by Missie Hills | Jul 31, 2026 | Local Adventures, North America
One of my favorite parts of traveling is discovering how quickly the world can change. In just a couple of hours, we went from rugged mountain trails to towering white sand dunes. It’s hard to believe landscapes so dramatically different can exist so close together.
For this national park adventure, we rented a cabin in Cloudcroft, and I completely fell in love with the little mountain town. At nearly 9,000 feet above sea level, the elevation was no joke. We definitely noticed ourselves slowing down, but honestly, it fit the pace of Cloudcroft perfectly. Nobody seemed to be in a hurry. People smiled as they passed by, shop owners welcomed us like old friends, and even dinner came with a memorable conversation with the local doctor. It’s one of those places where everyone seems to know everyone, and visitors are simply folded into the community for a little while. The town itself has a quirky personality that made wandering around just as enjoyable as any planned activity. We spent time exploring the local shops, and I finally picked out my own piece of New Mexico turquoise, a souvenir that feels special and sacred.
Our cabin turned out to be just as memorable. After the sun went down, I stepped outside with my camera and was treated to a sky full of stars framed by the tall pines surrounding the cabin. Sometimes you don’t have to go anywhere to find something beautiful. You just have to look up.
The wildlife didn’t disappoint either. Deer seemed to be everywhere, casually wandering through town and along the roads as if they owned the place. Then, as if New Mexico wanted to give us one more surprise, we were greeted by a friendly elk who didn’t seem the least bit concerned that we were stopping to admire her.
Eventually, it was time to see what White Sands National Park was all about.
At first glance, it seems…well…like a whole lot of sand. And technically, it is. But it’s unlike any sand I’ve ever experienced. Made from gypsum instead of quartz, it was incredibly soft beneath our feet and surprisingly cool to the touch, even under the bright New Mexico sun. Walking barefoot across the dunes was one of those simple moments that ended up being unexpectedly memorable.
Of course, we couldn’t leave without renting sleds. After giving them a good coat of wax, the boys spent what felt like hours racing down the dunes, hiking back up, and doing it all over again. Their laughter echoed across the landscape, and watching them enjoy something so simple reminded me that some of the best family memories don’t require elaborate plans.
Standing in the middle of those endless white dunes felt almost surreal. Everywhere you looked was white. No landmarks. No trees. Just wave after wave of brilliant gypsum stretching toward the horizon. It was quiet, peaceful, and unlike anywhere I’ve ever been.
Before heading home to Texas, we made one final stop in Roswell. How could we not? We embraced every bit of the town’s alien obsession, spent some time wandering through the International UFO Museum, and brushed up on our extraterrestrial lore. Was it a little hokey? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Also absolutely. Mostly because I had the best roadside burrito of my life.
Looking back, this trip wasn’t really about checking national parks off a list. It was about experiencing places that each had their own personality. Carlsbad inspired awe. Guadalupe Mountains brought peace. Cloudcroft felt like home for a few days. White Sands reminded us that nature can still surprise us. And Roswell…well, Roswell reminded us not to take life too seriously. Those are the trips I remember the longest.
Until next time,
by Missie Hills | Jul 31, 2026 | Local Adventures, North America
Some parks make your bucket list years in advance. Others quietly steal your heart. That was Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
From the moment we arrived, there was something different about this place. It had a peacefulness that’s hard to explain. Maybe it was the wide-open landscape, the fresh mountain air, or the slower pace compared to some of the more crowded national parks. Whatever it was, it invited us to slow down, breathe a little deeper, and simply enjoy being there. It was exactly what our souls needed.
The weather couldn’t have been better. Bright blue skies, comfortable temperatures, and just enough sunshine to make you want to stay outside all day. Of course, we couldn’t resist hitting the trails.
One of my favorite parts of hiking is paying attention to the details that most people walk right past. For this hike, my camera became obsessed with texture. Layers of weathered rock. Twisted tree bark. Desert plants that somehow thrive in one of the harshest environments. Every turn offered another pattern, another color, another reminder that nature is the greatest artist.
The trails themselves were challenging and kept everyone entertained. With plenty of rock scrambling and historical stops, the hikes felt more like an adventure than just a walk through the mountains.
Most visitors’ goal in this park is to hike Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas at 8,751 feet. But we saved that goal for another day giving us the perfect excuse to come back another day. Of all the places we visited on this spring break adventure, Guadalupe Mountains National Park may have been the biggest surprise. It wasn’t the tallest mountain or the most famous landmark that stayed with me. It was the feeling of the place. The quiet. The challenge. The beauty tucked into every rocky hillside and weathered cliff. This park stayed with me.
Next up: White Sands National Park
Until next time,
by Missie Hills | Jul 31, 2026 | Local Adventures, North America
For our 2026 Spring Break Grand Adventure, we decided to embark on yet another epic road trip, this time making the trek from Houston all the way into New Mexico to knock three more National Parks off our list.
And with every great road trip there is a random, maybe some what related, stop. This time, before we crossed the border into New Mexico, we pulled off in West Texas to explore the Caverns of Sonora, not quite knowing what to expect.
Before we even made it to the entrance, we were greeted by friendly peacocks casually wandering the property as if they owned the place. It added an unexpected quirkiness to the start of our trip that was just what we needed.
The Caverns of Sonora may not be the largest caves in the country, but they are packed with incredible formations. What makes them especially unique are the helictites, one of the rarest cave formations in the world. Unlike stalactites and stalagmites that grow with gravity, helictites twist and curl in seemingly impossible directions. Walking through the cave became a game as we spotted formations that looked like different animals and objects, each of us seeing something completely different. It was a fun way to slow down and appreciate the incredible artwork nature has been creating for thousands of years.
After leaving Texas behind, we crossed into New Mexico and settled into the town of Carlsbad. One thing quickly became clear: New Mexico knows Mexican food. We enjoyed one of the best meals of the trip before getting ready for the main event the next morning.
Nothing quite prepares you for your first glimpse of Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
After visiting the Caverns of Sonora the day before, we thought we had a pretty good idea of what to expect. We were wrong. The scale of Carlsbad Caverns is almost impossible to describe until you experience it yourself. Rather than taking the elevator, we chose to hike down through the Natural Entrance, descending more than 750 feet into the earth along a winding path. The walk itself felt like an adventure, with each turn revealing larger chambers, towering formations, and dramatic views that somehow kept getting bigger.
The park protects more than 120 known caves formed over millions of years when sulfuric acid dissolved the surrounding limestone. Today, visitors can explore enormous underground rooms decorated with stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstones, and countless other formations that continue to grow, one mineral-rich drop of water at a time. The highlight of the hike is the Big Room, one of the largest cave chambers in North America. Walking through it gives you a real appreciation for the sheer scale of what exists beneath our feet. Photos simply don’t capture the size or the quiet beauty of the cavern. By the time we made the climb back to the surface, our legs were tired, but it was absolutely worth every step.
Sometimes the best adventures aren’t found on the highest mountain peaks or along scenic overlooks. Sometimes they’re hidden hundreds of feet underground, waiting patiently for us to slow down, look around, and marvel at a world we rarely get to see.
Next stop: Guadeloupe Mountains National Park.
Until next time,
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