CARLSBAD CAVERNS - COUPLE'S WEEKEND

[Jess Karren]

Having lived in Lubbock, TX for the past 15 years, I have never been to Carlsbad Caverns. The boss and I are looking to get away on a little road trip to Carlsbad, NM. Those who have been there, is it worth the weekend trip? What lodging do you recommend? (Wife is not a camper.) Good places to eat, etc?

[John Chambers]

Jess, my family and I just did that trip for a long weekend and it was a great time. Stay at the Hotel El Capitan in Van Horn, it's a fully restored, classic hotel with a spectacular restaurant. Price is on par with staying at a Holiday Inn. You are about an hour and a half from Carlsbad, and you can hit Guadalupe Mountain state park on the way to the caverns. Travel time to the caverns from the hotel is about 1.5 hours.

[red-it]

Tagged for interest

[Shotgunwillie]

Definitely take the natural entrance into the cavern. It's a much better experience than taking the elevator down to the big room. There are some good trails around there too.

[Jess Karren]

Thanks guys! So Van Horn is on the list but is 5 hours from me and CC is 1.5 to 2 hours away. What about Roswell, NM?

[ToddC]

Carlsbad is fun. Definitely natural entrance on cave, but look into King's Room tour as well (via elevator from Visitors Center). Last time we were there, about 15 years ago, we also took the Slaughter Canyon "New Cave" tour one hour south of Carlsbad- hike up mountain to an un-improved entrance, and tour record-breaking features in cave on barely improved trails using your own flashlights. Kind of like spelunking for yuppies :lmao:

Have fun and be safe, I'm interested in what you find!

[Jess Karren]

Thanks Todd!! This little planning endeavor has now got us between Carlsbad and Fredericksburg. Never been to either one. Oh the choices!!! What is a simple man to do? :)

[Jess Karren]

So despite the title, what to do in Fredericksburg?

[Zed Stewart]

Jess, my family and I just did that trip for a long weekend and it was a great time. Stay at the Hotel El Capitan in Van Horn, it's a fully restored, classic hotel with a spectacular restaurant. Price is on par with staying at a Holiday Inn. You are about an hour and a half from Carlsbad, and you can hit Guadalupe Mountain state park on the way to the caverns. Travel time to the caverns from the hotel is about 1.5 hours.

Plus 1 for the Hotel Captitan. That is one cool stay.

Be sure to go through the museum in White's City when you go and look behind all of the curtains. :yup: Its a neat place with unusual exhibits.

[Zed Stewart]

So despite the title, what to do in Fredericksburg?

Eat peaches and look at tourists while you go to the Nimitz museum.

[Jess Karren]

It has been decided, the Hotel Capitan will be the hotel for the Carlsbad trip. Putting together the short list as we speak. Thanks ya'll.

[Jamitchell074]

Fredericksburg has many things in easy driving distance in addition to the Nimitz Museum: Longhorn Caverns, Cascade Caverns, The Alamo and a Mexican Free Tail Bat Colony.


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[ChuteTheMall]

Be sure to schedule a sunset sitting outside the cave entrance, if you want to see a half a million bats suddenly rush out to go bug hunting in the evening.
They had a little amphitheater and a ranger there, it's a popular event.

[Psalm112]

It's my understanding hotels in and around Carlsbad are often full due to the oil rig workers in the area.

After hitting the Caverns you might want to consider a trip over to Lincoln, it's about an hour west of Roswell. Land of Billy the Kid, historical gunfights of the Lincoln Country wars, etc.

[Bob F.]

FWIW: Some WV caves are thought to actually link up with Carlsbad Caverns. That info from my college days when I hung w/ some spelunkers and ground-water hydrologists (pre-historic!).

[SEANSTRAIT]

Eat peaches and look at tourists while you go to the Nimitz museum.

This, the Nimitz museum is awesome and Fredericksburg is just a nice place to spend a family weekend.