The weather doesn’t always cooperate for people when they are enjoying their holidays. It may be cold and rainy or it may just be too hot. One of the best ways to escape the problems that Mother Nature throws out is to head underground for an adventure.

Grutas de Mira de Aire, Portugal

This stunning natural wonder is located about an hour outside of Lisbon. It is a great place for the family to visit and there are plenty of things for children to do. Prepare to be inspired by these underground caves that are filled with waterfalls, stalactites, and a stunning underground lake. There is also a petting zoo to wander through after your journey underground.

 

Underwater Zoo, Dubai

You can count on a trip to Dubai to provide you with an incredible array of wonderful activities that the whole family will love. The Dubai Underwater Zoo is just one of the many spectacular things that you will see at the in The Dubai Mall in Dubai, United Emirates. The zoo has many different species of animals and you can visit the three ecological zones of a Rainforest, a Rocky Shore, and a Living Ocean. In these three exhibitions you will find fascinating creatures like Otters, Penguins, and Giant Spider Crabs. There is even a 5 metre long saltwater crocodile that is the largest crocodile that is held in captivity anywhere in the world.

 

Snowdonia National Park, Wales

This fascinating park is the ideal place to head if you are looking to explore underground. There is a vast network of caves and mines that you can explore underground including Sygun Copper Mine, Llechwedd Slate Caverns, and the exciting King Arthur’s Labyrinth.

Tunnels of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

This fascinating underground journey in Saskatchewan, Canada is rich with history and entertaining stories. Chinese immigrants who came to Canada to build the railway originally built this network of tunnels. The immigrants lived in hiding for years and in the 1920’s the tunnels were used by Al Capone during Prohibition to run his vast empire of gambling, prostitution, and warehousing illegal booze. There is even a tunnel that gains access to a CP Rail yard that is safe from prying eyes.

 

Domus Aurea Tour, Rome

The Domus Aurea was once the home of Emperor Nero and this fascinating site is still undergoing restoration. You can wander through the restored sites and see fascinating multimedia presentations that depict what the palace and grounds once looked like. This site is not open to the general public and you can only join a guided tour to view this historic gem. If you’re planning a holiday to Rome, it’s worth planning in some day trips to explore the other beautiful areas of Italy.

 

 

Cenotes in Mexico

There are nearly 7,000 cenotes located on the Yucatan Peninsula on the east coast of Mexico. These fascinating underground lakes and rivers were created over many years by the natural eroding of limestone. There are several cenotes that are well maintained with easy access stairs that lead to a stunning sight of a cave dripping with stalactite and a delightful freshwater lake that is ideal for swimming in on the hot days that this area is known for. Cave divers from all over the world come to explore these fascinating underground treasures. It is advised that even the strongest of swimmers wear lifejackets or air tanks when exploring the underground rivers as it is easy to become disoriented underground and not be able to tell the difference between the top and the bottom.