Mammoth Caves, KY

We made it to Cave City where I thought the kids would get a kick out of sleeping in a wigwam. Let's just say, the idea was much more fun than the reality. Think camping: dirty, no hot water, and mosquitoes. We stayed one night instead of two.

Only 10 minutes from Mammoth Caves, we were surprised to find it in such a lush landscape; we saw 4 deer and 2 wild turkeys before we even entered the park!

The Junior Ranger Program was fantastic and even Doodle earned her badge. There are some seriously inviting tours available (some require lanterns!), but we decided on the two-hour New Entrance tour because it shows the living part of the cave. Also, I liked the Ranger. The tour was excellent and here are a few cool things we learned:

1. Mammoth Caves is the l o n g e s t cave system in the world, but it only takes up about 10 square miles on the surface. The under-ground tunnels (carved by the river over time) go 5 layers deep. We went down about 300 feet and only reached level 3. At this point, we sat down to rest and Ranger said, "We're resting not for what we've just done, but for what we're going to do next." Climbing back up up!

2. The reason the cave is dry and smooth as opposed to drippy and full of formations (think Carlsbad Caverns), is because it lacks a leaky roof. The entire cave is limestone, but outside the cave lies a thick layer of sandstone. Sandstone keeps the cave water-tight. Wherever there's a crack in the ceiling, you'll find Dripstone, where tiny stalactites (hang tight!) and stalagmites (stand mighty!) will start to develop.

There is one area at Mammoth Caves called Frozen Niagara where the limestone has been dripping through large cracks in the wall. It's unfathomable, the size and beauty of it. When you look eventually think to look upwards, there's the most ornate rose-shaped stalactite chandelier on the ceiling. It's truly stunning.

3. Some of the "rooms" in the cave have to be measured in acres -- that speaks to the mammoth size of this cave and is the primary reason people come to visit it.

At one point we saw a glimpse of the industrious river below. The water was a murky but inviting, turquoise blue. Peanut desperately wanted to see eye-less fish, but the tour to the bottom will have to wait a few years.