Howe Caverns

 

 Hi my name is Skye, I am the editor for Museums411 Kids Corner, today I am taking you to Howe Caverns, in Howes Cave NY.

We had a lot of fun walking through the caverns and taking photos. I have some great photos that I took and would like to share with everyone; which I hope will make you all want to come and visit Howe Caverns.

This cave is so cool to go through, seeing all the limestone stalactites(form on roof of cave) and stalagmites (form on the floor of the cave)that took millions of years to form.

The tour is in 2 parts first you get to go through the cavern and see all passages and formations and then, you get to go on a ride in a boat on the Lake of Venus, we didn’t get to go because the water was to high, but I plan on returning very soon. to take a boat trip on the Lake of Venus.

Discovered by Lester Howe when he noticed that his cows always pastured in the same area, on his neighbor Henry Wetsel’s land. On May 22, 1824 was when he and his neighbor Henry Wetsel entered the cave . The cave is always the same tempter all year round 52 degrees Fahrenheit 12 degrees Celsius. To get to the cave you go on an elevator 156 feet below the earth! A prehistoric under ground cavern 6 million years in the making.

Now when we come back above ground, there are the new attractions that we haven’t seen.

I got to go on a rope course and a zip line on the first day the zip line opened, both of them were so exiting! There were four parts of the zip line, the first one was 150 feet, the next one was 200 feet, the third was 250 feet and the last one was 300 feet. The zip line and the rope course are really safe so no one gets hurt. For the zip line you wear a secure full body harness, so you cannot fall. The first level of the rope course was 15 feet high; the second level was 30 feet. The second level is more challenging. The people that worked there were really friendly and helpful. They taught us how you do the rope course and stayed with us the whole time. I really enjoyed it because there are so many new things to do. I definitely want to go back again!

There are still a lot of other things to do above ground as well, such as Gemstone Mining, you can buy a mining bag to find beautiful stones like garnets, rose quarts , fools gold, emeralds, aquamarines and lots more. You can buy a package of a 3 lb bag for $5, 5 lb bag for $7.50, and arrow head 5 lb bag for $10.00. Geode cutting is also one of my favorites things to get at the mining company.

They also have a great gift shop. They sell locally made jewelry and rocks and minerals. As well as tee shirts, sweatshirts, hat, and miners helmets. The gift shop has a big selection of souvenirs for the whole family, as well as many unique gift ideas that makes this an awesome place to visit. My trip to Howe Caverns was awesome!

Below is more information provided by Howe Caverns, concerning all the exciting new existing and upcoming attractions that will be coming in the future. The Zip Line and Ropes Course are from 9 am to 6 pm daily (weather permitting) at our new Howe High Adventure! Fall Hours begin September 6, 11 am to 6 pm. Our new Four-Tower Zip Line is 950 feet long, and stands high above the earth. This scenic aerial ride is divided into four sections and takes riders for a beautiful view suspended up to 40 feet in the air. Tickets for the Zip Line are $15 (plus tax). RULES: Must understand and demonstrate knowledge of all safety rules. Must be in good physical condition. Must weigh at least 60 lbs. Maximum weight, 300 lbs. Must be able to fit and sit safely in the harness. No flip flops.

 The Sky Trail® Ropes Course lets visitors go through a series of surprising and increasing challenging activities. It’s suitable for all ages.  RULES: Must understand and demonstrate knowledge of all safety rules. Must be in good physical condition. Must be 48" tall and fit the harness safely. No flip flops. . Please check their progress on the following, yet-to-come attractions, either here at our website or by calling 518-296-8900.

 Their new outdoor pavilion. This three-season site will is available for birthdays, parties, weddings, company outings and other special events.
 Enter the Howe Caverns Mining Company. This new 6,000-square-foot building is a great spot to sift through bags of mining rough for gemstones, fossils and arrowheads to take home. This gem of a building also will feature a boutique jewelry store with the designs of New York’s Patty Tobin. Her jewelry, favorites of Jill Scott and Rachael Ray, is now available in the Visitor Center. High in the air -- deep under the earth -- New York’s coolest getaway!

 This is a place that kids of all ages will enjoy; I know I did and so did my Dad. I give this place a thumbs up and would like to thank all the staff that went out of their way to make my visit a very memorable one that I will always remember. A special thanks To Sparky and Richard who made this visit truly awesome.

So I hope you enjoyed my column and come back often I will be posting a lot more in the very near future.

Until next time this is Skye saying, visit a Museum near you and enjoy everything they have to offer.