Tennessee is chock full of caves and waterways, but there's none like the eponymous Lost Sea. Located about two and a half hours from Nashville, this is the closest place you can indulge in a glass-bottomed boat tour (!!!), the flooring open to the creatures of the deep. The really deep. Since you're underground.If you're looking for an adventure of a lifetime, this incredible, natural space should be high up on your list.
Care for an adventure?
The Lost Sea was discovered in the early twentieth century by Ben Sands, a young teenager exploring the area around his home. His discovery led to the exposition of an extensive cave system known as Craighead Caverns. What began as a simple discovery blossomed into a series of caves that stretch from Sweetwater to Madisonville, Tennessee.
Before the highly marketable idea of a, "Lost Sea Adventure," the cave was used as a dance floor, a shelter during the Red Scare, and a place for moonshiners to store their goods during prohibition. It was great natural refrigeration!
Every year, The Lost Sea hosts about 150,000 visitors. The waters are still and clear, the main caverns large enough to fit a two-story house. The glass-bottomed boat tour comes in at a little over an hour, giving you a close look at the bottom of the water. You can also take the Wild Cave Tour, but we'd highly recommend hopping on a boat.
Psst...did you know the Lost Sea is the largest underwater lake in the United States? It's also listed as one of the largest in the WORLD, so we're going to go ahead and call it a highly necessary natural wonder.
Rates will vary depending upon the size of your party and what you're looking to do once you arrive, but you can plan for roughly $19.95 per person. It's a pretty low price to pay for such a one-of-a-kind experience.
The Lost Sea is located at 140 Lost Sea Road in Sweetwater, roughly two and a half hours from Music City. Can you really afford to miss out on such a neat experience...? We're going to go with a solid NO. Have fun!
You can experience the fun for yourself below:
What a neat experience! Have you been? If you get hungry after your boat ride, you should definitely try to follow The Tennessee Milkshake Trail That’s Perfect For A Summer Day Trip
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