Today we get to explore the Crystal Grotto Caves! These caves contain some of the most dense and naturally kept formations in the world!

But first, we say goodbye to family as we continue our trip.

Thanks Uncle Jeff and Gina!

Travelling across the country not only allows us to see the amazing places around the U.S. to explore, but it also allows us the opportunity to visit family we would otherwise not see.

This week we have the fortune of visiting Kali’s Great Uncle Jeff. He and his wife, Gina are so gracious to offer up their house to us for a couple days while we explore DC.

This morning we have to say goodbye and make our way toward new adventures.

We really enjoyed our stay along with the homemade chili followed with ice cream and pie! 🥧 YUM!

Thanks Uncle Jeff and Gina!!

Crystal Grottoes Caverns

Looking for unique things to see in Maryland, we just happen to come across the Crystal Grottoes Caverns.

Upon arrival, we see an older looking house. Could this really be where the caves are?

After purchasing our tickets for the guided tour, we then head down a set of stairs and into the splendor that lay beneath our feet.

It is amazing how many formations are in this cavern system!

In fact, according to their website, this cavern has more formations per square foot than any other in the world!!!

Previously we explored the longest known cave system in the world!

This is also one of the most naturally kept caverns in the world.

We are left feeling amazed at all the different formations as we walk through the cavern.

Our tour guide explains this little turtle is the security guard for the cave.

Inside of this next formation are actually little white fluff ball looking things. It looks like crystallized eggs.

This formation is said to be the hand of Bigfoot, shining through the light.

Looking up, we see the cavern goes fairly deep below the surface.

If you look closely at the picture, you can see the shelves that are displayed to us from below.

How was this discovered?

It is surprising to learn that the discovery of this cavern was accidental.

Workers were looking for limestone to pave the road through the area. However, when they drilled into the ground, they actually lost their drill bit inside this cavern, not knowing what lay beneath them.

In the quest to solve the mystery of where their drill bit went, they placed some explosives into the hole they just made….

and created a crawl space to squeeze into the cavern; they were met by the formations that we are seeing today!

We can only imagine how awestruck they were after crawling down and seeing this.

More Formations

If you peek inside a little crevice, you can see what our tour guide calls a little gnome village. 🧙‍♂️

While most rooms are several stories high, some of the walkways between them are quite small.

There isn’t too much you can touch inside the cavern, but our tour guide points out some smooth limestone that we are able to feel.

We are excited to see what awaits us after our tour guide directs us to get the camera ready.

As we turn the corner, we are met with this lovely formation.

It’s hard to capture in pictures how beautiful this really is.

It’s glistening in the light shining off of it. 💎

Wow! 😮

It’s incredible to see such natural beauty. This formation looks like it was sculpted by a world renowned artist.

Lakes in Caverns

After seeing that glistening beauty, we are taken to the cavern “lake”, or as our tour guide states, “more like pond”.

There are even baby tadpoles and a full grown salamander in there.

The only other thing we are allowed to feel is the clay they are clearing out to access another portion of the cave.

It feels just like the clay you use in school to make a clay bowl.

We continue on into the cavern exploring each path that has been so gently cleared.

While in between rooms, our guide explains that the process to clear a new path is pretty extensive.

They have to dig VERY carefully down what they believe to be a passage, and even though they try their best not to break the formations, it does happen occasionally.