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One Day in Cave City, KY: Itinerary to Transform and Travel with Just Brennon
Guest Post by Brennon Hightower with Just Brennon Blog
Typically when people plan vacations and think of travel, they tend to consider the major hot
spots. But, if you dig a little deeper, you will find that there are so many unique places to take
your family to visit and vacation. Take for example, Cave City, Kentucky.
A few years ago, I stumbled upon Dinosaur World which was only four hours away and having
two boys who loved dinosaurs, it definitely seemed like the perfect place to visit.
Since we would normally take a one week vacation every fall, it made sense to plan our
vacation around family friendly attractions close to Dinosaur World.
After doing my research on the town and local attractions, I decided to create a multi-day, fall
vacation all based in and around Cave City. From all that we learned and experienced, I’ve
shortened it down to one full day of family fun that you may enjoy, especially if you love the
outdoors.
Photo Credit: Brennon with Just Brennon Blog
One Day in Cave City, KY: Itinerary to Transform and Travel
Although, I have crammed everything into a One Day Itinerary for Cave City, Kentucky, it’s important to note that, we spent three days in Cave City in order to make it to all of the attractions that we had planned.
So, make sure that you give yourself some time and plan to stay at least three days for the
ultimate family experience.
Fun Facts on Cave City, Kentucky
Did you know that even though there are so many attractions in Cave City, there are only about
2,000 people living in the town?
What’s even more interesting is that, the town was actually created to be a resort surrounding
the popular Mammoth Cave and Mammoth Cave National Park – which makes it no surprise
that Cave City’s main industry is tourism.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Resort
For starters, you will want to get a good night’s sleep before your big day. Instead of a traditional
hotel or motel, book a cabin at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Resort. The resort is located in the center
of Cave City making it extremely accessible to other attractions, as well as the highway.
In addition to location and accessibility, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Resort offers clean cabins, a
general store on the campground, along with fun activities and events. They even have an
arcade, a jumping pillow, putt-putt golf, and a swimming pool. Just remember to bring your own
linens, as they are not provided.
We spent a lot of our time at the campground when we were not at other attractions. WE
watched movies in our cabin or made smores at the firepit. We even ordered pizza one night
for dinner from the general store on the campground. It was actually pretty good.
By going during off-peak season, it was less crowded and the boys had many of the activities to
themselves such as putt-putt and the jumping pillow.
The best advice that I can give for you for staying here is to bring your own groceries and a
cooler, especially if you plan on staying for several days. It’s a great way to have plenty food
and snacks that you enjoy without spending so much money.
Photo Credit: Just Brennon Blog
Mammoth Cave National Park
Upon waking, the first place you must explore is Mammoth Cave National Park. Mammoth Cave
National Park is located right in Cave City and encompasses portions of Mammoth Cave, the
longest cave system known in the world.
While at Mammoth Cave, consider visiting the Visitors Center, doing some walking or hiking,
having a breakfast picnic, or even better, registering for an early morning cave tour. Cave tours
vary in duration and cost, so be sure to check how long your cave tour will be and plan the
remainder of your day accordingly.
Photo Credit: Brennon & Just Brennon Blog
Dinosaur World
After spending the early morning at Mammoth Cave National Park, you absolutely must head
over to Dinosaur World. We spent two hours at Dinosaur World during off-peak season but have
also spent an entire afternoon there during peak season.
Dinosaur World features over 200 life-size dinosaurs throughout the outdoor theme park, as well
as a variety of hands-on activities to participate in such as Fossil Dig and Dinosaur Excavation.
Parking is free and admission is less than $20 per person. Don’t forget to visit the Gift Shop on
your way out for some fun dinosaur souvenirs.
I know many people who love buying souvenirs, unfortunately, I am not huge on spending a lot
of money for souvenirs for children. On this trip, I actually brought souvenirs ahead of time from
Dollar Tree. Yes! I’m that mom!
I purchased some dinosaur activity books that I gave to the boys as we drove there. This was a
way to keep them busy and to also get their minds thinking about dinosaurs. I also purchased a
pack of dinosaurs to help engage them.
When we arrived to Dinosaur World, I gave them each a dinosaur and told them that if they
found a match to their dinosaur and I got a picture of them with it, then they could have $5 to
shop in the gift shop. By doing this, the walk through the outdoor theme park was more
interactive and I was able to set the cap on how much was spent in the gift shop.