Your family can have a memorable vacation at Cave City, Kentucky, on a more modest budget than many other high-profile attractions available today. Cave City, known as the "Gateway to Mammoth Cave" is a small town in mid-Kentucky, located halfway between Louisville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee on Interstate 65. Have a look at www.cavecity.com for more information or to sign up to receive their brochure or call 1-800-346-8908.

While Mammoth Cave is the major attraction of Cave City, there are lots of other unique and unusual attractions there as well. For instance, kids (and adults) will love Dinosaur World where you can walk amongst a collection of life-size dinosaurs displayed in a wooded habitat. Or if wax museums are your thing, try the Mammoth Cave Wax Museum. Antique shops, stores with hand-crafted items and souvenir shops are also a part of Cave City.

Gun Town Mountain, which is reached via a 5-minute chair-lift ride up the mountain features a western town complete with can can dancers, a shoot-out in the middle of the main street and a country band. For a minimal fee, you can even have someone thrown in "jail" for a few minutes!

The main attraction of the area, however, is Mammoth Cave at the Mammoth Cave National Park. For a list of cave tours, the length of time they take and the distance travelled, tour fees (which range from $4 to $45) and lots of other information and pictures, visit www.nps.gov/maca. Other area highlights can be found at www.mammothcave.com. Horseback riding and camping are also available in the park.

While enjoying Cave City, you might want to consider a stay at Wigwam Village, located at 601 N. Dixie Highway, where their motto is "Sleep in a Wigwam". Their website, where you''ll see pictures of this unique motel, is at www.wigwamvillage.com or you can call ahead to (270) 773-3381. The village features 15 rooms which are individual "wigwams" with their own bathroom and cable TV. Built in a giant circle, the kids can enjoy the big playground in the center. A picnic shelter with grills is also available. More traditional motels are there too and camping in the area is another option.

For dining, Joe''s Diner, at 1040 Mammoth Cave Road can be fun. For information call (270)773-3700 or visit www.joesdinermammothcave.com. Their menu is filled with various burgers and other sandwich choices, fries and other sides or even peanut butter and jelly. Top it all off with one of their delicious ice cream sodas, milk shakes or sundaes with up to four scoops of ice cream.

Good fun and food, learning about nature, getting some exercise and enjoying vacation time together can all be found in the Cave City, Kentucky area.