Rodeway Inn White City, NM

During our visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park we wanted to stay closest to the National Park as possible since we would be attending the Bat Flight Program that ended at sunset.  The Rodeway Inn is the only hotel that is located at the entrance to the Park all the other hotels in the area are at the least 18 miles away.

Our only disappointment at this location was that we didn't have enough time to explore their awesome waterpark located on property.

We booked a two queen bed non smoking room for the evening.  Since this is an older hotel the rooms were giant at no time did I feel like I was confined to a standard room.  I have actually stayed in Suites that were more confining then the room we had.  Which was a great luxury to have as our stay was brief and quick with a lot that had to get accomplished very quickly during our coming and going.

The hotel guest room was extremely well kept and clean.  It was fully equipped with an iron, ironing board, TV, coffee maker, microwave, and a small fridge with freezer.

Prior to our departure in the morning we were able to enjoy a complimentary breakfast we picked up in the lobby as we ran out the door to continue on our adventures.  The unique part of this breakfast was that they offered juice in a box so that I was not concerned about Jaxon spilling a small unstable cup in the truck.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Junior Ranger

During our study of Bats last Halloween we completed the first of two Primary Thematic Units on Bats.  The first Thematic Unit was focused on the book Stellaluna.  This was a fantastic introduction for children to the world of bats as it compares bats to birds.  It shares the similarities and differences and through the thematic unit we learned that bats are actually mammals not birds. When I read through our second thematic unit it included a great deal of discussion on Carlsbad Caverns and exploring the bats that lived there.  When planning our road trip through New Mexico I was excited to have the opportunity to complete our Bat study by observing Carlsbad Caverns Bat flight program.  It is such an amazing feeling to be able to take what you read in a book and have it come to life right in front of your eyes.  

It turned out that Carlsbad Carverns had so much more to offer than just a bat study.  Prior to our visit I downloaded and printed the Carlsbad Caverns Junior Ranger Book for ages 7-12 so that we could lay a strong foundation for our visit.  To become a Junior Ranger at this park you must complete 7 out of the 14 activities listed on the first page.  Since we have been studying bats prior to our visit I was able to incorporate pages 2, 5, 9, 10 and 11 into our daily work.  This told us the story of the Carlsbad Caverns, gave us a list of vocabulary words to prepare us for our visit, taught us about the habitat surrounding the caverns and what rules to follow during our visit.  Once we arrived we proceeded straight to the counter located to the right of the entrance to pay $5.00 a person to enjoy the children's audio tour that is offered.

Prior to descending down the trail we stopped at the gift shop located in the visitors center and picked up an explorer helmet for Jaxon.  This ended up being the perfect purchase.  As we climbed deeper and deeper into the cave it grew darker and darker.  At times there was very little light to guide our way.  This helped settle Jaxon's nerves about being on an adventure in a dark cave.  It did not settle our nerves as everytime he would turn to speak to us he would absolutely blind us with a stream of bright light.

I cannot express enough how amazing the childrens audio tour is.  The story is told by a young bat who lives in Carlsbad Caverns.  He takes you on a journey of exploration as you descend the 750 feet into the earth to learn about the Caverns he calls home.  He entertains your every moment as he leads you through the twists and turns of the 1.5 mile Natural Entrance Trail.  

To keep Jaxon busy during the entire walk we carried the Cave Scavenger Hunt.  It helped him locate and learn about all the different cave formations he saw on his adventure.

Once we reached the bottom we came to a cross in the road if we turned right we embarked on a whole new journey through the Big Room which is also included on our audio tour but not required to complete the Junior Ranger Program.  If we turned left we ended up in an area that provided restrooms, elevators escorting visitors back to the Visitors Center and a small cafe with table, chairs and souvenirs for purchase.  Since we were on such limited time we ended our audio tour here and proceeded to the cafe area.  Due to the extreme drop in temperature and an ill prepared mother Jaxon was cold so we purchased him a sweater and used the restroom then making ourselves comfortable at a table to work on our Junior Ranger book before making the journey back up to the surface.

I would make sure to leave a good amount of time to return by elevator, as the line was quite lengthy and took a good thirty minutes to reach the elevators.

Once we returned to the visitors center we joined Ranger Leah as she presented an amazing slide show called Batty for Bats! Learning all the basics of the bats of Carlsbad Caverns with her extreme enthusiasm made for an entertaining program.  Ranger Leah has a long history of working with young children and it truly showed as she entertained and dazzled Jaxon with her stories of bats full of facts.  

Since Ranger Leah worked so well with children we took this opportunity to complete page six of our Junior Ranger book "Ask a Ranger".

After leaving Leah we took a short half mile walk through the Nature Trail exploring all the different plants of the Chihuahaun Desert as we completed page 7 of our junior ranger program.  This was our first visit to the Chihuahan Desert and the start of our exciting desert habitat study.  

The half mile trail quickly became exciting as we began discovering centipedes and millipedes along the way. 

Once we completed the short loop we headed back inside to join Ranger Nikki for her program Discover the Night Sky.  This ranger program was directed to an older audience than Jaxon could comprehend but I as a parent found it very informative as her entire talk revolved around a book she had read as a child.  Find the Constellations is a great book that I am truly excited to incorporate into our curriculum.  The book is a wonderful beginning guide into the grand world of constellations.  It takes the child on a journey to discover the constellations in the nights sky. Once you hunt the night sky looking for the constellation you are able to turn the page then revealing the location of the constellation.  I find it to be a fun interactive book that entertains while you learn something new.  I strongly feel that exposing our children to concepts and words during their childhood help them to recognize the same concepts later during their education.  So maybe Jaxon did no fully understand anything during this Ranger Program but surely the next time he is learning about constellations he will at least remember the general notion.

Following the program we had the great pleasure of having Ranger Nikki present us with our badge prior to running off to the next Ranger Program.

The next ranger program was directed at a much younger age group.  As we wandered into the room we met Ranger Lindsay a seasoned Ranger of many National Park Deserts.  She would be leading us today through "Who Lives in the Desert?".  We eagerly listened to Ranger Lindsay read us stories of the Chihauhuan Desert and the many creatures that reside there.  

Finally the grand finale.  The whole reason we had made the journey south to Carlsbad Caverns was finally here. We all hurried to the amphitheater to find the best seats for our last program of the day The Bat Flight Program.  We took a seat and listened carefully to the rules.  Unfortunately the number one rule is no photographs.  So I cannot share with you a visual of how I felt as the bats took flight over our heads making their nightly journey out into the sunset to find food.  Watching a sunset alone is a moment that is breathtaking but adding hundreds of thousands of bats flying into the sunset as they take flutter past you into the nights sky is a majestic sight.  If everyone remains silent you can hear them and if your lucky they will soar directly above you.  This is an amazing site I would definitely recommend as I hope to return again one day to feel this breathtaking moment once more.

Bright Angel Cabin

Our last night in the park was at Bright Angel Cabins.  We booked a Rim Cabin and the view from our cabin was just one of the many reasons it quickly became our favorite accommodations the entire trip.  We all completely agreed that when we return we will stay here the entire time.  In addition to an amazing view the cabins gave Jaxon some extra space to wander independently outside, rather than being trapped inside a hotel room for the night.

Our cabin had two entrances a main door that was connected to a boardwalk which led to a row of other cabins and an independent door that lead to the canyon view side of the cabin.  All I needed was a chair and a glass of wine and I would have never left the canyon view in the evening.  Unfortunately they do not provide chairs outside but next time I will remember to bring my own.  

The room was a little tight but organized correctly made for the perfect fit for us when we included the outdoor space where Jaxon spent the majority of his time.  The bed was a double and we did have the option to bring in a rollaway bed which we declined so not to take up the little space we had available.

I woke up in the middle of the night and looked out of our window at a sky filled with stars.  Something I forgot was so beautiful, as adults we are so busy that we never take the time to stop and look up at the night sky.  Next time we return I will be planning less early morning adventures and more late night star exploring.

Our cabin was located right across from the Lookout Studio and was in close proximity to the main Bright Angel Lodge.  The Bright Angel Lodge houses two restaurants and our ultimate favorite was the ice cream shop which we visited on numerous occasions.

Upon our day of check out the most amazing thing happened.  I was standing in front of our cabin waiting for the bellman to pick up our luggage.  As I walked out to gaze out over the south rim one last time before departing I looked up to see the most graceful gliding creature I had ever seen, the California Condor. We had spent our entire Earth Day curriculum studying their conservation and it had been on my personal list of things to experience ever since we had learned about these amazing creatures. I am not a birdwatcher by nature but I stood there for a good ten minutes just watching the pair glide over the Grand Canyon winds enjoying themselves.  It had made for the most surreal ending to an amazing trip.

Grand Canyon South Rim

Unless you have visited the Grand Canyon I cannot put into words the excitement and beauty the canyon holds when you gaze out across the rim.  This trip we are exploring the South Rim and all the excitement it has to offer us while completing our South Rim Junior Ranger Program.

One of the many reasons I enjoy traveling to National Parks are the many Park Ranger Programs they have to offer.  We all learn so many new things as we explore the parks along side the rangers, soaking in all of their knowledge of the area.  Below is an example of what is offered during the summer months.  This trip we actually attended almost all the programs listed below with the exception of one or two.

One of our absolute favorite Ranger Programs was the Nature Walk that departed from the Park Headquarters daily during our visit.  We had the pleasure of joining Ranger Ronnie during her two hour exploration of the forest that is in between the park headquarters and the south rim trail.  She was so fantastic that two hours felt like ten minutes and i could have followed her around all day.  

She took us on an exploration of the entire area and the same walk we had made to the Park Headquarters that took ten minutes took two hours making our way back towards the rim trail.  We dissected owl pellets, smelled trees, looked for animal tracks and discussed the different fauna and flora of this elevation.  She held the attention of adults and children the entire nature walk.  It takes a special person to appeal to all generations.  So many times I have attended walks and talks and someone in our group was lost or overwhelmed with boredom.  This was not the case on this adventure to the rim.  If I ever return I will seek out any Ranger Programs she might be leading and return daily just to soak up the knowledge she has to share.

The other amazing Ranger Program we attended was the Fossil Walk that took place near Bright Angel Trailhead lead by Ranger Joel Kane.  This upcoming year Jaxon will be studying Rocks, Minerals and Fossils which is a foreign subject in my area of knowledge.  So when we sat down and Ranger Kane explained the different types of rocks in the simplest definition within the first five minutes I was ecstatic.  Light bulbs were going off the entire time I listened to Ranger Kane as he explained so well I wondered how I had never understood any of these concepts previously.

After deep explanation he led us to an area right next to the trail full of fossils.  From a distance I would have assumed this area was full of boulders not until we stopped and took a closer look did I see all the fascinating fossils from times of earths past.  If I had been making my way up the trail, that runs parallel to Hermit Road right past the Angel Bright Trailhead entrance, I would have walked by unknowingly missing so much history.  This is one of the many reasons I so enjoy attending Ranger Programs they always seem to take you off the beaten path exploring what you would have missed otherwise.

Jaxon could not contain his excitement to actually be hunting for fossils on his own and not in a excavation kit he had purchased at the local education store.  This was so much more to be outside exploring as if he himself was a Paleontologist on a search to answer questions from the unknown.

Located a short walk from El Tovar is the Hopi House.  The Hopi House was designed by Mary Colter and is famous for it's architecture.  While I found it be a beautiful building I found it much more interesting to walk around inside and gaze at all the amazingly crafted Native American arts and crafts for purchase.  

As we explored the Native American crafts inside the Hopi House it was solely by chance that a poster caught my eye displaying scheduled performance times for a Navajo Native American Dance Troup for 1:00 pm that day.  I was so excited to have Jaxon experience his first actual authentic native american dance it would completely set the stage for our next adventure further east through Navajo Nation.  Jaxon was in complete awe over the entire experience and just continued asking if they were real.  It is such a great feeling as a mother for you to see your child experience something that will change how they look at the world and history of our country.  

As we rushed down the Trail of Time to make it to the Ranger Program that was taking place at the Yavapai Geology Museum we actually ran right past a grazing elk and had to double take as we stopped for a brief second to take in her beauty before continuing our journey.

Once we began to venture away from the village we found ourselves at the Tusayan Museum and Ruins.  This would be our first official introduction to Native American ruins on our journey across the southwest.  We arrived early with great excitement and anticipation. 

As we made our way to the museum it happened to be the perfect introduction to the tribes we would later learn more about.  In the museum a single glass display case gave visitors the opportunity to observe pictures along with items that represented each individual tribe.

While at the Grand Canyon we learned repeatedly about the split twig figures you see above.  It is thought that they were once children's toys.  They were found by archeologists in caves that date back between 2000 to 4000 years old.  We were lucky enough to find a kit showing Jaxon how the children of the ancient civilizations had made them.  When we returned home and were reviewing and discussing our adventures discovering the history of the Grand Canyon we sat down and took the opportunity to create a couple together.

By the time we were done touring the museum the Tusayan Ruins Ranger led program was just about to begin.  The program took us on a journey through the Tusayan Ruin walk trail which lays a great introduction to the Ancient Puebloan People and how they might have lived long ago.  It guides you through the farm area introducing you to the three sisters, the different storage areas used to store their food after harvesting, the living areas they shared with their families and two Kivas.  

Almost everything we had just learned was new to us.  I had studied Native Americans but not at this depth.   Until this trip I had never heard of the three sisters, or a Kiva.  This is one of the many reasons I love the decision we made to embark on an education based on experience.  To have the opportunity for Jaxon to learn from so many different subject from knowledgeable people is a great gift.

Our last stop prior to exiting the park was the Desert View watchtower.  Perched on the rim of the canyon stood an amazing piece of history which I would have completely passed if it was not for a flyer catching my eye discussing a Cultural Demonstration series featuring a Hopi Potter and Painter.  This perked my interest as we made our journey to the watchtower to embark on a cultural experience.

Upon our arrival Jaxon was drawn to Bobby Silas the Hopi Potter and Painter who was demonstrating his tribes techniques and had no problem discussing and sharing with my son the culture and history he had learned to perfect through the years.  He was such a compassionate person to give my son the attention he did and took the time to explain and teach Jaxon all the techniques and ways of his tribe.  As we left with new knowledge of the Hopi Tribe we left an amazing awe inspiring experience as we pulled away from the Grand Canyon we all felt a small piece of sorrow.  

El Tovar

No trip to the South Rim village would be complete without spending sometime at the ionic El Tovar Hotel.  We were lucky enough to be able to stay one night at the hotel and explore it inside and out.  This hotel is located directly on the south rim of the Grand Canyon and has been seen in famous photographs and movies for decades.  Such as, the National Lampoon's Vacation during their visit to the Grand Canyon. Once you arrive the hotel does have bell service to assist you with your luggage.  They will even store your luggage and deliver it directly to your room, without you being present so that when you finally end your day of adventure your luggage is waiting for you.  However, El Tovar does not have it's own parking lot so we arrived early an were able to find close parking.  I have to note once we found close parking we never moved our truck the entire time we stayed in the village out of fear that we would lose our parking spot.  The hotel had easy access to the El Tovar dining room located in the hotel lobby.  Along with a comfortable lounge where we spent one afternoon with Jaxon to escape the heat while we waited for our room to be ready.

We booked a Deluxe King room which was located in the corner of the hotel.  The one thing I would request in the future would be a higher floor room.  We looked out our window to the back porch and at no time did we have any privacy at all.  That being the case we actually kept our curtains closed the entire time we were in our room.  The room was equipped with a Keurig Coffee Maker and a Refrigerator.

Located only steps from our room on the back porch were daily Ranger Programs.  It made for the perfect mid-day break for us.  Jaxon's favorite were the critter chats which I highly recommend for young Junior Rangers.  These talks only lasted about twenty minutes and at the end they would preform a Junior Ranger ceremony for anyone who had completed their Junior Ranger Activity Book.  We utilized this time to run back to our room, grab lunch, change clothes and work on our Junior Ranger Activity Book.  At the same time it also gave us a break from the hot sun as we sat back and relaxed on the porch.

While El Tovar is the most famous hotel in the park I was not as easily impressed and expected a much more grand lodge than what it was in reality.  Yet in my absolute honest opinion nothing within the park could ever compare to the beauty of the canyon.  So while a large part of the Grand Canyon village focuses on architecture and buildings I find myself still choosing locations within the park that give me the capability to gaze across the canyon.  That is a view that cannot be replicated.  So at night when I retreat to my hotel room to take in our adventures of the day I would always choose the hotel room no matter what level of stars, history or architecture it holds that gives me the ability to look out over the canyon just one more time before I retire for the evening.  Eager to see what adventures tomorrow will bring.

Grand Canyon South Rim Junior Ranger Raven Award

So I would like to start off by explaining that this National Park has two Junior Ranger Programs, North and South Rim.  Our adventures will only take us to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon this trip.  The Grand Canyon Junior Ranger Booklets are not available online you must pick them up at a ranger station once you arrive inside the park.  Another piece of information is that the South Rim does not provide or have any books for the North Rim Junior Ranger Program, but they do have North Rim badges.  So while you are able to end your North Rim Junior Ranger adventure at the South Rim, you cannot start your adventure here.  We started our visit at The Grand Canyon Visitors Center picked up our book and then proceeded straight to the theater to watch the park film.  During your visit you have to either attend a park ranger program or watch the park film, Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder.  We actually did both.  The film was a great introduction and also gave Jaxon a quick history lesson about the park before embarking on our adventure

To begin our journey lets discuss how the program is broken up by ages.  The Grand Canyon Junior Ranger Program is broken into three age groups, you can find listed below, which is also located on the inside of Junior Ranger Activity Book.  We will be walking you through what we did to complete the Raven level designed for ages 4-7 years old.  This is one of the few National Parks that offers a patch for each age group.  This makes it wonderful because I can now return to the Grand Canyon two more times with Jaxon and he will earn a completely new patch still filled with as much excitement as the first.  

As we made our way down the road towards the center of the village Jaxon was able to keep himself busy playing Canyon Bingo.  There is such an abundance of wildlife featured in the park that we completed almost the entire page prior to our arrival during our five minute drive.

There are so many magical views of the canyon I do not feel that I could ever choose a favorite.  No matter what angle I have ever seen it from it's awe inspiring beauty never ceases to amaze me.  To complete this page we choose the Lookout studios for a couple reasons.  Mostly location, it was literally directly in front of our cabin at Bright Angel.  It also had a nice walk down a couple of staircases leading you below the canyon rim giving Jaxon an alternative view.  This excited Jaxon as through out our entire visit to the Grand Canyon he envied all of the visitors who were brave enough to climb over the fence at the south rim trail and perch themselves on rocks for the perfect backdrop to any vacation photo.  Of course, having a mother who is terrified of heights this was never going to happen.  So by descending down the stairs of Lookout studios and allowing him to perch himself on a safe ledge provided by the studio it satisfied his craving of adventure for the day.  Lastly, it was fully equipped with a telescope which Jaxon found extremely fascinating to have the ability to examine each layer of earth down the canyon walls.

Daily between the hours of 11:00 - 3:00 pm located in front of the El Tovar backporch, right on the south rim trail with the most amazing backdrop was a Junior Ranger table.  Set up with brochures, Junior Ranger Booklets and an entire table full of items to explore with a different theme daily.  Jaxon loved exploring the table with the many hands on items they had available for the children.  The volunteers and rangers that were at the table handled the children exceptionally well answering every questions, patiently listening to their current adventures through the park, all while encouraging them to explore the items on the table the entire time.

After we completed our fossil walk we stayed in the area, located right next to the trail view overlook to the right of Hermit Road, to explore and find the perfect rock to study and complete page six of our Junior Ranger book.  It was one of the few areas that had loose rocks we could explore and examine.

During our early arrival for our Nature Walk with Ranger Ronnie we explored the Grand Canyon Head Office and found the most amazing blocks that went perfectly with the Stratigraphic Column.  The blocks were an exact replica and made completing this page so easy and enjoyable.    Later after our visit I found the Grand Canyon Nesting Blocks to purchase so that we could continue our education after we returned home.

We have taken approximately a dozen junior ranger oaths since our recent endeavor into our National Park adventures.  By far may I say this was the most beautiful backdrop for any Junior Ranger ceremony.  The access that gives the rangers the ability to perform such a special ceremony for each junior ranger is amazing.  The crowds near by cheer on the children giving them such a feeling of pride and accomplishment for all of their hard work in completing their ranger books through out the park.  I personally have not come across any other National Park yet that is able to hold such a powerful display of achievement for the children by not only the park rangers encouragementthemselves but also the by-standers observing the ceremony taking place.  

The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon

Since we booked our trip to the Grand Canyon so late we ended up staying outside the park for a couple nights.  The Grand at the Grand Canyon is located right outside the South Rim gate in a town called Tusayan.  The hotel was highly recommended and rated one of the only three star hotels in the area.  The bellman was absolutely fantastic and did not complain once about our two carts full of luggage.  The Grand was located right next to a bus service that we could conveniently take directly into the Grand Canyon Village if we chose to.  

As you entered the lobby of the Grand Hotel you felt as if you had been transported to a wilderness hunting lodge deep in the forest.  As the piano music serenades you to relax and enjoy your evening without having to leave the comfort of your hotel.  The fireplace would be the perfect place to cozy up to during cold winter months with a nice hot cup of cocoa.  The walls are filled with trophies of all the native animals you would expect to see in a hunting lodge to show of the accomplishments of the hunter.

We booked a standard two queen beds for our stay and were extremely comfortable.  Each room was equipped with a wet bar including a refrigerator, microwave and keurig coffeemaker. The rooms had a nice spacious balcony so after we got Jaxon settled in bed for the night we were able sit and relax on the balcony.

During our stay I happened to glance out our patio and saw the amazing sight of elk grazing in our parking lot.  Jax's and I rushed outside in our pajamas like crazy tourist to take pictures and just observe in pure enjoyment their beauty.

The hotel is one of the few in the area with an indoor pool to enjoy after a long day of hiking in the area.

Jaxon always seems to find a small sanctuary for himself no matter where we visit.  Here it happened to be our porch where he could work on his Junior Ranger program while we packed up for our next adventure.