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We
stayed in a campground in Elizabethtown, KY because it was centrally located
between Louisville and Mammoth Cave.
We drove into Louisville and
toured the Louisville Slugger Wood Baseball Bat Factory. Not being able to
take photos inside, I did take this picture of the world's largest bat. We
did see all the steps, from the blank pieces of wood to branding the final
bat with the player's autograph. This company produces most of the major
league bats. |
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We
couldn't leave Louisville without taking a look at the famous Churchill
Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Thoroughbred racing is very big here but
the horse farms are located in Lexington. |
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Mammoth Cave is a National Park and one worth seeing. It is located near
Bowling Green, KY. Usually we tour the main caves, but this time we did
something different. The cave was lit by the lanterns we carried. You get an
entirely new prospective of caves. |
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We
have all heard of Kentucky Bourbon, so we decided to tour one. Heaven Hill
Distilleries are located east of Elizabethtown in Nelson County, known as
the "Bourbon Capital of the World." They have a beautiful visitors center
telling the story of bourbon. We toured the building holding the oak kegs
that age the product for at least 3 years. |
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Also
in the area is this historic mansion that is said to be the inspiration for
Stephen Foster's, "My Old Kentucky Home." Federal Hill is located in
Bardstown in My Old Kentucky Home State Park. |
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Taking a historical driving tour we stopped in Hodgenville to visit
Lincoln's Museum. This was a wax museum depicting the many stages of
Lincoln's life. This
scene depicts Lincoln writing the first draft of the Gettysburg Address.
By the way, Abraham Lincoln
was born here in Hodgenville, KY.
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Also
in Hodgenville is this National Historic Monument located on the spot where
he was born. The exterior was designed similar to Lincoln Monument in
Washington D.C. but inside is the symbolic log cabin he was born in. |
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This
is the site of Lincoln's boyhood home at Knob Creek. He refers to this as
the place where he spent his youth. |
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Lexington was the second destination in Kentucky.
We were awestruck by the huge and
very beautiful thoroughbred farms. This one has its own race track. The bus
tour we took gave us a closer look. Sorry, but I don't remember the name but
big Kentucky Derby Parties are given here each May. |
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This
is typical of the countryside around Lexington. Beautiful green, rolling
hills dotted with black or white fences surrounding beautiful horses. |
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One
of the stops on our bus tour included this retirement home for race horses.
Margie is feeding Seabiscuit's racing stand-in from the recent movie. This
farm takes in horses instead of letting them go to the slaughter house.
People then have the opportunity to adopt a horse, but the farm takes care
of them and protects them from any future harm. |
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Another stop took us to Keeneland Race Track. You can see that it was
raining but that didn't keep us from looking around. This track was also
used in the movie, Seabiscuit. |
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While at Keeneland, we were able to watch the annual thoroughbred auction.
Horse buyers and trainers from all over the world attend to buy potential
winners. Millions of dollars are spent here every year. This beauty went for
only a couple of thousand dollars. |
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Horses are not the only industry in Lexington. They still grow tobacco.
The drying barn is in the background. There are not many of these fields
left.
After visiting Kentucky, we
headed to West Virginia. |