to your destination at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. As eating options will be limited, you may want to pack a picnic lunch. When you arrive at the National Monument, tour the museum of Mogollan artifacts and then hike the trail to the cliff dwellings. If you have time, take a hike to one of the nearby hot springs. Afterwards, make the twisting return drive to Silver City for dinner and an early bed time. Day 5: Get up with the sun and begin the long drive (over 7 hours) to Big Bend National Park, where you will stay the night in one of the park’s cabins. The drive is not particularly interesting until you get to the park and the beautiful mountains come into view. Continue on to your room in the Chisos Basin, where you can get dinner and then enjoy a quiet evening in the mountains under starry skies. Day 6: Awake early for another busy day. Drive down the Scenic Road stopping at the various view points and then park your car at the Santa Elena Canyon trail for the short hike along the Rio Grande. After your hike, begin your long drive back to San Antonio, Texas (about 7 hours), where you will spend your last three nights. Day 7: After breakfast, visit the site of the last stand of Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William Travis at the Alamo and then take a stroll through San Antonio’s famous River Walk. After lunch, continue browsing the shops at the River Walk or consider a half day at one of the amusement parks below. Day 8: Spend your last day, at one of San Antonio’s amusement parks. If it is warm enough, put on your swimming suit and head to Schlitterbahn, one of the country’s best waterparks. If you don’t want to get that wet, then spend your day with the marine animals at Sea World. Day 9: As you depart for home, gratefully savor the experiences you have encountered on this diverse trip to the Southwest. |