Postcard From the Future - A Visit to Mammoth Caves

Driving through the flat grass-covered fields of middle America was nothing less than boring. We might see a house if we got lucky and maybe a billboard every 50 miles. 

We found ourselves in Kentucky and once we reached our destination, the boredom we faced all seemed worth it. We found ourselves upon a natural wonder of the United States – Mammoth Cave National Park!

The longest cave system in the world was ready to be explored and we did what everyone does when they arrive, schedule a tour of the caves. We decided to do the shortest tour because this was simply a stop on our way to somewhere else. Even though this pretext of a couple hour long stop set expectations it quickly became one of the most interesting parts of the trip.

Right outside the visitor center stood our tour guide along with eight other people. The guide explained some rules for the tour and we disembarked. The guide had warned us, “it will be humid and hot down there”, but we didn’t pay any mind to that because how bad could it be. The stairs that led into the cave were long and about halfway down a wall of wetness struck me.

The guide told us the history of the caves and the founding of the park, when they were discovered and much more. She would regularly tell us to watch out for the stalactites hanging from the ceiling.

The brightly lit caverns were simple enough to walk around in as she told us stories of pioneers exploring the caves in days of old. A little while into the tour the first small obstacle came, we would have to crouch through this passage. Not difficult by any means, it went by quickly and on the other side was a large open cavern.

The humidity was one hundred times worse than anywhere else we had explored in the cave because there was a small waterfall coming out of the rock face. Immediately drenched even more than we already were, we listen to the guide's history lesson and disembark the cavern to return to the entrance.

We walked back through the way we came and exited the cave. My parents and I walked back to the RV we came in and drove to our next destination. I couldn’t help but think about how much majesty nature holds and how much I still haven’t seen. I started to think about all the beautiful places filled with nature that I had seen in Oregon and whether people in Kentucky would think the same about them.

Mammoth Cave National Park

Where: Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

What: Explore a giant cave system that is millions of years old.

Status: Open 24/7

Official website: www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm

Best way to get there: Fly into Kentucky and then drive into the park.

Admission: Admission is free. Cave Tours, Camping, and Picnic Pavilion Reservation Prices Vary

Where to eat: For places to eat visit: www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/wheretoeat.htm 

Where to stay: For places to camp visit: www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/fees.htm