We have some pretty incredible caves here in the U.S. If you enjoy spelunking (that’s exploring caves, if you didn’t know), you’ve probably been to a good deal of them. Maybe you even search caves out on your travels. Do you?
Tell us in today’s poll if you enjoy visiting caves. If not, is it because you just don’t have an interest in them or is it because you’re scared of them? They are pitch black (well, most of them) and a little spooky, so we don’t blame you.
If you do enjoy visiting caves, what’s your favorite one you’ve ever been to?
I enjoy visiting the caves, but only if I can walk though them. Crawling and slithering with a headlamp is not my “cup of tea”.
Totally agree Donald. I’ve been to Mammoth Caves and Lehman Caves. That’s enough. Walking through caves is one thing. Spelunking is quite another.
I have one problem, I am too fluffy and get stuck.
One really nice cave to visit is the Lost Sea in Sweetwater, TN. A short walk inside takes you to a boat ride inside the cavern.
They have to be very large caves (Mammoth Cave is fine) as I’m claustrophobic!
Where is the cave at the top of this posting?
I Googled it, and I think it’s Luray Caverns in Virginia. (I didn’t put that image in, so I’m not positive.) Have a great day, Bob. 😀 –Diane
45 years ago we spent many hrs touring caves in MO.,KY, IL, afraid I’m to old to do that now, it was always a refreshing few hrs during the hot summer to tour a cave where the temperature stays in the low 60’s year round.
We have enjoyed caves in the past. Now since knee replacement and neuropathy has showed up we have switched to other things.
I love the beauty of caves, but have issues with the ups & downs of exploring them. My old feet & joints just don’t play nice with stairs & grades.
There are a lot of caves that are managed by State or National Parks or caves that are privately owned that are set up for people with various abilities. And many of the caves have different tours for people with a more adventurous side. My son (age 9) and I did the wild cave tour at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky about 25 years ago. Caves are full of the wonders of nature and history. Occupation of caves by Native Americans, use of caves during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, hidden treasure, mining saltpeter for gun powder, stills during prohibition, dance halls, churches, are all part of the unique history of caves. They are well worth visiting (if you can).
Blanchard Springs Caverns in North Central Arkansas is one of the more beautiful caves in the United States. It is owned and operated by the Ozark National Forest so it gets no advertising but it is well worth a visit. Very nice campground (s) at the caverns and in the vicinity also.
Yes, but they have to be ADA accessible or I can’t visit.
In my youth, my father would take our Boy Scout Troop to lava flow caves in Southern Idaho. One called Lariat Cave had a constant 40 degree temperature, year around. Another he called Sullivan’s Cave required a 25 foot ladder to access At the bottom of the ladder, looking up, it looked like an inverted ice cream cone. From there you descended into a long cavern made of very dark, light absorbing, crispy lava. It the person holding the lantern walked around a formation of the lava, you would be in total darkness. The cave might have been a mile long and ended below the lava flow in a small area of dirt and rock. We left our names there, along with those of my father and uncle from the 1920’s.. I often wonder if anyone has been there since. The story of Sullivan’s Cave was a skeleton of a Native American, with a broken leg, was found at the bottom of the first area. A large pile of rocks had been built, but not high enough to make the 25′ to the entrance.
Somewhat. Severely claustrophobic. Before considering a tour of a cave (not a spelunker) I inquire if there are any tight spots or spots you have to crawl through. Although if it were short where you could see the other side I might be ok. We’ve done a few and thoroughly enjoyed it. Stunning & beautiful.
I’m 82 I’ll be under ground soon enough. No thanks
Visited the Mark Twain cave in Hannibal, MO earlier this year; more of a historical locale than just a cave.
LuRay Cavern, Carlsbad Cavern….commercial caves are cool.
But for me to slither into a crack in the surface to go exploring….
NO WAY !
Blanchard Springs is great! Also, just outside of San Antonio Tx is Natural Bridge Caverns.
We love caves and it seems that the better the guide, the better the cave. JMHO.
Fantastic Caverns just NE of Springfield, MO is amazing.
Great tour via small Jeep like vehicles.
I’ve enjoyed caves since my parents took me to Carlsbad Caverns when I was five years old. They told me not to be scared when the lights went out (part of the tour) and when they did, my parents said that I said “you’re right Mommy, I can’t see my hand in front of my face”. Been going into caves (NOT spelunking though) ever since and I’m now 74!
I’m claustrophobic so the last place I want to go is into a cave.
We just did Carlsbad in New Mexico last March. If you have a tendency to kill toenails walking or running, the elevator is the way to go. walking down the natural entrance is a 750 ft. drop and 1-1/4 miles of steep grade. I killed 4 toenails on the way down, then still had to walk another 1.1 miles thru the cave. But I didn’t walk all the way down there to wuss out. The cave walk was a lot more flat. But had to poke an alcohol soaked pin under my nails that evening to relieve the pressure. The elevator up was awesome! But we were glad we experienced the natural entrance once. Mammoth next cave adventure!
Carlsbad Caverns are majestic. I have been twice and would go again.