Luray Caverns, Virginia

Luray Caverns is located in northern Virginia about 2 hours away. It was first discovered in 1878 with the explorer following the cool air. The temperature inside the caverns is uniformly 54 °F. The caverns are perhaps best known for the Great Stalacpipe Organ, a lithophone made from solenoid-fired strikers that tap stalactites of various sizes to produce tones similar to those of xylophones, tuning forks, or bells. Luray claims to have fueled the first air conditioned home in 1901. Since the air inside the cave is always in the 50s, the home dropped a pipe into the cave with a fan that would pull the air up into the house. It makes for an excellent winter destination since indoor activities are more difficult to find than outdoor stuff. The cavern gets approximately 500,000 guests visit each year. Owen struggled with being told to not touch anything, but otherwise it was a fun visit.