Kentucky

Two years ago, the federal government of Canada designated National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a public holiday. This is not a holiday in the US. So I decided to visit a doctor in Louisville and take the opportunity to have a quick tour of Kentucky.

Oct 1, 2023
Mammoth Cave National Park - Daniel Boone National Forest

I booked the 9:45 am Historic Tour and stayed in Cave City the previous night. The two-hour tour is actually a loop. Interesting sections include Fat Man's Misery and several "pits." It stops several times, and the guide would explain the history of the cave and answer questions.

After the tour, I had the famous fried catfish at Miss Betty's in Park City, then headed for Natural Arch Scenic Area. It's a tranquil area, but the view is magnificent. My next stop, Cumberland Falls, is entirely different. When I arrived there in the mid-afternoon, many people were present, including many with kids. I would have thought people would go in the evenings as Oct 1 is actually a moonbow day. The waterfall is impressive, but there is a lot of mist around the falls that may affect the photos.

The last stop of my Kentucky loop was the birthplace of KFC in Corbin. The original recipe tasted "interesting" and the museum is a good place to learn the history of KFC, including when KFC expanded to different countries. Gas prices are about 10% cheaper in Corbin, so it's a good idea to fill up on gas here.

Since I arrived in Louisville late, I tried the "Petite Hot Brown" at the Brown Hotel (served after 9 pm). The portion is still significant though.

Natural Arch Scenic Area

Oct 2, 2023
Louisville

After seeing my doctor, I had a quick walking tour of downtown Louisville. There are actually only limited access points to the Louisville Riverwalk. One of them is through N Fourth St - it's also where the famous Belle of Louisville Riverboats is docked. Museum-wise, the most eye-catching one is the "world's largest bat" (37 meters tall) outside the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.

Before heading to the airport, I checked out the Little Loomhouse in southwestern Louisville. There are three buildings, and the Esta Cabin is a Centennial House and is where the "Happy Birthday" song was first sung in 1898. Bus 4 from downtown passes E Kenwood Dr, and from there is a 10-minute walk to the Little Loomhouse.

Birthplace of the "Happy Birthday to You" Song

Overview

The short weekend trip to Kentucky was fulfilling. The Mammoth Cave National Park is probably the only must-see if you have limited time. Most people I met were nice and willing to help. The only disappointment was that I had trouble connecting to the internet after seeing the Little Loomhouse and couldn't book a Lyft/Uber. I tried to ask several people for a ride, but all rejected, citing different reasons. I only do this in an emergency and usually find nice people to help me back home in British Columbia and even in Thailand. Luckily, my flight was also delayed, so I didn't miss it.