I stood among the trees admiring how the rocks sparkled in the sun. Another treasure for my collection. I carefully picked my way across the mine tailings, searching for fool’s gold, quartz, and mica. Then I’d gather them up and pretend I was the King in his counting house.
If you’ve never spent time around old mines, you may not know that tailings are the piles of rock left behind after miners extracted the valuable ore. There are countless abandoned mines scattered throughout the Canadian Shield, and exploring them became part of our family vacations when I was growing up in Ontario.
Occasionally we’d come across the entrance to one of those abandoned mines—sealed with heavy boards and marked No Trespassing. I’d stand there wondering what lay beyond them while scenes from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer played through my imagination. Somewhere behind those boards, I was certain, was McDougal’s Cave.
Looking back, I think that’s where my fascination with caves began.
Some people collect beaches.
I seem to collect caves.
(Although, if I’m being honest, I collect beaches too—but that’s a story for another day.)
One quick clarification before we begin. I’m not talking about technical caving. You won’t find me shimmying through narrow rock passages or rappelling into underground chambers. These are caves that ordinary travelers can explore without any special skills—just a sense of curiosity, a sturdy set of shoes and, if you’re like me, a few redundant flashlights.
One other thing worth mentioning: every cave on this list has an admission fee or a park entry fee. Considering the amount of work involved in maintaining safe access to these incredible places, I think it’s money well spent. I’ll include links to each attraction so you can check current hours, pricing, and tour availability before you go.
Before You Go into the Caves
A few things I’ve learned after exploring more than a few caves:
- Bring a light jacket. Even on a hot summer day, caves are often much cooler than the outside temperature.
- Wear sturdy shoes. Many cave paths can be damp, uneven, or slippery.
- Bring a flashlight. Most commercial caves are well-lit, but I still carry two flashlights or more if I enter a natural cave that doesn’t have lighting.
- Check the attraction’s website before you visit. Hours, admission prices, tour schedules, and accessibility information can change.
- Never touch the formations. The oil from your skin can interfere with thousands or millions of years of the earth’s handiwork.
- Help protect bat populations. If you’re visiting multiple caves, follow any footwear or gear cleaning requirements to help prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome.
- Take your time. The most interesting details are often the ones you’ll miss if you’re rushing through.
And finally, here are some of my favorite caves… so far.
Where My Cave Adventures Began
“These were the caves that first showed me how much fun exploring underground could be. They aren’t necessarily the biggest or most spectacular, but each one helped nurture a curiosity that has followed me ever since.”
- Journey Behind the Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
You’re probably thinking, “That’s not a real cave!” And you might be right. Since it’s manmade, it doesn’t technically qualify, but this was my first experience walking through dark tunnels. I still remember the surge of adrenaline as I stepped inside, wondering what it would be like on the other side.
Then there’s the water.
You don’t just see Niagara Falls from behind the curtain of water—you feel it. The roar echoes through the tunnels, and the vibration of one-fifth of the world’s fresh water passing overhead can be felt in your chest. Whether you consider it a cave or not, it’s an unforgettable experience and one I happily include on this list.
- Olentangy Indian Caverns in Delaware, Ohio, USA
When we lived in Columbus, this became one of our favorite places to take visiting family and friends. You descend into the caverns by staircase and wander through a maze of passages before climbing back into the sunshine.
Some of the tunnels are narrow, which only added to the adventure for the kids. After exploring underground, we’d usually spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the rock climbing, miniature golf, or whatever new family activities the park had added.
If you’re introducing children to caves for the first time, this is a wonderful place to start.
- Rock City Gardens (Now known as Rock City) in Chattanooga, TN, USA
This was one of those spontaneous road-trip stops while traveling to Georgia with my two young children.
I’ll admit it—I thought the Fairyland Caverns were a little hokey.
My young children absolutely loved them.
We wandered through towering rock formations, squeezed between narrow passages, explored the gardens, and eventually emerged at Lover’s Leap, where you can supposedly see seven states on a clear day.
Somewhere along the way, we also bought fudge.
Looking back now, I suspect that’s exactly the kind of family memory Rock City was designed to create.
- Lost World Caverns, Lewisburg, WV, USA
I stopped at Lost World Caverns at the beginning of my six-month road trip to Vancouver Island and back. (No, I still haven’t written about that adventure!) It was the perfect place to stretch my legs after hours behind the wheel.
Entry to the cave is through the gift shop—a much easier option than the original natural entrance! Once underground, the cave opens into impressive rooms filled with beautiful formations. It’s an easy, family-friendly stop that doesn’t require a huge time commitment, making it an excellent addition to a West Virginia road trip.
- Natural Bridge Caverns, San Antonio, Texas, USA
I usually travel with my youngest son, so this trip was especially meaningful because it was one of the few travel adventures my eldest son and I shared together. It seemed fitting that one of our stops was Natural Bridge Caverns, a cave system that has remained in the hands of the same Texas family for generations. There’s something I love about places where family history is still part of the experience.
Named for the natural limestone bridge spanning its original entrance, Natural Bridge Caverns is a designated National Natural Landmark. The caverns feature impressive formations and well-designed tours, making them an excellent introduction to cave exploration for visitors to Texas.
Underground Worlds That Left Me in Awe
“These are the caves that made me stop talking and simply stare. Each one left me speechless—but for completely different reasons.”
- Luray Caverns, Luray, Virginia, USA
Although Virginia has become the state I now call home, I somehow waited years before visiting Luray Caverns. When I finally toured it with my husband, I was genuinely surprised by the beauty hidden beneath the Shenandoah Valley.
Unlike some of the enormous cave systems I’ve explored, Luray feels more intimate. The walking paths bring you close to spectacular formations, allowing you to appreciate the intricate details that nature has patiently sculpted over thousands of years.
One of Luray Caverns’ most famous attractions is the Great Stalacpipe Organ, an instrument that uses the cave’s natural formations to produce musical notes. I stood there reading the interpretive sign, trying to understand exactly how it worked…
I read the explanation twice and still couldn’t quite wrap my head around how it all worked. Fortunately, appreciating it didn’t require understanding it.
- Mammoth Cave National Park, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, USA
Everything about Mammoth Cave feels appropriately named.
It’s the longest known cave system in the world, and although it doesn’t feature the dramatic formations you’ll find in places like Carlsbad, its scale is astonishing. Standing underground knowing that hundreds of miles of passageways stretch beyond what visitors ever see is a humbling experience.
When you leave the cave, you’ll likely be asked to sanitize your shoes to help prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease devastating North America’s bat populations. It’s a small inconvenience that helps protect an incredible ecosystem.
Before you leave, take a walk down to the Green River.
If you’re a fan of Creedence Clearwater Revival, this is your opportunity to play Green River while standing beside the actual Green River.
Sometimes life gives you moments that are simply too perfect to ignore.
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad, NM, USA
I was so excited to visit Carlsbad Caverns that I arrived just before closing time.
Unfortunately… just a little too late.
Rather than head back down the winding mountain road after dark, I decided to stay put until morning. At the time I was still new to full-time RVing and hadn’t yet learned all the rules. As the sun disappeared, a spectacular lightning show danced across the distant horizon, and sometime later a park ranger knocked on my door.
Let’s just say I didn’t sleep much that night.
Every sound seemed amplified, and while peeking out the window at one point, I caught my first glimpse of a wild coyote wandering through the darkness. It felt equal parts unnerving and magical.
The next morning, I finally walked through Carlsbad’s enormous natural entrance into one of the most spectacular underground landscapes I’ve ever seen. The sheer size of the chambers and the incredible limestone formations left me speechless. It’s easy to understand why Carlsbad Caverns became a National Park.
Unexpected Discoveries
“Sometimes the most memorable part of a cave isn’t the cave itself, but the unexpected lesson waiting outside it.”
- Kartchner Caverns State Park, Benson, Arizona USA
One thing that surprised me about Kartchner Caverns was the strict no-photography policy. Visitors aren’t even allowed to bring phones or cameras into the cave during regular tours. I’ll admit, I found that frustrating, especially after seeing the beautiful formations I wanted to remember. While the park does offer special photography tours for an additional fee, I chose to simply experience the cave through my own eyes.
What stayed with me even more than the cave itself was one of the interpretive exhibits in the visitor center about the remarkable ways microorganisms survive in extreme environments. At the time I was undergoing treatment for Chronic Lyme disease, and something about that display reminded me of a conversation with my doctor. Years later, I can still remember standing there making that connection, even if the scientific details have become a little fuzzy with time.
When Water Becomes Part of the Caving Adventure
“Not every cave is a dry underground chamber. Some are carved by waves, others flooded by rivers, and some invite you to paddle—or even swim—through them.”
- Channel Islands National Park, Ventura, California USA
In my quest to visit every U.S. National Park, I arrived at The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center in Channel Islands National Park without really knowing what to expect. I was thrilled to discover I could take a boat to Santa Cruz Island and join a guided sea kayak tour. As someone who has loved leisurely kayaking for years, I signed up immediately.
What I hadn’t anticipated…
…was the waves.
I know. How could I not expect waves in the Pacific Ocean?
I think excitement temporarily overpowered common sense.
We paddled around Santa Cruz Island, entering and exiting several sea caves carved into the cliffs. Timing was everything. The guides carefully watched the ocean swells because entering at the wrong moment could push a kayak into the rocks.
It was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.
Who knew both feelings could exist simultaneously in the same body?
Along the way, I tried fresh seaweed for the first time. I still don’t care for the dried version, but fresh? I could happily eat it again.
The biggest lesson, however, came when I simply ran out of steam. Fighting the waves left me making what felt like two strokes forward and three strokes back. Seeing my struggle, our guide tossed me a rope and towed me across to calmer water.
I was grateful for the rescue. Otherwise… I might still be out there paddling.
- Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park, Surat Thani Province, Thailand
I explored another group of sea caves with my youngest son in Thailand’s Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park, a collection of 42 islands in the Gulf of Thailand. The kayaking tour was an add-on to a boat excursion through an extraordinary landscape of limestone islands, hidden lagoons, and brilliant blue-green water.
We paddled in and out of small sea caves, sometimes ducking beneath the rock as we slipped through narrow openings. It was an entirely different kind of cave experience—bright, tropical, and surrounded by water rather than darkness.
The day is memorable for another reason, too. I’m fairly certain it was when I contracted COVID-19, although I didn’t know it at the time. We already knew the world was beginning to shut down, and our planned four-month journey would soon be cut short so we could return home early.
Looking back, the experience feels suspended between two worlds: one filled with exploration and possibility, and another we didn’t yet realize was about to change everything.
- Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, Philippines
One year, my husband and I chose the Philippines for our vacation, although we arrived from opposite sides of the world. I was traveling from Bali, while he flew from Virginia. We also had another reason for choosing the Philippines—I finally got to meet my long-time coworker, Angelica, in person. (If you’ve worked with me, you already know Angelica!)
After meeting in Manila, the three of us flew to Puerto Princesa on the island of Palawan. Getting to the cave was an adventure in itself. We rode a Philippine tricycle to the port, boarded a colorful Filipino outrigger boat, then jumped into the warm water and waded ashore. From there, we climbed into a much smaller boat for the journey into the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, one of the longest navigable underground rivers in the world.
This was the first cave where I remember looking up to see a ceiling filled with bats. To avoid disturbing them, everyone remained quiet while our guide used a flashlight to illuminate the formations, pointing out the shapes they resembled as we drifted silently through the darkness.
As if the bats weren’t memorable enough, the monkeys outside the cave entrance were another story. They weren’t afraid of people in the slightest. In fact, it felt more like we were the ones trying to stay out of their way!
- Myers Beach Sea Caves, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin, USA
These sea caves are most famous for what I didn’t see.
When winter conditions are just right, the waves of Lake Superior freeze into spectacular ice formations along the mainland sea caves. People travel from around the world hoping to see them sparkling in the winter sunlight. Unfortunately, the ice caves don’t form every year, and even when they do, the season is unpredictable.
Rather than visiting in winter, I hiked the two-mile trail from Myers Beach to the first sea cave overlook. From there, the trail continues along the bluff, revealing additional caves as you hike farther. I covered about five miles round trip and still didn’t reach all of them.
Although I missed the famous ice formations, standing on the cliffs overlooking Lake Superior gave me a new appreciation for the power of the lake that continues to carve them. If you’re visiting outside of winter, kayaking offers an entirely different perspective of the sea caves from the water.
- Yucatan Cenotes, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Scattered across Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula are hundreds of public and private cenotes. A cenote is a natural opening into an underground cave filled with crystal-clear freshwater. Formed when limestone bedrock collapses, these natural sinkholes provide a window into the vast underground river systems hidden beneath the peninsula.
I’ve visited several over the years, but one in particular completely captured my imagination. I explored the cave on foot, watching others swim through its crystal-clear water, and immediately knew I’d made one mistake—I hadn’t packed a swimsuit. One day I’ll return to experience it the way it was meant to be explored.
Beyond the Traditional Cave
“Not every underground experience was created by nature, but each one left me with a new appreciation for what lies beneath the surface.”
- Cu Chi Tunnel, Khu di tích lịch sử Địa đạo Củ Chi, Vietnam
This is perhaps the most unusual entry on my list because it isn’t a natural cave at all. The Cu Chi Tunnels are an extensive underground network built and used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.
Walking through the tunnels gave me a new appreciation for what fighting from underground must have been like. I spent almost the entire time bent at the waist and knees, shuffling slowly through the darkness as the passage twisted ahead of me. It didn’t take much imagination to realize how claustrophobic—and terrifying—that environment would have been during the war.
Unlike the other caves on this list, I didn’t leave talking about beautiful formations or remarkable geology. I left with a deeper appreciation for the resilience of the people who survived there and for the unimaginable realities faced by those on both sides of the conflict.
When Curiosity Outruns Comfort
“Sometimes curiosity asks a little more of us. These were the caves that pushed me beyond what felt comfortable—and became unforgettable because of it.”
- Lava Beds National Monument, Tulelake, CA, USA
I discovered Lava Beds National Monument completely by accident.
Pulling my 33-foot fifth wheel, I noticed a sign, turned onto the road, and hoped for the best. Little did I know it would become one of my favorite cave experiences.
Unlike commercial caves, these lava tubes are largely undeveloped. Most have no lighting, no guides, and no one waiting at the entrance. A steel staircase leads underground, and after that… you’re on your own.
That realization was both thrilling and terrifying.
I camped in the park that night. Heat lightning split the sky while, in the valley below, I watched a wildfire ignite in the distance. Although there were other campers nearby, I found myself completely alone while exploring the caves.
Armed with two flashlights, I ventured inside.
I never made it all the way to the end of the passages, but I did walk far enough that the daylight disappeared behind me.
I was equal parts terrified and enthralled by my own boldness.
Then, just as I emerged back into the daylight, I found myself face-to-face with a magnificent buck. Before I could reach for my camera, he vanished into the landscape.
It’s one of those travel memories that still feels magical.
The Mystery Beneath Our Feet
“Even after all these years, some of my favorite cave memories aren’t about what I saw—they’re about what we still don’t know.”
- Wind Cave National Park, Hot Springs, South Dakota, USA
Of all the caves I’ve explored, Wind Cave may have had the most fitting name. The cave actually breathes. Depending on the weather and barometric pressure, you can feel air rushing either into or out of the natural entrance. It was a strange reminder that caves aren’t as still or lifeless as they first appear.
What fascinated me even more was learning that Wind Cave is still being explored today. Although more than 167 miles of passageways have already been mapped, explorers continue to discover new sections, and many believe the cave system extends far beyond what has been surveyed so far. It makes you wonder just how much of the underground world still remains hidden beneath our feet.
Wind Cave is also home to the largest known concentration of boxwork formations anywhere in the world. Unlike stalactites and stalagmites, these delicate honeycomb-like patterns seem to be etched into the walls and ceilings. They’re difficult to appreciate in a photograph, so I captured a short video instead.
- Jewel Cave National Monument, Hot Springs, South Dakota, USA
Jewel Cave earned its name from the beautiful calcite crystals that sparkle throughout many of its passages. Like nearby Wind Cave, it continues to be explored today, with new miles of passage still being mapped.
During my visit, I asked a ranger whether Jewel Cave and Wind Cave might someday be connected. He smiled and said many people believe it’s possible. No one has found that connection yet, but both cave systems continue to grow as explorers push farther into the underground world.
I loved that idea. In a world where it feels as though we’ve mapped nearly everything, it’s exciting to know there are still places beneath our feet waiting to be discovered.
My Best Caves are All Different
Looking back over this list, I’m struck by how different these caves really are. Some were carved by water. Others by lava. Some can only be reached by kayak, while others require nothing more than a short walk from a parking lot. One was built by nature. Another by people. A few are still revealing new passages today.
And yet, every one of them began the same way.
With curiosity.
As a little girl, I stood outside abandoned mine entrances wondering what lay behind the boards. Decades later, I suppose I’m still asking the same question.
That’s the wonderful thing about caves. No matter how many I explore, there’s always another entrance waiting, another story to uncover, another place that makes me think…
I have to see that for myself.
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