Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, Missouri

A couple of years ago, my husband and I went to a friend's wedding in Springfield, Missouri. On our way back, we had stopped to take a tour through Fantastic Caverns. This is the only ride-through cave in America, which means that you don't have to walk: you board a jeep-drawn tram that will take you through the cave, stopping at different places of interest. This makes the tour excellent for those new at cave exploring as well as for small children and elderly who may not have enough energy to walk for hours.

The cave was discovered in 1867. The first explorers were 12 women who went in equipped with ropes, ladders, torches, and lanterns (not something I'd do, thank you). Today, of course, the tours are very different. The passageways are broad enough and well illuminated. The jeep does the walking for you, and the tour guide tells all kinds of interesting facts. Our guide was very knowledgeable, he knew the caves and readily answered all questions. He threw in a bunch of jokes, too.

We both enjoyed this adventure. It was a trip to a different world, and a fascinating one.