Comments on: New Mexico – Episode 106 http://usa.amateurtraveler.com/2007/09/15/episode-106-new-mexico/ The Amateur Traveler is a travel show that helps you find the best places to travel. It includes both a weekly audio podcast and a twice monthly video podcast. It also includes travel news and resources. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:44:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Weshttp://usa.amateurtraveler.com/2007/09/15/episode-106-new-mexico/comment-page-1/#comment-28094 Wes Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:29:08 +0000 http://AmateurTraveler.com/2007/09/15/episode-106-new-mexico/#comment-28094 I want to reinterate that Carlsbad is awesome. If you make plans to go well in advance and are in reasonable shape, seriously look into the Wild Cave Tour. The tours are very, very limited but extremely rewarding. I went in 2002 and they only allowed 800 people A YEAR into the side cavern (3-4 hours, some very tight places). The Wild Cave Tour hits a portion of the cave that still has some of the original footprints from the first explorers in the side passage decades ago.As for the bat program, I went in late April. The bats are just beginning their nightly exodus at that time of the year. Don't expect the national park rangers to tell you that tho. They prefer you think that the bats aren't there until the summer. They even go so far as to lie about it to protect the bats (I was in disbelief, but hey...it is the government).White Sands is nice (Great Sand Dunes NP in Colorado is better tho). The sand is the most amazing shade of white (gypsum).The mtns just east of Carlsbad/White Sands are a nice drive as well. You would never expect the wooded terrain considering the arid dessert below. I want to reinterate that Carlsbad is awesome. If you make plans to go well in advance and are in reasonable shape, seriously look into the Wild Cave Tour. The tours are very, very limited but extremely rewarding. I went in 2002 and they only allowed 800 people A YEAR into the side cavern (3-4 hours, some very tight places). The Wild Cave Tour hits a portion of the cave that still has some of the original footprints from the first explorers in the side passage decades ago.

As for the bat program, I went in late April. The bats are just beginning their nightly exodus at that time of the year. Don’t expect the national park rangers to tell you that tho. They prefer you think that the bats aren’t there until the summer. They even go so far as to lie about it to protect the bats (I was in disbelief, but hey…it is the government).

White Sands is nice (Great Sand Dunes NP in Colorado is better tho). The sand is the most amazing shade of white (gypsum).

The mtns just east of Carlsbad/White Sands are a nice drive as well. You would never expect the wooded terrain considering the arid dessert below.

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