Just a Cave

We were passing through San Marcos this past weekend and decided to take a side trip to Natural Bridge Caverns. I’ve passed by the billboards advertising those caverns dozens of times without giving them much thought, figuring that the caverns couldn’t amount to much—certainly not compared to Carlsbad Caverns, which I’ve seen once or twice.

But S thought the kids would enjoy seeing the caverns.

While we were lined up with the other tourists on the sloping walkway waiting to head down into the mouth of the cave, my younger daughter, fresh from Disneyworld, asked me if there was going to be a movie. I told her no. Then she asked if there was going to be a ride. “No, honey. It’s just a cave.”

It was a pretty good cave, though. Lots of stalagmites and stalactites with fanciful names, as you would expect. There were some very big rooms. Water dripping on us from time to time. I jokingly asked my older daughter if the water dripping on us meant that a stalagmite would start growing on us. She dismissed the possibility quickly and perhaps didn’t realize I was joking.

It was quite a long walk in and out and down and up. About a mile in all. I didn’t think my younger daughter would make it on her own, but she did. Both girls were excited to be there.

I don’t actually remember all that much about Carlsbad Caverns, but I’m sure—because it is more famous—that it must be bigger and more spectacular than the little Natural Bridge Caverns of San Marcos. But Natural Bridge Caverns were the caverns that we had handy Sunday afternoon, and they suited us just fine. Comparisons to grander caves a thousand miles away would be pointless.