WAY back in 1982 my mom and dad packed the kids in the family car and went on a vacation to Scottsdale, Arizona. We spent a whole week there in the middle of the summer when it's cheaper. We did a lot of fun things on that vacation, but the most memorable day was the day we visited Montezuma's Castle.

We actually took a day-trip to Sedona and stopped by the Castle as a side-trip. I'm glad we did. Montezuma Castle is right off the highway between Phoenix and Sedona. I'm not sure of the exact mileage since I was only 11 years old at the time and wasn't driving yet.

Anyway, I LOVED my visit to Montezuma Castle. I've been a history buff for as long as I can remember and have also always loved visiting any place that is out of the ordinary. Montezuma Castle is not really a castle, but a Native American cliff dwelling, similar to the Anasazi. I think it was built around the 1200's. Although I'm not sure exactly when it was built, I do know that it was a REALLY long time ago.

It was really interesting to learn all about the history of this remarkable building. The tour of the monument tells all about the people who inhabited the dwelling, how it was built, etc. I was just bummed because I wanted to go inside the remarkable dwelling, but the public is not allowed inside because of the excavations conducted there and also because the building is so fragile.

I would go back to Montezuma Castle National Park in a heartbeat. As soon as my children are old enough to understand the history and significance of this national treasure I'll be planning a family vacation to take them there.



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