Crystal Lake Cave in Iowa - A Great Vacation and Travel Destination

Iowa has some beautiful places that are wonderful vacation destinations. One of the must see places is Crystal Lake Cave. There is an interesting story behind this location. Back in 1868 lead miners were looking for a lead vein and they drilled 40 feet into the ground. And although they were not successful in finding the lead they had hoped for they did find something else even more amazing. What they found was Crystal Lake Cave. Although the cave was discovered for many years it was not open to
the public until 1932. Bernard Markus, one of the original miners, played a role in getting the cave open to the public and it finally became so after his death.

While the miners were digging they found quite a few different types of gems and minerals that are on display in the gift shop. There is no other show cavern like Crystal Lake Cave and this is the longest a cave has been "alive" in Iowa. The cave is underground and continues to be one of the most amazing places to visit in Iowa. The tour of the cave takes about half an hour to 45 minutes and it is an adventure like none other you have ever taken. A tour guide will lead you so that you get the most out of the adventure. Keep in mind that no matter what the temperature is outside it will be quite cool in Crystal Lake Cave and the year round temperature is usually around 52 degrees Fahrenheit.

The cave is open from 9 am to 5 pm on weekends in May and daily in June, July and August from 9 am until 6 pm. In September the cave is open from 11 am until 5 pm on weekdays and 9 am until 5 pm on weekends. The cave is open through mid October from 11 am until 5 pm on weekdays and 9 am until 5 pm on weekends. The rest of the year the cave is closed for winter. Prices for adults are $10 and $5 for kids four to 11. Kids under four are free and senior citizens receive a 10% discount. Group pricing is available. The cave is located three miles south of Dubuque, Iowa and 20 minutes from Galena, Illinois.

There is a website that has great information on USA Vacations and Unique Travel Spots Listed State By State and Season, the website is called: Seasonal Vacation Spots, and can be found at this url:

http://www.seasonalvacationspots.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

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The White Mountains in Bethlehem, New Hampshire - A Great Vacation and Travel Destination

The White Mountains in New Hampshire is a beautiful place to visit and if you head to Bethlehem you will have an especially wonderful time. Most places have a particular time of year that is best for visiting, but that's not the case with the White Mountains in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. That's because when you are in Bethlehem, no matter what time of year, you will find something fun to do. People enjoy playing on the Donald Ross golf courses as well as staying at the Maplewood Country Club and the Bethlehem Country Club so the whole family can enjoy the vacation.

There are so many state parks in the area that everyone will find something to do that they enjoy. Some of the state parks include Franconia Notch State Park, Echo Lake State Park, Forest Lake State Park, as well as several others. Others will really enjoy snow skiing and snowboarding in Bethlehem, New Hampshire. That's because there are some awesome mountains that really offer great slopes for snow sports. Loon Mountain, Cannon Mountain, Bretton Woods, and Waterville Valley are just some of the great places to ski or snowboard.

Snowmobiling is another great activity to take advantage of while you are in Bethlehem. That's because there are literally miles and miles of trails to follow that even link up with the Corridor and Primary trail systems.

If you aren't into snow sports then you might like the hiking and backpacking. The White Mountains have miles of trails that are perfect for hiking and backpacking and thousands of people trek the area each year so you won't be out in the wilderness all alone. There is also plenty of biking, camping, fishing, hunting, water sports, bird watching, snowshoeing, and more. As you can see you can visit the White Mountains in Bethlehem, New Hampshire year round and find something fun and exciting to do!

There is a website that has great information on USA Vacations and Unique Travel Spots Listed State By State and Season, the website is called: Seasonal Vacation Spots, and can be found at this url:

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