Hike Through A Cave, Then Eat At The Cave Cafe At Lookout Mountain In Tennessee

I love planning trips and love even more when I get to go on them, so today I wanted to showcase an underground-themed trip starting with an impressive underground waterfall followed up by a cave restaurant.

We all love the giant mountain overlooks where we can see for miles and enjoy the scenery of a mountaintop experience. If you are anything like me, then you undoubtedly see the beauty all around our wonderful state. Sometimes, though, the best views are actually under our feet. Beauty is created in the darkness deep in underground caverns just waiting to be explored. Ruby Falls is the most popular cave in Tennessee, and we think it's worthy of a cave-themed day trip.

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lookout Mountain towers over the city peaking at just under 2,400 feet.

The mountain itself is stunning and makes for a fun drive up the windy and thin mountain roads. The contrast between the busy city life of Chattanooga completely disappears the second you start to ascend the mountain. I think that alone is a beautiful thing that so close to everything you would need in the city can just fade away as you retreat further up the mountain. As much fun as the drive up the steep and windy roads are, the true beauty lies underneath in a famous place called Ruby Falls.

Make sure to purchase tickets for the cave tour in advance because this is a very popular cave tour.

When you arrive the first thing you will notice is the stunning castle in which the cave entrance is located. This castle was formed from the rock that was cut out to make the elevator. So feel free to explore the property till it is time for your tour to begin. When it is time to start, with your ticket in hand, you will be granted access to an elevator ride that takes guests down 260 feet underground. Once in the cave, you will be walking a one-mile, round-trip path passing interesting rock formations. Many of the formations have clever names equating them to tobacco leaves or a western sunset. The tour is a slow-paced walk that averages around an hour to an hour and twenty minutes.

The main attraction is, of course, Ruby Falls.

This stunning waterfall is the tallest underground waterfall in the United States. Ruby Falls is 145 feet tall and fills a majestic pool below from its impressive water flow. With dynamic lighting, the waterfall will shimmer and shine making it not only one of the most impressive waterfalls but also one of the prettiest in Tennessee.

Touring the cave and seeing Ruby Falls is one of those bucket-list items that everyone should do in their life.

After all that excitement and underground adventuring, you can really work up an appetite. Fortunately, the Cave Cafe is located right in the historic Ruby Falls Castle. This medieval-style structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was built using the limestone that was excavated to make the elevator leading down to the cave.

There are plenty of places for guests to relax and enjoy a coffee from the cafe while reminiscing over their underground adventures. After a good adventure, I like to talk about it with my family too. So sharing a meal and your favorite parts of the cave all in one place sounds like a win to me.

The Cave Cafe offers a selection of items like flatbread pizza or wraps for visitors to enjoy.

Their decadent dessert menu includes brownies and big chocolate chip cookies. Order your food and then sit on the back porch with incredible views from high up on the mountain. Exploring the beauty of Ruby Falls and then having a relaxing meal with a view, is the perfect day trip for anyone looking to enjoy Tennessee’s finest.

Ruby Falls is the most popular cave in Tennessee, and for good reason. Marvel at the wonderful waterfall underground, then enjoy a meal with incredible views of Chattanooga at the conveniently located Cave Cafe. If you want to take on this cave-themed day trip then we recommend heading over to the Ruby Falls website to buy your tickets. You can also peruse the menu of this cave restaurant by visiting the Cave Cafe website and even order ahead if you want to. To learn more about Ruby Falls make sure to watch this OnlyInYourState video:

If you want to explore the city of Chattanooga then check out what to do with a spontaneous road trip to Chattanooga. After a long day book a night stay in the nearby town of Whitwell for one of the most unique stays in Tennessee; a mirror cabin!