Cave City
Our primary reason for stopping in Cave City was to visit Mammoth Cave National Park, but we found a few other gems while we were here!
5 Great Activities To Do with Kids Near Cave City, Kentucky:
Explore world’s longest known cave system at Mammoth Cave National Park! The Cleveland Avenue Tour was a good choice to see many of the cave formations and learn the history of the caves with only a 2.5 hours moderately strenuous hike. This was a guided tour and by the end, our 4 year old was pretty tired, but he still talks about how cool it was to explore a cave! *Pro-tips: be sure to book cave tour reservations in advance as they can fill up quickly and keep in mind that large hiking backpacks cannot be taken on this tour due to some areas with low ceilings, so we had to carry our 1 year old in a ErgoBaby carrier, but she was still able to go on the tour! Make sure you also wear good hiking shoes because it can be slippery and take layers because it’s a crisp 56 degrees inside the caves (and no one is as grumpy as a kid who is complaining about being cold the whole day!).
If you are looking for a shorter cave tour that is less strenuous, the self guided cave tour is a good option to still explore a portion of the caves but at your own pace and with easier terrain.Explore above ground at Mammoth Cave National Park! Green River Bluffs Overlook Trail & River Styx Spring Trail from the Historic Entrance of Mammoth Cave to Sunset Point are great options for moderately strenuous hikes with scenic overlooks and still doable with younger kiddos.
Become a Mammoth Cave National Park Junior Ranger! Don’t forget to pick up your Junior Ranger activity book on arrival to the park and work on it during your trip and earn a badge at the end!
For history buffs or a great homeschooling activity day, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park is only a quick 40 minute drive from Cave CIty. It’s a beautiful park to explore and learn about the beginnings of our nation’s 16th president. They also have a Junior Ranger Program, so we used it as a homeschool history day! The Junior Ranger book had great information for elementary school-aged learners and inside the visitor center is even more information about Lincoln, including his early life, tools used at the time he was alive, Lincoln Logs for the littles to build with and a film about his humble beginnings. *this park is mostly stroller friendly
Dinosaur World! For dinosaur lovers, like our little dude, Dinosaur World in Cave City is a must-do! With an entire trail of life-size dinosaurs, a dino-themed playground, learning exhibits, fossil digging and a gem mine, there is plenty to keep the whole family entertained! There is, of course, also a gift shop with every kind of dinosaur souvenir you can think of and freshly popped popcorn. *stroller friendly
Cave City Coffee & Creamery. This was a delicious spot to stop for ice cream and coffee before or after your adventures of the day.
Where we stayed: Cave Country RV Campground - with limited options in the Mammoth Cave area, this is a nice choice for an RV park. Very well kept grounds, full hook-ups, big rig friendly, daily trash pick up, a nice large dog park and a very clean swimming pool. No amenities for the kids besides the pool, but a great option for visiting Mammoth Cave National Park and surrounding areas. And if you’re into ice cream & good local coffee, Cave City Coffee & Creamery was within walking distance from the RV park which was a yummy treat!
Brewery & Food Spotlight: Flywheel Brewing in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Good beers with an outside patio. We grabbed burgers from J. R. Neighbors just down the street from Flywheel and they were super delicious.