If you’ve ever wanted to travel to see the spectacular aboveground desert of Carlsbad, then this DVD is a must.

The detailed close-ups are breath taking and the views of the caverns are remarkable.

The one-hour long film, and high-quality cinematography, will bring you literally inside the caverns without leaving the comfort of your home.

You will see:

* The Queen’s Chamber

* The King’s Palace

* The Papoose Room

* The Green Lake Room

* The Big Room

You will learn about the early explorers, and the whole history of the caves.
For added entertainment and as a bonus, you will also receive a lovely tour of Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The 8,000-foot Guadalupe Mountains contain its own limestone, not granite, El Capitan.

What makes these videos more valuable are the views of the areas in all seasons, something one cannot possibly do in one trip.

The narration is one that will keep you wanting more, along with the visuals that make you long to be there in person.

Viewing these beautifully made videos will not only make you feel like you are literally at the Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains, but will motivate you to take a trip to view them for yourself.

The cinematographer takes you through the caverns and mountains with delightful music in the background and amazing views of the impressive landscape.

Included are bonus features of side attractions that are taped throughout the different seasons to entice you more to visiting these wondrous caverns in person.

Carlsbad Caverns DVD
Carlsbad Caverns, Carlsbad Caverns DVD

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If you and your family are vacationing in California this winter, you may wish to take a side trip to the Black Chasm Cavern located in Volcano, California.

Designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1976, the Black Chasm Caverns offer visitors a kaleidoscope of color and geological formations that has made this a must-see on anyone’s list of places to visit.

Kids especially will enjoy participating in gemstone mining, which is offered at Black Chasm, and can occupy them for hours of fun.

The process is as follows: First, you buy a bag of pre-packaged gemstones.

Second, you go through the dirt in the water that runs through the flumes, and third, you compare your findings to the gemstone display which tells you what kind of gemstone you have found. According to the Black Chasm Caverns, everyone has the opportunity to find real gemstones.

In addition to the Cavern, there is a Visitor’s Center that houses props from movies from nearby Hollywood, such as the Matrix Trilogy.

The tour itself last approximately 50 minutes, and the tour encompasses walking through a series of platforms, walkways, and stairs that are meant to afford you the best view of the caves.

Some of the finest formations are said to be found in Black Chasm, and after your walking tour you will be taken to the Landmark Room, where you will find a collection of amazing crystals extracted from the cave itself.

In addition, there are plenty of amenities available for your family, such as picnic tables and gift shops. Both fun and educational, tours to the Black Chasm Caverns are available during September through May.

If you live in California and cannot afford an expensive vacation, this is a perfect weekend getaway for the entire family.

And if you plan on vacationing in California this winter, this is a perfect day trip for the entire family, especially the kids.

For more information on the Black Chasm Caverns, consult with your travel agent or check online.

In Houston, the underground tours are much more sedate, and elegant, as you shop below the surface of the city to stay out of the oppressive heat aboveground. They are a short distance away from Sam Houston Park, which contains over a dozen of the oldest houses in Houston.

There are also tours of the underground railroad that blacks escaping slavery in the south would have used in order to cross safely into Canada. One of the most popular is the route in Western New York, near Niagra Falls, where Harriet Tubman herself escaped. Motherland Connexions runs fabulous tours for individual and schools.

http://www.motherlandconnextions.com/tours.html

Then there is Carlsbad Caverns in the southwest, and Moaning Cavern Park and Gold Cliff Mines in California, with lots of sights and activities for the whole family. We have dealt with them in separate articles at this site, but just want to mention them here.

Finally, the Crystal Gold Mine in Kellogg, Idaho is a family-friendly tour of the gold mine that was active during the 1880s. In addition, there is no climbing involved and the walkways are well lit. Your family will be able to view hand-steeling demonstrations as well.

There is also an underground gift shop, where you can purchase gold and silver, as well as souvenirs to add to your family vacation scrapbook.

Who would have guessed there were so many underground tours in America, especially designed with kids in mind.

Have you ever gone on vacation with the kids and run out of ideas on where to take them? The national parks are a great idea if you want to go caving, but there are also underground tours in big cities too.

If you are ever in the Seattle area — take the Underground Tour!

Bill Speidel offers a tour through the underbelly of Seattle, where you will be amazed at the passages that used to be the main roads and storefronts of Old Seattle.

Your tour guide will take you through three different underground areas that encompass three blocks. Take a camera along, because it is sure to be an education for the entire family.

Another very popular destination wherein you can participate in an underground tour is at the Mammoth Cave National Park. While there are several tours within park, here is one you may be interested in.

The Historic tour is two hours and two miles long. Here you visit the cave passages and learn why Mammoth Cave became so famous. You will also be able to view some of the artifacts that were left by Native Americans, and learn why the Mammoth cave is the longest cave on earth.

There is also an underground tour in Portland, Oregon. This encompasses locations of the Simpsons-Portland connections, the Shanghai Tunnels, and more.

The tour takes approximately an hour and a half, and participants are with a guide at all times. The tour-goers receive an above-ground orientation, and then the guide will lead participants into the “Portland Underground”, where they will receive the majority of the historical and oral history about this infamous maritime practice of ‘Shanghai-ing’ that gave Portland a notorious reputation throughout the world for white slavery, and other crimes.

Tour participants must be able to handle stairs that lead to and from this hidden world. In addition, there will be dust, dirt, musty smells, and anything else that would be associated with this type of environment, so if you need a dust mask, please bring one.

Also, at each station, people will be required to stand for at least 15 minutes at a time in order to receive the necessary information.

The “Portland Underground” is constantly in transition as more and more sections are opened or restored, which is why some people have taken this tour several times.

If you are planning a winter vacation this year that is both exciting, adventurous, and fun for the entire family, you may wish to consider the Gold Cliff Mines in Angels Camp, California, as the perfect destination that combines them all.

As you travel back in time to the days of the gold rush, you and your family will be enthralled, not only by the mines, as you explore them deep beneath the surface, but also by the many fun-filled recreational activities in the area.

As you begin your journey, you are met by the guides at the Gold Cliff site. Here you are given equipment such as hard hats and other necessary gear to keep you safe as you explore the mines. There is also a wavier you have to sign before you enter the mines.

The guide will commence the tour with a history of the mine which, in its original state between 1899 and 1920, produced approximately three million dollars in gold!

After the introduction, you will be taken into the mine’s chambers. There is hiking and climbing involved, and although the entire distance is about one mile, you will nonetheless become mesmerized by the various chambers inside the mines.

In addition, you will be taken aboard a raft which runs across a 100-foot mine. You may come upon some bats along the way, all living deep inside the earth during the day, only coming out at night.

After you finish exploring the first mine, you will be taken to the second one in the system. This is a particularly exciting adventure, since the use of hand-lines will be utilized in order to descend into the mine shaft. Here you will find crystal clear waters and geological formations that are breathtaking.

After your tour is completed, you can rest up at your hotel accommodations, and consider other tours in the area during the rest of your stay.

This may include a visit to Columbia State Park, a gold rush town where you will find store owners dressed in period costume.

You may also wish to visit Calaveras Big Trees State Park, where you will find the infamous giant Sequoia trees.

Or you can take a trip to Jamestown, and visit the Rail Town Historic Park, where you will come upon some of the oldest trains in existence today.

There are plenty of activities for you and your children to round out this vacation of adventure. Check online for more details about the area, airfares and accommodation. Your Gold Cliff Mines will be an unforgettable journey of exploration for the whole family.

Getting Ready to Explore the Caverns
Whether you are planning a trip to the Black Chasm Caverns, the Gold Cliff Mines, Moaning Cavern, Carlsbad Cavern, or taking the Zip Lines over the foot hills of Gold Country – the more you know about the rules and regulations for each location, the better prepared you and your children will be to enjoy any one of these exciting trips.

If you are planning to explore any one of the well-known caverns during your family vacation this winter, but still have questions about the caves and how your kids or teens will fare during these tours, here is information that may alleviate your concerns.

* If you are taking any of the walking tours available, it’s recommended that you do not carry a child without support such as a baby sling or carried strapped to your front. Strollers and wheelchairs are not permitted in the caves.

* Children should be old enough to walk in the caves. Also keep in mind there are narrow pathways and low ceilings that require a bit of maneuvering by them as well.

* Good health is required for kids as well as adults. Anyone who has a heart or lung condition, or any woman who is pregnant should forego exploring caverns because of all the bending and twisting.

* All family members must be in good health when exploring the Gold Cliff Mines. If there are special needs required, you should notify the guide before taking the tour.

* No backpacks should be utilized during exploration of the caverns, so travel light.

* Everyone who is touring the caverns will have to sign a waiver.

* If you choose to rappel down Moaning Cavern, children must be at least 12 years of age, weigh a minimum of 100 pounds, and be a minimum of four feet tall.

* If you plan to take the Zip Lines tours, you must weigh approximately 70 to 260 pounds. There is no age limit at any zip line facility. However, a waiver must be signed here as well.

* Walking tours of mines require that every person wears a hard hat. Children must be at least four years of age.

You can find more information on each site, plus details about the weather, what to wear, and facilities available at each location online.

There are so many wonderful channels on TV such as Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and the Learning Channel, that can pique the curiosity of any child. This, together with reading material, and research online, can enhance the vacation experience immeasurably.

For example, kids love animals. They may have seen a documentary on the lions of Africa, or the rainforest in the Amazon. While it may not be feasible to take a trip to Africa, there are National Parks wherein these animals make their home.

To see them in a recreated natural habitat, children will begin to understand and make the connection between the TV program and the books they have read. Eventually, more questions arise, which require more exploration.

All kids love dinosaurs, so what about a trip to Moaning Cavern Park, or the La Brea tar pits in California? If you can’t go that far, what about a trip to your local museum?
It can be said that as adults we may visit a country a dozen times and still not know everything about it. Thus, taking children on vacations early in life prepares them for later explorations as adults. No matter what city, state, or country they may go to, there is always something to learn, even in their own city.

Words are powerful, but the visual aspects in the learning process cannot be underestimated.

With the economy being so poor at the moment, ’staycations’ are becoming more and more popular. So treat yourself and your family to a visit to your educational local attractions, or look for bargains online and plan an educational trip to one of our magnificent national parks.

There is sure to be fun and adventure for the whole family, as well as educational experiences that will last a lifetime.

One of the methods of educating children today is through practical experience – getting up close and personal with people, places, animals, and experiences that kids can associate with and learn from.

Taking children on vacation not only allows them to enjoy their time away from home, but to experience different cultures and the historic value of the places they visit.

Whether they visit National Parks in their state, or travel abroad to distant lands, they will always learn a lesson or two about people they encounter and places they visit- whether it’s museums or caverns, and carry those lessons with them for reference later on.

Anything can be an adventure if you approach it with the right mind set, and prepare well for your trip in order to get the most out of it.

For parents, encouraging children to read about a destination beforehand or watching a DVD together can go a long way in stimulating the child’s interest, no matter where they are traveling to.

It’s one thing to read about the pyramids or the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in books. It is an entirely different experience to see them up close and personal.

Children, by nature, love to explore. Instilling in them the curiosity to ask the standard who, what, when, where why, and how questions is part of their learning experience.

Would you like to spend a day visiting a cavern where the only moaning you hear is that of the sounds within, and not the moans and groans of your children? If so, Moaning Cavern Park is an adventure for the entire family and one you will remember for a lifetime.

Situated in the southern part of Calaveras County, Moaning Cavern Park is a popular site for vacationers who visit California every year.

Amid the beautiful landscape of Gold Country, you and your family can enjoy the 45-minute tour into the cave on any given day. In addition, for those who seek real adventure, you can rappel into the cave as well.

Let’s begin with the walking tour. This guided tour takes you deep into the cavern, where you can explore its natural beauty.

You will descend down 234 steps, that take you 165 feet below the earth’s surface.

You will be taken to an area where excavations have produced the remains of prehistoric individuals who had the misfortune of falling into the cavern over the course of thousands of years.

It is fully lit inside the cave, so there is no need to be nervous, just watch your step.

Your guides will accompany you and give you the history of the cavern as well as its geological make-up as you go, making it an educational as well as fun tour for the whole fanily.
For the adventurer, there is another way to explore Moaning Cavern – by rappelling down a 165-foot rope into the main chamber. You will be provided with a hard hat, coveralls, and gloves to make your experience a safe and exciting one.

It takes approximately 15 minutes to climb down the rope, and the total time spent on this trip is three hours, so make sure you leave plenty of time for your trip.
Children must be 12 years of age and accompanied by a parent. In addition, a waiver has to be signed in order to participate in the rappelling portion of this tour.

Whether you live in California and have decided on a weekend vacation for the family, or plan to visit California as a vacation destination this winter, this is one tour that should be added to your list of things to do.

Check online for more information about the Moaning Cavern Park as well as other cavern tours in the area, and enjoy this magnificent park in all its splendor.

Taking a trip to the Carlsbad Caverns is not only an exciting experience but an educational one as well.

It is said that the Carlsbad Caverns were formed over 280 million years ago. Moreover, the Guadalupe Mountains, which cover the Texas and New Mexican borders, was the home of American Indians more than 14,000 years ago.

So if you are planning a winter vacation this year for your family, there is no other place on earth that has as much mystery and history as the Carlsbad Caverns. Besides, what kid doesn’t love exploring caves?

What can you expect to find at Carlsbad Caverns National Park? Let’s take a brief tour.

It is generally recommended that you visit the Big Room first. This tour encompasses taking an elevator 900 feet down into the main cave area. The Big Room is approximately 1800 feet long and 250 feet wide, and it is here you will find an impressive array of formations.

Within this massive cave are popular formations such as the Temple of the Sun, the Hall of Giants, and the Rock of Ages.

In addition, there are facilities such as rest areas and a lunch room. Rangers are available to answer any of your questions, and are also available to take you on guided tours of the caves.

The second recommendation for visitors is to go to the Natural Entrance. Here you will take about a half-mile walk through the cave that leads into the depths of the cavern.

Here you will find over 300,000 bats (from April to September), and you can watch them as they take flight in the evening hours to hunt for food.

There is also a scenic walking tour within this cavern where you will find magnificent and colorful formations. Eventually you will return to the Big Room.

A quick note about the bats: They are harmless! If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you.

The third most popular cave is Kings Palace. This cave is considered the deepest part of the cave system, and there is a 90 minute tour that is led by a Ranger.

For more information on Carlsbad Caverns, check on their site, and for the best ways to get there, check with your travel agent or online for the latest prices on airfare and hotel accommodations.

From Yosemite to the Grand Canyon, the splendor of the landscape is something to behold. Moreover, there are a variety of activities designed for the entire family including camping, hiking, caving, zip lining, and river rafting, to name a few.

But more importantly, it gives the children a chance to appreciate the environment and the beauty within it. From the giant Sequoia trees in Sequoia National Park, to the Old Faithful Geyser, in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, there is something for everyone.

At Mt. Rainer National Park, for example, you’ll find Pothole Lake and Granite Lake. Or you may choose Grand Teton National Park, where you can enjoy biking, kayaking, and canoeing.

If you love exploring caves, you might enjoy a trip to Mammoth Cave National Park, which is the longest known cave system in the world. Or the Carlsbad Caverns, a great trip for the whole family.

As we strive to improve our environment and keep those pristine areas secure for our children and their children, now is a great time to explore the many parks available in the U.S.

Each park is distinctly different from another, but they all have this in common: they are fun to visit, and they offer adventure and excitement for the entire family. They are educational, and if you respect nature, on your trips here, you are protecting and supporting it.

Some of the parks are great all year round, some accessible only in summer, others warm and wonderful in the winter months. Whatever you choose, the splendor of nature awaits on a national park vacation.