Author: marklongmainstream (Page 24 of 174)

The year is 1883. Two children are about to make the discovery of their lifetime – a never before seen world waits for them beneath the quiet little town of Marengo. This is the incredible story of how Marengo Cave in Indiana was discovered. Marengo Cave is located at 400 East State Road 64, in Marengo, Indiana. For more information, click here.

Now you can retrace their steps as you enjoy a guided tour through this underground wonderland! On your tour, guides will discuss the history of the cave and point out incredible cave formations. , offers two epic walking tours! The first is a 40-minute tour that winds through formation-filled rooms and past huge flowstone deposits. The second tour takes guests for a walk on the Dripstone Trail. This 60-minute tour is known for delicate soda straws, totem pole stalagmites, and Penny Ceiling. Either tour is fantastic, and I can’t really recommend one over the other. Its just a matter of taste.

For the more adventurous members of your family, Marengo Cave  offers 5 different wild cave tours! These  tours allow guests to explore sections of the cave that very few will ever see. These tours involve, walking, crawling, and even  scrambling through sometimes tight and narrow passages. To learn more about these incredible adventures, click here.

There are also numerous above ground adventures the entire family can enjoy, including: A Pedal Car Racktrack, there is a 5,000 square foot miners maze, a well stocked gift shop, as well as the sky climber vertical sphere. With so much to see and do you could stay the entire weekend.

New to Marengo Cave, is an amazing campground. Amenities include a fire pit, grills, picnic tables, and nearby modern showers and restrooms. They also have free WIFI available at the gift shop! All sites have 50 amp electric hookups as well as 4-110 outlets and a 11′ by 11′ Pavilion.  If your not into camping, they have four different cabins to choose from as well.

As you can see, this one destination has a lot going on. Pack up the car and come stay for the weekend, you won’t regret it. If you love beautiful caves, and a little adventure, this is the place for you.

For more nearby adventures, the entire family can enjoy click here. For the areas best lodging and campgrounds, click here. For the best parks and amazing locations in Indiana, click here.

What makes Rickwood Caverns State Park unique is the massive cave that contains 260-million-year-old formations that were created by water and reveal evidence that the cave was carved from an ocean bed. If you’re looking to cool off from the sweltering summer temperatures or warm up during those cold winter months, this underground wonder maintains a constant 58-62 degree temperature year round as you travel 175 feet beneath the earth.  Visit anytime of year to experience the wonder of Rickwood Caverns Cave Tours. Rickwood Caverns State Park is located at 370 Rickwood Park Rd, in Warrior, Alabama. For more information, click here.

The main attraction is the guided cave tour. Rickwood Caverns State Park also offers a gift shop, picnicking, gemstone mining, camping, playground, and hiking the Fossil Mountain Hiking Trail, which got its name from the leaf and seashell imprints visible in some of the rocks. The park features an Olympic-size swimming pool, fed by chilly waters from the cave. There’s also a kiddie pool.

There are numerous hiking trails throughout the park as well, including the Fossil Mountain Hiking Trail, the Picnic Loop Trail, the Moss Rock Connector Trail, and the Fitness Loop. Each trail varies in length and difficultly, to find more information on these trails, click here.

Accommodations for camping include 13 water and electric campsites, which are landscaped and can accommodate trailers and motor homes up to 40ft.  The sites have 50 or 30 amp. There are also 5 primitive sites for tents only. The campgrounds are patrolled 24 hours, and comfort facilities include restrooms and dump station. Rates vary by date, availability, and unit amenities.

Rickwood Caverns State Park is located just a short drive from Bankhead National Forest, this park has one of the best swimming holes I have ever seen. To check out an article I wrote about the swimming hole, click here.

For nearby lodging and camping options, click here. For more great parks and amazing locations in the area, click here. For the best family activities, click here.

Enjoy fun and excitement at Jolly Mon Indoor Water Park, featuring 600 feet of water slides, an activity pool, an over-sized whirlpool, and a lazy river for tubing, and floating. This indoor water-park is open year round and is a perfect vacation destination! Jolly Mon Indoor Water Park is located at 494 Tan Tar A Drive, in Osage Beach, Missouri. For more information, click here.

The Jolly Mon Indoor Water Park is part of the Margaritaville  Lake Resort at the beautiful Lake Of The Ozarks. The resort has a nice variety of activities and accommodations available.  There are also numerous  restaurants on-site, including the world famous Land Shark Bar & Grill! Nestled amid the rolling hills of Central Missouri, the area has long been known as the premier vacation destination in America’s Heartland.

With more than 1,150 miles of scenic shoreline, more than the entire Pacific coast of California, the Lake of the Ozarks offers visitors gallons (about 617 billion) of fun and adventure. Because of its size and expanse, the Lake literally offers something for everyone, whether visitors are looking for fast-paced action or a peaceful escape from the rigors of life. Incredible attractions like Stark Caverns and Ha Ha Tonka State Park are also just a short drive away!

The highlight of Jolly Mon Indoor Water Park is a three-story wilderness tree house with slides, bridges, water blasters, tunnels, and a gigantic 600-gallon tipping bucket. Kids of all ages will splash, play, slide and enjoy endless aquatic adventures at this 20,000 square foot family water park. They also offer guest lockers, private birthday party rooms and the Snack Shack.

There are so many ways to escape at Margaritaville Lake Resort – your one stop shop for recreation. Discover all they have to offer with a wide array of entertainment options to capture your imagination, for  family vacation to private parties. Test your swing with a round of golf on the championship course, ready to challenge even the most seasoned players. Rent boats, tubes, water skis or WaveRunners at the full-service marina. Dive into Jolly Mon Indoor Water Park, the only indoor waterpark at the Lake of the Ozarks.

At Margaritaville  Lake Resort, activities and recreation include:18 holes of championship golf, 3 outdoor pools, Indoor pool & whirlpool, Miniature golf, Horseback riding, Driftwood Spa & Salon, Pontoon Boat Rentals, WaveRunners, Tennis, Fitness center, Basketball, Tropic Island Cruise, Arcade games, Billiards, Bowling and of course the Jolly Mon Indoor Water Park! Continue reading

Cool River Tubing is located in Helen, Georgia, an Alpine town in Southern Appalachia & in the heart of Georgia’s wine country. They strive to offer guests top-notch facilities for their outdoor adventures. They have three outposts for tubing: the Chattahoochee Outpost, the Headwaters Outpost, and the Main Street Booth, use these links to decide which one is right for your adventure! Each location is unique and provides a different purpose for customers.

The long ride takes 2 to 2.5 hours. While the short ride takes 1 to 1.5 hours. Cool River Tubing is the only tubing company in Helen offering a shorter tubing trip. They have tubes with and without bottoms. At Cool River Tubing, you can even bring your dog with on your adventure!

Cool River Tubing is a small, family-owned and operated recreation company. They have been in business since 1990, providing legendary float trips on the beautiful Chattahoochee River! Their mission is to provide a vibrant, safe, and memorable outdoor experience!

Cool River Tubing offers an unforgettable float trip at a very affordable price. Tubing prices are as follows: $14 Monday – Friday, $18 Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays. There is a $2 per person discount on groups of 20 or more when paying together in one payment. The price includes 1 tube, shuttle service, life jacket, and more. Float trips take place daily from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Looking for a little more adventure? Cool River Tubing also offers an amazing aerial adventure. The aerial adventure is only available at the Headwaters Outpost, and features a 24 foot Rock Climbing Wall with 4 different paths to the top. There is also the Big Adventure Course, This adventure course is best for kids that want a bit more of a challenge and for adults that want to test out their ability on the obstacles! There is also a fun zip-line course that takes riders soaring over the Chattahoochee River. 

Between the relaxing float down the Chattahoochee River, and the thrilling rush from the Aerial Adventure, they have something the entire family can and will enjoy. Cool River Tubing is the areas one stop headquarters for family adventure, and with 33 years experience, they have perfected this role.

For more incredible adventures in the area, click here. For the best nearby lodging and campgrounds click here. For a listing of the best local parks and amazing locations, click here.

Holden Forests & Gardens takes pride in connecting people with the wonder, beauty, and immense value of trees and plants. This campus, located east of Cleveland, sprawls over an enchanting expanse of land in Lake and Geauga Counties and offers gardens, trails, lakes and meadows. Plus, entry to iconic attractions such as the Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Emergent Tower are included with your admission. Holden Forests & Gardens is located at Warren H. Corning Visitor Center or the Katharine Holden Thayer Center, at 9550 Sperry Road, in Kirtland, Ohio. For more information, click here.

The Canopy Walk at Holden Arboretum, invites guests to stroll along a 500-foot-long elevated walkway that rises 65 feet above the forest floor. Walk amongst the treetops, and appreciate the forest from an entirely new perspective.

This immersive experience takes guests in and out of the forest canopy to experience everything  from the middle of a mature forest to a raised view of streams and the forest floor. The walk is comprised of four platforms and four suspension bridges.

First-time guest and want to learn more about the Arboretum? Long-time patron and you’d like to sit back and enjoy the campus from a different angle? The Highlights Tram Tours provide guests of all ages and mobility levels a chance to discover selected gardens and collections, and learn a little history at the same time.

Kalberer Emergent Tower. The Emergent Tower is 120 feet (or approximately 12 stories) tall, which allows for a breathtaking, unrivaled view of the surrounding area. Guests can see all the way to Lake Erie. The Tower is 202 steps up to the top of the platform , the Tower is open from April to November, and the experience changes with each passing season.

Visiting Holden Forests & Gardens is a captivating way to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you want to experience a rotating roster of seasonal activities or retread your favorite attractions, we’re excited to be your destination to learn, explore, and grow. There area miles of trails you need to explore, winding through a beautiful forest.

Holden Forests & Gardens has a wide variety of events throughout the year, including picnics, concerts, nature hikes, summer camps and so much more! To see their schedule of events, click here. Pictures used in this article are owned by Holden Forests & Gardens. This is a fantastic place to explore and spend a day!

For more incredible adventures in Ohio, click here. Looking for lodging, click here. For a listing of the best parks and amazing locations in the area, click here.