Looking for fun, festive outdoor activities to enjoy with the family in your post-turkey haze? If you live in Alabama, you're in luck: Rickwood Caverns State Park has transformed into an immersive winter wonderland known as “Wonderland Under Warrior” for the eighth year, and will remain so until January 5. It's an underground hit with Alabamans ... 175 feet underground, to be precise.
Rickwood Caverns' signature cave system contains 260-million-year-old formations that were created by water and reveal evidence that the cave was carved from an ocean bed. This antediluvian vision comes alive with a series of holiday-themed rooms, such as dancing lights, glacier ice caverns, winter wonderland and elf villages. The cavern features characters in each room ... and, aboveground, Santa Claus himself will be available for photos (in the park's Nature Center) until December 23.
The “Wonderland” experience begins long before visitors enter the cave system, as the park’s outdoor holiday lights guide guests to the cave entrance. Once inside, the self-guided tour goes for about a half mile into the cave system before returning. Visitors are encouraged to wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes suitable for hiking.
Some guests prefer to arrive just before twilight, which means the park’s outdoor light displays are in full splendor when they leave the cave.
“It’s so rewarding to know ‘Wonderland Under Warrior’ has become a holiday tradition, not just for our park but also for many families,” Rickwood Caverns State Park Manager Bridgette Bennett said. “We’ve worked hard to make it bigger and better every year, and we believe that’s a major reason we see many people coming back year after year. If you’ve never been to ‘Wonderland,’ it’s an amazing experience, and we invite you to check it out this year.”
A complete schedule can be found on the park’s website. Reservations are highly recommended, and visitors are encouraged to make them online at https://reserve.alapark.com/rickwood-caverns/tours.
