Mammoth Cave? Anyone?

[Angry Eyes]

We live in Cincinnati and have driven past Mammoth Cave a million times but have never stopped. Due to a hefty, pre-spring break car repair bill, we are considering taking the kids here for an inexpensive spring break getaway. We will likely only stay one night and are very interested in what we can do on a dime here. Does anyone have first-hand experience with Mammoth Cave? The one thing that looks either really fun or completely terrifying is Wigwam Village which appears to be really close. I have researched on Tripadvisor and basically people either love it or hate it. We have a pretty good sense of adventure (and humor) so I think we would like it. As far as tours of the caves, what are your favorites? I am thinking one tour, just long enough to say we did it. I don't love the idea of being in a cave and I am not sure my husband would either. My kids are DS 15, DD11, and DS 9. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[Que_Sarah_Sarah]

It's been awhile, but one thing I LOVED about the cave was that in the welcome center they had a computer monitor where you could click on your tour and then look at photos of spots that were narrow, short, etc. It was nice to be able to see, for example, that one of the "Claustrophobic" spots was a winding path cut into the rock that only went up to the waist, so while your legs didn't have a ton of room to move side to side, your upper body was free so it didn't feel like the walls were closing in.

Whatever that tour was, it was the basic family tour, probably one that would suit your group Also, keep in mind that the cave will be cooler than outside (In winter it's the other way around!), so even if it seems warm outside, you may want a long sleeve tee or something to stave off the cool air inside.

I looked on the website and I think we did the Historic Tour. There are other, shorter tours you might prefer. http://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/gocavetours.htm

 

[iheartmickey1111]

I LOVED it!!! I thought it was really unique and definitely glad I was able to go a couple times when we lived out that way. I definitely think its worth stopping at!

 

[iheartmickey1111]

Also- its HUGE so you dont get that creepy "I'm in a cave" feeling (unless you go on the spalunking (spelling?) tours anyways). Its really pretty amazing. It was one of those places we only went because it was close, and now I am sad that I will probably never make it back it out to that part again- I would LOVE to go again!!

 

[shortbun]

Also- its HUGE so you dont get that creepy "I'm in a cave" feeling (unless you go on the spalunking (spelling?) tours anyways). Its really pretty amazing. It was one of those places we only went because it was close, and now I am sad that I will probably never make it back it out to that part again- I would LOVE to go again!!

Really? I went on the tour, got down the first long flight of stairs and turned around running back up those stairs and into a drenching lightning storm. I felt relieved in the lightening. I barely took the time to say goodbye to my husband and son. My husband, who has never felt claustrophobia, said he'd never do the tour again because it was so tight for him. He's 6'5" but not heavy. We liked the area around it and we camped at a very nice campground. Guess we're not cave people.

 

[indimom]

We spent a week camping at the Jellystone Campground at Mammoth Cave in 2007. We had a great time. We did four cave tours. Our favorites were the Snowball Tour (the longest tour they have, you stop for lunch in the cave) and the Violet City Lantern Tour (a nighttime tour, you use lanterns rather than electric lights to view the caves as the first explorers did).

IMO, Don't waste your time on the tour that claims to allow you to see the river that created the caves (River Stix tour, I think). You can't see anything from the point you stop. You can just hear the water and barely catch the shine with lanterns.

We booked our tours in advance because we went for fourth of July weekend and sometimes they do book up. You might want to check online and see what's available for your week.

Oh, and I agree with the other poster, bring a sweatshirt. It's chilly in the caves.

Outside the caves: We did one day at a roadside attraction called Kentucky Action Park (they have a website). It was $25 apiece (so $100 total for our family) at the time that we went, but we really liked it. There was probably a total of 30 people there so you didn't wait for anything. They had a short cave tour (nothing special), go carts, putt putt, bumper cars, bumper boats, climbing walls, and a chairlift to take you to their headliner - the Alpine Slide. I bet we did that slide 30 times. Our kids loved it.

All in all, we had a good time. There isn't a ton to do in the area, but enough for a couple days. We didn't go, but I remember seeing signs for Kentucky Down Under and a Dinosaur Land? I think you'll find something you can enjoy.

Hope This Helps!

 

[minnierocks]

Mammoth Cave and our trip to Kentucky is one of our favorite family vacations. We loved the caves and there is plenty to do there that is budget-friendly. One of the highlights was a tour of the Corvette factory in Bowling Green...the tour is free, but you have to drive to Bowling Green. Have fun...

 

[LadyBeBop]

One of the highlights was a tour of the Corvette factory in Bowling Green...the tour is free, but you have to drive to Bowling Green.

Actually, if you forget your favorite liquid refreshment, you may have to drive to Bowling Green anyway. The area around the caves is in a dry county, and Bowling Green is the closest city to buy liquor. While vacationing in the caves area, I remember a few trips to Bowling Green.

The caves area is great. You can spend a good week there. Have fun.

 

[crisi]

Years ago the Styx tour used to include a boat ride, that made it awesome.

Get tickets before you go online - some of the popular tours sell out. Hiking around the cave area is very nice as well.

 

[indimom]

Actually, if you forget your favorite liquid refreshment, you may have to drive to Bowling Green anyway. The area around the caves is in a dry county, and Bowling Green is the closest city to buy liquor. While vacationing in the caves area, I remember a few trips to Bowling Green.

The caves area is great. You can spend a good week there. Have fun.

lol. We remembered the beverage, but forgot the corkscrew. We tried several gas stations and convenience stores before we found one... at a knife shop.

 

[Angry Eyes]

Thanks so much for the replies and the information. The idea of going to Mammoth Cave reminds me of the vacations we took as kids to the KY state parks. We always traveled on a dime and they are some of my favorite memories. Hopefully my kids think so too, but if they don't, that will make the trip all the more memorable! Has anyone stayed at the Wigwam Village?

 

[Princesca]

Mammoth Cave is awesome... be sure to wear VERY good shoes. You'll be walking and standing on rock the entire time and last time I went my shoes clearly werent sufficient as I had lower leg discomfort for a week or two afterward. And I saw women there in strappy heels so god knows how they managed. I believe you can also stay on site at the park.

 

[Princesca]

Also check out Guntown Mountain if you haven't already...its an amusement park in a frontier style and was a hoot when I was a kid.

 

[PrincessDana]

Actually, if you forget your favorite liquid refreshment, you may have to drive to Bowling Green anyway. The area around the caves is in a dry county, and Bowling Green is the closest city to buy liquor. While vacationing in the caves area, I remember a few trips to Bowling Green.

The caves area is great. You can spend a good week there. Have fun.

Actually the town adjacent to Mammoth Cave Park (Cave City) is now "moist." Which means there are a couple of restaurants in town where you can get drinks (but still no package liquor). El Mazatlan would probably be your best option!

As for Wigwam village, I would probably just drive over and and take pictures. Its pretty rough looking from the outside, not to mention small. There are a few chain hotels in Cave City with the Sleep Inn being the newest, I think. The Comfort Suites is pretty new too.

Lots of great hiking and lots of geocaching sites in the area too. Being from Cincy, you know to expect the unexpected regarding the weather!

We live 20 mins away from Mammoth Cave Park and were thinking of going to Cincinnati for spring break! lol. You wouldn't know how to get Reds opening day tickets, would you?!?

 

[wendinator]

Has anyone stayed at the Wigwam Village?

I stayed there for 1 night in 2007. We were doing a road trip that included the Dayton Air Force museum, the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green (as someone else suggested) and the Mammoth Caves.

You've received lots of good replies about the Caves already (wear good shoes, bring a sweater), so I'll talk about the Wigwam Village.

I wanted to stay there precisely because it's kitschy. My husband rolled his eyes, but pretty much always agrees to go along with whatever crazy scheme I come up with.

Mostly I tell people, "I stayed there so you don't have to!". It was fun for one night, but I'm not sure I'd want to stay for any extended period of time. The room was clean enough (I checked for bedbugs), but I don't think anybody stays there for comfort.

The tent we had was a double bed up against two walls, which means that one of you is sleeping up against the wall, and if you have to get up in the middle of the night then you either have to climb over the other person, or scoot down to the foot of the bed.

The walls are predictably sloped, which isn't too much of a problem generally, but the mirror on the bathroom was on an angle, and I remember the shower being pretty small.

Conceivably they've upgraded since 2007, but the TV was pretty old. We don't watch TV at the best of times, so I don't think we even tried turning it on.

We went in July, and I seem to recall the small window unit air conditioner struggled a little bit at keeping it cool in the room. There's a ceiling fan, though, so it wasn't too terrible.

They're not professional-grade, but I have some photos here of the inside of the room.

You're basically sleeping in a concrete cone. If you go into it with reasonable expectations (this ain't the Hilton!) and for the novelty, I think you'll be fine.

I'm not on the forum too often, so if you have any specific questions that I haven't addressed, please shoot me a PM.

 

[dzorn]

We stopped on our way down to Florida last year the kids enjoyed it. DD did the Jr Ranger program. We did do one tour but I cannot remember the name of it.

Denise in MI

 

[dhardawa]

You've received great information so I won't repeat that. I did want to say that Dinosaur World is down there. I haven't been, but my sister went once when they had $1 admission for Bowling Green residents. She said it was hardly worth her dollar. Just FYI.

 

[Andrea]

oh wow now i want to go here.

 

[kathie859]

Hello OP...we're just across the river from you! My DS and I took a great trip to see Mammouth Cave. We took one of the walking tours--not sure which one--it lasted about 4 hours. We both enjoyed it.

The Corvette museum is interesting if you're into cars. DS thought it was great--Mother, eh-not so much

We also meandered over to Cumberland Falls--lots of fun and Lincoln birthplace National Park which, surprisingly, DS really got into

Repening day Reds tickets. Check the classifieds in the Cincinnati Enquirer. You'll pay a premium but there's some advertised. Online Enquirer is www.cincinnati.com

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Mammoth Cave is fun, but we stop to tour caves wherever we travel/live (military). Have been on cave tours all over the U.S.
The area around it is full of tourist traps and kitsch. I have a youtube video of a trip to KY Action Adventure park someone else mentioned. A warning.....it is pretty run down and I don't think KY requires as many state inspections as most do. There were chunks missing from the alpine slide, and we noticed after letting our daughter ride up the lift that there had obviously been an electrical fire in the operating house. We laugh about it now.
Near the Mammoth Cave area is a place called Kentucky Down Under that I recommend to people. We were at Ft. Knox for four years, and visited twice. Lots of uphill walking there.
Also Horse Cave is nice, and if you make it down to Bowling Green the Lost River Cavern is fun.