Shenandoah Vacation - Luray Caverns

We were glad we had spent the previous day exploring the resort because it called for rain all the next day.  I had heard about a place nearby called Luray Caverns but I don't think we would have made it had it not been for the rain.  So thankful for rain.

Not having been to an underground cavern before I had no idea what to expect.  They said the tour would take about an hour and we would wind through a mile long path that was up to 300 ft below ground in certain parts.  I had concerns about air quality and claustrophobia but both turned out to be unfounded.

We gathered as a group with a tour guide to explain the formation and history of the caverns but we shortly gave up trying to hear (there were too many people talking) and fell back to enjoy the peace and beauty of the caverns by ourselves.  It is impossible to explain how incredibly awe struck we all were by their beauty.

The admission to the cavern also included admission to a really neat "History of the Automobile" museum, a toy museum and the beginnings of a recreation of the town from the 1800s.  Here the boys patiently watched a blacksmith at his craft and since they were the only kids to stay for the whole presentation they the blacksmith gave them the decorative spoon he was making.  Then they found the town bell and over used it a bit, the kind people just told them if they kept ringing it would call the local bears down from the mountain :-)

It was a wonderful day, full of all kinds of new experiences and some fascinating thick fog on our way back to the cabin.