How I did it: in addition to taking the unguided big room tour that everyone can take any time, we also took a little guided tour as well.  it's magnificent.  huge and utterly unlike anything you find above ground.  we'd been to kartchner caverns near tucson as well, and i also recommend that... not nearly as huge but some gorgeous formations. 

next time we hit carlsbad, we're taking the off trail lower cave tour where you descend on a knotted rope and crawl around on your belly for a while and get to see even more off the beaten path stuff.

Lessons & tips: don't stay in carlsbad - it's too far away.  stay in white's city, where the whole town is 2 motels and a small strip of stores that look like a wooden front of a cowboy ghost town. 

Nov 06, 2008, 06:48PM PST | 0 comments | 2 cheers