While we are all stuck at home during this lockdown, I’ve been traveling instead to the past, to my photo archives, revisiting old trips.
This week, I came across some photos from a trip a while back to Kentucky. It was early spring then, as it is now, trees were starting to get the hint of green, and fruit trees were exploding with blossoms. I drove to Mammoth Cave National Park, and stayed for a few days.
It was chilly and rainy, but that doesn’t matter when you’re plan is to head underground. Underground it’s damp anyways. Most of the caves are accessible only on a tour, with a guide, along a fairly well marked path. Some trails are harder than other, and some have lots of stairwells put in to make them more accessible. The first cave I ever went into at Mammoth Caves had an entrance that was a glass revolving door. The guide said it helped to keep the cave climate intact, not letting in too much air at once. It felt like entering any old shopping center or office building but this one sent you into cave instead.
Some of the ceilings and walls have graffiti, names drawn on with candle light or matches.
Perhaps less of an attraction are the trails above ground, but there are lots , and it’s really beautiful, especially in the early spring when everything is just starting to come alive.
On the way home, I stopped in at Four Roses to taste some bourbon and learn a bit more about how they make it. Four Roses has always been a favorite of mine, so it was fun to get to visit them. They have two locations, one where everything is made, and a second where they handle all the distribution. Sadly, I didn’t get to see it being made, as the location on my route home was focused on distribution, but it was still fun to see! I loved seeing the old buildings, and it was fun to see all the barrels lined up.
Do you have any favorite spots to visit in Kentucky?
All photographs by me, Becca Grady.