Beating the Heat Week - Part 4

Ready for some North Carolina sweater weather in July? Well, take a trip with me to the hollow hills of Humpback Mountain near Marion. Today we're going to a place where the temperature is a constant 52 degrees. The place: Linville Caverns which has been described as "North Carolina's only true cavern system open to the public." The history of this mysterious place is fascinating. It all started 30 million years ago but was first discovered by man in 1822. Locals were perplexed. They saw fish swimming into the side of a mountain and vanishing. Upon exploration they found a natural limestone cavern. Today it is described as a drippy place of spectacular formations, sleeping bats and hibernating spiders. It is also a place of deep pools, one of which was measured at more than 250 feet. Here you can take some great photographs and learn the difference between a stalagmite and a stalactite. You can get there by taking US 221. It's between Marion and Linville just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Admission is $6. Seniors get in for $4.50 and it's an even $4 for children.