Walk in the footsteps of Native Americans at Mesa Verde

If you want some really thorough insight into the Ancestral Puebloans, and how they've impacted the area, make the Mesa Verde Visitor and Research Center your first stop. They have great historical displays, tons of artifacts from across the park, and even modern art inspired by the Ancestral Puebloans. It's also where visitors pay admission and reserve tickets to visit the sites that require a tour guide, so it's the perfect introduction to Mesa Verde National Park.

One of the sites that require a ticket and ranger guide to see is the Long House. It's incredibly well preserved, and after you book a time to take the tour, you'll get to walk around inside this ancient dwelling. It's the second-largest "house" in the park, and it's an utterly mesmerizing place to explore. It's also one of the longest guided tours in the park, as it lasts about two hours. It's pretty incredible to walk down into the canyon, and then climb the ladders up into the dwelling. The rangers do an excellent job of teaching their tour groups about what researchers think certain buildings were used for, and how the site was excavated.

Located at the park's Far View Lodge, the Metate Room is the perfect place to get a taste for how Ancestral Puebloan flavors have made their way into the area's cuisine. You can get a sense of the regional food with chili relleno and crispy prickly pear pork belly, while the more adventurous can sample rattlesnake and pheasant sausage or elk Wellington.

Balcony House is another one of the dwellings that you can tour. Once again, a ticket is required to access this site, but the park rangers who guide you through up the ladders and through the tunnels that allow you into the dwellings do an excellent job of setting the scene. They paint a picture of what the Balcony House would have looked like back when it was occupied and can answer any questions. It's an absolutely gorgeous site that makes for a fun afternoon excursion!

For the best accommodations (and the only hotel located inside the park) book a room at the Far View Lodge. It's a simple, National Park Service-run lodge that doesn't have TVs or phones... but once you catch a glimpse of the panoramic, 100-mile views from your room, you won't miss those a smidge. The hotel is set 15 miles into the park, so you're totally immersed in the natural beauty of Mesa Verde National Park, and you won't be troubled by any kind of modern development. You're only 3 short miles from the cliff dwellings, making this a super convenient place to stay.

The decor is all Pueblo-inspired as well, and if you want to really get into the spirit of the Southwest, you can even rent a campsite here. The Metate Room is the onsite restaurant here, and there's also a bar/lounge where you can enjoy a drink, some nibbles, and the enchanting scenery.