The Hidden Gem In Tennessee That Makes For An Undeniably Perfect Day Trip
By Meghan Kraft|Published January 05, 2018
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
Tennessee is home to over 10,000 documented caves, aptly earning its nickname of “Ol’ Rocky Top.” The Volunteer State may be known for the bright lights of Music City and gorgeous mountain ranges of eastern Tennessee, but there’s even more true to be found underground. The beauty is unfathomable, massive mountains that exist upside down, stunning and unbelievable. If you’re looking for a day trip in Tennessee, you just have to dig a little deeper: have you been to Cumberland Caverns?
Cumberland Caverns is home to an expansive space of underground passageways and rock formations, stretching 32 miles underground. It's the home of the Bluegrass Underground, a massive show that takes place on the main stage more than 300 feet underground.
Daily walking tours are offered daily, alongside adventure AND overnight adventure trips. There's something for everyone, with year-round walking tours leaving every hour on the hour from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily. This is probably your best bet if you're bringing little ones.
The regular walking tour comes in at about 90 minutes, and you will experience rock formations and underground waterfalls, cave pools and some of the largest underground rooms in the entire eastern United States. It's truly a spectacular tour, one you can't experience anywhere else.
Kids will love their experience "spelunking," but adults can reserve the underground Volcano Room that sets up to 500 people and can be used for all sorts of private events. It's also where the monthly Bluegrass Underground is recorded for WSM Radio.
Overnight spelunking trips will take you into some of the deepest parts of the cave, offering tours from 10 to 250. It's not for the faint of heart, since you'll be fitted with the correct caving gear and will be crawling and squeezing through the underground passageways. Only fearless adventurers need apply!
You'll want to check hours and ticket prices ahead of time, depending on the size of your attending party and time of year, and can visit the epic Cumberland Caverns at 1437 Cumberland Caverns Road in McMinnville, Tennessee.
What an amazing experience for the young and the old. Cumberland Caverns truly gives you a way to experience the state in a way you’ve never seen it before.
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