Bluegreen Colorful Places

Caves are cool, admit it. Even though some may immediately think of bats and eyeless amphibians, the formations created over thousands of years, hanging from the ceilings and reaching from the basins are awe-inspiring. Chambers upon chambers offer different sights and sounds, as your breaths and voices echo off the rock walls. Luray Caverns, in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, should be visited, by order of the Cool Things to Look At Committee, during a Bluegreen vacation to Shenandoah Crossing. The Caverns are about an hour and a half away from Bluegreen’s Shenandoah Crossing, so make a day of the trip and enjoy some time in the dark.

The Luray Caverns were discovered in 1878 by a tinsmith. Since their discovery, they have become the most popular system in Eastern America. Some caves reach 10-story depth, while others are filled with crystal-clear pools and glistening stalactites.

Titania’s Veil offers what would be imagined of a Shakespearian fairy. The formations created in this cavern are a thing of beauty, with cascading crystalline stalactites that have multiplied and intensified over the years.

The Empress Column resembles the headboard and backdrop to the room of a goddess. Named in the 1800s, it has only gotten greater with time, as the formations have reached top and bottom, connected to each other and created long tendrils of crystalline rock. Their stillness is eerily serene, as you imagine the seemingly endless drops of calcium-fortified water that have fallen to create these formations. With every Bluegreen vacation and visit to the cave, the display will be different, even if just slightly, as each drop of water adds or takes away something.

Dream Lake is the largest body of water within the caverns. At its deepest point, it only reaches 18-20 inches though, allowing most of the formations below the water’s surface to be seen. The placid waters mirror the images of the stalactites from above, making it seem Escher-esque.

There is plenty more to see within these caverns, from formations that resemble fried eggs (seriously) to a giant Stalacpipe Organ (a common phenomenon found in many caves). And at only an hour and a half away from your Bluegreen resort, the sights and sounds of Luray Caverns are well worth the journey.

The Luray Caverns is open for every day of the year, making it a great place to visit during a Bluegreen vacation to Shenandoah Valley. Tickets are general admission and provide an audio tour so you can walk through the room at your leisure, listening to the history and facts of each compartment.

If you are heading to the Bluegreen resort in the Shenandoah Valley for vacation, visiting these caverns is a nice way to see the land (or underneath the land) around you. The caves open at 9 a.m. every day and close between 4 and 6 p.m., depending upon the season. Visit their website or contact them to find out about ongoing events and tour times during your Bluegreen vacation.

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