We spent a week in November exploring areas of
Kentucky and Tennessee. Most of the time
was spent underground, but we did find other things to photograph along the
way. We had a grand adventure and I
expect we will return for more one of these days.
Cub Run Cave
“Cub Run Cave, located in scenic Hart County, Ky.,
was first discovered in 1950. It was then briefly shown to the public before
being closed for the next 55 years. The cave reopened to the public in July
2006. New elevated wooden walkways and modern lighting were constructed for the
public's safety and convenience. Come discover for yourself one of Kentucky's
newest and most beautifully decorated show caves!”
This cave is for sale if you need any Christmas of Birthday gift ideas...
Cumberland Caverns
“Cumberland Caverns is located in the heart of Middle
Tennessee between Nashville, Chattanooga, and Gatlinburg. The caverns is a
short drive from Fall Creek Falls State Park, Rock Island State Park, Center
Hill Lake, and Savage Gulf (the Stone Door) and a neighbor of Falcon Rest
Historic Mansion. Open for daily scenic walking tours year round.”
Diamond Caverns
“For over 152 years Historic Diamond Caverns has
offered tours of Kentucky's most beautiful cave. Presented by state-of-the-art
lighting, Diamond Caverns features intricate drapery deposits lining the halls
in cascades of naturally colorful calcite.
Thousands of formations decorate the cathedral-like chambers. Discover
the exciting underground world of Diamond Caverns with your family today. Located adjacent to Mammoth Cave National
Park, a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, Diamond
Caverns abounds in natural beauty. “
Black Bird Invasion!
Harrisburg Covered Bridge
Watts Bar Nuclear Plant – TVA
“Watts Bar Nuclear Plant is located just south of
Watts Bar Reservoir on the Tennessee River near Spring City in east Tennessee.
It is TVA’s third nuclear power plant. Construction began in 1973, and Unit 1
began full commercial operation in 1996. In 1988 TVA suspended construction of
Unit 2 because of a reduction in the predicted growth of power demand. In
August 2007, the TVA board of directors approved completion of Unit 2 and
construction has resumed.”
Forbidden Caverns
“Tennessee is home to the most caves in the
United States, with over 8,350 caves registered to date. Forbidden Caverns,
located in Sevierville, Tennessee is one of America's most spectacular caverns.
Visitors are provided with an entertaining and educational tour past sparkling
formations, towering natural chimneys, numerous grottos and a crystal clear
stream. Special lighting effects, a stereophonic sound presentation and
well-trained tour guides combine to make this a most enjoyable experience. The
trails are well-lighted, with handrails at all necessary points.”
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
“Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border
between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its
ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian
mountain culture, this is America's most visited national park.”
Hidden River Cave & American Cave
Museum
“Hidden River Cave's Historic Tour descends 150'
underground. Your guide will tell you
the history of Hidden River Cave, why it was closed for 50 years and its
phenomenal recovery. Along the way, you
will view the remains of a turn of the century hydroelectric system. The
walkways take you above the swift moving Hidden River that drains into the Green River. The trail ends in a large dome room were the
river is still at work.”
Kentucky Caverns at Kentucky Down Under
“This is one of the most beautiful and easily
accessible caves in the US. Kentucky Caverns was discovered in 1799, and opened
to public tours in 1922. Tours of Kentucky Caverns are scheduled throughout the
day and no prior reservations are necessary. The tour is approximately 45
minutes. This is an active cave: when it rains, the water drips down through
the ground and into the cave continually creating new formations! There are
many different formations to behold in the cave, such as stalagmites and
stalactites, cave popcorn and cave cauliflower. Unsure what cave popcorn or
cave cauliflower are? Your interpreter will be happy to explain.”
Lost River Cave
“Kentucky's ONLY Underground Boat Tour and the
enchanting Butterfly Habitat await you at Lost River Cave. Daylight disappears
from view as you board the boat on the river that Ripley's Believe It or Not
claims is the shortest, deepest in the world. A comfortable 57 degrees year
round, the boat tour offers a visit into the timeless world of a Kentucky
Natural wonder.”
The Lost Sea Adventure
“Your Lost Sea adventure begins with a guided tour of
the caverns. This involves a ¾ mile round-trip walk on wide sloping pathways.
While touring the caverns and underground lake our guides will tell of the
cavern's exciting and colorful history. They will also explain the fascinating
geological development of the immense cavern rooms and rare formations. At the
bottom of the cave you will board a glass-bottom boat for an exciting trip on
the Lost Sea, America's Largest underground lake.”
Frost on the leaves...
Mammoth Cave National Park Frozen Niagara
Tour
“Often the perfect taste of Mammoth Cave for visitors
with very small children, elderly family members, or others who cannot walk
long distances. Not sure you like close places?
Have trouble walking or managing long staircases? This short visit
through a decorative area of Mammoth Cave might be best for you. • 1¼ hours, ¼
mile. Tour limit: 36. Total stairs: 12, plus an optional 98. Elevation change:
40.• Includes parts of the New Entrance and Grand Avenue Tour routes. • Meets at the Visitor Center. Difficulty:
Easy.”
We did the Niagara tour to see some formations!
Mammoth Cave National Park Historical
Tour
“Been in other more decorative caves, but never in
Mammoth Cave? This journey through the natural entrance leads to “classic”
Mammoth Cave—landmarks visited by writers, scientists, military figures and
celebrities of the 1800s and early 1900s. A great family trip! • 2 hours, 2
miles. Tour limit: 120. Total stairs: 440, including 155 at Mammoth Dome.
Elevation change: 300.• Limited areas of the Mammoth Cave Discovery, Mammoth
Passage, Star Chamber, River Styx and Violet City Lantern Tours are visited on
this route. • Meets at the Visitor
Center. Difficulty: Moderate.” The area s huge!
Tuckaleechee Caverns
Carved over tens of thousands of years in one of the
earth's oldest mountain chains, Tuckaleechee Caverns at Townsend, Tenn., are
known as the "Greatest Site Under the Smokies."
I have
posted several of my images for sale at Fine Art America. It is free to look there as well. http://t-c-brown.fineartamerica.com
I keep adding to the choices so check back when you can.
Onyx Cave
South-central Kentucky is home to hundreds of
caves. Each cave is unique in size,
structure, and appearance. Caves can be
either 'wet,' which are actively forming, or 'dry,' where water is no longer
entering the cave. Onyx Cave is a wet
cave that offers its viewers beautiful cave coral, a wall of cave bacon, and a
40 foot column. Onyx Cave was discovered
in 1971 as a parking lot was being constructed for Guntown Mountain Amusement
Park; the cave was opened in May of 1973.
The cave is a comfortable 60 degrees year round. Tours are 30 minutes long and can be enjoyed
by people of all ages. Don't forget to
bring your camera to capture the unique formations in the cave." We really enjoyed the closeness of this cave system.
14 comments:
Great photos! Many of the cave pictures have a certain morbid fascination to them, and the cave critters are definitely cute. You've got some lovely outdoors shots. The frost on the leaves photo is particularly nice.
Karen
Awesome!!
Linda J.
Some very good stuff here, brought me back to the caving experience we had in that region.
David
Thanks David. Always fun when folks have memories of their own.
Blackbirds and bats are my favorites!
Christy
Thanks Christy!
Thanks Karen. Never know what folks might see in the images. It is kind of like looking at clouds.
Thanks for sharing. Maybe someday I'll get to visit personally when I get around to making my grand Civil War Battlegrounds tour of that part of the country. I'm not going to lie, it would have been much cooler if all of those blackbirds had been bats! Ha ha!
Fred
Photos are always outstanding-
Pat
Civil Wars battlegrounds are all over as well. Bats would have indeed been very cool. Thanks Fred.
Thanks Pat!
Beautiful photos and narrative ;-) thanks for sharing your awesome vacation experience with us!
Karen & Scott
Thanks you two. Hope life is treating you well.
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