Seeking Authenticity in the Bluegrass Region

We finished up our time in Kentucky with a stay in northern-central Kentucky, which put us within easy reach of Louisville and Lexington, AKA horse and bourbon country. We visited a number of very different destinations, but the theme that emerged from our visit is: what’s the importance of authenticity? Lincoln Birthplace Memorial Our trip … Read more

Walking Ancient Pathways at Cumberland Gap NHP, and Foiling the Plans of a Homicidal Park Ranger

In our quest to see all things Lewis & Clark during 2018, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park was a necessary addition to our destination list because it was one of the few pathways to the west that existed when the Corps of Discovery set out. Of course “the west” was anything beyond the Appalachian Mountains, … Read more

Entering the Atomic Age at Manhattan Project NHP

Camping near Oak Ridge, Tennessee gave us the opportunity to visit one of the newest parks on the NPS menu: the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. This park is somewhat unique because it consists of three separate and far-flung sections in three different states, and also because all the locations are active sites owned by … Read more

Spanning Millennia at Two NPS Units

Our travels through Eastern Tennessee gave us the chance to visit several of the national sites that are helping guide our journey, and these locations near Chattanooga preserve and interpret records of historic periods ranging from 10,000 BC to 1865. Russell Cave National Monument Tucked away down a small county road in the very northeastern … Read more