Caves in the USA That Are Guaranteed to Be Worth a Visit for Locals and Tourists
Beyond their borders, the U.S. is known for its vast, bustling cities. However, tourists and locals alike can cleverly escape the fast-paced American lifestyle by venturing underground. Unsurprisingly, given its vast landmass, the U.S. offers many exciting caves for first-time subterranean explorers.
Penn’s Cave – A Highlight in Pennsylvania
Since Pennsylvania is not far from New York City—a primary destination for many tourists—Penn’s Cave is a feasible option for a multi-day trip. The caves are unique partly because they are partially flooded, requiring adventurers to embark on guided boat tours. Conveniently, visitors to Penn’s Cave can also explore the aboveground nature center after their cave tour. Here, one can encounter bison, elk, and even cougars. Surprisingly, geologists have yet to fully determine how the cave’s hydrological system manages its water, despite being interlaced with waterways.
Crystal Cave – The Cave That Isn’t
In Ohio lies Crystal Cave, a unique geological formation that technically isn’t a cave. It is a hollow space within a massive rock, discovered in 1887. Known as the world’s largest geode, it is famous for its celestine crystals, which have been continuously mined for use in fireworks, inadvertently enlarging the cave to surpass many “real” caves in size. To ensure safety and prevent getting lost, continuous mobile and GPS reception is advised. To avoid costly roaming fees, tourists can use Buddysim USA, which also allows for the instant sharing of exciting snapshots with friends and family back home.
Adjacent to the rock formation is Heineman Winery, ensuring visitors and locals alike can enjoy a fine wine of unique provenance.
Mammoth Cave – The World’s Largest Cave
Those already in the U.S. and interested in caves will likely want to explore Mammoth Cave, the largest known cave on our planet. True to its name, the cave spans approximately 214 square kilometers and encompasses six levels, almost comparable to a traditional multi-family home in Germany. The cave is an integral part of the region and, according to historical accounts, has been visited by locals for over 5,000 years.
Visitors will certainly not see all of Mammoth Cave; in fact, not even a small fraction. About 600 kilometers of cave and hiking trails are available, with most tours covering just a few kilometers, which still impressively showcase the cave’s diversity. Historically, miners, geologists, and workers ventured into the cave to extract saltpeter, which was later turned into gunpowder, gradually revealing more of the cave until it earned its title as the world’s largest.
Laurel Caverns – A Modern Cave Experience
Laurel Caverns in Pennsylvania, though much smaller with about 5 km to explore, offers a unique experience as parts of the cave are vibrantly lit with green, red, blue, and orange lights. The excursion is particularly special as the cave also features a mini-golf course and gold panning attractions. Visitors can easily spend a full day at Laurel Caverns and then dine at one of the nearby restaurants.
