Aztec Ruins National Monument

It's no secret that I love to travel.  If I had the time and resources, I would venture to the far corners of the world.  Yet I never cease to be amazed by all the gems that are right within arms reach (or at least a day's drive.)

Enter Aztec.  I'd never even heard of this tiny town, located in the northwestern corner of New Mexico.  According to its sign, Aztec is home to 6800 friendly people and 6 old soreheads.


Despite its obscurity, the ancestral puebloan dwellings at Aztec Ruins National Monument are tremendous, equaling those at Mesa Verde and Bandeliers.  I'm so glad that Grandma Susie recommended we stop, or we would have driven right on by.

For all its being misunderstood (early settlers mistakenly believed the place had been constructed by the Aztecs), the ancestral puebloan dwellings are remarkably well-preserved, with some of the original timber still in place after 800 years.

Extremely accessible, Aztec would be particularly great for those with limited mobility.  The ruins are located immediately behind the visitors center along a paved half mile trail.  Here's Grandpa Charles peering into the reconstructed Great Kiva.  It's much roomier than one might expect.

A fun series of doorways...

...even if you do have to duck.  Good thing Grandma Susie's flexible!

Annika guards the way out.

Stunning.

Here you can see the walls of a rare tri-walled kiva.

Brooklyn tests one of the T-shaped doorways.

Note some of the original ponderosa pine beams sticking out.

Worth photographing.

Annika took this cute picture of Grandma Susie and Grandpa Charles.

Glad to be a happy (albeit silly) family.

Susie and Charles, thank you so much for discovering this gem right in our southwestern backyard.  It's a treasure not to be missed.