Go Underground at these Great Vacation Destinations
March 29, 2007. The Southeastern United States is home to many enchanting caves and luxury vacation rentals. When the Raleigh News-Observer ran a story about caves in the region, we noticed their locations coincided with some of our favorite getaways.
These underground labyrinths combine geology's oddities with nature's art. They are so unusual and so fascinating. Many tours allow cameras, so you add some unique photos to your album. But never remove or break formations – they take thousands of years to form.
The Lost Sea and Forbidden Caverns can be found in Eastern Tennessee. According to the article, the Lost Sea "is not technically a 'sea.' It's a 4 1/2 acre lake, and the 75-minute guided tour includes a ride in a glass bottom boat." Above ground, vacationers can enjoy much larger lakes such as the Watauga and Dale Hollow.
Linville Caverns are North Carolina's only "show" caverns, according to the article. In addition to stalactites and stalagmites, you'll see some wildlife – three types of trout in the underground streams and rare, hibernating bats. After exploring deep below the surface, you can hike at one of the area's highest peaks, Grandfather Mountain.
Another cave can be found farther south along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but you can't just walk up to the ticket window to gain admission. The Nature Conservancy owns Bat Cave, and shows this special formation by appointment only. Unlike the other caverns that were formed by water, Bat Cave was formed by a giant crack in the rock. It's located close to Asheville and Lake Lure.
