Kartchner Caverns trip

[AZsix]

We just returned last night from our first full family trip in the PUP. We stayed one night in Tucson at a commercial cg. The second night we stayed at Kartchner Caverns SP. For those that have never been I have just one word-GO! The cg at the sp is great. All have water/elec and some have sewer hookups. The bathrooms were spotless (except for a spider or two) and the showers were the same. They have a family shower/bathroom available as well. There is a dump station just on the road just as you leave the cg. There is a park ranger that makes rounds on a regular basis and there is a camp host. The cost was $22. The tour of the caverns was fantastic. I highly recommend it. It did get very windy during the night which kept me awake a little but it was a great experience. I wish we had stayed there two nights.

When I was paying at the front entrance the park ranger asked me, "Is that a Plantation?" I said that it was and he told me that he and his wife had one some years ago and actually lived in it full time for 4 1/2 yrs! He said they stayed in 109 places during that time. They learned that it took 3 gals of water per person per day which covered cooking, drinking, showering and cleaning. I couldn't do it but to each their own.

After leaving Kartchner Caverns we went to Wilcox, AZ to Apple Annies ordard and went apple picking. I have posted a few pictures from the trip. http://picasaweb.google.com/sixinaz/1stFamilyCampingTrip

I had one minor problem with the PUP as a developed a water leak in one of the lines and couldn't run water into the PUP the second night of the trip. It wasn't a big deal as we didn't use the sink that much anyway. We took the dinner dishes up to the bathrooms where they had a sink out back for dish washing. I replaced that line along with the others today so that problem is solved.

All in all it was a very enjoyable trip and we can't wait to get out there and do it again.

[AustinBoston]

The second night we stayed at Kartchner Caverns SP. For those that have never been I have just one word-GO!...The tour of the caverns was fantastic. I highly recommend it.

Great trip report!

I recently did a write-up on caves in and near National Parks that you can read here:
http://www.arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=64711

But your post is a great reminder that there are caves in many state parks as well as comercially operated tourist caves.

Austin

[maromeo]

Gary,

That is where we have wanted to go for the past few years but had to wait until DD was old enough and healthy to go into the caves.  She is now but we are saddled with Soccer Season and DH is a coach this fall season. It will have to be after December. Did you make reservations or just wing it for the cave tours?
 
We were thinking about heading out to Apple Annies during this week but I am not sure it is doable.

Thanks again for posting your info.

Mary Romeo

[AZsix]

Gary,

That is where we have wanted to go for the past few years but had to wait until DD was old enough and healthy to go into the caves.  She is now but we are saddled with Soccer Season and DH is a coach this fall season. It will have to be after December. Did you make reservations or just wing it for the cave tours?
 
We were thinking about heading out to Apple Annies during this week but I am not sure it is doable.

Thanks again for posting your info.

Mary Romeo

If you look on their website it will show you the ages for the various caves. My youngest is five and he was able to go into the section that we toured. There is one part (the Great Room or the Big Room, whatever they call it) that has an age restriction. It opened for the season the day we left. It was closed due to the fact that the bats were raising their young and their thinking is that the bats were there first and they leave them alone. We did make our reservations over the phone but people were walking up getting tickets. I think it depends on the time of year. It's best to get them in advance just to be sure.

We do plan on going again but we want to stay at least two days at the park. We didn't get to hike at all which I would have liked to have done. Though it's extremely rare, I was told that hikers occasionally encounter a mountain lion. They said they never wander into the campground however.

I'm sure you'll have a great time whenever you decide to go.

[maromeo]

Thanks for the info. Maybe we will try over spring break. It all depends on how many northern visitors we have visiting.

Mary Romeo