Everybody needs places to play in and and pray in. -John Muir

White Sands National Park is a natural wonder near Alamagordo, New Mexico. 275 square miles create the largest gypsum area in the world. There is no ocean or lake on the other side of any hill, and it feels like we have entered a winter wonderland in the middle of the desert.

We have. It is another one of those extraordinary places that appear to be ordinary.

Play builds the kind of free-and-easy, try-it-out, do it yourself character. – J. Hymes

Ah, yes, boys and their toys. And that, my friends, is when I get out of the Jeep. He wants to go up and over everything. Not me.

I just want to get out and play in it.

Play is the highest form of research. – Einstein

Interestingly enough, if you dig a few inches down, the sand feels damp and cool. The high water table is what keeps the sand intact, and is responsible for the abundance of wildlife. There are no topographical maps due to the constant change, and trust me it feels just like running through a fresh fallen snow, without the cold.

Sledding? It is a must at White Sands and if you forget the sleds, no worries, the Visitor Center rents them.

And remember…

In the end, kids won’t remember that fancy toy or game you bought them. They will remember the time you spent with them. K. Heath

Wind Kisses, Donna

Inspired by Marsha at Always Write

RDP: The Extraordinary in the Ordinary