Joe Shlabotnik/Flickr Creative Commons
America is blessed with numerous cavern systems that are of such immense size The Average Joe doesn’t need to put on the helmet and light and go crawling through the claustrophobic cracks and passages to be able to enjoy them Since we’re about mid-point in the summer traveling season, I thought we could talk about a couple of these spots. The very fact that you’re transitioning from an above-ground perspective to a subterranean one makes these caves wonderful places to take the kids and grandkids. I love seeing the look of wonder and awe on the kiddos faces when they get to experience something so magnificent for the first time.
Mammoth Cave National Park in south central Kentucky is the longest known cave system in the world, which means there are a variety of ways to see this amazing place. There’s the Historic Entrance tour, there is the Domes and Dripstones Tour, the Grand Avenue, the Frozen Niagara, etc etc etc all visiting and viewing separate parts of the cave. Outside the National Park is Lost River Cave where you can actually take an UNDERGROUND BOAT TOUR THROUGH THE CAVE! Real Indiana Jones type stuff that the kids would love! If you’re interested in heading to this part of the world, the cave system can be accessed easily from I-65 between Bowling Green and Elizabethtown, KY.
Another famous and wonderful cave to visit is Carlsbad Caverns in White City, NM. White City and the caverns are southwest of Carlsbad, NM on Hwy 62. Carlsbad Caverns offered self-guided tours throughout the cave, as well as guided tours off the path and deeper down, where you’ll need your helmet and lights, and some nasty old blue jeans because you’ll be crawling and climbing and thoroughly enjoying yourself. During the summer months, the caves are home to millions of Mexican free tailed bats which swirl up and out of the cave every evening to go eat mosquitoes and other insects. Watching the bast come out reminds me of the bats under the Congress bridge in Austin, it’s an amazing sight!
If you’ve been to either of these caves, drop us a line in the comment section below and tell us about your favorite parts! And as always, before you hit that trail, hit our website for any parts you may require.
i like this