Summer Road Trip 2005: NY, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky

Fall Back Friday- Summer 2005 ROAD TRIP
 NY-OHIO-INDIANA-KENTUCKY

Way back in 2005 we did a family road trip. We started in NY..did a little zag through Ohio...took a few days in the state of Indiana and headed south for some Kentucky grasslands before heading back North to home. It was a great time and so much fun.

The kids were young (Ben was not able to go with us) so I knew we would need to break up the long trip as we went, and I had a few ideal stops along the way.  Early in the morning we headed out of Syracuse, NY (We lived there at the time) and made our way South West. Our 1st stop, several hours in, was Letchworth State Park (most recent visit was last summer.)

 We walked the several trails along the three waterfalls, caught a few fun pictures, stretched our legs, enjoyed this amazingly beautiful park and headed off towards our second and overnight stop outside Cleveland Ohio.

It was about a 6 hour drive from Syracuse to Cleveland and we had big plans for our next day in a place called Port Clinton OH. We stayed at a hotel and finding hotels with a pool became a trip must. The kids would spend hours in the late afternoon enjoying the hotel pools.

Our day 2 was super early at The Animal Safari in Port Clinton NY. Mark and I have found arriving anywhere early has benefited us significantly. In the case of The drive through Animal Safari, being  first meant these animals were up and hungry. The park has a drive through safari as well as several additional animal exhibits. We paid for our tickets (with a discount, check out the website before you go as there always seems to be coupons.) and headed onward, feed in hand (which I think they gave us), windows down and ready for some animal fun.


The deer were the first encounter....and they came after the van like starving vultures. I remember thinking if we were not careful Mark might hit one. I simply love the expression on Gavin's face as this deer eats right out of his hands. These guys had no fear and they seemed like they were chasing us as we slowly moved along. At one point I had to shove a head out of the car as he was all the way in. It is certainly exciting.

 There were a few animals, like this Ostrich gated. I can only imagine that their long necks and strong beaks could do some damage if they wanted to.

 This beast, I am not sure if he is a yack. or a musk ox. was all the way in the center of the open enclosure and made his way to the van for a snack himself. He really seemed liked he couldn't be bothered but he slowly made his way to the van drool and all.




There were other animals that we could feed along the way, as well as these cute guys. The Zebras and the Giraffe. The Zebras and Giraffe were right up next to the van as well. We pretty much had access to most of the animals in this park.

Once we had completed the drive through the fun did not stop. The kids all took a ride on a camel.

 Then they rode the ponies. Nick (the oldest at 12) was really not to interested in the pony rides, but he went along to make his mom happy.

Nick was much more at home swinging on monkey bars, Gavin tried too.

 When the kids were this age, any park was a great opportunity for some fun and this little play area located in the Animal Safari did not disappoint.

After the safari we made our way towards Indiana. As we headed south we went near another area I later found to be an area of interest. Sandusky OH. This is the home of Cedar Point theme park. (A place we visited several years later).

From Ohio, we headed into Indiana. This is the state I was born in; Marion Indiana to be more specific, but I spent the first 4 years of my life in Muncie Indiana. We were not headed to either of these cities but instead we headed to South Bend Indiana. Both my Grandmothers lived there, but before visiting family we made a stop at The University of Notre Dame. I don't think the kids enjoyed this side trip all that much, but we did a little university exploration, stopped in the bookstore and admired the college grounds.

We spent day 3 visiting with my Great Grandmother Butter and my Grandma Gwen.(Paternal) Grandma Butter (Mrs. Butterworth) was an amazing woman was who I spent several summers with when I was little. To this day, I recall the way her house smelled. I  loved her toasted cheese sandwiches, eating Capt. Crunch Peanutbutter balls for breakfast and her Wendy special Banana BUT bread, Banana Nut bread without the nuts.  Hours and hours were spent with this woman playing with her vintage Barbies. (I'm not sure why I don't have any pictures of while we were visiting)

My Grandmother Gwen, whom I was named after,  is the Grandmother that reminds me of the vintage red scooter, Eskimo pies, her dog Taffy who bite me, Christmas Holidays with family and hours of fun in the basement playing with vintage toys.
Sadly, they have both passed since the 2005 trip but I am so grateful that my youngest was able to meet them before their deaths.

Day 4 was also spent in Indiana. This time we were headed towards Indianapolis. My Grandfather Jim (Maternal) and his wife Sondra lived just outside of the capitol city. We made a side trip to Anderson Indiana where we all got a chance to stretch our legs at Hoosier Park race course. You had to know we would stop at some race tracks while we were traveling with my husband.

 Look at how thrilled these kids look at the idea of this stop.....

 There were no races that day, so the place was pretty empty. Mark took Nick and went along to check out some of the broadcast races while, Gavin, Alexis and I went on an adventure to find something a little more fun...was that a playground I spotted out there?

 Well yes it was.....I prepped my little guy  and encouraged Alexis for some playground fun and we headed that way.

Yes, there was a small plastic gate across the slide, but there was certainly nothing else indicating that this playground was closed. Shortly after having a few moments on the equipment; Nick, my husband and a security guard were all standing there with a not so amused looked on their faces. Oops. BUSTED!!!!
Needless to say, we left that play place and that racecourse and quick!

We left and made our way to Indianapolis where we found a hotel where we stayed for the night.

Day 5 was Alexis's Birthday as well as a day spent with my Grandfather and in the city of Indianapolis. We went to my Grandfathers house and he was our tour guide as we headed to the Indianapolis Children's Museum. Both Nick, Alexis and I had been there before, but have always had the best time. I highly recommend this if you have children.

 This place is pretty much everything fun a kid could want.

Alexis had fun doing everything, as she generally does.....

 Nick's favorite had to be the water play exhibit

 but Gavin possibly enjoyed the Dinosaurs the most.

This museum can take up most of your day so plan for several hours. After the museum, we stopped at the home of the Indianapolis 500.

 This really isn't a tourist place. There wasn't any races going on while we were there, we really just wanted to say we had been. We did walk around the area, got a view of the track and visited the store. It was cool.

 By now, afternoon was behind us and we had to get to where we were headed in rush hour traffic. We did make it and had a wonderful Birthday dinner for Alexis at an area buffet with my Grandfather and Sondra. Happy 10th Birthday Alexis. How fun was it to have clowns and any meal you wanted for this special day.

After dinner my Grandfather visited with us at the hotel where the kids showed off their swimming skills.

It was on this trip that my Husband informed me of his concerns for my Grandfathers memory. I had not noticed, but he did. Unfortunately over the next few years my Grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He continued to teach at Ball State University for several years even after this visit. I believe this disease was what killed him. He hated not being able to use his mind. He was an amazing man who would do anything for his family. He helped me pay for Graduate school and when I went to his funeral several years later, so many co-workers and former students spoke so highly of him. My mother spent many years before his death with him on vacation. They both were real trip takers..they went to several National Parks, (My Grandfather was once a Ranger at Yellowstone) flew a motor less airplane, did an overnight boating trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. and I spent several winter vacations as a kid skiing down black diamonds  in Colorado with this man. He definitely was a man who lived life to the fullest.



Day 6 was in Kentucky. Our first stop was Church Hill Downs. Home of the Kentucky Derby.

 This stop was actually pretty neat. There was not just the track but there is also a museum.

 The Kentucky Derby museum offered an opportunity for us to learn all about the history of racing, the establishment of Church hill downs and also had interactive exhibits for the kids to enjoy.  Below Nick rides the simulated jockey. We all gave this a try. It measures how your ride would be in comparison to how the real jockey's ride. I am pretty sure my horse would have come in last.

 After the museum we headed to the track where we had a lite lunch and the kids and I colored in the official Church hill downs coloring book with Church hill Charlie (The cartoon horse) and Mark did a little betting.

Up- next we drove to this nostalgic and quirky area known as Cave City Kentucky, we stayed in the area for a few days. I can only assume its named Cave City because of all the caves in the area, but besides caves we found a ton of interesting and fun things to do in the area.




We stopped at this odd little store surrounded by old tourist like attractions.

 I got the kids to do several pictures aside stone animals.

 We also headed to this odd road side attraction called Big Mike's. This crazy place with strange attractions offered an opportunity to enter the Mystery House; which was really a psychedelic adventure including a black light, some neon hippie posters and a slanted room. We did have fun despite how corny it was.

 We also got to meet Big Mo, Above is a statue of him. The Mo referred to as in Big Mo is really the 5 foot jawline of a fossilized Mosasaurs. (?) A dinosaur like creature that lived in the seas.

Day 7 we made a trip to the most popular tourist attraction in the area, Mammoth Cave National Park.



 
When we were there I didn't realize just how much there was to explore in the park. We simply got our tour tickets and went down in the caves. (I didn't get any pictures as my camera did not seem to cooperate while in the cave system.) I did a little history lesson on the park....
 The Cave itself has a long history well before the west was expanded by Europeans, Native Americans frequented the caves mining for the several minerals the caves provided, but somewhere between 1798-1800's a man named John Houchin's was said to have been bear hunting when he came upon the caves first entrance. At that time, the caves ownership changed several hands and settlers began to use the caves resources. Primarily this was in the form of Nitrates. Nitrates equals gunpowder. Over 70 slaves were used to dig out and produce the mixtures to make gun powder all of this right before the war of 1812.
After the war, a giant earthquake damaged equipment used in the nitrate mining, and the war over, this natural resource was no longer as in demand. The mining of the caves abandoned,  and in 1813, the caves became an interest to the public and offered exploration up until about 1828. In the 1830's the grand area within the caves housed "the Church" as sermons were held. apparently this made for great optics. The church proved less sustaining as the demand for cave tours. Between 1842-1843 the caves were used to aide in the cure of Tuberculous. Tours would continued along side these make shift hospitals. Unfortunately the caves proved to create more lung damage and 5 patients died while residing in the caves. There is a rock within the cave named Corpse Rock where these patients were laid upon.
With the lack of medical success the cave resorted to tours. These tours were not like we see today but instead took several hours 1 tour was 6 hours long while another was 14. Each guest was required to carry their own oil lamp while slaves would provide the tour and carry meals.
By the mid-1800's the cave attacked several tens of thousands of visitors prompting the Mammoth Cave Rail Road. By 1912, the caves began consideration of becoming a National Park and the railroad took a back seat to the use of automobiles. The railway ceased completely in 1931.
Although Mammoth Cave may be the more well known and had been consistent in profitable tours by the 1920's other area cave owners wanted in as well. These times were often called the cave wars, where other owners would attempt to deter Mammoth Cave visitors and convince them to view their tours though miss- information and lies. Although there were other caves Mammoth continued to provide the tours.
On May 22nd, 1936, the cave and it's outlining property officially became a National Park.

Pretty interesting hun?

After the cave we headed to  Guntown Mountain.

 Just as you might expect this theme park type of entertainment took place in the time of the Cowboys. We rode up the mountain in a ski lift and proceeded to explore this old west town.

 We watched a gun fight and enjoyed the can can dancers in the saloon before we headed back down the mountain to end the day with some swimming back at the hotel.

It was neat, I'm not sure I would do this adventure again, but the kids seemed to enjoy it. 

I purchased some postcards that I thought were pretty cool while we were in Cave City. 

This was what the area might have looked like when the Caves were becoming a popular area to visit.

Day 7 ended with some fun in the hotel pool.

On Day 8, Mark had plans for us. This trip would have never even been on my radar or even of consideration. Mark had us signed up for an appointment. (Yes that is what it is) at Lands End Farm for horses. The premises for the visit and the free tour that was included was for the possibility of buying/breeding a race horse.

This was actually a really neat experience. The horse stalls were clean enough to eat off the floor, everything was very elegant. We were given a tour of the farm and offered information on the breeding. This was all new to me. I simply assumed that they allowed these prize horses to select their own mates out in the fields. That is not the case. These male prize horses skip the enjoyment piece of making ponies.  (I'll leave it at that.) Mark was in his glory he was able to see the grave of one of his favorite horses and we got to pet one of the prize racing horses.
Later we stopped at the Kentucky Horse park, but didn't go in. (Maybe next time).

Instead we decided to head back home. NY was several hours north east. We stayed in a hotel on our way home somewhere in Ohio and had some fun at a local mall in this plastic zoo.

This was certainly an incredibly fun road trip with the family. I can't wait to go on my own next trip anywhere...this COVID pandemic has got me ready to get up and go.
Thanks for looking. until next time TTFN!