Friendscation and Mammoth Cave National Park

Today began our trek back home. After enjoying one last golf cart ride and exploration of some playgrounds we loaded up the van to begin our drive.  We decided to stop in Lincoln City, IN to see the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. This was another stamp earned for our passport books. The Visitor Center was closed but we called and a ranger met us at the door with the stamp! This site is the resting place to Nancy Hanks Lincoln, President Lincoln’s mother and his boyhood cabin. Nancy Hanks Lincoln died at the age of 35 from Milk Sickness (when the cow eats the White Snake-root plant and it gets passed into their milk and a persons consumes the milk). The outline of the cabin is there along with a living historical farm. Unfortunately due to COVID the historical farm was closed to go into the buildings but we could see it from a distance. We also saw some sheep and bulls.  We then continued on our way back to Chris and Aribi’s house to help break up the drive. After enjoying one last

This morning we started out back at Mammoth Cave National Park. Yesterday we did below ground of Mammoth Cave, and today, we decided to do above ground. We began on the same path we did yesterday and stopped at the historical entrance of the cave of Mammoth Cave. Because it was before tours started there were no rangers, tours or people around.  We were able to walk down the stairs to the main entrance and then back up. Teddy seemed satisfied with seeing just that much of the cave today because it was cold. Note to self: if going on cave tours in future, bring a sweatshirt! Our next destination began at the cave entrance. I had read that the River Styx Spring was beautiful and an easy trail for all skill levels. As we made our way to the spring, Thom pointed out that it was easy because the entire way was downhill....this made me a little concerned about our return.  I was under the impression that we could go down to the spring, but it was actually an overlook over the spring.  From t

Once the boys woke from their naps we decided to go on a golf cart ride to explore the campgrounds.  Rocky loved riding on the golf cart! He kept looking back and laughing.  We made our way to the Ranger Station to get some ice and check out the gift shop. Once back at the cabin we made some dinner before checking out the splash pad. When we arrived at the splash pad there were a few families there, but when we walked in everyone left so we had the whole splash pad to ourselves! The boys loved all the different fountains.  Teddy does not like water in is face or eyes so I was surprised to see that he was actually going under the different fountains. Rocky was all about trying to catch the water and splash.  We stayed for about 30 minutes before going back to the cabin to change. The plan was to check out the jumping pillows, but it was closed by the time we got there so instead we went on a playground tour throughout the grounds.  We'd find a playground and play for 10ish minut

This morning we went to Mammoth Cave National Park! The boys woke up at their typical time so after feeding them breakfast and getting them dressed we were on our way by 8:00.  The Visitor Center doesn't open until 9:00, but when we arrived we saw that the line for cave tours had already formed.  Due to COVID they are only offering one tour, the Extended Historical Self-Guided Tour, with limited spots.  When I tried to book tickets earlier this week they were all sold out except for Tuesday at 3:00.  We were lucky to be able to get tickets. As of right now, the next available reservation tickets is Thursday. We decided to still get in line for tickets because we might get lucky and get tickets for today (so we could go into the cave twice if we wanted).  While Thom waited in line the boys and I found the main path and started to explore.  We made it all the way to the cave entrance and saw where many of the trails that we want to go on begin. Thom was able to get us t