Carlsbad Caverns - The Visitor Center

We started our time at Carlsbad Caverns by exploring the visitor center. Well, actually, we stopped at the roadside pullouts on the seven-mile drive there first, but that's part of the educational experience, just like the displays inside the visitor center.

It only took a couple of hours to chat with the ranger (about hiking possibilities), read all the displays and peruse the bookstore. 

Then we got lunch at the little cafe before heading out on the nearby nature trail. Wayne tried their Caliente Quesadilla and I had a Prickly Pear BBQ Torta. Both were surprisingly good and decently priced.

The Chihuahuan Desert Nature Trail had plenty of signs to teach us all about the flora of the area. After finishing that, since we had read everything we wanted to, rather than hanging around at the park until sunset, we returned to our hotel and had dinner.

Finally, we ended the day by returning for the bat flight program. Even though we took a blanket to sit on, the rock seats were quite hard and uncomfortable, so beware! However, the ranger's spiel was informative and the bats came out right at sundown. It's early in the season, so their departure wasn't quite as dramatic as it would be in July, but it was still an amazing sight. And I found a video for you to watch if you want to see the "tornado" effect that occurs later in the summer (after the babies join the throng).

All in all, a great first day in this park!