After a long road trip that went from California to Waterton National Park in Canada, we were mostly in the mood to get home! I have a little rule that I have to see something interesting everyday, even if I have to go out of my way. Well, that’s how we ended up at Craters of the Moon!

We drove through Montana and then into Idaho. I scanned the AAA travel guide and noticed that COTM was sort-of on the way. We decided to make it our goal to get to this monument by the end of the day! Side note, the highway through Montana and Idaho was worth the trip on it’s own. (There’s something to be said about taking the road less travelled!)

Upon entering COTM, we were pleasantly surprised by the strange landscape. It really is like anything I’ve ever seen here on the mainland (I imagine Hawaii has amazing lava beds too but I have yet to see them for myself!). My kidlings and I really got a sense of being in an alien environment (not UFO alien but just completely out of our range of expectations).

It was VERY hot outside and yet temperatures in one cave were low enough to allow for… ice! My son was fascinated by that particular cave. I have to say this was one of my son’s favorite stops during our road trip.

Tip: Wear VERY sturdy shoes! The lava beds are glass-like in some places.

The pic I attached is of my kiddos climbing out of one of the caves.