Travel plan idea blog

Some Underground Attractions: mines, sewers, catacombs

If you are claustrophobic, you may want to skip the following entry! Have you ever been in a coal mine, or had the desire to go in one? An old and disused coal mine is just about to open as a major tourist attraction in Lynch, Kentucky. This blog wrote about this way back in 2005 when it was still in the planning stages. The project cost an estimated $2.5 million and locals hope it will bring much needed income to one of the poorer parts of the state. The exhibit features animatronics miners, as well as a ride through narrow tunnels that run for miles beneath the ground. I have been on a slate mine tour in Wales many years ago and found it quite fascinating; this site has a video which gives a good idea of what to expect if you take a tour (this is a slate mine in North Wales).

This story got me thinking about various other underground attractions around the world. Two of the most famous are in Paris - the catacombs (apparently visited by 50,000 people every year) and the sewers.. I have not visited either of these attractions; the catacombs were closed when I went there and I just cannot see the appeal of wading through the Paris sewers!

Another underground attraction that has authentic smells is the Yorvik Center in York, UK. I was in York this summer and I took my son to the Jorvik Center, in which you ride in little cars 'back in time' and through a reconstructed Viking village, complete with the sounds and smells that you would have experienced 1,000 years ago.

London has an interesting underground tourist attraction, Winston Churchill's wartime bunker, which was used as a secure base during WWII and is set up exactly as it was during that time. There are various special exhibits and events happening this year and next, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of its opening, in 1939.

Caves are big attractions. I visited Luray Caverns in Virginia last year, which are absolutely spectacular and well worth the trip (and the admission fee) On my list of places to go is Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, which contain some of the largest and deepest caves anywhere.

This blog also mentioned the excavations under St. Peter's Basilica a while back.

You may also feel claustrophobic if you have traveled in coach recently. Smaller planes and various fees for checked bags means more cramped conditions and less overhead bin space. Apparently, one of the biggest problems at the moment is passengers fighting (sometimes literally) to put their bags in the overhead bin. The problem is so bad that Congress is thinking of stepping in and having a standard size limit and making sure it is actually enforced. The proposed size would be 22 x 18 x 10 inches. I always manage to get a space for my carry on bag, even if it is nowhere near the seat I am actually sitting in. What do other people think; has anyone had a bad experience with this?

Guest entry by Mancunian

Posted by James Trotta at October 23, 2009 5:15 PM