Cave of the Mounds, Mount Horeb, WI

I've heard about Cave of the Mounds many years ago but have never been there until this particular July weekend. The drive was quite lovely and once I got to the Cave of the Mounds park, I decided I should have lunch before I go on exploring.There were picnic tables everywhere and I picked one in the shade. The breeze was quite welcome, the birds provided entertainment and scenery was most relaxing so my lunch was very enjoyable. Especially since it's one I made myself.After the lunch respite I decided to explore the grounds, while waiting for the tour of the cave. Nestled snugly in the Driftless region of Southern Wisconsin, the park allows visitors to explore the unique geological attributes of the area. The grounds also offer some walking trails, prairie gardens, birds, and butterflies.

But on to the main reason for my visit. The cave!First, you have to keep in mind that there will be lots of children here. So, if you're not prepared (like me) for the pushing/shoving/bumping into/screaming/and being generally unruly, take a moment and get ready. Though, if you're taller, many of those things won't be an issue for picture-taking. ;)

Here are some scenes from the cave I compiled. Can you see the "parrot" stalagmite? The picture below the parrot shows a "kissing" stalagmite and stalactite. Eventually, when they meet, they become a column.
The other pictures show that stalactites can resemble a chandelier or an organ's pipes. There is also an underground river in the cave and you see it in the middle picture. The upper right picture has a lot of color and that's from different minerals, not just calcium, being deposited. In addition to all these marvels, you are also introduced to terms like "cave bacon" referring to the wavy formations you sometimes see in the crevices. Despite the ill-mannered children on that particular tour, I would still highly recommend you visit the cave. If nothing else, it provided a really lovely hour in the coolness which was sorely needed this particular day (if I remember correctly, it was near 90 degrees with nearly 100% humidity).