Walking through a damp cavern, my eyes wide as they passed over a six-foot tall tower of crystalized calcium deposits, I got a chill. Even though it was June and the summer heat was rising outside, this was one place that naturally kept its temperature at 54 degrees all year round. The drive from Philly to the cave takes about an hour and a half and will sends visitors traveling through the beautiful, rural landscape of Dutch Country northwest of the city. Discovered in 1871, the family-owned Crystal Cave, which costs 11 dollars for a tour, has become quite the popular site for the locals and tourists.
When I came to a take tour of Crystal Cave, I was led into a small building where a promotional, but educational, film was shown to inform me about the history of the cave and its surrounding area. Then, I followed the tour guide to the cave’s entrance, where I prepared to descend 155 feet into the earth. Luckily, the bats overhead were nocturnal and wouldn't begin to flutter through the cave until long after the tour was complete.
Although the tour guides are trained to give the same information to all tour groups, I’ve had several guides that provided extra tidbits that they’ve learned from their experiences working at the cave. Fortunately, all tour guides I’ve met have been extremely informative and entertaining, because let’s face it, no matter how awesome being in a cave is, after staring at rock formation after rock formation, you need someone to point out how one looks like an ice cream cone or another appears to be a group of prairie dogs to keep things interesting.
During the tour, I also walked through the spacious Cathedral Chamber, a room used for several wedding ceremonies, and climbed stairs to the highest point at the very end of the cave. Then, the lights went out completely, and I may as well have been blind as I stood in this cold tunnel over a hundred feet beneath the earth’s crust. No worries; the tour guide flipped a light switch and my path through the cave was well lit as I headed back towards the entrance.
After I stepped out of the cave and my eyes adjusted to sunlight once again, I could head to the ice cream parlor, the gift shop, mini-golf course, or walking trail all on location at Crystal Cave. If I felt inspired by the rocks and crystals I saw during the tour, I could've even panned for gems at the new sluice located outside of the cave.
Any other time of year, I have brought a jacket or sweater for the chilly cave tour, but during the sizzle of summer, I recommend taking advantage of the natural air conditioning that the cave provides and enjoying 40 minutes of cool refreshment.
Check out Roadside America's site to check out more information about the cave before planning a trip.
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