campingLet me start by saying not all caves are cheap.Some like the natural bridge caverns are packaged together with hikes and reenactments.You pay for things you might not want.Boo,hiss.Skyline caverns might fall into this category.Located in teh northern shenandoah valley it boasts three underground streams and a 37 ft "rainbow waterfall:.Open year round in Front Royal,Va it is surrounded by cave country.!-800-2964545
In the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia is Dixie caverns.Apparently a hotspot for weddings there is also a pottery shop and basket shop and rock and mineral shop.Probably a cheap tour as they want you to spend you money on these other things.Also campgrounds,a christmas shop and wedding shop.Do it all here,lol!Probably pretty cheesey but close to Knoxville so we may hit it one day.Salem,Va 540-380-2085
Endless caverns also in the shenandoah valley is famous for its spring water and not much else.So a good bet for a nice cave tour.Over 5 miles of cave has been discovered so far featured only with white lighting.A rustic mountainsdie campground gives a good home base in the search for local wild caves.This one is very promising.Open year round in New Market,Va,540-896-2283
This area is flush with cave systems and a beautiful place to visit.But watch your funds at the tmany tourist traps!
Welcome 2009!! Where shall i start caving this new year? Lets try new York.Now that the Dead have released a spring tour we will be in Albany,Ny in April.Only 37 miles away is Howe caverns,a multifunctional cave complex.The "great wonder from down under" is a live cave complete with underground boat ride.Hiking,gem mining and horseback riding make this seem an ideal place for us to spend the night before the long,strange trip home.
In the opposite direction from Albay is the Natural Stone Bridge and Caves in Pottersville,Ny.The bridge is one of the oldest rock formations in the US.I wish we had the time to do this cave while out there becuase the pictures in the brochure are beautiful.
Down in Pennsylvannia are at least three caves of interest.Lost River Caverns (how many of these are scattered around,lol?) in Hellertown.This cave also boasts an earth science museum and a hungle garden with waterfall.Open year round www.lostcave.com
In Centre Hall,Pa is Penn's Cave.America's only all water cavern and wildlife sanctuary.And don't forget the plane rides over the valley.Sounds like a great little mini vacation in the fall. www.pennscave.com
In Hershey is Indian Echo Caverns.This seems like a cheesey little history tourist spot.The cave does have 3 lakes but no boat ride.Worthy of a stop if in the area I am sure. www.indianechocaverns.com
Doign this cave blog always reminds me of the great natural beauty in the US. With a couple of free days and a little food and gas money a great trip is to be had in some of Americas smallest towns.
I should probably visit some caves and stop writing about them but here goes.Missouri is known as the :Land of 5000 caves". My kind of place.Most of those are probably wild so ask the locals!
1.) Mark Twain Cave (of course 
) Located in Hannibal,Mo home of Mr. Twain. I think this is actually 2 caves.The Mark twain cave and the Cameron cave located inside the visitor complex.Cameron cave is a "maze" cave and takes longer to tour.Personally I love the writings of mark twain and would love to visit this town,its caves,lakes and history.
2.) Meramec Caverns , Stanton,MO I am not usually swayed by the brochure pictures.They can be very misleading.But in this instance- WOW Meramec caverns boasts an underground river,a 5 story "mansion",the only completely natural onyx table known and the "Stage Curtain" the largest known sindle cave formation in the world. So much of the cave is mineral in composition that I am sure the colors are beautiful.I might have to bump this one up to the top of my wish list!
3.) Fantastic Caverns, Springfield,Mo Interesting concept here.In order to preserve the cave better tours are conducted in a jeep-drawn tram~! This cave does not boast any grand claims like the other but seems full of all the expected formations and cave animals.And you can't beat drive thru 
4.) Onondaga Cave State Park, Leasburg,Mo I love state Parks.I think America's park sytem is something we can really be proud of no matter what idiot is in DC.And caves in state parks are reliably well cared for and a lot less gimmicky than privately owned caves.You tend to get a more "wild" experience.this one has a 75 minute,mile long,naturalist led tour.Also in the park is Cathedral cave which is somewhat strenous and available only on weekends and by appt.
5.) Truitt's cave, Lanagan,Mo this cave was featured in Ripleys believe it or not becuase of the rstaurants stone fireplace which has anatural flue and a spring running beneath it.Believed to be the only one of its kind in the world.What is interesting about this cave is Mr Truitt came to the Ozarks after guiding tours at the Cave of the Winds in Colorado Springs.He discovered 5 cave systems which he opened to the public and then sold before settling on this one which he gave his name to.He did come out of retirement at age 89 to open one more.This man was a true cave lover and people like me owe him a huge thank you!
6.)Bluff Dweller's cave, Noel, Mo. This cave is probably no more fantastic than the others around it but it is special for its rich history.Arrowheads,fossils and human remains were found during cave discovery and there is a museum showcasing all of this.This was one of Mr Truitt's first caves.
7.) Talking Rocks cavern,off highway 13 near Branson,Mo Above the cave is a 400 acre nature preserve and there are 4 other caves on the property.Not clear on whether they are toured or if it is just this one.The Ozarks are truly breathtaking so personally I would hit this one for the nature preserve.Since the brochure is a little vague on details I am listing the phone number 1-800-600-CAVE Nifty,huh.
8.) Jacob's Cave, highway 5 north of Laurie,Mo I'm not sure what to make of this brochure.Apparently this cave was discovered more recently than Missouri's other systems.Maybe that is why they picture a map with no large cities on it and a red star instead of an actual location.All I can really tell is that the cave seekms massive.No mention of cafes,gift shops etc.Only rustic camping and a black light mineral display.The hippie in me wants to see this black light show even though I know it is probably cheesy.But the rustic camping and lack of facts on the brochure lead me to think that there are other wild caves in the area if you ask around.A lot to explore without a guide maybe.This could be the secret gem of Missouri caves for an amateur caver like myself. phone number 573-378-4374
3 other caves in the state park system are Fisher cave in Meramec state park near Sullivan.Tours are led with hand held lanterns.Fun! Ozark Caverns (Mr.Truitt's first cave) is at Lake of the Ozarks State park in Camden county.Another lantern tour. And Devils Icebox Cave in Rock Bridge Memorial State park near Columbia.This is an extensive wild cave which is toured with a guide.Very strenuous tours lasting from 4-8 hours.
While my husband and I have been to a couple really nice caves in Alabama we can not remember their names.I do remember they were pretty far off the beaten path.But well worth it.One that we have not seen is DeSoto Caverns . DeSoto caverns was the first officially recorded cave back in 1796!It is famous for its Onyx cathedral.This cave also boasts mazes,cave wall climbs and laser shows.Probably an atmosphere geared towards children but the photos make it too impressive to pass.
Arkansas is famous for its caves.We have been to some wild ones there that were a little scary but a lot of fun.We also have visited Mystic caverns and Blanchard Springs.One of the only cave systems controlled by the US forestry service.But there are so many more caves in the state.Bull Shoals caverns is in the town of the same name and has 2 underground rivers and an underground trout stream.Albino trout? Don't know.
Hurrican river cave is in the middle of the state and has an impressive outdoor waterfall.I think we may actually have been to this cave before.
As the name suggests Old Spanish treasure cave is supposed to be the location of a great buried treasure.It was run by a man who started one of the first mining companies in the state as a cover up for his search for the treasure.He never found it but the cave lives on as a tourist attraction with underground camping and a spooky halloween cave tour.
One of the largest bat colonies in North America is located in War Eagle cavern near Eureka.Prime Arkansas caving country.The movie "Frank and Jesse" was filmed here.(I've never heard of it either).You can enter by land or by boat at the natural entrance on Beaver lake.
Also in Eureka Springs is Onyx cave.It is a living cave with a year round temperature of 57 degrees.Instead of guided tours you take a 30 minute tour with a headphone which alerts you to all the various cave attractions.Along with the cave is a button and Doll museum.Admission is free for the museum.I wonder why? BORING! I will definitely skip the museum but while in the area I am sure we will find many wild caves to explore.Always ask the locals.Usually they can tell you how to get to places where caves are waiting for you.Sometimes these caves are the best.
I have been in a great cave in Kentucky but unfortunately do not know the name.
but another I'd like to see is Hidden River Cave in historic Horse cave, Ky.I'm sure there are lots of caves in this area.
On the other side of the state line in Indiana there is Bluespring caverns.In bedford, In this huge cave offers a boat tour.The boat ride at the Lost Sea cavern in sweetwater, Tn was a real dissapointment so I'd love to try another hopefully better "mystic voyage".
