A century ago, two boys playing cricket lost a ball and followed it down the proverbial rabbit hole that turned into Crystal Cave, an underground warren of stalactites, stalagmites and pools – thought to be millions of years old and formed during the Ice Age. Depending on how you count, it’s either 81 or 85 steps – slippery when wet, so wear rubber-soled shoes – to descend. Unlike many other cave tours, this one doesn’t require a long walk through multiple chambers. You can take a guided tour into the caves to view stalagmites and stalactites that form intriguing shapes, like the head of an alligator. The reflection of the stalactites in the water looks like the skyline of Manhattan. While exploring the several areas, your tour guide points out flow stone and other formations. Crossing a pontoon bridge adds an element of fun for young kids.
Fantasy Cave, entered on the same site (added admission or you can purchase a combo fee to save a little cash), features “popcorn formations,” nobby clusters on stalactites, and “ice bergs,” million-year-old, block-like formations. Need a snack or a gift? Check out the property’s Fiddlesticks Gift Shop and Café Ole.
