Madison Cave Adventure 🪨 Cave of the Mounds

Following our visit to Haven’s Petting Farm, we drove less than 40 minutes from downtown Madison to explore the Cave of the Mounds! We made it just in time for the last tour of the day 🕒. Since it was Easter, for an extra $2, we joined the special Stone Hunt inside the cave — a fun treasure hunt with pretty stones waiting at three different spots 💎✨. While this cave can’t compare in size to the massive ones I’ve visited in Guilin or Jiangxi (China), the tour itself was incredibly well-designed — educational, engaging, and about 50 minutes long. The lighting inside was so tasteful and natural (apparently designed by an award-winning international team 🌟), much more soothing than the colorful light shows common in Chinese caves. My favorite part was at the deepest point of the cave, where we experienced what it’s like to be in “the darkest dark” ⚫— surreal and unforgettable! The entrance and exit both lead through a gift store 🛍️. They offer a free gem mining activity — we met a lovely older couple who taught us how to find free coupons online using the keyword “Dells cave coupons”! You get a bag of sand mixed with cute crystals and stones, and there’s a sluice right outside where you can “mine” your treasures 🪄💎. A perfect blend of nature, learning, and little surprises — highly recommend for a weekend trip! #ShareYourLife #UWMadison #MadisonWI #WisconsinLife #StudyInMadison #CaveExploring #FamilyFun #TravelWisconsin #GemMining