Luray Caverns in Virginia

[Miss Marty]

Q:

Luray Caverns in Virginia`s Shenandoah Valley
How easy is it to get in & out of the Caverns

It looks like there are three sections
of steps, totaling about 70 steps!

The paved walkways on the tour are 1.25 miles in length with some areas having moderate grades that may be difficult for visitors with disabilities. The guided walking tour of the caverns takes a little over one hour.

Visitors are encouraged to take photographs in
Luray Caverns as long as you stay with your guide.
What is the best setting for digital pictures inside?

A Self Guided Tour of The Car and Carriage Caravan and Toy Town Junction are included with a Luray Caverns General Admission Ticket.

Luray Valley Museum

The main museum building displays nearly 300 years of Shenandoah Valley artifacts. Walk through the chronological history from the 1750's to the 1920's.

Dining Options.

The Stalactite Cafe provides a fast food style menu and service. It’s located next to Toy Town Junction. And in the Burner Barn at the Luray Valley Museum, the Heartpine Cafe is a Bistro-style restaurant serving fast casual dining.

Luray Singing Tower

At 117 feet in height, the Luray Singing Tower contains a carillon of 47 bells. The largest bell weighs 7,640 pounds and is six feet in diameter. The smallest weighs a mere 12 ½ pounds. Recognized as one of the country's major carillons, 45-minute recitals are scheduled regularly throughout the spring, summer and fall.

Luray Caverns is about 30 miles from Massanutten Resort via Rt 340

 

[tschwa2]

Luray is the largest and probably the most spectacular caverns in the area.

I have taken someone in a wheel chair through Luray in the last 3 years. Depending on how heavy the person is, it can be a work out because there are many non level ramps and pathways. I believe there is an elevator that by passes the main stairs and the rest would be accessible.

Most of Luray is a "dead" cavern, meaning it is dry for the most part and not growing. You can take pictures. You are not supposed to touch the formations but over the years many have been touched numerous times also leading to its death.


There are other smaller caves including Shenandoah Caverns (which often has 2 for 1 groupons), Endless Caverns, Skyline Caverns, Grand Caverns, and Natural Bridge Caverns.

 

[Glynda]

Luray Caverns

Q:

Luray Caverns in Virginia`s Shenandoah Valley
How easy is it to get in & out of the Caverns

It looks like there are three sections
of steps, totaling about 70 steps!

The paved walkways on the tour are 1.25 miles in length with some areas having moderate grades that may be difficult for visitors with disabilities. The guided walking tour of the caverns takes a little over one hour.

Visitors are encouraged to take photographs in
Luray Caverns as long as you stay with your guide.
What is the best setting for digital pictures inside?

A Self Guided Tour of The Car and Carriage Caravan and Toy Town Junction are included with a Luray Caverns General Admission Ticket.

Luray Valley Museum

The main museum building displays nearly 300 years of Shenandoah Valley artifacts. Walk through the chronological history from the 1750's to the 1920's.

Dining Options.

The Stalactite Cafe provides a fast food style menu and service. It’s located next to Toy Town Junction. And in the Burner Barn at the Luray Valley Museum, the Heartpine Cafe is a Bistro-style restaurant serving fast casual dining.

Luray Singing Tower

At 117 feet in height, the Luray Singing Tower contains a carillon of 47 bells. The largest bell weighs 7,640 pounds and is six feet in diameter. The smallest weighs a mere 12 ½ pounds. Recognized as one of the country's major carillons, 45-minute recitals are scheduled regularly throughout the spring, summer and fall.

Luray Caverns is about 30 miles from Massanutten Resort via Rt 340

My husband was born and raised in Luray. His first job at 11 was putting bumper stickers on cars in the parking lot. He moved up to guiding cars to parking places by age 12 and at 14 he had the coveted job of guide inside the cavern which he held throughout high school. We go back often and will be there for his 50th high school reunion in May.

The last time we were in a few years ago, we had the option to use an audio self-guided tour or take the guided tour. There are people stationed around to answer questions, for your safety and protection, and that of the cavern. There is a chair lift to take someone who is disabled down into the cave and quite a few of the steps are ramped. The grades seem manageable for most.

It's lit well enough for newer cell phone cameras but they used to allow tri-pods if you wanted to experiment with different settings. It's beautiful in the caverns.

Luray isn't exactly a place to eat out. It's a tradition for us to eat breakfast at Brookside Restaurant which is on the other side of town from the caverns. The Mimslyn Inn is a lovely historical landmark in Luray but hit and miss as far as dining goes. There a couple of cafes on Main Street in town that we hit for lunch and have had some success with. I can't remember the name of our favorite.

Hope you visit and have a great experience!

 

[wackymother]

We've been to Luray twice. It's amazing. But the first time, there was almost no one there besides us, so it was really quiet and stunning.

We went again last summer and we could not believe the number of parked cars and the long lines to get in.

I don't know when the down season is, but that's the best time to go!

 

[esk444]

We've been to Luray twice. It's amazing. But the first time, there was almost no one there besides us, so it was really quiet and stunning.

We went again last summer and we could not believe the number of parked cars and the long lines to get in.

I don't know when the down season is, but that's the best time to go!

I remember it is kind of a rainy day activity for those camping in the valley or in Shenandoah National Park. It gets packed when it is raining.

 

[beejaybee]

From my Viewmaster

I remember looking at the Luray Caverns through my childhood Viewmaster and dreaming about visiting someday. Well, we will finally be nearby this fall staying at Massanutten's Regal Vistas!

But many other caves later- Mammoth, Horne's on Vancouver Is., Gibraltar, Harrison's in Barbados and most recently the Waitomo caves in NZ- visiting Luray is no longer a must-do unless a Tugger can convince me these caverns aren't to be missed!

 

[wackymother]

I remember looking at the Luray Caverns through my childhood Viewmaster and dreaming about visiting someday. Well, we will finally be nearby this fall staying at Massanutten's Regal Vistas!

But many other caves later- Mammoth, Horne's on Vancouver Is., Gibraltar, Harrison's in Barbados and most recently the Waitomo caves in NZ- visiting Luray is no longer a must-do unless a Tugger can convince me these caverns aren't to be missed!

They are fantastic. We've been to a few caves and Luray Caverns is by far the most interesting and pretty, and also the least claustrophobic. Mostly wide, easy-access paths, high ceilings. Plus they have the very fascinating Stalacpipe Organ!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsKUUn29tSs

 

[dwojo]

Luray caverns is fantastic. I was able to do the tour quite easily with two arthritic knees and a surgically repaired hip. The museum near the caverns was nice as well. I think it was a carriage museum. There is a potato chip factory in the area that does tours as well.

 

[Glynda]

Luray Caverns

I remember looking at the Luray Caverns through my childhood Viewmaster and dreaming about visiting someday. Well, we will finally be nearby this fall staying at Massanutten's Regal Vistas!

But many other caves later- Mammoth, Horne's on Vancouver Is., Gibraltar, Harrison's in Barbados and most recently the Waitomo caves in NZ- visiting Luray is no longer a must-do unless a Tugger can convince me these caverns aren't to be missed!

Having visited a number of caverns myself, though not all those you have, I'd still suggest you take the time to visit Luray Caverns and fulfill that childhood dream. They are beautiful and worth the trip.

 

[wackymother]

Luray caverns is fantastic. I was able to do the tour quite easily with two arthritic knees and a surgically repaired hip. The museum near the caverns was nice as well. I think it was a carriage museum. There is a potato chip factory in the area that does tours as well.

Yes, there's a nice car/carriage museum there, and a garden maze. And I think they also do bell concerts from the carillon nearby.