Of the New Mexico NPS sites I visited on this journey, Bandelier National Monument was my favorite.
I ended up camping there for a couple nights. The campground was basic – firepits, shared potable water pumps, bathrooms, and dumpsters. A large group of kids, on a field trip I assumed, was staying there. I miss interacting with kids so it was fun to watch and listen to them; they were having a ball.
The visitor center area is unusually big for a relatively small NPS site. In addition to indoor exhibits there is a big gift shop including a separate room with high-end jewelry and pottery. There is also a restaurant.
The actual monument, which preserves ancestral Puebloan homes, was very interesting. One can walk amongst the ruins–and even inside them, in some cases. The grounds were well done and well maintained. Guided tours of the site were available, too. Or, another option is to use the self-guided tour in the NPS app.
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From Rim Rock, I headed to Phoenix for several days before heading to my seasonal job in Colorado. Since I’ve been on the road full-time, I enjoy big cities only when I need to run multiple errands. In this case, I bought a new truck topper, got some work done on my truck and on my trailer, took Sadie to the vet (twice, it turned out), got a haircut (once again, twice after an alarming botched first cut), made a big Walmart supply run for the summer, etc., etc. This was the first time I had spent significant time in Phoenix. It’s a big and busy place. I was happy to get all my chores done but was also glad to see it in my rearview mirror.
Having done some research, I next headed for destinations in northern New Mexico with continually increasing elevations. The reason being that I had been at only 1,000ft in Phoenix but was headed to 9,400ft for the summer! In order to avoid any altitude-related sickness, I decided to “stair-step” the approach to my Colorado goal. It worked well as I had no significant reactions after my arrival later.
The first place I went was El Morro National Monument which had served as an oasis for travelers many years ago and includes many inscriptions and petroglyphs as well as Puebloan ruins. For reasons I will not relate here, however, I stayed only briefly, so I will need to re-visit this National Park location in the future to explore everything it has to offer.
Next was Valles Caldera National Preserve, a 14-mile wide circular depression created by a volcanic eruption, which I was able to explore. While this site was interesting to see, there wasn’t a great deal to do on the two overcast days I was there. (I had originally arrived late in the afternoon one day and did not know they were closing soon after, so I came back the next day. I easily found a nearby national forest camping spot where, incidentally, it snowed. Snow in May – an unusual phenomenon for this mid-western/southern gal!). Back at Valles Caldera, I went through the small visitor center/gift shop and did a self-guided tour of nearby buildings and structures, reading signage along the way. I also enjoyed the area scenery and quite a large community of prairie dogs! There were some hiking opportunities on which I passed because of the inclement weather.
(After clicking the first photo in the gallery for a slideshow, click the “i” for full captions/more info. You may need to scroll down to see the captions.).
Camping in the Rim Rock area has always been enjoyable with its beautiful scenery and ample hiking opportunities. I have lost count of how many times I’ve stayed here, so I was surprised to stumble on a better camping spot than on previous occasions – better signal and away from the road plus ample room for all our rigs.
We enjoyed a full moon while here and, while visiting a nearby creek, Sadie (accidentally) enjoyed her first dog paddling adventure.
We also visited the nearby National Park site, Montezuma Castle National Monument, which I recommend. It’s a five-story “Southern Sinagua people” cliff dwelling on a limestone cliff.
(After clicking the first photo in the gallery for a slideshow, click the “i” for full captions/more info).
The 63 “main” U.S. National Parks have long been of interest to me but a while back, I also began seeking out the smaller NPS sites such as battlefields, national monuments, recreation areas, seashores, etc. Visiting them has been interesting, fun, and educational.
This occasion included experiencing two such sites with a couple friends, Wupatki National Monument (a Pueblo center of trade & culture) & Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument (whose name is self-explanatory)–both near Flagstaff, AZ. I was glad to finally visit these because I had passed by them on several previous occasions. In addition to the grounds, both had good visitor centers where I picked up my usual small keepsakes.
Circumstances took us back to Wupatki Visitor Center a second time where we lucked out as a group of area roadster enthusiasts had stopped by in their amazing vehicles. What a treat! I enjoyed seeing and photographing these unique antique machines.
(After clicking the first photo in the gallery for a slideshow, click the “i” for full captions/more info).
This was my second time to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. After my first time here, I made mental notes about places I didn’t get to that I wanted to see on my next visit. These included Kolb Studio and the Desert View Tower–both of which I was able to explore in addition to viewing the awesome Canyon.
This brings to mind something I have thought of several times in the past and have expressed to others: I feel very lucky as a nomad to RE-visit national parks and other nationally known locations again and again. While at such places, I see many folks who are typically making their one and only visit. It is not lost on me that I have the unique opportunity to return to see missed areas, to visit in different seasons, or simply to enjoy these exceptionally beautiful sights over and over.
The Kolb Studio was not what I expected. I thought it would be filled with the photography and equipment of the famous Kolb brothers, known for images of early Canyon visitors and for unique photos sometimes taken from risky vantage points. It did have some of their photography, but it was mostly a gift shop and a gallery of other artists’ works. That was a little disappointing, but I enjoyed what I did get to see of their work. The Studio building itself, perched on the edge of the Canyon near the well-known Bright Angel TH, was also interesting.
The Desert View Tower was worth the visit. Built in 1932 (the year of my parents’ birth, it so happens), it includes replicas of Native American building, art, petroglyphs, etc., and provides the highest viewpoint on the South Rim. Included in the area are informative kiosks and signage, the obligatory gift shop, food and drink (in other buildings), and restrooms.
It is always a treat to see the wonder of the Grand Canyon. It never looks real to me; it’s unfathomable. Yet, I love photographing it and trying to capture unique images. Again, I feel blessed to have visited it multiple times–twice to the South Rim; once, to the North, before the recent devastating fire. I hope all who are reading this get to visit.
(After clicking the first photo in the gallery for a slideshow, click the “i” for full captions).
Next was White Sands National Park. There is a small but good visitor’s center that includes a film about the Park. I always see the Park film if there is one. It’s usually a good way to get an overall picture of the Park and/or to learn about its history. They are always free. The staff was also nice about answering several questions I had.
I enjoy seeing and photographing sand dunes because of the different patterns the wind makes in the sand and the way the light plays off the dunes. Sand is also challenging for me, though, because it is the absolute worst for camera equipment–even more so than water. If the sand is blowing, it can actually ruin equipment, so if that starts, I usually retreat to my vehicle or at least put away my camera(s).
There was not a great deal of wind, however, and I was somewhat able to take advantage of late afternoon light before leaving. I enjoyed this Park but, on this occasion, one afternoon was a long enough visit for me.
Before my arrival, I had scoped out a dry camping spot which was quite close by. It was by an evaporation pond and signs said not to use the water in any fashion. The birds used it, however, and it made for some nice reflection photographs. There were no amenities here, but it was a great, easy-to-access location with space for several rigs next to the water.
