Mammoth adventure

Named for its size, Mammoth Cave is the largest known cave system in the world at 426 miles, 12 of which are open for tours. Its rotunda is one-quarter of an acre, according to the National Park Service. Rarely do people get to see such expanses underground, but Mammoth Cave is well preserved because of its sandstone caprock above the limestone that prevents water from penetrating into the cave forming stalactites and stalagmites. That said, some areas of the cave do not have that caprock, and visitors can see majestic formations.

The cave is 54 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. The Discovery self-guided tour starts at the historic opening, features the gigantic rotunda, and allows you to explore at your own pace, talking to park rangers along the way. The Frozen Niagara tour highlights cave formations.

Plan to reserve your tours online in advance because they fill up quickly. Fees range from $12 to $79 for adults. Pricing for children is broken into two age groups. Not all of the cave is as expansive as the Rotunda, with areas that you have to duck or even crawl through (three crawling tours are offered). The National Park Service website describes each tour, its length, and the number of stairs to descend and ascend.

Tales about the infamous outlaw Jesse James are almost as mammoth as the cave itself. It seems he hid in just about every cave in that part of Kentucky. Whether you’ll actually walk where he trod, who knows, but the mystery surrounding his heists in the area will pique your curiosity as you navigate underground tunnels.

Three airports are located less than 30 miles from Mammoth Cave National Park: Leitchfield-Grayson County (M20) to the north, Glasgow Municipal (GLW) to the southeast, and Bowling Green-Warren County Regional (BWG) to the southwest. Whichever airport you fly into, you’ll need to work with a car rental company to arrange a vehicle.

If you enjoy fiddling, go to Leitchfield-Grayson County Airport and visit Leitchfield, the fiddling capital of Kentucky. The Twin Lakes National Fiddler Championship takes place at the courthouse square during the third weekend in July.

Glasgow Municipal Airport is the closest to the national park’s visitor center and Cave City, which features fun tourist attractions. Adventures of Mammoth Cave offers ziplining for adults and children (35 pounds or more), horseback riding, an aerial challenge course, kayaking, and mountain biking. Additional cave tours are available outside the park, such as Diamond Caverns and Onyx Cave. Don’t miss Dinosaur World if you have youngsters who love these prehistoric creatures. Walk through a wooded area with statues of life-size dinosaurs, dig for fossils, and uncover a stegosaurus skeleton in the boneyard. For a sweet tooth fix, stop by Cave City Coffee and Creamery.

Fly into Bowling Green, home of Western Kentucky University, for a city experience when you aren’t exploring underground. The Aviation Heritage Park and Museum is less than five miles from the airport and features an outdoor exhibit with a Bell UH–1 Iroquois Huey, General Dynamics F–111 Aardvark, Grumman Panther F9F, Lockheed T–33A-5 Shooting Star, McDonnell-Douglas F–4D Phantom II, Northrop T–38A(N) Talon, and Sikorsky SH–3H Sea King. Enjoy Chaney’s Dairy Barn, which specializes in homemade ice cream made with milk and cream from their own Jersey cows. It also offers farm tours and a giant playground. If you haven’t had your fill of caves at Mammoth Cave National Park, enjoy a guided boat tour of Lost River Cave for more Jesse James tales and a peek at a 1930s nightclub.