Wonderworld

Yesterday we visited Wonderworld and the factory outlet mall in San Marcos. Clearly, the latter was my fave, but Wonderworld made for much better pictures. It is the only dry underground cave in the state of Texas, formed by an earthquake, not water. It was found years ago when a settler was digging for water. It's really pretty cool (literally, as well). They also have an observation tower that an elevator takes you up to, an "anti gravity" house (basically a crooked house), and a little wild animal park where you stop to feed the deer. The kids had a great time and then we got to go shopping!! We also ran across a great local dive for lunch--awesome hamburgers on homemade buns--incredible!! We're definitely taking Brian back, he'll love it!



This is a great great great great granddaddy of the shrimp. They said it is the oldest known previous living creature not in a museum under glass. It's a privately owned cave, so they can leave it where it lie. Of course, I can't remember how old they said it was, it's just reeeaally old!

The different colors are mineral deposits (not mold or mildew). If you look closely, you can see a vein of flint weaving in and out in the middle of this picture. The flint is beautiful. Although it is black, in the cave it often appears a deep purple.

The girls sitting on the ledge of the underground well where the early owners did eventually find water. There is still water in it today, it leads to the San Antonio Aquafer, where we get all our drinking water.

Zach really is having more fun than he is letting on. He's starting to get to the age that he doesn't enjoy having his picture taken.

On the train, they stop so we can feed the deer and those deer sure know why we are there. Of course, Zach made a quick friend.

The girls are trying their hands at being true Texans in the gift store.
The kids had such a great time that I was able to bribe them with bearing through hours of shopping at the outlet malls. It ended up worth it for them in the end, since they were the only ones I bought anything for. LOL All in all, a great day!