Bandelier

On the first full day of our vacation, we visited Bandelier, an amazing national monument located about an hour from Santa Fe. People have lived in or near Bandelier for more than 10,000 years and the Ancestral Pueblo people built homes in the park's canyons (carved from the volcanic tuff) and on the mesas. We were able to climb ladders into some of the ancient homes, which were incredibly small. The day was beautiful, the scenery was gorgeous and it was a wonderful place for the girls to get the first stamp in their National Parks Passport. More photos here.

There was a controlled burn the day of our visit and in the very distance, you can see the smoke.
Auntie Kelly keeps an eye on Elizabeth as she scales a ladder into one of the ancient homes.

Family picture
This visit was a "full circle" visit for Mike and Kelly, who got engaged at Bandelier a little more than three years ago. This is the first trip to Bandelier they've made since the arrival of Felix.