We recently went to Mammoth Cave National Park and we have thoughts. And, what better time to share these thoughts than National Parks Week!
Let’s dive in.
Know before you go
It’s free to enter the park, but there are fees for the cave tours. Yep, that’s right. If you just want to enjoy the beautiful views of this gorgeous park you can do so at absolutely no cost.
The fees for the cave tours vary depending on the tour you choose. At the time this post is being written, the fees range from $12 – $79. Most of the tours are in the $20-$45 area.
Going, going, gone
The cave tours sell out quickly. Be sure to reserve your spot before you go! Reservations can be made with just a few quick clicks online. You just print or screenshot the receipt/ticket you receive via email once your purchase is complete and present it at the check-in desk when you arrive at the park. Easy!
We chose the Frozen Niagara tour. We made this a quick side trip from Nashville and didn’t want to get into an in depth tour on our first trip to the park.
Tour guide shout out
We had a fantastic tour guide. Ranger Lucas did an amazing job providing entertaining in-depth information to our group. He went above and beyond in ensuring that we got the most out of our tour.
Mammoth Cave is, well, mammoth!
Mammoth Cave is not just one simple cave. It is a network of caves that span over 400 miles. Yes, you read that correctly. I think Jeff summed it up best when he compared it to an ant colony.
Check out this week’s video to see some of the amazing parts of this cave system. We Went to Mammoth Cave!
The light, it burns!
The cave system is so large that it actually includes an underground river. This river is home to some very…interesting creatures. The fish have never been been exposed to sunlight and are colorless and blind. I found this information to be both fascinating and somewhat creepy.
Speaking of creepy…
Caves are often inhabited by a variety of different forms of wildlife. It’s not uncommon to see bats and other creatures that make caves their home. However, we met some new cave inhabitants…cave crickets. I’m sure the image that popped into your head was something similar to the cute little hopping brown insects that we see a lot of in the summer. Let me tell you, “cute” is not the word that I would use to describe these cave dwellers. The look like large creepy spiders. Although they are harmless, they appear rather intimidating, especially when they are dangling on the cave wall or ceiling just above your head.
Hiking, biking, camping. Oh my!
Mammoth Cave National Park offers something for everyone. Whether you want to traipse the trails, bike the byways, or camp under the constellations, your adventure awaits. There is so much to do in this beautiful park.
Should I stay or should I go?
We highly recommend visiting Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. It’s a budget friendly, choose your own adventure vacation destination.
Want to know more about things to do near Mammoth Cave? Check out our post We Went to Studio B!
And remember, break the monotony, not the bank.
–Marnie and Jeff
