Spring Break 2026 - The Land of Enchantment

We drove an approximate total of 1,999 miles to see all these incredible places - that is one healthy and long road trip, isn't it!?  

We even saw aliens. 

Roswell, NM 

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM

We saw the most amazing cave. It's only 60 stories below ground level ... nothing to worry about, unless you are afraid of things caving in on you, then you would be out of luck because there isn't exactly a quick way out....

and, some pictures from above ground...

After this incredible adventure, we had to eat at Blake's LotAburger - which was.....burgery; and then we visited the Living Desert and Zoo attraction in the hills of Carlsbad, NM. We bedded down for the night in the teensy tiny little town of White's City, which boasted a sprawling gift shop and exactly one gas station. 

Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX

Watch out for snakesss..... 

We spent a few hours here, but did not do any major hikes - just one trail, which of course, had to be the home of rattlesnakes. It was our lucky day, because we did not run into any snakes - but instead, were the victims of a quick hail/rainstorm. 

We drove north from Texas, back into New Mexico to spend the night in Alamogordo, which had the most amazing laundromat. Off with our clean clothes, we waxed our sleds and headed to the White Sands National Park. Only one minor injury here. 

White Sands National Park, NM

 

McGinn's PistachioLand! 

It's nutty there! But really, they have THE best ice cream. 

Petroglyph National Monument, Albuquerque, NM

A few trails to see these beautiful expressions. 

Finally, the reason Tony agreed to travel with us - Chaco Canyon. It had been on his little teeny tiny bucket list for a minute now and (apparently some other people's as well, who knew...) It only took 19 miles of dirt road (after the hour+ of paved road) and one "almost concussion" to get here. 

Chaco Canyon Culture Historic Park, NM

See this gorgeous family picture? Well, it almost didn't happen. Why you ask? Randomly, someone's mother decided she wanted to climb up that ledge (that she's sitting on) for a better photo...when suddenly, her hands didn't actually grasp the rocks as firmly as she'd hoped and she slammed to the ground backwards, bouncing her head promptly off the ground before rolling over and thinking "shit, where am I and what is my name?" 

Ah, it makes for a good story, I think.... some Tylenol and a few days later, we're all back in good health. 

Here's some internet information about the history of this charming and wonderous place:

Chaco Canyon in New Mexico was the center of an Ancestral Puebloan culture between 850 and 1250 CE, featuring massive stone "great houses" like Pueblo Bonito. As a hub for ceremony, trade, and administration, it thrived despite harsh environment. The site features remarkable astronomical alignments and was abandoned by 1275 due to drought. 

Also, didn't realize my camera was in "illustration" mode - what the? Enjoy these beautiful images from my Nikon. 

We enjoyed our time in this magical place. The ruins were incredible, aside from my clumsy little fall, we had a superb day exploring with a handful of other tourists. We were even greeted by a curios group of elk. 

Mesa Verde National Park, CO 

This is a real treasure, we loved every second - it has the fanciest visitor center and the best organized pull offs. The nature and the pueblo ruins are stunning. I think I want to live here. 

And, that's a wrap for this one! We had the most incredible time exploring these parks and we are so grateful for the incredible time we've been shown. 

Swim Team Tryouts. They're good, right?