AC

Thousands of visitors are lured to central Kentucky each year by their interest in exploring the longest cave known in the world, Mammoth Cave. But as they make their way from I-65, passing the kitschy attractions of Dinosaur World and old-time diners, visitors arrive at the park to find much more than a cave. In addition to the rich history of a cave discovered 4,000 years ago by Native Americans, visitors find a wooded area of 85 miles of hiking trails, two rivers that provide 31 miles to canoe and fish and both modernized and back-country camping facilities. "The majority of the people go for the cave itself and don't realize there is so much to do there," says Yancy Moore of Louisville, who says he makes his way to the park once or twice a year. And while Moore says he is fascinated by the history of the cave, he is lured to the park because of the camping. While many Kentuckians find the Red River Gorge area a popular vacation spot, Moore says going to Mammoth Cave to camp in...