We are almost at the end of the semester and with the expenses that seniors are making towards graduation, I wanted this week’s city affordable but also an exciting place you can experience.
Carlsbad, N.M. is mainly known for the Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the Pecos River. These two attractions are currently free at the moment and will definitely help your wallet from shrinking. The National Park is about three hours away from Las Cruces and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park rangers suggest entering the Caverns no later than 1 p.m. and if you plan on hiking back to the main entrance, they suggest on starting no later than 3:15 p.m., to give you plenty of time to hike back.
Aside from hiking, you can attend one of the ranger guided tours or if you are a fan of bats, you can check out the Bat Flights Program in the evening.
The entrance fee for this attraction only $10 for adults aged 16 and older but younger attendees can enter for free. There are also several weeks where the park is free and I highly recommend going during the days listed below if you’re looking to save some cash:
- Jan. 18 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- April 16 through 24 – National Park Week
- Aug. 25 to 28 – National Park Service Birthday (and following weekend)
- Sept. 24 – National Public Lands Day
- Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
For those of you who also want a little fun in the sun, the Pecos River has some great accommodations for you. The attraction has a river beach that is free and open to the public– perfect for catching some sun after hiking in the dark at the caverns. Activities as this location include paddle boats that can be rented and taken down the river and there are also boat tours which can be especially fun during the Christmas holidays.
These are all just a few of the reasons why you should go to Carlsbad, N.M. but there are definitely so many more. For those of you are planning one last get away with your friends before the end of the semester, go to Carlsbad!