The Only State Park In Florida Offering Breathtaking Cave Tours Is Spectacular And Underrated

An aura of mystery fills the cool air deep within the earth's surface at these surreal and beautiful caverns in North America. Located in Marianna, Florida, near its borders with Alabama and Georgia, Florida Caverns State Park is the only park in the state that offers cave tours to the public. Take a guided tour of the Florida Caverns and explore this historic site for yourself. 

These magnificent limestone formations were created from dripping rainwater over millions of years. Wonder at the stalagmites, stalactites, flowstones, and rimstone pools that developed, lit with beautiful colors by a new, eco-friendly and protective LED light system, as you listen to the drips of rainwater falling. Each of the dozen cave rooms is identified by a name given to them by the Civilian Conservation Corps, such as the Cathedral and the Wedding Room, which features formations that look like a church organ and a giant wedding cake. 

Exciting for both beginner cave explorers and experts, the tours are about 45 minutes long and available every day during the summer. Tickets are $15 for people ages 13 and up, and $8 for children between ages 3 and 12. You can buy tickets for the tour when you arrive at the Florida Caverns Gift Shop. Be sure to bring a light jacket as the temperature in the caves stays around a cool 65 degrees year-round. There are no handrails in the caves and you'll do a lot of stooping down to navigate the caverns. Before you start the tour, check out the Visitors Center, which houses a museum for a little background history and lets you watch a guided cave tour on video, in case you're more comfortable there than in the caves.

Florida Caverns State Park also offers a myriad of other recreational activities. Rent a canoe or bring your own to sail down the Chipola River and embrace the wonders of nature. Keep your cameras handy because you're sure to spot birds flying overhead, alligators swimming, and turtles basking in the sun. The river is packed with bass, catfish, and sunfish, just perfect for trollers. Hike or bike along the several miles of trails that will take you past sinkholes, floodplains, and other fascinating natural wonders. The Bluff and Beech Magnolia trails, for hiking only, were developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and offer a rare glimpse into Native American life as you hike past rock carvings and rare Appalachian plants. 

The park also offers 38 campsites for both RVs and tents, equipped with 30/50-amp electricity, water, sewer hookups, a picnic table, an in-ground grill, and a fire ring. For those who prefer roughing it, primitive tent campsites for youth groups are available. Swimming, picnic areas, a playground, and even an 18-hole golf course are some of the other amenities in the park. If the incredible cavern tours at Florida Caverns State Park don't offer enough family-friendly outdoor activities, then there is plenty else there to occupy your time.