Below the Surface- Mammoth Cave National Park

For my 20-somethingth birthday in September of 2012, we decided to take a little weekend trip down to Cave City, KY.  The main thing on our agenda was visiting Mammoth Cave National Park.  I've come to discover that we didn't take any pictures while we were there, so all I have is my poor memory.

We stayed for two nights at the Baymont Inn & Suites Cave City.  The room was very inexpensive and it was clean, conveniently located, and the staff was friendly.  Other than sleeping and eating the free breakfast, we didn't spend much time at the hotel.  I would recommend the Baymont Inn mainly due to how close it is to the interstate.  

The beginning of September is not a very popular time to visit Cave City, so this may be either a plus or a minus for you, depending how much you like other people.  The bad part is that it seems like most things are kind of shut down and deserted, so it doesn't have the energy that it would in the summer when kids are out of school and families are traveling.  

Barren County (where Cave City is located) is a DRY COUNTY.  This means there are NO BARS (sad face).  Certain areas are considered "Moist," which means you can head on down to the local Applebee's and get a Margarita, but this isn't exactly a thrilling night for most people.  So if you enjoy traveling to places with any type of night life at all, you need to avoid this place like the plague.  Or buy a case of beer and a bottle of whisky before you get there and drink it quietly in your hotel room.

Entrance to the Park
(Photo Courtesy of National Park Service)

Let's get to the best part:  Mammoth Cave National Park.  

Frozen Niagra
(Photo Courtesy of National Park Service)

If you've never been there before, it's a beautiful park with a... well, mammoth-sized cave and a bunch of other decent-sized caves.  We didn't do too much exploration of the park other than going to the cave.  We pre-ordered tickets to go on the Lantern Tour through Mammoth Cave.

If you're really into history and want to experience things like they did long ago, before electricity and the conveniences of modern man, this is the tour for you.  Once you descend the steps and get past the main entrance, the lights go out and you take a walking tour through the cave with only the light from lanterns that the guests carry.  You will learn about early explorations and the weird things that have happened in Mammoth Cave.  

We had a good time, but I would rather go back and take a tour when the lights are on.  It's hard to grasp how large and complicated the cave system is when you're basically in the dark.  There are several different tour options, so if you're going to be in the area for a couple of days, take more than one tour.  

Learn more about the different tours available on Mammoth Cave's Website.

Words of the Wise(ish)
*Take a jacket.  The cave stays at a constant 54 degrees Fahrenheit.
*Wear good walking shoes.  (You're walking quite a distance, and conditions can be slippery or wet depending on which tour you're on.)
*Unfortunately, the America The Beautiful yearly pass for the National Park Service does not cover the fees to take tours.  There are no gates, though, so admission to the park is free and you can enjoy the beauty of the park and take advantage of hiking trails, etc with no charge.
*Be respectful of the park's guidelines regarding white nose syndrome in bats.  They have rules to prevent the spread of this disease, so please pay attention.