Tuzigoot National Monument

If you were following along while we were living in Germany, you know that I absolutely love castle ruins. Thankfully, in Europe there is not shortage of ruins. Since the USA is such a young country and we tend to destroy things rather than preserve them, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are ruins here in the USA! To be fair, Tuzigoot isn't actually castle ruins, they are ruins, but from a distance they look like castle ruins.

After our visit to Montezuma Castle, while browsing the gift shop, we came across a picture of Tuzigoot. It looked just like a ruin and both Drew and I agreed that if it was nearby we would go and see it. We asked a Ranger where it was located and she told us it was about 30 minutes away in Clarkdale. Turns out the ruins, were about 10 mins away from our hotel (what are the odds?)

Tuzigoot National Monument preserves a 2- to 3-story pueblo ruin on the summit of a limestone and sandstone ridge just east of Clarkdale, Arizona, 120 feet above the Verde River floodplain.

Tuzigoot is the largest and best-preserved of the many Sinagua pueblo ruins in the Verde Valley. The ruins at Tuzigoot incorporate very few doors. Instead they use trapdoor type openings in the roofs, and use ladders to enter each room.

At this site, remains of pithouses can be seen as well as petroglyphs, although the petroglyphs can only be viewed on certain days of the week.

We arrived to Tuzigoot a little after 3:30p, although we have the NPS pass, they stop charging an entrance fee at 3:30 (for those who want a save a few dollars). If you're looking to save some money, check it out at after 3:30. You can walk up to the ruins and see everything in less than 30 minutes. A self-guided, 1/3-mile loop trail leads you around and through an incredible 110 room pueblo. The trail also offers outstanding views of the Verde River and Tavasci Marsh. Follow the road another 1/2 mile round trip, it will take you to a beautiful constructed overlook of Tavasci Marsh. (Much better than the 4km one way to check out ruins!)

Tuzigoot is an elongated complex of stone masonry rooms that were built along the spine of a natural outcrop in the Verde Valley. The central rooms stand higher than the others and they appear to have served public functions. Tuzigoot is Apache for "crooked water", from nearby Pecks Lake, a cutoff meander of the Verde River. Historically, the pueblo was built by the Sinagua people between 1125 and 1400 CE.

This was such an interesting site to see. Unfortunately mother nature wasn't cooperating with us, so we didn't get to stay quite as long as we would've like. But if you're in the area, it is a must see!

Additional Info:

GPS: 25 Tuzigoot Rd, Clarkdale, AZ 86324

Cost: Adults $10 // Children (15 & Under:) Free

National Parks Services Pass: Free

Hours: 8a-4p Daily // Christmas Day: Closed

Pet Friendly

Stroller Friendly

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Montezuma Castle National Monument

Ever heard of Montezuma, the famous Aztec emperor? Well unfortunately these ruins in Arizona are not where he once lived. When European-Americans first observed the ruins in the 1800s, by then long-abandoned, they named them for the famous Aztec emperor Montezuma in the mistaken belief that he had been connected to their construction. The dwelling had been abandoned more than 40 years before Montezuma was even born!

Montezuma Castle National Monument protects a set of well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings near the town of Camp Verde, Arizona. The dwellings were built and used by the Sinagua people. Montezuma Castle is situated about 90 feet  up a sheer limestone cliff, facing the adjacent Beaver Creek, which drains into the perennial Verde River just north of Camp Verde. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff, tells a story of ingenuity, survival and ultimately, prosperity in an unforgiving desert landscape.

It is one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in North America, in part because of its ideal placement in a natural alcove that protects it from exposure to the elements. The precariousness of the dwelling's location and its immense scale - almost 4,000 square feet of floor space across five stories - suggest that the Sinagua were daring builders and skilled engineers.

It is an easy monument to visit. On our way to Sedona, we had some time to kill and decided to follow the signs to see the monument. It's just a short distance off Interstate 17, at exit 289. There is a 1⁄3 mile (0.54 km) paved trail starting at the visitor center that follows the base of the cliff containing the ruins.

Unfortunately access to the interior of the ruins has not been allowed since 1951 due to concerns about visitor safety and damage to the dwelling. But it was still very cool to look at, even though it had started to rain. There are about 400,000 tourists visit the site each year! The park is open from 8am to 5pm every day of the year, except for Christmas Day. It is $10 per adult to visit (no charge for children 15 and under) or if you have a National Parks Services Pass, it's free (about $30 a year, you are entitled to 4 adults, or 1 car load) the NPS pass is definitely worth investing in.

It was a quick trip, there are trails that continue on and if it didn't start raining we would've stayed to check things out. If you've got the time, make sure to stop off stretch your legs and enjoy the history!

Additional Information:

GPS: Montezuma Castle Rd, Camp Verde, AZ (I-17 Exit 289 Follow Signs)

Cost: Adults $10 // Children (15 & Under:) Free

National Parks Services Pass: Free

Hours: 8a-5p Daily // Christmas Day: Closed

Pet Friendly

Stroller Friendly

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Fort Matanzas National Monument

Our first trip since being back in the states was to St. Augustine, Florida. On our way up to St. Augustine we decided to stop off at Fort Matanzas National Monument, it is about 15 minutes outside of St. Augustine.

The monument consists of a 1740 Spanish fort called Fort Matanzas, and about 100 acres of salt marsh and barrier islands along the Matanzas River on the northern Atlantic coast of Florida. Fort Matanzas was built by the Spanish in 1742 to guard Matanzas Inlet, the southern mouth of the Matanzas River. The only way to get to the Fort is to take a ferry across. To visit the Fort and to ride the ferry is absolutely free! Unfortunately it isn't stroller or pet-friendly.

Fort Matanzas National Monument is open to the public from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Boarding Passes are required to ride the ferry. They are issued for free in the visitor center. The ferry leaves 30 past the hour. The ferry to the fort carries 35 people on a first come, first served basis and leaves the Visitor Center.

 

 When we arrived at Fort Matanzas, we just missed the ferry and had to wait about 40 minutes for the next one. The rangers showed us an 8-minute video about the history of the Fort, then we wandered around the park for a bit until the ferry boat arrived. 

Once across another park ranger gave us a guided tour of the Fort (~10 minutes), then gave us some free time to explore. The Fort itself is pretty small. If you're with a large group it might take you a little bit longer to maneuver through the crowds. There is a little ladder that will take you to the top of the Fort. It was a tight fit, I was scared that the ladder was gonna break when I climbed it. But the views from top were beautiful.

From the time you get on the ship, to when you're expected back on the ship is about 40 minutes. Both Drew and I really enjoyed the fort and hearing about the History and the importance of this place! It's a nice place to spend a couple hours on a beautiful day.

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