Howe Caverns

Just about your average tourist trap. But one that I had never fallen for before. Having grown up in NY, I've made several trips Upstate. Albany, Schenectady, and even up to Montreal,Canada at one point. Many times, I've either sat-in or driven a car and noticed the billboards for Howe Caverns. It's always peaked my interests but I had never gone, due to time restraints, lack of interest amongst my peers, etc...

Anyhow, I finally did make a trip there and found it rather enjoyable. Ticket prices were acceptable/reasonable in my opinion, considering that this attraction alone probably generates a majority of the town's income. The attraction has the usual setups like a gift/souvenir shop, cafe, with little quirks like sweets that are locally made.

The attraction consists mainly of a tour guide leading guests down into the caverns in different shifts. Each group is given pamphlets and a brief DOs' & DON'Ts' introduction. What I found interesting was the different types of lighting used down there and the knowledgeable staff that was able to answer most questions.

The walking tour ranges about 30-40 minutes with a brief interim for rest & photography. At the end of the tour is a small boat-like vehicle that everyone sits on to enjoy the cavern, semi-spelunking style. Again the knowledgeable staff points out different features of the cavern in a well practiced manner. Once this has concluded, we walk back towards the surface via a different route. Seeing an entirely new side of the cavern.

All in all, it was a worthwhile visit and I would definitely recommend it to friends & family. The only drawback is that this place is nestled in a rather remote area upstate. So unless this is a primary destination or along the way, most tourists visiting only the 5 boroughs of NY tend to miss out.