Mesa Verde NP

We spent most of our morning checking out Mesa Verde National Park on Tuesday. The landscape of this park doesn't stick out like those of lower Utah, however the one thing that makes Mesa Verde special is the cliff dwellings.

Once you get into the park there are a number of overlooks to see the numerous dwellings built into the canyon walls. It is quite incredible to think about the Pueblo living in such a fashion.

Unfortunately this park is more geared towards the serious hiker, which I would normally consider Shannon and I to be. However, with two kids in tow a number of the hikes where ruled out due to steep cliffs, and a number of ladder climbs.

We where able though to climb down to Spruce Tree House with the kids. One of the great things to check out there are the Kivas. They are holes in the ground with ladders sticking out. They allow you to climb down into them about 8 feet down. At first the kids where not to sure about wanting to go down, but after heading down first they both had to check it out as well. In fact when it came time to leave I had to drag them away from the Kiva. I think they found their new hideout :)

Overall I really want to go back either without kids or when they are older and can do the more strenuous hikes.