We decided to stop halfway between Florida and Alabama at Marianna to visit the caverns. It helped the trip by breaking it up. The kids had a blast. It was their first time in the caverns as well as Craig's. I had been to the caverns a few different times while on field trips in my previous life before children. I shared with the kids what to expect and they were so pumped in the days before our trip. We loved seeing all the different types of rock formations and the rugged nature trail that we walked after the tour of the cavern was over. Another special first for our kids on this trip was the chance to sleep in a "hotel". It totally cracked me up, I think they had as much fun in the hotel as they did in the caverns. I wish I would've saved it but this week in school they learned "story problems" and Connor came home from school the other day and created his own story problem. The question was "Which one is my home?" of course in adorable Kindergarten spelling. He drew a huge picture of a black bat and then underneath he drew a house, a hotel, and a cave. I think the hotel was just as much a memory maker as the cave.
Monument outside of cave remembering all the CCC workers in the 1930's who chiseled pathways through the cave so tourist could walk through it.
Tiered column, this one was my favorite.
Draperies, also quite beautiful, in a cave, rock sort of way
Rim pool (I think that's what the guide called these)
Just a cool picture of the inside of the cavern
After the guide announced that Florida used to be underwater & that if you search real hard you can find sea life from lifetimes ago Connor was on the look out. He found this anicent sand dollar and made me take a picture. The guide also showed us a shark's tooth that was really neat.
Towards the end of the tour there was a rock formation that you were allowed to touch. The kids loved it especially after waiting throughout the whole tour just to touch something. Apparently it is a federal offense to touch a rock formation in a cave because the oils on your hand kill the growth of the rock. They designated a special rock for the kiddos to touch & I'm sure thankful they did.
After the tour we went on a hike through nature down one of the nature trails. Rigorous and rugged is all I can say!
Along the hike were several Indian sites where the Indians used rock shelters. The kids liked looking up in them.
I think their favorite part of all was the tunnel cave on the nature trail. You could see the other end and they were short enough that they didn't have to bend down to walk through. They loved it!
1 comment:
Loving and longing for the Cannons!
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