An Underground World Below the Skyline Drive

Dwarfed by Cave Formations in Luray Caverns (VA) [1]

Imagine you and your family exploring a world of underground lakes, gravity-defying columns, and seemingly endless natural rooms. Want to turn your imagination into reality? Then head on out to Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park of Virginia and explore some of the region's captivating caverns for a one-of-a-kind adventure your kids will never forget.

Near the southern end of the byway and a few miles north of Waynesboro, you’ll find Grand Caverns, America’s oldest public cave. Discovered in 1806, Grand Caverns has one of the largest cave rooms of any eastern cavern.  Share the reverent feeling of Cathedral Hall and the eerie red-lit Dante's Inferno caverns with your children.  Look over more than 230 signatures left by Confederate and Union soldiers who visited the caves during the Civil War.  In addition to taking the guided cave tour, consider hiking and biking on any of the 2.5-plus miles of nearby trails, or picnic at one of the five picnic areas around the caves. Grand Caverns has something for everyone in your family, no matter their age or mobility.

Awe-Inspiring Rock Pillars in Luray Caverns (VA) [2]

For another cavernous caper, travel north paralleling the byway for about fifty miles to Luray Caverns, prehistoric caverns that were first discovered in 1878. One of the first things your kids will notice when visiting these caves is their array of colors and shades. From white to yellow to red to black, all of these colors are completely natural, caused by the different mineral deposits throughout the caves. Give your kids a new meaning to the term “surround sound” as you stand together in the Cathedral and listen to the Great Stalacpipe Organ, which uses over three acres of stalactites to produce seasonal melodies. Once outside and above the ground again, get lost together as you follow twisting, green-hedged pathways and solve the puzzle of the site's Garden Maze. The car-lovers in your family will adore the Car and Carriage Caravan Museum exhibit.

Ready for more? Continue north toward the end of the Skyline Drive at Front Royal. A few miles south of Front Royal is Skyline Caverns. Discovered in 1937, these caves stay a comfortable 54 degrees year-round. Here, you can show your kids an uncommon natural occurrence known as anthodites. These twisting and turning, tube-like cave structures are delicate and rare, and Skyline Caverns is one of the few places on earth where you can view them. After your expert-guided tour through these fascinating caves, don't forget to board the Skyline Arrow -- a miniature train that takes you and your kids on a ten-minute tour of nearby landmarks.

The mysterious caverns, above-ground excursions, and historical hot spots of the caves of Skyline Drive will impress everyone in your family, from the low-key traveler to the avid explorer. Experience some of Mother Nature’s greatest wonders with your children along the awe-inspiring Skyline Drive.