Kentucky: Visit Mammoth Cave National Park

Slither, crawl, and climb on the Wild Cave Tour.

What Is It? With more than 400 miles of explored area, Mammoth Cave National Park boasts one of the world’s longest cave systems. The Park Service offers an array of tours varying in length and focus so you can pick the best ones for your needs. We highly recommend the refreshingly different Wild Cave Tour, a six-hour exploration of one of the world’s longest caves that makes you feel like a true pioneer.

Why Do It? No mood lighting or cornball guides. The Wild Cave Tour provides an action-packed escape from Kentucky’s summer heat. Of the tours, this one is the most authentic, complete with free climbing, crawling, squeezing, and slithering through openings as slight as nine inches high. You’ll really feel like an early voyager as you wander through tunnels and grottos that no other group visits.

Make It Happen: Visit Mammoth Cave National Park’s website.

What’s your favorite summer weekend adventure in Kentucky?

See all the summer weekend adventures.

More: See America’s 100 Best Adventures and Long Weekends Like a Local

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50 Best Summer Weekend Adventures: Great adventures are all around us—and summer is the ideal time to seek them. To give you some ideas and inspiration, every weekday we will be sharing a different U.S. summer weekend adventure, state-by-state from A to Z. We invite you to share your favorite summer weekend adventures in the comments section below when your favorite state is featured. Report back after the weekend to tell us about the outdoor adventures you had.