Hi, I am Jim, I love Kentucky, and traveling in and around Kentucky! I also love the entire country, and all of the beautiful and strange places here and there! This blog covers the overlooked, forgotten, and underrated places, people, and moments in history in America, with a focus on Kentucky! It will cover great tourists stops, books about people and history, and include photos and postcard scans.
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Mammoth Cave National Park Drive January 2021
We took a nice drive around the Mammoth Cave National Park area back in January 2021.
Monday, March 29, 2021
Mammoth Cave Guide Cemetery and Hike January 2021
Here is a short video I put on youtube of us visiting the Mammoth Cave National Park again, and taking a short hike to the Old Guide Cemetery.
Saturday, March 27, 2021
Horse Cave Kentucky January 2021
We've been on a Mammoth Cave area kick again for awhile. Here is a short youtube video I put up driving through the Horse Cave Kentucky area...... near Mammoth Cave.
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Old School Coffee- Lexington KY
We stopped by Old School Coffee in Dudley Square here in Lexington recently! This was my first time going by this great place, and man is it nice!
They have a great cozy seating area, and the staff was super friendly. My wife asked about a specific drink.... they made one for her and told her if she didn't like it they would make her something different! That was not necessary though, as the drinks were great!
AND, it is in the Dudley Square building (which is an actual, old school building!)! Have you been there? Check it out next time you are in town. I included some photos of other parts of Dudley Square!
Monday, March 22, 2021
Bardstown Kentucky August 2020
Here is a short video I put on youtube about one of my favorite cities, Bardstown!
Saturday, March 20, 2021
Battle of Richmond Kentucky January 2021
Check out the video I posted on youtube recently covering the Battle of Richmond Kentucky! I used a very well written issue of the old magazine "Blue and Gray" as a reference.
The tour is a lot of fun, and its near one of my all time favorite towns- Berea!
So, grab some Purdy's coffee, and stop at Papaleno's for lunch as you enjoy seeing some hidden historic sites!
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Brownsville Kentucky January 2021
Here is a short video of us driving through Brownsville Kentucky while in the Mammoth Cave area.
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Campbellsville, KY January 2021
Check out this short video of our visit to Campbellsville Kentucky I put on youtube!
Friday, March 12, 2021
Christus Gardens, Gatlinburg, Tenn.
I found this older postcard showing Christus Gardens in Gatlinburg. This attraction evolved a bit.... and was finally closed recently.....
The back says, "This is one of the main attractions of Gatlinburg and is located on River Road. It is open the year around and depicts scenes from the life of Christ shown in great diorama using life size figures in authentic costumes and background settings. Dramatic lighting and appropriate narration at each scene (accompanied by background music) gives one the feeling of actually living through this time in the life of Christ."
The back says, "This is one of the main attractions of Gatlinburg and is located on River Road. It is open the year around and depicts scenes from the life of Christ shown in great diorama using life size figures in authentic costumes and background settings. Dramatic lighting and appropriate narration at each scene (accompanied by background music) gives one the feeling of actually living through this time in the life of Christ."
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Minnesota Curiosities by Russ Ringsack and Denise Remick
After FINALLY making it to the great state of Minnesota to see THIS GUY, I thought it might be fun to read up a bit more on the state- see what else is up there that I need to see on my next visit.
Well, I found an old volume of "Minnesota Curiosities" and read it!
These are, in my opinion, some of the better travel guides out there, and they have been updated (in fact, I just checked and I read a fairly outdated version of the book from 2003.... but thats OK).
I took notes, and I realized that there is a TON more to see in Minnesota than I expected!
There are some cool connections to the movies, "Dances with Wolves" and "National Lampoon's Vacation Movie". There are a lot of massive statues, mostly relating to Paul Bunyan. There is a section of Minnesota you have to go through Canada to get to. AND, there is a legit contender for the World's Largest Ball of Twine.
You can tell the authors care about the state and really sell ya on it. This is a great book to keep around for future ideas, and its a great book to read straight through just to learn about the "Curiosities" Minnesota has to offer!
Monday, March 8, 2021
"Nashville Haunted Handbook" by Jeff Morris, Donna Marsh, and Garett Merk
I wanted to give a quick endorsement to the "Nashville Haunted Handbook." I was glad to see co-author Jeff Morris on this one. That guy takes hauntings seriously. Here is a link from when we went on his and his brother's Miamitown Ghost tour a while back.
I wanted to read a good ghost book before going to Nashville, and this one was perfect. The "Haunted Handbook" series always delivers. There are usually 100 or more entries, and you get directions, the history of a site, the main ghost stories, and information on visiting. They are thorough, but quick reads. AND they are great reference books to keep on your travel shelf.
There was a good amount of info on Civil War and country music related hauntings.
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Beaver Dam and Hartford Kentucky December 2020
AND.... here is a quick video I put on youtube of Hartford and Beaver Dam Kentucky!
Thursday, March 4, 2021
Ark Encounter in Williamstown Kentucky May 2017
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Hardinsburg Kentucky January 2021
Hardinsburg is a great little town that has really grown on me! I mentioned it here back in 2019. Well, here is a short video I put on youtube of us driving through it recently!