Wild, Wild West Senior Trip - Day 3

We left our New Mexico pit stop and headed toward Colorado and really, the idea that prompted this senior trip for my not-so-little guy. Last year when our family came out west, he wanted to visit Mesa Verde National Park and see the Pueblo Cliff Dwellings. We just couldn’t fit it into our trip timeline last year so the idea of coming back west and taking in that park really prompted this whole trip!

We made it to Cortez, Colorado, our next stopping point, had some lunch, checked into our super cute hotel – The Retro Inn – and then made our way to the national park.

Sun Temple Structure

We drove to the top of the park and toured around the Chapin Mesa area. This is where we got our first glimpse of the cliff dwellings. Literally, ancestral Pueblo build their homes among recessed areas of canyon walls. I am still trying to wrap my head around their choice. I mean, y’all, they were climbing up and down a cliff face to get their home.

Each of these dwellings were along the same canyon wall in a row with quite a bit of space in between.

We got to see several dwellings from afar, each in various stages of preservation. They had areas for living, areas for temples, areas for dancing – all tucked among the canyon walls! Amazing!

Cliff Palace

We ended the day with a slower evening – hanging out – pizza at the hotel. I opted for ice cream instead of pizza. I checked out the cute area of our Retro Inn.

Once it was dark, my guy and I went star gazing! The boys weren’t interested. Their definite loss!! We are here during the new moon which is awesome in an area already known as one of the darkest areas in the United States. No moon and little light pollution equals great astrophotography!!! Soooooo many stars! I may force the boys to go tomorrow tonight if it's clear!!

Tomorrow, we get an up close and personal tour of one of the cliff dwellings - Balcony House!