A lovely view at Rock City Gardens

If you didn’t know the handy fact that Tennessee boasts the most caves of any state, you’ll know after touring the unforgettable underground caverns of Ruby Falls, located just outside of Chattanooga in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee.   If that’s not enough natural wonders, nearby Rock City Gardens offers a stunning seven-state view and a 4,100 -foot walking trail displaying towering rock formations and lovely gardens. Read More »

It would seem that summer has finally arrived in Ohio and while temperatures in the mid to upper 80′s and low 90′s might seem insignificant to the majority of people in America, it’s the humidity that’s bothering us.  We’re Ohioans, we don’t do humidity!  Besides, it frizzes my hair.  The most logical alternative is to stay indoors in very close proximity to an air-conditioner and a well stocked refrigerator.

I’m not logical.  (I blame the kids–they incapacitate the area of my brain responsible for rational thought.)

Sufficient Cause for Insanity

Kids thrive on adventure, activity, intrigue.  I thrive on cool temperatures.  I found both at the Olentangy Indian Caverns Read More »

During a recent family getaway at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, near Butte, Montana, we discovered an unexpected surprise about an hour east of the resort on I-90.

Lewis & Clark Caverns, Montana’s first state park, and one of the largest limestone caverns in the Northwest, is a fun and memorable family-friendly trip through some truly spectacular caves.

The facilities are first-rate, with easy access to the trailhead, a large visitor’s center, restrooms, cafeteria, and gift shop. Guided tours, at $5 per person, begin about every twenty minutes. We were lucky to get an awesome guide named Jacob, who would’ve been right at home on Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise with his quick wit and confident manner. My son still laughs uncontrollably at the joke about Romeo, Juliet, and a wheelchair. Don’t ask, you’ll have to take the tour.

I have to confess that the 3/4-mile uphill hike to the entrance of the caverns nearly did us all in. Even the kids were huffing and puffing up that trail. But at least we beat the middle-aged smoking couple from Arizona! Jacob waited patiently for everyone to arrive before going over a few rules. Once inside, the 90-minute walk/climb/stoop was relatively easy for everyone. The constant 50-degree temperature definitely helped.

You might not want to tour these caverns if you’re claustrophobic. There were three or four extremely tight spots where I had to twist myself into odd shapes to pass through. At one point you have to sit down and slide about ten feet to get to the next chamber. The kids loved watching me awkwardly squat and shuffle on my bottom (good thing I had the camera). The caverns are well lit, and they are in the process of switching to a new LED light system that will improve the visual impact of the limestone formations. The trail is extremely safe, with concrete platforms and steps, and steel handrails, all courtesy of the CCC.

I think I may finally know the difference between stalactites, which hang from the ceiling, and stalagmites, which are built up from the floor. There are thousands of them, in every kind of strange configuration, spread throughout the caverns.

It was more than a pleasant surprise to discover the Lewis & Clark Caverns. The kids loved twisting and turning through the caverns, not knowing what was coming next.  Next time you’re in Butte, or just passing through Montana, watch for the turn-off to the Caverns on Hwy 2, just off I-90.  It’s on the way to the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, and the Caverns are a popular side trip.

Related: Copper King Mansion, Butte, Montana