This was the first trip here for both of us. I had made reservations for the 10:00 tour to the King's Palace Room and we got there about 9:30. I bought a National Park yearly pass since we are planning to visit quite a few National Parks this year. We took the elevator and headed down 750 feet to the cave.
The elevator doors opened, we walked out into the dining room. We couldn't believe how big it was and that is just the gathering place for the tour. We waited and chatted with a couple from Canada. He was an astronomer and was here to see the solar eclipse in Albuquerque on Sunday. She volunteered to be the last in line during the tour and we stayed right in front of them. I get claustrophobic and I have found if I stay at the end of the line, I don't get that feeling as much because I can wait if the line slows down while we are in a tight tunnel.
Our tour began and we walked through the doors in the cavern. Oh my gosh, I was surprised by the magnitude of the cave. It's so big, pictures just cannot capture it. It's also hard to take good pictures with the low lighting, but I'll try to post some of them.
We didn't want to go back up the elevator to the main restaurant, so we ate sandwiches underground in the dining room that has been here since the 1950's.
After lunch, we began the self-guided tour through the Big Room. There were railings along the walkway with paved paths. It was a relatively easy walk through the enormous room. Once again, the beauty and depth just can't be pictured. We tried to take pictures with the walk or people to give a perspective to the size.
We finished the tour and headed back up to the elevator. It had been a nice, cool 56 degrees in the cave, we walked outside and it was 97 degrees. Talk about a difference. We peeled off the jackets as quickly as possible.
Carlsbad Caverns is an absolutely beautiful place and worth the visit if you are ever in the area!
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