Fee: Free park entry; cavern tour tickets required (see alapark.com)
About this park
Cathedral Caverns State Park in Woodville is home to one of the largest cave entrances and cavern rooms in the world. Visitors step into a huge opening and descend into a landscape of towering stalagmites, flowstone and formations that seem almost too large to be real. Guided tours lead through the main cavern, explaining how the formations developed over thousands of years. The park also offers gemstone mining for those who want to hunt for treasures to take home, and above ground there are trails and picnic areas to enjoy. Park entry is free, but cavern tour tickets are required and can be found at alapark.com. Book ahead for busy weekends, and wear sturdy shoes and a light jacket, since the cave stays cool year-round.