Day 7: (click here to see Day 7 pictures) It was supposed to be a super easy d
ay other than getting up at 5:15 in the morning to catch an 8:00 am flight and home by 11:30 am. Budget Rental even let us use valet parking to return the car since it was so early -- smooth until we walked to the counter and they informed us our flight had been cancelled. They thought they had called everyone -- but not us. Oh well, we made the best of it and the kids were great. We finally departed Lexington around 1:25 pm with a 2-hour layover in Atlanta before Tom picked us up in Little Rock aroun 6:45 p.m. Needless to say, Reagan & Anderson were pooped and headed straight to bed after supper.
ay other than getting up at 5:15 in the morning to catch an 8:00 am flight and home by 11:30 am. Budget Rental even let us use valet parking to return the car since it was so early -- smooth until we walked to the counter and they informed us our flight had been cancelled. They thought they had called everyone -- but not us. Oh well, we made the best of it and the kids were great. We finally departed Lexington around 1:25 pm with a 2-hour layover in Atlanta before Tom picked us up in Little Rock aroun 6:45 p.m. Needless to say, Reagan & Anderson were pooped and headed straight to bed after supper.Day 6: (click here to see Day 6 pictures) We slept in til almost 8:00 before s
tirring and heading downstairs for breakfast. Our first stop this morning was the Louisville Zoo where are favorites were the polar bear and gorilla exhibits. We drive about 40 miles to Frankfurt, Kentucky for a picture stop at the State Capitol and Governor's Mansion. Next, we made a choclate stop at Rebecca-Ruth Candies Factory before driving on to Lexington. We stopped by the Kentucky Horse Park and walked around the visitor center. Next we drove through downtown Lexington for to see Rupp Arena and the University of Kentucky before stopping for a late lunch at Joe Bologna's Pizzeria, uniquely housed in a former church with 41 stained glass windows. Our final stop was at Thoroughbred Park where we took pictures with the horses before checking into our hotel. We did a little laundy, swam and called it a night.
tirring and heading downstairs for breakfast. Our first stop this morning was the Louisville Zoo where are favorites were the polar bear and gorilla exhibits. We drive about 40 miles to Frankfurt, Kentucky for a picture stop at the State Capitol and Governor's Mansion. Next, we made a choclate stop at Rebecca-Ruth Candies Factory before driving on to Lexington. We stopped by the Kentucky Horse Park and walked around the visitor center. Next we drove through downtown Lexington for to see Rupp Arena and the University of Kentucky before stopping for a late lunch at Joe Bologna's Pizzeria, uniquely housed in a former church with 41 stained glass windows. Our final stop was at Thoroughbred Park where we took pictures with the horses before checking into our hotel. We did a little laundy, swam and called it a night.Day 5: (click here to see Day 5 pictures) We had waffles for breakfast before 
driving about 35 miles to Hodgenville, Kentucky to visit the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site where we saw a 19th century cabin enshrined inside the Memorial Building. Next, we drove about 10 miles further to view Lincoln's boyhood home at Knob Creek. We made a quick stop in New Haven at the Creamery Shop for milkshakes before driving onto Louisville where we visited the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchhill Downs where we toured the track and saw the paddocks. We then made our way to the Louisville Slugger Museum where we toured the factory and each received a souvenir bat. We had dinner at the Bluegrass Brewing Company and then dessert at Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Shop. We checked into our hotel and then took a quick swim where Reagan keeps getting braver and braver - tonight she was jumping in from the side of the pool.
driving about 35 miles to Hodgenville, Kentucky to visit the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site where we saw a 19th century cabin enshrined inside the Memorial Building. Next, we drove about 10 miles further to view Lincoln's boyhood home at Knob Creek. We made a quick stop in New Haven at the Creamery Shop for milkshakes before driving onto Louisville where we visited the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchhill Downs where we toured the track and saw the paddocks. We then made our way to the Louisville Slugger Museum where we toured the factory and each received a souvenir bat. We had dinner at the Bluegrass Brewing Company and then dessert at Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Shop. We checked into our hotel and then took a quick swim where Reagan keeps getting braver and braver - tonight she was jumping in from the side of the pool.Day 4: (click here to see Day 4 pictures) After breakfast at the hotel, we hit th
e road back to Kentucky. We drove so much today we had to let Reagan drive -- or so she thought. We literally drove through the Kentucky hills for most of the morning and early afternoon. We made a brief stop at the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Stearns, Kentucky - just quick enough to get a stamp in our National Parks passport book since they don't really open until next weekend. We made it to Mammoth Cave National Park and took the self-guided Discovery Tour through a portion of the world's largest cave. After a few more pictures at the entrance sign, we drove onto Cave City, Kentucky to check into our hotel. We did a load of laundry, rested and then headed to McDonald's for supper and then dessert to-go from Cracker Barrel. Then it was time for a quick swim before calling it a night.
e road back to Kentucky. We drove so much today we had to let Reagan drive -- or so she thought. We literally drove through the Kentucky hills for most of the morning and early afternoon. We made a brief stop at the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Stearns, Kentucky - just quick enough to get a stamp in our National Parks passport book since they don't really open until next weekend. We made it to Mammoth Cave National Park and took the self-guided Discovery Tour through a portion of the world's largest cave. After a few more pictures at the entrance sign, we drove onto Cave City, Kentucky to check into our hotel. We did a load of laundry, rested and then headed to McDonald's for supper and then dessert to-go from Cracker Barrel. Then it was time for a quick swim before calling it a night.Day 3: (click here to see Day 3 pictures) Another breakfast at the hotel bef
ore we headed out for Asheville, North Carolina. We toured the Biltmore Mansion, America's largest residence before strolling the gardens where the flowers were beginning to bloom. After a picnic lunch in the car, we stopped by Picnics Restaurant and Bake Shop for dessert, where we were greeted by owner Minnie Smith who we had just seen on Rachel Ray's $40 a Day. Tara picked out the peanut butter pie and Robby opted for chocolate pecan pie with ice cream. We took the scenic route back to Gatlinburg via the Blue Ridge Parkway and then a drive through the other side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with stops at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Newfound Gap where we stood on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. We had dinner at Fudrucker's and then came back to the hotel for a swim before calling it a night.
ore we headed out for Asheville, North Carolina. We toured the Biltmore Mansion, America's largest residence before strolling the gardens where the flowers were beginning to bloom. After a picnic lunch in the car, we stopped by Picnics Restaurant and Bake Shop for dessert, where we were greeted by owner Minnie Smith who we had just seen on Rachel Ray's $40 a Day. Tara picked out the peanut butter pie and Robby opted for chocolate pecan pie with ice cream. We took the scenic route back to Gatlinburg via the Blue Ridge Parkway and then a drive through the other side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with stops at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Newfound Gap where we stood on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. We had dinner at Fudrucker's and then came back to the hotel for a swim before calling it a night.Day 2: (click here to see Day 2 pictures) After breakfast at the hotel, we headed to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a stop at the Su
garland Visitor Center. The ranger recommended a drive to Cades Cove and then a trail to see Laurel Falls. We made the drive to the cove and enjoyed a picnic lunch at the Cades Cove Visitor Center. In the afternoon, we made the hike to the waterfalls. It was 2.6 mile trail but the first 1.4 miles were uphill - no easy task on a slightly rainy afternoon each pushing strollers but we made it. The kids took naps while we drove back into Gatlinburg for a visit to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. We walked along the strip before dinner at Legends by Max. We made a quick stop to Wal-Mart to pick up a pool toy and then came back to the hotel for a swim.
garland Visitor Center. The ranger recommended a drive to Cades Cove and then a trail to see Laurel Falls. We made the drive to the cove and enjoyed a picnic lunch at the Cades Cove Visitor Center. In the afternoon, we made the hike to the waterfalls. It was 2.6 mile trail but the first 1.4 miles were uphill - no easy task on a slightly rainy afternoon each pushing strollers but we made it. The kids took naps while we drove back into Gatlinburg for a visit to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. We walked along the strip before dinner at Legends by Max. We made a quick stop to Wal-Mart to pick up a pool toy and then came back to the hotel for a swim.Day 1: (click here to see Day 1 pictures) We flew from Little Rock to Cincinnati and then onto Lexington, Kentucky. Tubby Smith, former UK coach was on our flight. He was sup
er nice and took his picture with the family. We picked up our rental car (Hyundai Sonata) and headed down I-75. Our first stop was at the Sanders Cafe - the birthplace of Harland Sander's Kentucky Fried Chicken. Next, we made our way to Cumberland Gap National Historic Park with a view of three states (VA, KT, TN) from the overlook. We arrived in Gatlinburg and stopped for a scrumptious dinner at Applewood Restaurant before checking into our Holiday Inn Express.
er nice and took his picture with the family. We picked up our rental car (Hyundai Sonata) and headed down I-75. Our first stop was at the Sanders Cafe - the birthplace of Harland Sander's Kentucky Fried Chicken. Next, we made our way to Cumberland Gap National Historic Park with a view of three states (VA, KT, TN) from the overlook. We arrived in Gatlinburg and stopped for a scrumptious dinner at Applewood Restaurant before checking into our Holiday Inn Express.
