If you are looking to visit some exceptional places while you are staying in Tucson, do not miss out on a tour to the Kartchner Caverns, which is considered to be one of the most unique state parks in the world.

Located about 50 miles south of the city of Tucson, close to Benson in Arizona, the natural park is famous for its splendid limestone cave formations. Although the caverns were discovered accidentally in the 1970s, it was kept a secret and was accessed mainly by anthropologists and researchers. However, it was opened to public only in 1999. Even since, it has been regarded as one of the top ten tourist destinations in the United States.

Tourists can undertake cave tours that are scheduled every half an hour. These tours are ½ mile long and are guided by a tour ranger. Inside the caves, you can experience a different world, where darkness prevails and the echo of the dripping water resonating on the limestone walls - all these create a strange atmosphere. You can also see a number of native animals, especially deer in the park. There is also a special center for bats.

There is a huge discovery center that features unique collection of exhibits, limestone and other mineral displays as well as interactive activities, a gift shop and a resource center. You will also come across a picnic area, a vending ground an amphitheater, hiking trails, a camping ground and a hummingbird garden. The Kartchner Caverns State Park is open daily from 7:30 am until 6:00 pm and is closed only on Christmas Day.

As a state park of Arizona, Kartchner Caverns State Park is renowned for a show cave with 2.4 miles of passages. Seated west of the north-flowing San Pedro River and south of the town of Benson, Kartchner Caverns State Park has become a premiere tourist destination in the area. Bet it also tops your agenda, right? This article would be your one-stop source for the park's tickets info.

Before getting down to business, you might need to know a little bit more about the park. Kartchner Caverns State Park is home to the most massive column in Arizona, the most extensive formation of brushite moonmilk in the world, the world's longest soda straw stalactites and a wide variety of unique formations such as helictites, shields, totems, stalactites, rimstone dams and more! This extremely well preserved cave was discovered by two amateur spelunkers who kept the secret cave for fourteen years. Thus Kartchner Caverns were not known to public until 1974.This fascinating underground landscape is definitely a must-see attraction in Southeastern Arizona. Find more coveting facts about Kartchner Caverns State Park from its official site:

Kartchner Caverns State Park

http://www.pr.state.az.us/parks/KACA/index.html

When it comes to visiting Kartchner Caverns State Park, there are two major attractions available to the public currently: the Throne Room and the Big Room. Ready for a once-in-a-life discovery tour to explore this fascinating underground landscape? Let's hit the road.

Rotunda/ Throne Tour

Rotunda/ Throne Tour is available form now through October 9, 2011. It will get closed from October 10 through December 14, 2011.The tickets prices for Rotunda/ Throne Tour are as follows:

Adults (14+): $22.95

Youth (7-13): $12.95

Children (under 7): Free

Rotunda/ Throne Tour has been open to public since 1999. It will take you approximately 1.5 hours to complete the tour. The total length of this tour is about half a mile. During this tour, you'll get the opportunity to witness a 58-foot high column named Kubla Khan, 45,000-year-old bat guano, the discoverers' original trail and one of the world's longest soda straw stalactites. Sounds fascinating? Reserve your tickets online at:

Online Reservations

http://azstateparks.itinio.com/kartchnercaverns/tours/

You can reserve a maximum of 20 tickets for Rotunda/ Throne Tour online. To reserve tickets for larger groups, please contact Kartchner Caverns at (520) 586-2283.

Big Room Tour

Big Room Tour is not available now and it will remain closed from April 16 through October 14, 2011. The tour will reopen from October 15, 2011. Children under 7 years old are not allowed to Big Room Tour. Prices for adults and youth are:

Adults (14+): $22.95

Youth (7-13): $12.95

Children (under 7): N/A

Big Room Tour has been there since 2003. It will take you around an hour and 45 minutes to complete the tour. The total length of this tour is approximately 0.5 mile. A variety of strange and colorful formations can be discovered through this tour. Plus you can learn from ongoing studies in the cave, living and ancient cave fauna and many other wonders there.

Big Room Tour can be reserved only when the tour re-opens. Online reservation is limited to 17 visitors for Big Room tours. For more questions, please contact Kartchner Caverns at (520) 586-2283.

Both Tours on the Same Day

For those who want to buy tickets for both tours on the same day, you should leave a minimum of a two-hour window between tour start times. Want to take a longer break? Why not take a picnic lunch or enjoy a pleasant lunch at Bat Cave Cafe?

Better to know:

1) Both tours are suggested to get booked as early as possible to ensure availability. And try to arrive an hour earlier on tour day.

2) Kartchner Caverns won't mail tickets to you. So you need to pick up your tickets on tour day. Do remember to bring your reservation receipt to the park!

3) Tickets sold onsite are on a first-come, first-served basis. They will get sold out quickly. Don't take the risk. Advanced reservations are highly recommended.

4) If there are less than 4 people for an tour, chances are the tour will be rescheduled for next available time.

For more info on Kartchner Caverns tours and tickets info, please visit:

Kartchner Caverns Tours

http://www.pr.state.az.us/parks/KACA/tour_info.html

The Kartchner Caverns State Park in Arizona is quite different from the other Arizona State Parks. It has a stunning limestone cave featuring a wide variety of unique formations and minerals. Calcite formations continue to grow in this cave including stalactites dripping down from above and stalagmites coming up from the ground. The park also has the Discovery Center featuring museum exhibits, regional displays, theater, a gift shop, educational information about the surrounding landscape and the caverns.

The other state parks in Arizona so not have such kinds of cave formations as the Kartchner Caverns State Park. These parks have picturesque scenery with varied wildlife and various recreational opportunities like fishing, hiking, boating, picnicking, etc. Though the Kartchner Caverns State Park has campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails and eateries too, the presence of the beautiful caves makes it different from the other Arizona State Parks.

As the Kartchner Cavern State Park is more famous than the other Arizona State Parks, there are a number of hotels located near it.

To have great hotel deals Tucson AZ near the Kartchner Caverns State Park, you can visit the following websites:

http://realtravel.com/dh-3050-benson_hotels-x-dstnc_5,258315

http://www.ohwy.com/az/k/kcreseks.htm

To know more about the Arizona State Parks you can visit:

http://azstateparks.com/Parks/KACA/

http://www.pr.state.az.us/