Houses Decorated for Halloween 2021 in Kentucky!

 I posted this short video to youtube of some nicely decorated Halloween house around Kentucky!

Sky Lift Jenny Wiley State Park, Prestonsburg, KY

Sky Lift from Dewey Lake Beach travels 4700 feet to top of Sugar Camp Mountain, offering a breathtaking 60 mile view of mist-hung peaks and valleys of Kentucky mountains.  Ferris Wheel (billed as world's highest) located at top of mountain.  Beautiful Dewey Lake in background.

This old postcard is undated.

Natural Bridge State Park, Slade KY

The top postcard is postmarked 1962, and I believe the other one is from about the same period.

The bottom one notes-

The park is named for Natural Bridge, an arched rock formation, formed millions of years ago by crumbling from temperature changes, wedge work of ice and vegetation, and water erosion.  The arched opening is 78 feet in length and 65 feet high.  Here in the Red River Valley area of Cumberland National Forest is one of Kentucky's most scenic parks.

Natural Bridge Skylift in Slade Kentucky August 2021

 Here is a video I put on youtube of us riding the Natural Bridge Skylift!

"Discover Salem: Your Guide to the Witch City" by Ron Martin

                                               I just picked up "Discover Salem:  Your Guide to the Witch City" by Ron Martin.  This book is readily available on Amazon for a little over $10.  If you have any interest in Salem at all, this is the book to get.  I totally wish that this book would have been available before our first trip to town many years ago.

AND....  this is a simple, fun to read, honest travel guide.  In fact, I would love to see more travel guides written in this style.

"Discover Salem" is separated into chapters about what you will want/need to do while you are in town.  There are separate entries on shopping, getting around, the witch trials, ghosts, Nathaniel Hawthorne, places to stay, etc.  In each section, Ron discusses all of the current options (though, he notes, businesses come and go in Salem constantly), and he tells you what he thinks about each one.

He's careful about his recommendations too.  He knows that some people may be on a tight budget- so he notes the hidden places to find cheap eats, and he also openly discusses some of the more economic hotels- some might pass on them, but they might be perfect for the traveler watching their pennies.

Ron is not a local, but he is an established expert tourist on the town- he makes his pilgrimage yearly in October.  October is a very busy month for the Witch City, as MANY visit at this festive time.  The author devotes an entire section to surviving during that crowded and chaotic month.

Ron talks a lot about his favorites (tours, souvenir shops, restaurants, hotels, witch shops, etc) but he knows that the perfect time in Salem for one reader, might not be the perfect time in town for another.  He makes suggestions for the history lover, those interested in ghosts, witches, or seeing filming locations.  He knows that what I want to see while in Salem will likely be a bit different from what another might want to experience.  

Oh, he also lets you know all that neighboring Danvers has to offer as it has major ties to the events of 1692 too.  Sadly, Danvers is often neglected by tourists (and travel books), but it packs just as much of a witch trials/historic wallop as Salem!

I really enjoyed this book and plan to keep it around for reference before my next trip.  It gets my highest possible recommendation!

Kentucky Capitol Building Frankfort August 2021

 In August, we had a great tour of the Kentucky State Capitol Building in Frankfort!

Frankfort Cemetery Kentucky August 2021

 Here is a video I posted to youtube on the very historic cemetery in Frankfort Kentucky!

Mount Sterling Kentucky July 2021

 In July of this year, we drove through Mount Sterling Kentucky!

Lancaster Kentucky July 2021

 In July of this year, we drove through Lancaster Kentucky!  Here is the video I posted to youtube!

Gallipolis Ohio July 2021

 We also explored Gallipolis Ohio on our recent road trip....  This is a great little town that is forever linked to Point Pleasant West Virginia and the Silver Bridge dissaster.

Coffee at the Lofts, Portsmouth Ohio July 2021

 While driving near the Ohio River, we found an PERFECT coffee shop in Portsmouth Ohio!  Check out Coffee at the Lofts.

Lowe Hotel Point Pleasant West Virginia July 2021

 We recently spent some time in the old, historic, and haunted Lowe Hotel in Point Pleasant West Virginia.  We had a very nice time!

Point Pleasant West Virginia at night July 2021

 I have posted a LOT about Point Pleasnat West Virginia and the Mothman....   Well, recently we spent a night in town, and I made a short video of their downtown area at night.