A National Park Trio: Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands

I like to do a weeklong jaunt (usually somewhere in the Southwest) every winter. The National Parks are a little less crowded and the desert heat isn’t so intense. In 2018, it was Death Valley / Bryce / Grand Canyon. In 2019, it was Page / Monument Valley / Four Corners. This time, it was this lovely slice of West Texas and New Mexico over four glorious days. Of course, traveling in a COVID world is fraught with uncertainty. I almost had to bail on this trip because Carlsbad Caverns was closed for a time (and it was the crown jewel of this jaunt). But, luckily it reopened. Some amenities are closed, like ranger-led tours, but if you like communing with nature and follow all the rules and regulations and keep somewhat flexible, you’ll have a great time. I was also by myself and it’s pretty easy to keep your distance from everyone else out on the trail, and many people were very courteous and wearing masks. So go out there if you’re comfortable. <a href="https://medium.com/@jrosebud/a-national-park-trio-guadalupe-mountains-carlsbad-caverns-white-sands-d6871546a7fa">Read More</a>