There are many attractions in the mountains of northern California, and Lake Shasta Caverns is one of them. I have been wanting to go here for some time now, and when Jess visited last week, we did! Me and uncle b. met her in the city, and then Jess drove from there. You have to first take a boat ride, which is 10 minutes, and then take a shuttle, 10 minutes, to the caverns. It was a clean boat with a pleasant breeze, and I brought snacks as we enjoyed the journey.
The boat ride is on Shasta Lake with beautiful emerald green waters.
When we first started out, we noticed a World War 2 boat on the lake that was interesting.
Then, we took a shuttle on a winding road up the mountain to the caves. We are at the caverns now, and a black bear sculpture greets us at the door. How I managed to walk up and down over 600 stairs on the tour is beyond me. And even more astonishing is that Jess carried a heavy baby walking those stairs. There is a point where you can exit if you don't want to take the full tour.
The caverns are at least 200 million years old. It is a treasure that has been hidden deep in the mountain above Lake Shasta for centuries.
A new discovery appears in every direction you turn.
When it rains outside, it rains in the caverns. This natural process of water flow can lead to increased water within the caverns and rising water levels in some areas.
The Stalactites come from the ceiling, and the Stalagmites come from the ground. They are both made from calcium salts and dripping water. I call the Stalactites "icicles."
At the end of the tour, there was a light show with different colors illuminating the dark caves. It was spectacular!
It was such a neat experience, and one that was worth walking up and down all those stairs.
There is a gift shop at the entrance of the caverns, and we were hungry, so we got a hot dog before driving back to the city.
As soon as we got back to the city, it was such a hot day that we indulged in some ice cream! I got a cone with soft chocolate ice cream, marshmallows, and graham crackers. So good. 🍦
We did some shopping at Michael's, World Market, and had a wonderful Italian dinner.
After taking showers and resting up, we watched the movie, We Bought A Zoo, with Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson. I had seen it recently, so I suggested it to the family. Jess really liked the movie. It was heartwarming, funny, out of the ordinary, and an interesting true story.
And plenty of time for hugs. Charlotte loved the little outside chair I bought for her, and even brought it inside the house.
I'll show you more of our adventures next time.
22 comments:
This looks like such a sweet and FUN filled weekend...The girls are really growing and they have the sweetest smiles. This is a great picture of you, Jess and the girls. The cavern looks so pretty and interesting with all the stalactites. I am very claustrophobic, so I most likely would not have been able to go in. Wow...I commend you for being able to walk all those steps. Sheri, so glad you all had this special time together...Shug xoxo
So much fun.
So sweet. Such a wonderful time. Great pictures. We too watched that movie just last year.
Everyone looks so pretty, bright, and happy. Boats, buses to the cavern? I am a little afraid, but I do go into the caves here, but not my favorite thing to do - but it looked like everyone had a good time. I didn't know it rained in the caverns. And the purple light show looked so pretty. Hotdogs and soft chocolate ice cream. How do you stay so thin? I'm jealous. The picture of the girls was beautiful. I also loved the one of the four of you. Nice day with shopping and eating pasta! Glad Charlotte liked her chair. I loved that movie - good story. Can't wait to see more!
We went to Shasta Caverns, 2 summers ago. Those stairs really hit me hard. I made it but was the last one holding everyone up. A month or two later was when I collapsed at the Shasta Dinner cruise going up the ramp to the gift shop!
I’m glad you enjoyed it. If I could have gone at my own speed, I could have enjoyed it more. Next time when we go with others, I’ll take the short cut. 😉
I haven’t been to Michaels in a while.
I can’t wait to hear of what else you did. You picked a good week - it was unseasonably cooler last week.
Have a enjoyable week ahead
Sheri this looks like a wonderful adventure. Lake Shasta is gorgeous. I have toured caverns in Virginia and am always amazed at how beautiful they are. Yours looks just wonderful. Bet it felt cool while you were inside. Well so glad to see your pics and granddaughters. Hope you continue to have a lovely June. Hugs!
Sheri, I am so happy you had such a good time with your family. What an adventure going down under the ground. Did you see any bats? In all the caves I have visited I would look up to see sleeping bats. Eek!
High Fives to all of you for making all those steps.
Love, Carla
Oh my goodness, what an adorable photo of Charlotte! You knew just what to buy to make her this excited. The cavern is really like another world. Wonders that you never see in the outside world. And then the shopping and ice-cream, what a splendid day!
Esas atracciones hace las delicias de las gentes más joven.
Saludos.
What beautiful scenery, but what really caught my eye was the cup of ice cream! 😄
When your granddaughters laugh, the sun rises.
You really had to climb a lot of steps. Respect for managing that.
The photos of the cave are breathtaking. That was a fantastic trip.
Happy new week
What an excellent time and I LOOOOVE the spooky underground photos.
"Lake Shasta Caverns is truly a hidden gem of Northern California! I was amazed by the boat ride across the lake, the scenic views, and the stunning underground formations. The guided tour was informative and fun, making the whole experience both adventurous and educational. A must-visit for nature lovers and geology enthusiasts alike!"
https://www.yourcityguidebook.life/
What a wonderful time together. Those caverns are amazing.
You had such a great weekend Sheri. Little Charlotte has really grown up, and what a cutie sitting in her special chair. I have seen a few caverns like that in Australia, and I really like them too. The light show is a special treat. 600 stairs in one tour! That would be tiring, but you managed it well. The lake is very pretty too. Family time is so precious, isn't it.
Your writing has a way of reaching into the heart of the reader. It’s sincere, meaningful, and always leaves a lasting impression. Permanent Staffing I look forward to every new post with excitement.
I honestly can't imagine a better day. I'd love to do this with my little guys -- it's absolutely stunning. Marvelous views.The stalactites alone are marvelous but with the light show? Wow! Best of all you were sharing with people you really love and isn't that the best?
Wow! I have not heard of the caverns. They look similar to caverns I once visited in France and this would be so much closer. So glad you got to visit and have wonderful time with Jess and the girls. It sounds just wonderful.
What a wonderful adventure you had ! So beautiful in there.
Cathy
Sweet photos! Loved all of those with your family, and the one with you too. Those caverns look amazing! It has been a long time since I went inside one. The boat ride must have been fun. Thanks for the movie. I will check that out.
Beautiful photos! God bless you and yours.
That's a darling post, Sheri. The caverns looked quite fascinating. Oh, you all had such a wonderful time . I'm so happy for all of you! Hugs, Susan
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