Today's Trip to DeSoto Caverns - Pics!

[Ava]

This week my little sisters are off for fall break so I took them to a place not far from our house that I have always loved - DeSoto Caverns. DeSoto Caverns are a series of geologic caves located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It is touted as "Alabama's Big Cave". The main room is twelve stories high, and larger than a football field. The caverns are noted for one of the largest accumulations of onyx-marble stalagmites and stalactites in the United States. Why the name "DeSoto Caverns"? Hernando DeSoto and his Spanish expedition entered the Northern Alabama area in 1540. DeSoto spent five weeks with the Coosa Indians, a few miles west of the caverns. He was welcomed in a ceremony near the entrance to the caverns. Anyways, it was a fun day and the girls enjoyed it. We went through the three acre maze too - which was ... fun. :rofl:

here are some pics.. enjoy!

The main room -




The waterfall -


Feeling tired and run down after a long day, hahaha. :rofl: :

[Taverner]

1. Is it Stalagmites might fall down?

Or is it Stalagtites hold on tight?

[Ava]

2. stalagmites "might reach the top"

stalactites hold on tight ;)

[eppur_se_muova]

14. StalaCtites on the Ceiling, stalaGmites on the Ground. nt

[eppur_se_muova]

15. opps. nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear Ava!

Those are awesome pics!

Thank you for sharing your adventures with us!

I can bet you're tired, sweetie...

No matter how good the trails are, there's always some work involved...

Didya want to lose your sisters in the maze? :evilgrin:

:hi:

[Ava]

4. it was a blast, but yes tiring

i have a horrible headache - but i think that's more from the "ava ava look look look at this!" screaming from the lil ones. ;)

i didn't want to lose them.. at least not consciously :D :rofl: :P

[lost-in-nj]

5. OHHH I LOVE CAVES!!!

Went to Crystal Caves in Pa.
http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2553814490058383451XYOZEr>

and a winery in put-in-bay, Ohio
Heinemans Winery



(btw if you EVER get the chance to got to Put-In-Bay.... GO!!!!


lost

Ava...... you should photoshop W's picture in the stocks!!!


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Ava]

6. that looks awesome!

i love caves too. they are soo cool!

[yellowdogintexas]

7. Nice Cave! I don't think i have visited that one. Love to go underground.

thanks for the photos.

[Ava]

9. you welcome. i love caves

it's a pretty good one to see if you're ever in 'bama

[yellowdogintexas]

11. I am going to Mammoth Cave next week! Can't Wait, that is my favorite cave

I spent a LOT of time there in the 1970's and 1980's; I'm attending a 50th Reunion of a Cave Exploration/Research Organization that I was once very active with. (bad grammar, I know) Will get to see old friends from forever, their kids, possibly grandkids, it will be so much fun.

When we travel, we always look for show caves in the area we are visiting, in case there is one we haven't seen.


Kentucky here I come!

[AllegroRondo]

12. Take the lantern tour!

My family visited Mammoth Cave in the mid 80's, and the most fun we had was on a lantern tour of the cave. They handed out gas lanterns, and took you to parts of the cave that werent lit by electicity. Took a couple hours, but you see a lot of things that arent in the main caves.

[yellowdogintexas]

13. oh we will. We have some Special Tours lined up we can take

I have done the Lantern Tour several times, and a lot of off trail stuff over the years. We have a special group Lantern Tour and another tour conducted by a Veteran Caver of Important Moments in the History of Mammoth Cave and Cave Research Foundation.

Can't wait.

[SPKrazy]

8. Awesome Cave... Who's the Criminal?

Some lefty peace mongerer prolly huh? :P

[Ava]

10. some crazy pacifist quaker!

she's a witch! BURN HER! :rofl:

[eppur_se_muova]

16. Thanks, I've never been there.

Thought they messed up Cathedral Caverns when they 'modernized' it. Yeah, it's more accessible, but all the good scenery is on the old trail down below. Wheelchair accessibility is a great thing, but they should have left the old trail open as an alternative tour.