Best Cave Adventure
Whether you love the challenge of a family spelunking adventure or simply want a cool attraction in the heat of summer, caves and caverns are a great way to keep your kids entertained and active while sneaking in a geology lesson. We've mined through dozens of publicly available caves across the nation to find these gems—the top caves and caverns that shine for their accessibility, beauty and uniqueness.
These 10 cave adventures were selected by our featured panelists and contributors and voted on by readers as the best of the best.
1. Ruby Falls | Chattanooga, TN
Deep inside Tennessee's Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls astounds visitors with its thundering water that's completely underground. This incredibly unique attraction lets you explore the one-mile loop of ancient stalagmites and stalactites before you reach the majestic waterfall, the tallest of its kind in the U.S. Tickets must be purchased in advance, so plan ahead to see this icon that's on the National Register of Historic Places.
2. Luray Caverns | Luray, VA
The biggest cavern in the eastern U.S., Luray Caverns is home to graceful curtains of minerals that hang from ceilings so high you may forget you're in a cave! A lake as clear as a mirror, pure white veils of calcite and the 47-foot-tall Double Column are dazzling on their own, but the real star is the Great Stalacpipe Organ. At three acres, it's the world's largest musical instrument.
3. Mammoth Cave National Park | Mammoth Cave, KY
The wonders of the world's longest cave system await at Mammoth Cave, a UNESCO World Heritage site. See underground cathedrals with sparkling walls of gypsum, the famous Frozen Niagara formation and artifacts left by early spelunkers. You'll have plenty of touring options, from ones that are leisurely and fully accessible to strenuous walking and crawling tours. Because tickets to explore these world-renowned caves are highly sought after, reservations are recommended.
4. Carlsbad Caverns National Park | Carlsbad, NM
You'll quickly see why Carlsbad Caverns was chosen as a national park as you descend 75 stories into the Devil's Den, the entrance to the largest single cave in the U.S. You can tour this breathtaking space at your own pace or with a ranger, who can guide you through spectacular caverns that aren't on the main tour. Because Carlsbad Caverns is such a popular attraction, reservations are required.
5. Bridal Cave | Camdenton, MO
A popular place for weddings, Bridal Cave is beloved for its enchanting underground pools and dramatic mineral formations. You can choose to tour the cave by lantern light, just as early explorers did, or by black light to reveal the cave's amazing fluorescent colors. Exit the cave and enter Thunder Mountain Park, where you'll find romantic lakeside trails amid the beauty of the Ozarks.
6. Mark Twain Cave Complex | Hannibal, MO
The childhood haunt of Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) and the inspiration for his Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the Mark Twain Cave Complex is chock full of history. Guides take you along the easy hour-long walk and point out artifacts from Twain and others, sprinkling in wit and wisdom that would make the celebrated humorist proud. Outside the caves, the fun continues with gem mining and tasty fudge.
7. Natural Bridge Caverns | San Antonio, TX
Walk under the 60-foot limestone bridge that gives Natural Bridge Caverns its name before dropping 180 feet beneath the surface into the largest cave in Texas. Perfectly placed lighting showcases beautiful flowstones, giant columns and mirror-like pools that span the caverns. After the tour, you can ride back to the surface on the world's only cave conveyor system. Don't miss the aboveground family fun—zip rails, ropes courses and a maze.
8. Kartchner Caverns State Park | Benson, AZ
Delicate soda straw stalactites (some of the world's longest), waves of moonmilk (the world's most extensive), the towering Kubla Khan column (Arizona's biggest)—the underground formations at Kartchner Caverns are record-breaking, must-see marvels. Much of the cavern is wheelchair accessible, making it available to anyone. If you're interested in the creatures that call the cavern home, book a Bat Walk to watch hundreds of bats take flight at dusk.
9. Jewel Cave National Monument | Custer, SD
Spanning more than 200 miles, Jewel Cave is one of the world's longest cave systems. The calcite crystals that line the walls sparkle like gems as you make your way up and down 40 flights of underground stairs. It's a challenging hike, but the shimmering walls, mineral draperies and blankets of cave popcorn are worth it. In the summer, check out the Historic Lantern Tour for a 1930s-era adventure.
10. Wind Cave National Park | Hot Springs, SD
One of the world's largest cave systems, Wind Cave invites you to take in the fragile frostwork, smooth flowstone and honeycomb-like boxwork (the cave's most famous feature) that line the over 160 miles of passageways. Tours are designed for all levels of adventurers, including those in wheelchairs. You can even explore from the comfort of your car with the Geology Driving Tour, which directs you to the cave's external formations.
About Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards
Our nominees are editorially driven with contributions from a panel of travel experts. The final list is determined by Newsweek editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For more details, read our terms and conditions. For any questions, please see our FAQs or email us at readerschoice@newsweek.com.
Our Featured Panelists
Laurie D. Borman is a travel columnist with LimestonePostmagazine.com, featuring Midwest travel destinations in her column, Travel with Laurie. She served as editor of Endless Vacation magazine and AAA Traveler magazines and editorial director of Rand McNally. She is a past president of the Society of American Travel Writers.
With more than 20 years in journalism and content creation, Gretchen Pahia is a wife and mother of two teenage boys. With articles published in several publications, she is a recognized writer covering a variety of different topics including travel, dining, lifestyle, family and entertainment. You can follow along on Instagram @gpahia.
In pursuit of her stories, Elaine Warner has flown in helicopters, hot-air balloons, and even a glider. She has eaten her way through St. Louis (and a number of other places) and descended at night to the bottom of a canyon to see dismalites—tiny, glowing larvae of fungus gnats. She draws the line at bungee jumping and hang gliding and her idea of roughing it is a Holiday Inn without a Holidome. Learn more about Elaine's adventures at okietravel.com or follow her on Instagram.
Catherine Parker has a passion for travel that's driven her across North America, visiting all 50 states, seven Canadian provinces and seven Mexican states as well as top destinations in the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. After graduating from the University of Houston, Catherine started her career in travel and tourism as a flight attendant. A writer for over 10 years, she maintains an active roster of national publications. Catherine also publishes a travel website, CarfulOfKids.com. Her favorite places are national parks, museums and sidewalk cafés. She's torn between a weekend in the mountains or the beach.
Kathleen Walls, former reporter for the Union Sentinel in Blairsville, Georgia, publishes and writes American Roads and Global Highways. When it comes to United States destinations, she quotes the Johnny Cash song, "I've Been Everywhere." She's the author of Georgia's Ghostly Getaways, Finding Florida's Phantoms, Hosts With Ghosts, and the Wild About Florida series. Her articles have appeared in Family RVing Magazine; Food, Wine & Travel; Extended Weekend Getaways; Florida Traveler; Salon; Deep South; World Footprints; Big Blend Magazine; Travel Awaits; SheBuysTravel; Global Travel and others. She's been featured on Big Blend Radio and written content for marketing organizations.
Janna Graber is a travel journalist and author. She is the editor at Go World Travel Magazine, a digital magazine for world travelers.
Susan R. Pollack is an award-winning freelance travel writer and photographer with decades of experience. She worked 36 years at The Detroit News and has freelanced for publications including the Dallas News, Toronto Star, Delta Sky, Golf for Women, Midwest Living, Lakeland Boating, Jetsetter (HK), Michigan Blue, quirkycruise.com, WanderwithWonder.com, thewinebuzz.com and others. An avid golfer, foodie, museum buff and mahjong maven, she has visited six continents and all 50 states from her home base in Metro Detroit. Susan is also a copy editor for Jonglez Publishing's "Secret" guide series, including Singapore, Los Angeles, Boston and Kuala Lumpur. Follow her on Facebook.
Stacey Wittig loves to go deep to uncover the spirit and culture of a place. A writer and book author, Stacey has bylines and photos in a variety of digital and print publications including National Geographic Traveler, Forbes, The Telegraph, Arizona Wine Lifestyle and quite a few guidebooks. When she's not walking solo across Spain, Italy or France, she's hiking her home turf in Flagstaff, Arizona with her husband Dan. Read about her adventures at unstoppablestaceytravel.com.
Jill Robbins is an expert writer focusing on family and adventure travel as well as practical tips to help everyone get the most value out of their vacation experience. Jill's work has appeared in the Miami Herald, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Business Insider, Tripsavvy, Matador Network, Wealth of Geeks, Canadian Traveller, Travel Awaits, San Antonio Magazine and more. She lives in San Antonio with her husband and two sons, but she's usually somewhere else. Learn more about her travels at https://www.rippedjeansandbifocals.com or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Newsweek contributors speak from a variety of backgrounds and offer expertise in a wide range of subject areas.