White Sands

Every year in Tucson, the locals celebrate Rodeo Weekend. Like it or not, it's part of the community color and a heritage of  the hispanic culture that is Tucson. You can read more about the tradition here.  Because of  the rodeo, local schools close down on Thursday and Friday, so we get a four day weekend!  My kids and I took advantage of this opportunity to visit The White Sands in New Mexico. I have always heard what a cool place it is and I knew the kids would love it, so we made the 6 hour drive to check it out for ourselves. Luckily, we have family at about the halfway point, so we broke the drive up into two days. Thanks, Mom! If you ever get the chance, GO! You. Will. Be. So. Glad.

 

As you drive in, it starts looking other-worldly.

It was surprising though, how much variation there was in the landscape.

From stark, low rolling dunes.....

To scrubby, desert adapted plants growing in the lowland.

As pretty and interesting as the landscape was, we were there to have fun! And have fun we did.......

A Boy and his Sled..........

And one of the locals pointed out the best hills for sledding.

All in all, it was a great day, but I think my daughters sand drawings summed it all up best:

Indeed.