Apparently, We’re Going Back to Kentucky
When one of your friends tells you they need a vacation and they are currently really into the Kentucky Derby, you can’t help but start planning a trip. Which brings us to the first week of August, in which Lizzy and I return to Kentucky with Amber.
For this trip we stayed in an AirBnB in Louisville. This was Lizzy’s first time staying in an AirBnB. To explain it to her that we weren’t just staying in some random home we called it a hotel home and she got the general idea. She named it the place with the orange door as the outside doors were painted orange.
Sunday
We started our day off at Nord’s Bakery. It was recommended by our host. I got their maple bacon. Lizzy stole most of the bacon.
After church we went to our boat cruise. Now Amber and I have done a few trips at this point and I seem to always find a way for Amber to get on a boat. Well, I wasn’t stopping now that we had Lizzy on this trip. We had a Sunday Funday on the Belle of Louisville.
After getting drinks and a taco bar buffet, we explored the legendary lady that is the steamboat Belle of Louisville. This steamboat has been cruising along since 1914. We saw the engine room and even the paddlewheel in back.
We took part in a movie and television show trivia. Lizzy was able to identify K-Pop Demon Hunters song “Golden” and “Heigh-ho” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Amber and I had to figure out the rest ranging from The Great British Bake Show to Bonanza.
Afterwards we explored a bit of the riverfront and let Lizzy play at a playground until we saw dark clouds moving in.
Monday
Today we started our day at the Preston location of Sunergos Coffee. This is the site of their original shop and roastery. Lizzy got a hot chocolate and the barista asked if I wanted it kid temperature which honestly was the best thing. She absolutely enjoyed it!
After our breakfast it was off to the races! Well not really, just the Kentucky Derby Museum located at Churchill Downs. Lizzy told the receptionist that she watched the Derby this year and had been to Churchill Downs last year.
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While Amber got to explore the museum at her leisure, Lizzy did a deep dive into many Derby Day races, some going as far back as 1945. Her favorite for whatever reason was the 1985 race with winner Spend a Buck, who was not the favorite to win. Spend a Buck took first quite quickly which was typical for the horse most weren’t worried since he probably wouldn’t keep the lead, well obviously he did. Spend a Buck in 1985 had the third fast first place time until in 2001.
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Lizzy got some experience riding a “horse” in races. Even tried to see if she measured up to be a jockey. We toured Churchill Downs and saw the track (in Lizzy and my experience twice). Lizzy’s highlight was seeing the two horses that reside in the stables at the museum. For lunch, the three of us got 152nd Kentucky Derby Mint Julep glasses. Lizzy got a special mocktail.
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Then we explored a bit more before Lizzy went and bought herself a horse. The horse after some discussion was named Spend a Buck by Lizzy (the losing entry being 'Tucky Rose because Lizzy pronounces Kentucky as 'Tucky). Now at the time I was confused on who this was because I did not do a deep dive onto historic Kentucky Derby winners. Lizzy had me watch his race afterwards.
After almost six hours(!) at the museum, we left to explore Cave Hill Cemetery and Arboretum. Cave Hill Cemetery is a Victoria era cemetery. It has a few famous burials such as boxing legend Muhammad Ali, KFC Founder Colonel Harland Sanders, and Revolutionary War Hero George Rodgers Clark. We saw two of the three famous individuals but ended up calling the visit short as Lizzy was hungry and in need of a potty.
We ate at The Eagle which is famous for its Southern classic fried chicken. The chicken was excellent so was the sweet tea. The service was terrible. We got our orders taken promptly then got our entrées awhile later with missing sides and no drinks. Then we waited over an hour for our check and our server disappeared at one point.
We ended the day watching K-Pop Demon Hunters. Lizzy was very happy.
Tuesday
Lizzy and I returned to Mammoth Cave National Park with Amber. We explored the museum and the old railroad car that used to take people to visit Mammoth Cave.
The tour we did this year was the Historic Tour. This tour explores many of the historic areas that made Mammoth Cave famous. This 2-mile hike descends to some tight places deep inside the cave. Lizzy loved it because while many of the others on the tour had to duck, she didn’t. At Mammoth Dome, there is a huge tower of 155 stairs that one has to climb up to eventually get to the self-guided tour section of the cave.
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After a late lunch, we decided to do Kentucky Down Under. Last year we did this and Lizzy loved feeding the birds and didn’t like feeding the kangaroos because of the emus, this year however, it was reversed. Lizzy also enjoyed petting a horse and feeding the goats. Amber took a break while Lizzy and I did yet another cave tour this one on Kentucky Down Under property and called Mammoth Onyx Cave. We ended our time there getting some ice cream. I made the mistake of thinking I was going to share my mint chocolate chip ice cream with Lizzy, so unfortunately I got no ice cream.
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We ended the day by getting hibachi in Elizabethtown. The chef was amazing and Lizzy had an absolute blast.
Wednesday
Today we went troll (or Forest Giant) hunting in Bernheim Forest. Michael and I had done this way back in 2020. This was one part Amber really wanted to see having seen some in Iowa. Lizzy was especially excited about looking for the giant trolls.
It was easy to get Lizzy walking since we had her look for yellow giant foot prints. She would yell at us that they had to go this way. Our first troll was Little Nis who liked looking at a muddy puddle with butterflies. From there we went through the holly forest and over the extremely hot large prairie to the mommy troll, Mama Loumari. She was napping and honestly don’t blame her since she’s been pregnant since 2020 when I saw her. Lizzy did some climbing and exploring in the natural playground by her.
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After a quick stop at Issac’s Café for lunch and some more natural playground play for Lizzy, we went back out to look for Mama Loumari’s other kid, Little Elina. Elina as Lizzy said was an artist and was making a giant leaf. Lizzy and I had to walk on the rocks and explore it before saying good bye to her.
Bernheim Forest Bernheim Forest Bernheim Forest
Amber and I decided we needed a drink. Well it so happens a winery is nearby the forest, appropriately named Forest Edge Winery. They had a winery cat which we all greeted. As Amber and I tasted wines, Lizzy played in a little play area just for her. She absolutely loved it and so did I. She said she wished there was one in the wineries we go to near home. Amber and my favorite wine was Black Cherry Pomegranate.
Forest Edge Winery Forest Edge Winery Forest Edge Winery
From here we went to James B. Beam Distillery. I was excited since we only saw the barn the first time I was over this way in 2020 with Michael. I was extremely looking forward to the tour. We got a glass to keep. Lizzy liked walking around especially the waterfall that greets you. We got to look in the building of the hardest working still which is seven stories tall. We tasted a few bourbons; Lizzy liked to smell them. Her favorite part was rubbing a barrel to smell the white dog and then after some heat with rubbing hands she noticed it smelled differently like bread.
From here her favorite part and mine was selecting a bottle for Michael. One part of the experience is buying a personalized Knob Creek thing of bourbon. Lizzy picked the bottle. I cleaned the bottle. We watched the bottle fill up, get corked, get labeled, and finally get waxed. Lizzy put her finger on it. She also got her own cork with her thumbprint. At the gift shop we engraved it with “Daddy’s Bottle Love, Vicky & Lizzy.” From here we ate dinner in their restaurant on site called the Kitchen.
James B. Beam Distillery
Thursday
One of my favorite parts of when Michael and I did the Bourbon Trail was the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. I was so looking forward to showing it with Amber and Lizzy. Sadly, they were having technology problems so the best part of the experience was not available. The staff let us explore other spots not part of the tour but still not as fun as the experience I had in 2020. Lizzy really liked being able to sit at the bar and have chocolate while sipping water.
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
After Evan Williams we decided to stop by Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. Lizzy like the piano right outside the entrance and we had to play it for a while. Once inside you got to see bats made for major league players: players like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, and Alex Gordon. I got to hold Royal’s player Alex Gordon’s bat while Amber got to hold a Cardinals player’s bat. When inside the factory which has the beautiful smell of wood, we got to see a number of bats getting made or waiting to get made. Lizzy’s favorite part was definitely getting the mini bat everyone gets at the end of the tour.
Louisville Slugger Museum
We walked around downtown Louisville. Going past booty-butt man, aka the golden statue of David. Lizzy thought it was hilarious that he had no clothes on and outside, ah the mind of a three-year-old. We stopped by a candy shop; they were giving us the rules. When the said the bourbon candy was in the back that is straight to where Lizzy went to, yep, she’s Michael’s child.
A few spots later we got ice cream at the Fudgery, which their service was horrible. Amber and I honestly think the lady was upset we appeared to buy ice cream. She served Lizzy and me our ice cream than left without taking Amber’s order. There are no chairs so we ended up sitting on curb before a nice man that worked nearby told us we could sit outside this one restaurant bar.
Friday
Our last full day we decided to go to the zoo. Being somewhat of an expert zoo visitor at this point, I found this zoo disappointing. While the exhibits and habitats were great the walking around was boring. Amber and I really like red pandas and they did have one there which we were excited to see but our favorite at the first half of the day was the maned wolf which looks like a red fox and wolf but is actually neither. It was super adorable.
We stopped for a splash pad, which honestly was another highlight of the zoo and great layout too. I didn’t pack a swimsuit for Lizzy but did pack her extra clothes so she got to play in the splash pad. After some ice cream it was the next sections and the next animal was by far the three of us favorite – the polar bear. It was swimming and having a blast.
Lizzy’s main disappointment was that Uncle Bob wasn’t there to say Hi to the giraffes with her so she did it herself.
Saturday
We all were sad to be telling the Orange Door Airbnb goodbye and Kentucky. As a last breakfast treat, we went back to the coffee shop and bakery.
Once in Indiana we decided to stop at a winery called Winzerwald Winery. The wine was amazing some better than others. Lizzy’s favorite part was seeing the nutcrackers and asking the staff if she was gentle if she could move their mouths. They said yes and she did. She then later bought herself some Sprite. We each had 8 tastings of wine. My favorite was pumpkin spice though I knew I would be the only one at home to drink it. We ended up buying a few bottles.
Lizzy was excited to get home and to give Michael his presents. She absolutely loves Kentucky and really wants to go again. Hopefully we will just let’s not hope next year. The best news was Lizzy didn’t get a $1000 souvenir of a staple like back in 2025.
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