It's hot as hell here in the Northeast. But I hear Hell at least has a dry heat; here it's like a suffocating wet blanket with all the humidity.
So what do you do at home with two little kids when it's too hot to play outside? Find somewhere cool and take a road trip!
And there is nothing cooler this time of year than a cave. Caves have been a top tourist attraction for over a hundred years, and for some reason, they are still some of the kitschiest, most homespun attractions out there. Perfect for a vintage lover with a family, like myself.
Last week we took the kids out to Kutztown, PA to Crystal Cave, where it's always a cool 59 degrees. I totally wanted to just set up camp and live in there, but they wouldn't let me. (Apparently that's not the quite the "attraction" they had in mind...)
It was like 100 degrees out and I am carrying a bag packed with sweaters. Cooooool....
(Why is it so hard to get a good picture of both kids at the same time? LOL- my daughter totally needs a nap in this picture. )
Some photos of the inside. I actually took these pictures myself; I have to say they turned out better than I hoped.
No bats were harmed during the making of this blog post. (There are bats living in the cave, but only a handful and you can't see them on the tour.)
One of the things the cave has added since I remember coming as a kid is a sluice where you can "pan" for gems. You have to buy a bag of gravel in the gift shop, then bring it out and sift through the contents in the water sluice. Inside are an assortment of gemstone chips.
Well, you know me and how cheap I am- I made my kids go through everyone else's gravel that had collected on the bottom. They found some gems anyway and it didn't cost me a thing. Plus they got wet and it was fun!
Hi Dad! LOL
awwww looks like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteThere is a cave out here in the hot, hot Mojave desert and I remember going out there (when I was younger and could handle moving at all in the heat). Very cool inside.
Knotts Berry Farm lets you pan for your own gold (you pay, they scoop up some sand in your pan containing gold flakes already), which I did as a kid, and still have my little jar of gold! =D
Thanks for sharing and the trip down memory lane... =)
Great pictures! I love doing little trips with my boys.
ReplyDeleteOh cool! I love old caves. I haven't been to one in years.
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