Forbidden Caverns

We've done this cave tour three times now, and it's honestly our go-to when the weather's being awful or we need a break from the chaos of the Parkway. The hour-long guided walk takes you 150 feet underground where it's a constant 58 degrees — which feels amazing in July but bring a jacket because you'll get chilly.

The formations are legit impressive, especially the rare onyx walls and this crystal-clear underground stream that runs right alongside the walkway. Our kids love the part where the guide does a little light show explaining how moonshiners used to hide their stills down there during Prohibition. The whole thing is well-lit with handrails, so it's not one of those pitch-black cave experiences where you're stumbling around with a flashlight.

Fair warning though — wear shoes with good grip because some spots get slippery, and there are definitely some steep sections. We learned that lesson the hard way when Shandi wore flip-flops our first visit. Also, they're closed Thursdays and Sundays, which catches people off guard, and the whole place shuts down from Thanksgiving through March.

The crowds can get brutal on summer weekends, especially Fridays and Saturdays. We always try to hit it on a Monday or Wednesday morning when it opens at 10am — way fewer people and you can actually hear the guide without a bunch of kids talking over them. Tours leave every 15-25 minutes but it's walk-up only, no advance tickets, which is kind of annoying when you're trying to plan your day.

One thing that's changed recently — they're not taking bus groups anymore due to staffing issues, so at least you won't get stuck behind 40 senior citizens moving at turtle speed. The last tour leaves at 4pm now instead of 5pm like it used to, so don't show up late expecting to squeeze in.