Breaking Out My Hiking Boots–Again!
First glamping, now a cabin accommodation. Who am I?
I have recently come a long way from my “no roughing it” vacation rule. Slowly but surely, I’m coming around to giving outdoor-inspired vacations a chance.
Well, this was a quick weekend trip, a two-night stay at The Cabins at the Caverns in Woodville, Alabama. Yes, Alabama. And once again, it was not a getaway that was my idea. It was my friend, Jade, who shares a love for collecting crystal gems with me. We are continually sharing our gem collections proudly displaying our new finds.
One of her bucket list items was to explore caverns and do some gem mining, so she was contemplating a 9-hour drive to Woodville, Alabama to the Cathedral Caverns State Park. Neither her husband nor her adult children were interested in the trip. Of course, I said YES!
Cabins at the Caverns Accommodations
We made the drive in two days, driving six hours the first day, staying overnight at my cousin’s house in the panhandle of Florida. The second day was only a 3-hour ride, giving us ample time to do some Alabama sightseeing before checking into our cabin in Woodville, Alabama.
It was a beautiful, scenic drive to the cabins located inside Cathedral Caverns State Park and the minute we entered, I realized just how conveniently located the cabins were to the actual underground cavern. Rustic yet impressively picturesque. I had never attended an away summer camp as a kid so I’m guessing this is what it’s like.
Our air-conditioned cabin offered two bedrooms; one bedroom with a queen-sized bed and the other bedroom offered twin bunk beds. The cabin also featured a much-appreciated private bathroom (as opposed to campsites with public restrooms) and a full-sized tub. As advised, we brought our own bed linens and towels.
The fully equipped kitchen had a refrigerator, stove/oven, microwave, and a convenient table with chairs. Knowing ahead of time that we would have a kitchen in our cabin, we stopped at a grocery store on the way and filled up a cooler full of food, beverages, and snacks for our two-night stay. It was actually exciting to not eat in restaurants but instead “rough it” and enjoy all meals in a picnic-like setting.
The living room was small but comfortable enough to rest on the couch and watch television. There was a fireplace, but we didn’t use it. The screened-in porch was a nice perk.
As you could expect, our cabin getaway offered no dedicated fitness center except for the great outdoors, where hiking trails provided the most fun and rewarding exercise opportunities ever. A cabin getaway turned out to be a non-stop adventure of physical activities and we had no problem meeting our daily step goals.
Cathedral Caverns State Park History
A little backstory on the Cathedral Caverns …
Opened to the public in the 1950s, it’s said to have been originally called the “Bat Cave,” but then renamed because of its cathedral-like appearance and grand entrance. The state of Alabama purchased it in 1987, and it became a state park in 2000.
Cathedral Caverns State Park, encompassing 493 acres in the scenic foothills of Northern Alabama, is a hidden gem that offers an unforgettable underground experience.
The state park attracts “spelunkers,” people that enjoy exploring underground caves. For me, the purpose of our visit was to experience gem mining, the kind where we’d go down into a cavern, be handed a sifter, and I’d excitedly unearth precious gems from the dirt. Well, Cathedral Caverns State Park allowed us to do a gem mining activity but going on the cavern tour turned out to be the highlight of the day.
Guided Tour of the Cathedral Caverns
All I can say is that taking a guided tour of the cavern was the best decision ever! Considering that I tend to get claustrophobic, this cave provided enough open spaces that it did not affect me at all. It cost $20 per person, and it was well worth it.
The tour was about 90 minutes, but it felt longer, and from what we were told, we walked about two miles. The guides provided lots of fascinating historical and geographical facts about the caverns that made me shake my head in awe about how these caverns came to be and still are. I think it’s ironic that so many Americans don’t even know caverns full of geological formations exist or make plans to travel to explore them. When the tour was over, I didn’t want to leave the cavern, but luckily, there was a cute gift shop that offered many great souvenirs to explore.
Here are some highlights from the cavern tour:
:: A huge frozen waterfall that looks like a cascading waterfall frozen in time.
:: The world’s largest stalagmite, appropriately named “Goliath,” something that must be seen in person!
:: Stalactite Forest, full of stalactites hanging from the ceiling, an unforgettable sight that took my breath away.
:: The main chamber of the cavern is huge, and you wonder how it stays up and open! It’s called “The Big Room” as it’s bigger than a football field.
:: The underground Mystery River flows through the underground caverns, another natural wonder that makes you say, “how is this possible?”
One note: Be sure to wear comfortable footwear with a grip-like bottom, hiking boots worked well tackling the uneven surfaces in the cave. Wear a light jacket as the cavern temperatures remain a constant 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Bring your own flashlight and binoculars so you can better explore the geographic formations down to the details.
Other Activities at Cathedral Caverns State Park
I don’t consider myself an avid hiker but once I got started walking the hiking trails at Cathedral Caverns State Park, the picturesque beauty of Alabama made me forget about my fears of wildlife. We, of course, chose the easier trails, offering stunning views of the landscape.
The park offered numerous picnic areas where we took a few breaks from hiking to eat our picnic lunch and other snacks. The fresh air in the park was a refreshing way to relax during many hours of exploring.
And, last but not least, gem mining at Cathedral Caverns was an interesting experience. As we sifted through sand and dirt from a bucket, we did uncover a few very teeny, tiny pieces of gemstones. I’d say that this type of gem mining was geared to children but gemstone collectors like me, would still think it’s a cool activity.
One note: To get the best experience, check the park’s website for a schedule of events before you visit.
Our 2-Night Stay Instigated My Passion to Explore More Natural Wonders
Imagine standing underground in a cave, viewing a ceiling full of hanging stalactites? I am still shaking my head in disbelief with what can only be described as a jaw-dropping “natural wonder.” And, with that being said, our memorable visit to Cathedral Caverns State Park in Alabama will be the first of similar journeys to come. There are so many geographical locations in this country featuring impressive, awe-inspiring natural attractions that I now want to set out and see as many as possible. I also want to take my gem mining to the next level and find a destination where we can step into a running stream to pan for gold and other gems right from the ground.