MAMMOTH CAVE NAT, KENTUCKY

Joseph Caylor… You may already know that Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system known to us in the world. What you may not know is that the National Park Service does a great job of preserving this fragile wonder for all of us, while still making it accessible. While you can go on numerous cave tours offered there, you may also be surprised at the available camping and smaller areas not usually seen above ground, like the beautiful Green River that meanders through the park. My favorite out of the way place is the Sand Cave Trail, which tells on the wayside informative panels the story of Floyd Collins, who was trapped for over a week and died in the cave in 1925, a national sensation at the time. Of course, with the right planning, you won't meet a fate like Mr. Collins, but you will find an amazing adventure at Mammoth Cave that few places on earth can equal.