LURAYCAVERNS

Traveling along Interstate 81, especially in the Virginia area, there are a multitude of caverns that promote their product. Which one to pick might be hard to decide. Luray Caverns is heavily recommended to be your first choice. On-site they have a multitude of attractions in addition to the caves, and they are extremely group-friendly.

If you have visited the Caverns in the past, you might remember the 68 steps it took to go down them. That is no longer a problem. Recent updates now provide a sloping path that eliminates the steps. The temperature is a constant 54 degrees. If you are an individual, the tours are now selfguided, but groups still have the option of having a guide and it is one that should be taken advantage of.

About one hour long, you travel along well-lit, graduated paved walkways. The chambers are enormous with up to 10-storyhigh ceilings and a seemingly infinite display of stalagmites and stalactites. You will see incredibly colorful crystalline cascades, “fried eggs, ” clear pools, huge stone columns and breathtaking “draperies. ” For many the highlight is when you get a chance to listen to the Great Stalacpipe Organ which you will not find at any symphony orchestra. A wonder to behold and awe-inspiring, it is considered the world’s largest musical instrument.

On leaving the Caverns there is a wonderful gift shop with an amazing variety of goods at affordable prices. next, one can visit the Shenandoah Heritage Village. Located on the grounds, it is a short and easy walk. It is best to start off with a tour of the Luray Valley Museum. It concentrates on the regin’s Shenandoah culture from the 1950s through the 1920s. The transitions are well done and it has good flow. the centerpiece of the collection is a 1536 Swiss Bible. Other highlights are their decorative arts and Civil War displays.

Outside the museum is a seven-acre recreation of a small 19th century framing community that includes two houses, a meeting house, a school, a barn, a blacksmith shop, cottage style gardens and a small vineyard. The Elk Run Dunkard Church served as a barracks for hundreds of both Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War. It is both remarkable and sad to see the signatures and notes that still are on the walls.

Do not miss the Stoney Man Mining Company, which as been carefully recreated and is complete operations. It is a fun way to teach history and geology. The Heartpine Cafe is not always open but if booked beforehand, you might be able to use it for your groups.

The Car and Carriage Caravan tells the story of transportation from 1725. Besides carriages, coaches and cars, there are also

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costumes. The artifacts are accompanied by notes regarding their histories. Highlights include a Conestoga Wagon, a 1908 Baker Electric (and you thought Tesla was the first) and an 1898 Benz that is one of the oldest cars in the country that is still in operating condition.

Not to be missed is Toy Town Junction which has a fairly recently acquired collection that includes more than 30 trains. Besides the trains there are Playschool sets, lunch boxes, dolls, cars and trucks and circus miniatures. Attached to Toy Town Junction is the Stalactite Cafe and Restaurant. It has a very limited menu, but is great for a fast meal stop. Group packages can be arranged.

All the above are included in the cost of admission. Add-ons include outside vendors who offer a Garden Maze and a Rope Adventure Park – great for youth groups.

Things to Know So That you Book: • Group rates are very affordable • There are lower tour operator rates • It is wheelchair-friendly • The site has plenty of parking for buses

Any questions, concerns or needs will be handled professionally and in a timely manner. For more information contact Luray Caverns, 101 Cave Hill Road, Luray, Virginia, view at LurayCaverns.com or phone (888) 443-6551 or (540) 743-6551. q

• Attractions • Casinos • Hotels&Resorts • Railroads • Restaurants • Shopping • Theaters • Museums

Baseball has one. Rock and roll has one. And although it took millions of years, the earth has one, too. And with well-lit, well-paved walkways stretching throughout, you can easily stroll through rooms 10 stories high, marvel at the enormous columns and crystal-clear pools, and of course, hear the world’s largest musical instrument, the Great Stalacpipe Organ.

It’s time to discover the most cavernous caverns on the East Coast. It’s time to discover Luray. For a free brochure, call (540) 743-6551 or visit us online at LurayCaverns.com.