Inky Marina!

The day after we visited Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano, it was time to starting heading back down to Raven's family's home. Both of us were sad our trip was coming to an end, but there were a few more adventures to be had along the way. We stopped at an overlook above Oak Canyon before we headed down to follow the creek along the canyon floor.



At the lookout, there was a little American Indian craft market. See the cedar bead necklace Raven's wearing? We got it from a nice lady who also gifted us with little Christmas ornaments. It was so nice of her!



After we passed through the canyon and Sedona, we headed to our next park- Tuzigoot National Monument! Tuzigoot is pretty near to Montezuma Castle; the Sinagua people lived at both sites. Tuzigoot is a pueblo with a lookout tower, which we were eager to see and climb!



After we picked up our Junior Ranger activity guides, we headed up the hill from the Visitor Center to the Pueblo. Raven and I stopped to take a photo with this sign. It's a good reminder when you're visiting a park. Even though you might find cool things like flowers and artifacts, you should leave them behind for everyone to enjoy.



Once we reached the top of the hill, we climbed up into the lookout tower. From there, you can look over the whole valley! We imagined what it would have been like to be Sinagua girls. We would have eaten corn, beans, and squash. We probably would have helped our mothers grind corn with a mano and metate. We would have loved our valley home, no matter what.



After we had spent more time exploring the Pueblo and learning about the Sinagua people (when their young children died, they buried them under the floor- whoa!), we headed back down the hill to the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center has a small museum where you can learn all about the different cultures that lived in the area over the past few thousand years. When we had finished exploring the exhibits, Ranger Chris checked over our Junior Ranger guides and swore us in as Junior Rangers! Now that we're home again, Raven has told me that Tuzigoot was her favorite park on our entire trip. I loved it too! Have you ever discovered a special place while traveling?