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A guide to Meow Wolf’s most prolific national monuments.
Illustration by Alec Pedraza
It’s summer! The perfect time for camping, swimming, and hiking into the woods in the dead of night to screech and howl at the moon. But if you are seeking something with a little more HVAC, we have some real beautiful sights to show you! Gaze upon the epic vistas of the Projected Desert, or take a dip in the cooling waters of The Gloquarium Trench. You’ve heard of the great outdoors, now get ready for Meow Wolf’s great indoors!
If the outdoors is more your thing, sure, we get it. Obviously we remain somewhat biased but outdoor nature is just as good as indoor nature, despite the lack of HVAC. But we can totally provide some outside alternatives across national parks, places we think have some good visual similarities. Those are pretty cool too, we can’t even lie.
Cosmohedron - Convergence Station, Denver
The entirety of Numina is a beautiful almost-natural wonder within Convergence Station. Lush, green glowing flora and fauna as far as the eye can see– and there’s no better place to see than from the Cosmohedron. Appearing as a three storied structure, no one is sure where it may have come from or even where it may go. While it is still here, you are able to climb to the very top and see the views that Numina has to offer. A pro-tip: talk to Fig about possible secret spots to seek out in Numina for the perfect picnic.
Alternatively, there is:
Sequoia National Park - California
Stretching trees, vast caverns, and incredible biodiversity define Sequoia National Park which is why we think this is a perfect place to catch some beautiful forest views outside of Numina.
Projected Desert - Omega Mart, Las Vegas
Many people find the dry desert heat of Las Vegas to be oppressive and overwhelming, which is unfortunate because the views of the desert landscape can be some of the best. To experience the natural wonders of such an environment without having to suffer the actual environment, look no further than Omega Mart’s Projected Desert. With sweeping cliff faces and convenient seating, you can gaze upon the beautiful sights without having to break a single sweat. We fully recommend stopping by the gas station nearby and chatting up Charlie Dram. He’s a pretty cool guy with some real wild stories.
Alternatively, there is:
Grand Canyon National Park - Arizona
The epic vistas and grand scale of Grand Canyon National Park makes this park the perfect site to see if you got turned around in Albuquerque and ended up in Arizona instead of Nevada.
The Gloquarium Trench - Radio Tave, Houston
Las Vegas may have a dry heat, but summer in the SOUTH???? Forget it, man. You have to be either in water or indoors for you to make it. Fortunately, you don't have to choose either for our next gorgeous destination: The Gloquarium Trench. Not only a great way to beat the Texas heat, there are thousands of types of fish and fish-adjacent creatures for our ichthyophile friends to identify and possibly even discover. You can catch some good underwater jams, cool down, cool off, and hit Cowboixx Hevvvn on your way out for a nice cold drink.
Alternatively, there is:
Everglades National Park - Florida
If you drive along the Gulf of Mexico down into Florida, you will hit the Florida Everglades. The first nationally protected park for its vast expanse of biodiversity, it’s a pretty close comparison to all the creatures you can find in the Gloquarium Trench.
The Caves - House of Eternal Return, Santa Fe
Looking for something constantly cool, with ample seating, and is the most delightful bubblegum pink that resembles almost nothing in nature? Look no further than The Caves in House of Eternal Return. Like any cave, this one has plenty of hidden gems, hideaways, and secret passageways. But unlike any cave, this one has Joyce, the beautiful woolly mammoth skeleton upon whom you can play out a tune on her ribs (it’s a love language of hers). It also features some strange little cave worms and a glowing shrimp overlooking the cave as a sort of angelic guardian. There’s also a lot of seating and an HVAC vent that blows straight into it, keeping this cave constantly cool and chill.
Alternatively, there is:
Carlsbad Caverns National Park - New Mexico
Rather than one cave, Carlsbad Caverns happens to boast 119. A little more than us but we’re catching up. Innumerable ancient sea ledges and alien stalactites define the caverns’ landscape. We think it’s pretty cool, we can’t even lie.
Macrodose - The Real Unreal, Grapevine
Maybe you aren’t seeking constantly cool and chill. Maybe you’re more of a thrill seeker, searching for the closest thing to the outdoors while indoors. What that is, we can’t predict for you. It seems like an insanely subjective venture, BUT we can tell you about something we think would scratch that itch, and we think that thing is The Real Unreal’s Macrodose. Created by Dan Lam, this pouring waterfall is not loud in sound but color. Pure unfiltered rainbow macrodose joy comes cascading down from a river that we cannot quite pinpoint nor do we think we are meant to. Take a splash, cool off, don’t drink the water -or maybe do, depending on the summer you’re trying to have!
Alternatively, there is:
Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming, Idaho, Montana
Rife with flowing rivers, awe-inspiring geysers, and stunning waterfalls, Yellowstone National Park was an obvious equivalent to Dan Lam’s Macrodose. We think the Undine Falls resemble Macrodose the most, but you tell us.
We hope these suggestions have been helpful on how to stay cool this summer while visiting some of Meow Wolf’s greatest national parks and monuments. Don’t forget to pack in, pack out, pick up your trash, be kind, rewind, and most importantly - stay cool, sweet angels.
