NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS AND WILDLIFE RANCH

If you’ve ever wanted to explore the belly of the earth in a safe and easy way Natural Bridge Caverns (26495 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd., 210/651-6101, www.naturalbridgecaverns.com, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. in summer, closes at 4 p.m. the rest of the year, $15–25) has the experience all figured out. They offer three tours that vary depending on your interest and lack of claustrophobia. The most popular is the North Cavern Tour, which is a 75-minute excursion that takes you underground for a half-mile exploration of massive caverns. The second is the Jaremy Room Tour, which is a short and sweet trip to a 120-foot deep chamber—perfect for the whole family. Finally there’s the Adventure Tour, where the brave are outfitted with caving gear, lowered into the entry room by rope, then proceed on a mile-long journey. All the caves are awe inspiring, from the stalagmites, to the stalactites, to the constant temperature of 70°.

Next door to Natural Bridge Caverns is Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch (26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd., 830/438-7400, www.wildliferanch.com, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, $14 for adults, $6.50 for 11 and under). Kids love to take the drive through this Texas-style African safari and see giraffes, rhinos, zebras, and many other exotic animals.