Cave exploration has become a favorite adventure activity for many Americans. Whether you are taking a short, self-guided or guided tour of a commercial cave, or participating in advanced non-commercial cave caving, there is something magical about entering a cave. The sensation of the cave air, the smells, the tranquility, the absolute darkness when the lamps are turned off.

In caving, you will discover the beauty of nature and marvel at the rock formations and crystals that took thousands, and even millions, of years to form and develop. The caves have different shapes and sizes. There are caves that are horizontal, dry, hot, humid, and sandy, while others are vertical, cold, flooded, and muddy. There are even caves found under rivers and seas.

Another great thing about visiting a cave is that you can go back a bit in time, as many caves have served as dwellings for the first humans, offering shelter from the outside elements. Another cool thing about caves: When you’ve toured one, you’ll want to explore another. Fortunately, there are numerous caves to explore in America that can keep you busy year after year. Let’s take a look at several that offer guided and self-guided tours perfect for the whole family:

Mammoth Cave National Park – Kentucky

Since 1816, visitors have visited Mammoth Cave, one of the longest and most famous cave systems in the world. The name Mammoth was not coined for the prehistoric woolly mammoth, but because the cave system is so huge – more than 365 miles have been explored so far.

Cave tour prices range from $ 4 to $ 45 and include tours for all experience levels, from a 30-minute self-guided discovery tour to a 6-1 / 2-hour “wild cave tour.” for more advanced cavers that involve free-climbing cave walls and crawling through areas as low as 9 inches high. The temperature inside the cave generally stays around 54 ° Fahrenheit throughout the year.

Jewel Cave National Monument – South Dakota

Located just east of the Wyoming border, Jewel Cave is considered one of the best caves in the national park system and number three on the list of the longest caves in the world. Much of the cave remains unexplored today. But tours inside the cave offer breathtaking walks and an intense caving adventure. Aside from stalactites and stalagmites, several varieties of bats reside within the cave, especially during winter.

Jewel Cave offers three different tour packages, each of which requires a different level of experience. The easiest tour is the basic tour, which most people should be able to take. Of course, you must remember that this is a cave, so there will be a few steps to climb. There are 723 steps to manage on the Basic Tour, but you don’t need to climb them all at once, they are interspersed throughout the 1/2 mile course. The next tour in difficulty is the historic tour that enters and exits the cave through a historic entrance and views the cave from an unpaved trail. You will carry flashlights on this tour, which is considered strenuous. Children under 6 years old are not allowed on the Historical Tour. For seasoned cavers, Jewel Caves offers a Spelunking Tour, a 4- to 5-hour tour that winds through 2/3 of a mile of the cave. The park service provides you with a lighthouse, but you must provide all other equipment. Additionally, you must be over the age of 16 and pass a number of tests before you are allowed to participate in the Spelunking Tour, including the demonstration of the ability to navigate an 18 “X 24” passageway. It goes without saying that people with a fear of heights or claustrophobia will definitely not feel comfortable on this tour. Reservations are required for the Spelunking tour.

Kartchner Caverns State Park – Benson, Arizona

Located in the southern part of Arizona, Kartchner Caverns was discovered in 1974 by cavers and purchased as an Arizona State Park in 1988. The good thing about Kartchner is that it is a “living cave”, as the formations inside are still growing. . It also contains 13,000 feet of passages, features one of the longest soda straw stalactites in the world – 21 feet 2 inches – and is in near-pristine condition. Typical of most caves, Kartchner Caverns has its share of bats. In fact, during the summer, Cave’s Big Room becomes a hatchery with more than 1,000 female bats.

Meramec Caverns – Stanton, Missouri

Do you like your caves on the commercial side? Then you will love Meramec Caverns, which has a gift shop inside the cave entrance. In fact, Meramec Caverns is the largest commercial cave in Missouri, known as the “cave state” because it contains more than 6,000 studied caves. In addition to its natural history, the Meramec Caverns have an interesting recent history, as legend has it that the cave was used as part of the “Underground Railroad” to aid escaping slaves. Legend also says that Jesse James and his gang hid in the caves after committing robberies on trains and banks.

Meramec Caverns also has the distinction of having a ballroom within the caves that hosts many private and public events, such as the Easter Sunrise Service. The ballroom is an interesting combination of chairs, sound system, lighting, and yes, limestone and stalagmites.

Other caves and caverns in Missouri

While visiting the Meramec Caverns, why not visit some of the other caves in Missouri? Some notable ones include:

Fantastic Caverns – Springfield, Missouri

Fantastic Caverns is considered “America’s walking cave” and is great for seniors, people with physical disabilities, and people with young children because you don’t walk through the cave but instead take a jeep-pulled tram through the cave .

Marvel Cave – Branson, Missouri

Again, if you like caves on the commercial side, Marvel Cave is for you. Marvel Cave is another “living cave” with formations that are still growing, and now it is part of Silver Dollar City, an amusement park with more than 30 rides and attractions, the cave is one of them.

Mark Twain Cave – Hannibal, Missouri

The Mark Twain Cave was discovered in 1819 and is the oldest performing cave in Missouri, offering tours to the public for more than 114 years. The cave is named after “Mark Twain”, the pseudonym for Samuel Clemens, who explored the cave quite often and wrote about its wonders. Once again, legend has it that Jesse James and his gang hid in the caves.

If you are looking for something interesting and unusual to do with your family on your next vacation, consider visiting one of the many fascinating caves America has to offer. You may discover a passion that you never knew existed.