Rebecca's Bistro- Walnut Creek Ohio

So, we left our house very early on a recent July morning and headed up to Walnut Creek Ohio.

We got a good, early start, and made it to Rebecca's Bistro in time for lunch!  There are a LOT of great places to eat here, but Rebecca's is our favorite.

For a touristy area like this, their prices are very reasonable and they have great food.  I personally love their Cuban sandwich.  I can safely say that the Cuban sandwich at Rebecca's is one of my all time favorite sandwiches.

They also have a great peach tea drink that I always have to get.  I get one to go for my way out too!

We had a wonderful waitress named Wilma who was perfect.  She was sweet, friendly, efficient and made sure we were taken care of too.


 We had a GREAT chocolate cake dessert too, which Wilma suggested whipped cream on.  She also said it was delicious hot or cold.  Well, my wife wanted her's cold and I wanted mine hot.....  So Wilma cut it in half and served it both cold and hot!  Take that standard old chain restaurants!

Rebecca's Bistro is right by Der Dutchman in Walnut Creek, and it is a very short walk from the Carlisle Inn.

Berlin Ohio

When visiting the Amish area of Ohio, we have found that Berlin has a great street walking/shopping area.  Lots to see in a very close area.

We spent a few hours here on our recent trip.

After we parked by the huge antique mall, we went by a very nice young Amish lady selling baskets and aprons!  We wanted to get a nice apron for a friend.  She had some colorful ones and we found exactly what we wanted.  We had to pick up a basket made and signed by a young Amish person too.  Those are big in this area.

I'm guessing the young lady's brother was nearby.  He looked to be maybe 5ish.  He had some state name key chains that the lady was making for sale.

I asked him if he had Kentucky and he looked at me kind of confused.  So, I took a Kentucky keychain, gave him a few dollars and thanked him.  He again looked at me oddly.  As I walked off, my wife reminded me that many of the Amish speak Dutch in their homes, and they don't learn English until they get to school.  I was literally speaking to the young man in a foreign language.

We walked on.  There is a great shop here that sells ice cream and they have various bottled sodas.  I noticed that they had our Kentucky favorite, Ale-8 among others!

ANOTHER great shop I like here is Catalpa Trading Company.  In some ways, it is a very standard novelty shop.  BUT, they have a focus on magic.  I walked in here the first time a few years ago, and the owner/magician did a few tricks and told some jokes.  The man is hysterical.  Well, I found out that they have now opened a theater attached to the shop and he does do actual half hour magic shows!

Recent Trip to Ohio Amish Country

Oh man....  we finally got back to the Sugarcreek area of Ohio......  which is populated by a lot of people, including the Amish.  We love this area....  and, my wife and her family lived in this neck of the woods for some time.

This is about a 5 hour drive for us.....  but, if ya get up and out the door at a nice early time, you can be there in time for lunch at one of the nice restaurants.

As we planned this little trip, we realized this is a trip we generally do at least once a year, but we hadn't been able to make it as much as we would like recently.  This has become our "bumped trip".  You know, something comes up, so you put that trip on the backburner for a while.  A family emergency comes up, you decided you need to make another trip asap, etc.....

Well, this is one of those trips we will have to make sure we make more often.  I NEED some Sugarcreek in my life.

There are some great places to eat, stay, shop, and just hang around here.

Perryville Under Fire by Stuart W. Sanders

To go along with our recent visit to the Perryville Battlefield, I read Stuart W. Sanders' "Perryville Under Fire:  The Aftermath of Kentucky's Largest Civil War Battle".

This is a nice little book to go along with any visit.  Its a very quick read and gives many first hand stories about how the community dealt with all of the casualties and destruction.

In fact, MANY other nearby communities were affected, as sick and injured took over churches, educational, and other buildings.  Farmers were affected as soldiers took whatever they needed for food, to feed their horses, and to build fires.

Of course, after any major battle the question of how to deal with the remains of fallen soldiers becomes a major issue too.

Perryville Battlefield, KY

We took a drive through Perryville again the other day.  This is a great place to visit anytime, but, if you are trying to isolate.....  you can drive around the battlefield....  and stop to read signs, and probably not see anyone else out.  I walked through downtown too and barely saw another person.

There is a great museum though at the battlefield, and they show a movie there explaining what happened here in October of 1862.

Owensboro Kentucky March 2020

You know I love my old stompin ground of Owensboro!  here is a brief video I made driving around town and remembering!

San Antonio River Walk Boat Tour 2017

 And here is another video I posted on youtube....  This is our complete half an hour boatride through the famous River Walk.

Battle of Mill Springs KY 7 2020

 Hey!  Here is a driving tour video I posted to youtube showing most of the stops on the Mill Springs driving tour, and I also filmed some of the museum on site!  This is another incredible Civil War site in Kentucky that doesn't get the attention it deserves!

Muldraugh's Hill, Kentucky Postcard

This old, undated postcard says on the back

"A lovely view of the famous Muldraugh's Hill, right in the heart of the scenes of Abraham Lincoln's Childhood."

Lincoln Cabin, Springfield Kentucky

I believe this unused, undated postcard is from the early 60s.

HOME OF CAPT. ABRAHAM LINCOLN GRANDFATHER OF THE PRESIDENT
LINCOLN HOMESTEAD STATE PAR
SPRINGFIELD, KENTUCKY

The Lincoln cabin stands on the spot where grandfather Abraham built his cabin in 1782.  Here, Thomas Lincoln, father of President Lincoln, was reared and lived here until he was 25 years old  The cabin contains several pieces of furniture made by Thomas Lincoln.

1880 Train, Hill City South Dakota 2012

Here is another South Dakota Video, this one is from our 2012 visit as we ride on the 1880 steam train!

Postcard: Gravestone of Thomas Lincoln Jr.

I THINK this undated postcard is from the 60s.  It notes on the back

GRAVESTONE OF THOMAS LINCOLN, JR. ABRAHAM'S ONLY BROTHER

Thomas Lincoln Jr., was born and died at Knob Creek Ky.  His grave is in the Redmond Family Cemetery 3/4 mile from the Lincoln Cabin.

Postcard: Knob Creek- Lincoln's Boyhood Home Hodgenville

I believe this old postcard is from the early 60s.  It notes on the back-

SEVEN ACRE FIELD AT LINCOLN'S BOYHOOD HOME, KNOB CREEK, KENTUCKY

While in the White House Abraham Lincoln told Sr. Jesse Rodman of planting this field with corn and pumpkin seeds and seeing them washed away by the creek.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park, Hodgenville Kentucky

 AND another Lincoln related video, this one is from the great Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park in Hodgenville Kentucky!

The Lincoln Museum Hodgenville, Kentucky

 AND...  here is another Lincoln related video.......  Check out the VERY underrated Lincoln Museum in Hodgenville Kentucky!

Sinking Springs at Lincoln's Birthplace, Kentucky

"Abraham Lincoln was born on the Sinking Spring Farm, Hardin County, Kentucky- February 12, 1809.

Lincoln Homestead State Park, Springfield KY Postcards

The bottom postcard says-

The Lincoln Cabin stands on the spot where grandfather Abraham built his cabin in 1782.  Here, Thomas Lincoln, father of President Lincoln, was reared and lived here until he was 25 years old.  The cabin contains several pieces of furniture made by Thomas Lincoln.

Lincolns Boyhood Home- Knob Creek and Drive through Hodgenville Kentucky

 Here is a video I made of Abe Lincoln's boyhood home and Hodgeville!

Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood Home Knob Creek Hodgenville, KY

The top postcard was sent in 1963.  It notes-

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) lived on this 228 acre farm 1811-1816.  A younger brother was born here.  This area is 7 miles north of Hodgenville on US Highway 31-E."

Vibe Coffee Hodgenville KY

I wanted to mentioned Vibe Coffee in Hodgenville really quick.  They have a great E-Town location too, AND this great spot on the square in Hodgeville.  Both locations are super cozy, and its a great independent shot.  Some of their drinks are a bit pricey by any standard (a large brewed, with tax, topped out at over $5) but I still like what they are doing.  Their shops are nice, clean and friendly.  They make good coffee too!

Hodgenville Kentucky and the Lincoln Museum

I FINALLY found the time to stop by the Lincoln Museum in Hodgenville Kentucky!

This is a lot nicer than I expected.  I thought it might be just a couple of rooms, but it kind of goes on and on.

They are big on life size dioramas telling Honest Abe's story here.  They give you a small pamphlet telling about the scenes when you buy your tickets.

Lets be honest though....  I THINK most of us know the Lincoln story.  Kentucky, some other state, Illinois....  Mary Todd, Douglas, Ford's Theater....

BUT.......  MAN I WISH I HAD TAKEN A FIELD TRIP HERE AS A KID!  This would have been a great place to visit when I just started learning about POTUS 16!

AND, even if you know all about Abe, there are some great art pieces inspired by the man from Hodgenville.

Also, as a collector of Lincolniana, I LOVED seeing the collectibles inspired by the man on display.  Rare dolls and obscure promotional items are in cases.  You know there are lots of coins.

Of course they have some nice Civil War items displayed too.

So, this is ABSOLUTELY a great place for a Lincoln scholar to take their kid.

PLUS, its only $5 each for adults, so its super cheap to get in!

I loved their gift shop too, its probably one of the most well stocked shops in the area.

The museum is right on the circle in Hodgeville too, RIGHT by the statues.  We found Vibe coffee, AND a homemade candy shop nearby!

San Antonio Bus Tour 2017

 Here is a video from our trip to San Antonio a couple of years ago.  This is mostly from a hop on hop off bus tour.

Gettysburg 2017

 Here is a video I put together and put on youtube from our visit to Gettysburg PA back in 2017!!!!

Navajo Land

I am probably going to put this postcard in a nice display. I love the colors on it.

On the back it says, "On the largest Indian reservation located in Northern Arizona and New Mexico live over 40,000 self-supporting Navajo Indians. This Nomadic tribe are at home wherever night overtakes them."