USA/VA: Luray Caverns
Luray Caverns, discovered in 1878 in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia, are considered the most spectacular caverns in the eastern USA. It’s a huge underground cave systems with many passageways, levels, rooms, and hallways – all richly decorated with elaborate cave formations of all shapes and sizes: stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, soda straws, cave bacon, and spectacular mirrored pools. The caves are wet and still growing and all the formations are glistening with dripping water. The caves are famous for the Great Stalactite Organ, where little hammers strike the formations of different sizes, producing the organ-like xylophone sounds – the orchestra-like performances are held here. The trail winds for 1.5 mi underground, but you probably will need 2-3 hours to complete the whole thing – there so much to see here, it’s a total underground wonderland!
