Never heard of spelunking? It is just a fancy name for exploring caves, but it can be a lot of fun. Caves are full of much more than bats hanging upside down, although those can often be found there. Stalactites, stalagmites and cave drawings are a few of the wonders that can be found in a cave. Underground caves have their own special animal life and attractions to offer spelunkers.

Barra Honda National Park

Located in Costa Rica, Barra Honda National Park features the Land of the Lost Caverns. The caverns here are ancient, as well as beautiful. Families will love this spelunking opportunity as there is easy access to the caverns and the traveling is not demanding. The park itself is magnificent and features a limestone reef. And you get to enjoy all of this in Costa Rica’s lovely tropical climate.

Mammoth Cave

Amazing wildlife and stunning geological formations await spelunkers who venture into one of the many sections of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park. And kids are not a problem. Special spelunking tours designed just for 8 -12 year olds are offered. They can explore, crawl around and get dirty. What more could a kid ask for? Mammoth Cave is a great place to take your family vacation. They offer several other tours such as the Lantern Tour which allows visitors to see the caves just like the first miners who explored this stretch of remarkable caverns.

California Underground Adventures

There are several underground adventures to choose from in California. Black Chasm National Landmark is a good choice. Take the hour long tour and see exquisite formations and the rare helictite crystals for which the cave is famous. A very nice visitor’s center tells all about the cave and kids can even mine for gems. There is also Boyden Cavern, located in Kings Canyon, Giant Sequoia National Monument, Moaning Cavern which has an area so tall the Statue of Liberty could fit in it and Sutter Gold Mine.

Venturing Out On Your Own

There are also plenty of places that have caverns and caves that spelunkers can explore on their own. Be prepared for the adventure. Learn the safety rules involved in spelunking, such as always letting someone know where you are going. Make sure you have the proper equipment and the proper permission to go exploring. With some simple precautions and preparation spelunking can also be a wonderful family past time.