Carlsbad, White’s City
What’s great here are the caverns. That’s the reason to come. Carlsbad Caverns are one of three World Heritage Sites in New Mexico, the others being Taos Pueblo and Chaco Canyon. You can easily spend days exploring the underground formations, sure to instill a sense of wonder in anyone who views them. It can be very hot in the summer, but it’s always cool in the caverns. Bat flights and the water slide at White’s City make this an excellent family vacation spot.
GUIDANCE Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau (575-887-6516; www.carlsbadchamber.com), 302 S. Canal, Carlsbad.
White’s City (575-785-2291; www.whitescity.com), 6 Carlsbad Caverns Highway, White’s City.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY Carlsbad Medical Center (575-887-4100), 2430 W. Pierce Street, Carlsbad.
Lea Regional Medical Center (575-492-5251), 5419 N. Lovington Highway, Hobbs.
To See
TOWNS Carlsbad, at the junction of US 285 and US 62/180, while known for its underground caverns, has made the most of its location on the Pecos River with its annual “Christmas on the Pecos” boat rides to see the lights along the banks. Make time for a visit to the Living Desert Zoological and Botanical State Park north of the city off US 285, a showcase of flora and fauna native to the Chihuahuan Desert. Also along the Pecos, stroll 2.5 miles of winding pathways. Boating, fishing, swimming, and waterskiing are all available here.
White’s City, 13 miles south of Carlsbad on US 62/180, White’s City is at the entrance to Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Named for Jim White, the discoverer of Carlsbad Caverns. Numerous motels, RV park, dining, water park just outside Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
HISTORIC LANDMARKS, PLACES, AND SITES 
Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park (575-887-5516; www.nmparks.com), 1504 Miehls Drive, Carlsbad, northwest end of town, off US 285. Open daily summer 8–8, winter 9–5. Closed Christmas. This marvelous indoor/outdoor attraction highlights native plants and animals of the Chihuahuan Desert. An easy 1.3-mile trail leads through desert habitat. Another is the greenhouse packed with succulents and cacti. Over 40 species of critters, including mountain lion, endangered Mexican gray wolf, bobcat, javalina, and bear, call this zoo home. $5 per vehicle.
NATURAL WONDERS Carlsbad Caverns National Park (575-785-2232), 727 Carlsbad Cavern Highway, Carlsbad. Memorial Day weekend–Labor Day weekend daily 8–5, last entry into cave 3:30 PM. Cave tours begin 8:30 AM. Labor Day–Memorial Day weekend 8–5, last entry into cave 2 PM. Cave tours begin 8:30 AM. The “Eighth Wonder of the World,” with a year-round temperature of 56 degrees Fahrenheit that is constant throughout this phenomenal underground display of stalactites and stalagmites that were formed drop by drop over millions of years. Over 100 limestone caves predate the dinosaurs. An elevator is available for those who prefer to ride the 750-foot descent. Ranger-guided tours available for the Hall of the White Giant, Spider Cave, and others for $8.50–$20. Pet kennels are available, and portions are wheelchair accessible. The park also has over 50 miles of primitive backcountry hiking, with trailheads located along park roads. $12 adults, $3 children, under age 15 free. Good for three days.
Scenic Byways Guadalupe Back Country Scenic Byway (575-234-9572). NM 137/US 285, 30 miles. Twelve miles north of Carlsbad or 23 miles south of Artesia, enter at junction of NM 137 and US 285 near Brantley Lake State Park. Travel 30 miles to the southwest for dramatic views of the East Guadalupe Escarpment along a winding road with waterfalls, rugged limestone hills, and canyons. There are many possibilities for discovery here, with jeep trails and opportunities for hiking, caving, and mountain biking. Driving south on the byway, you encounter a sign that directs you to Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area (open year-round, 8:30 AM to sunset, $5 per vehicle). The road descends 8 miles through winding canyons on the way to the falls. The recreation area is for day use only; stone picnic shelters with grills are available. A paved path leads from the picnic shelters to the falls; a dirt path leads up to the top of the mesa. Two hundred million years ago, in the Permian period, this area was an inland sea. Sitting Bull Falls is a small remnant of the water from this ancient time. The falls are the result of water flowing from a spring located in the canyon above. From the observation point at the end of the paved path, a 200-foot-high wall of tufa looms in front of you. It extends up the canyon for three-quarters of a mile. The creation of this lightweight, porous rock from calcium carbonate precipitating out of the water has taken hundreds of thousands of years. When plants die and fall into the water, a chemical reaction occurs and fossils are formed. This process is still ongoing at the bottom of the falls.