Memorial Day Tradition: Local Exploration

It's becoming an annual tradition that our family visit local places of interest and intrigue over Memorial Day weekend. This year Matt and I decided that the boys were old enough to enjoy Luray Caverns and Natural Bridge, VA - a place we'd each wanted to visit together for several years but just hadn't made it a priority.




We were happy that Uncle Tom wanted to help us wrastle the youngins and explore natural wonders too. We all had a good time visit deep underground and marveling at how insignificant the impact of our lives on this earth.




Insignificant the impact of our lives?



One inch of stalactite takes 120 years to grow. Standing in such a vast, magnificent, ancient natural beauty can't help but humble your own existence



As we drove around we found and stopped at a local farm. The boys (and baby cat) chased chickens... of course. Then everyone crashed from a long day. I especially love this photo of Finian and Daddy snuggling each other in the same position.



Shortly after, we were up and at 'em to discover the spectacular Natural Bridge,
VA. The boys had a blast in the gift shop; then we were on our way down the path to find the bridge, Monacan Indian village and butterfly exhibit.



The tree the boys are standing in front of was some 4000 years old when it died in the 1980s. That means it is older than Judaism, Stonehenge and the domestication of horses. The Natural Bridge was a cavern long, long ago. It collapsed in on itself and now it's a 215ft high 36,000 ton bridge cars still drive over today.





In order to get the entire bridge into the shot, that's how far back Tom had to walk!

Even George Washington marveled the bridge, scaling the rock wall 23ft to carve his initials in the year 1750.

We found another name and date of 1810!




We went a bit further down the path to explore a mock Monacan Indian village set-up. The boys goofed around and thought the idea of 6-10 people sharing a "hut" was hysterical.



Inside, there was a butterfly exhibit that the boys also thoroughly enjoyed.




The butterflies were gorgeous and some species can usually only be found in rainforests, yet they perched on our hands!



After the the butterfly exhibit we ventured over to the caverns in Natural Bridge, Va. They were just as interesting, but very different from Luray. It was dark, cramped and a bit "scary" and really highlighted what real cave living would've been like.




There was a tiny entrance hole to the original cavern, and huge boulders hang wedged in some places - having fallen from the ceiling!



We had such a blast as a family. It's hard work with 3 boisterous boys, but we wouldn't have it any other way.