I'm off....yea!

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Sounds like a fun vacation so far. My parents took us there years ago. I barely remember it. Love the pictures. What a nice change of pace for a trip. Enjoy yourselves.

 

[dpuck1998]

Looks like a lot of fun. How long was the Alpine slide?

Well it was pretty long, not sure exactly. I can say it was longer and better than the one at Crystal Mountain in Traverse City. I'd guess 1/2 to 3/4 mile.

 

[dpuck1998]

I forgot this photo!

 

[SamSam]

What great photos! Your trip brings back great memories for me. My grandparents took my sis and I to Mammoth cave when we were teens (let's just say many years ago), I loved it.
Dh and I always loved doing the 'old time' photos, as did our kids.

Lovin' your reports!

 

[dpuck1998]

First stop this morning after our free breakfast was lost river cave. Trace picked it from all the brochures. I think because he wanted to sit down.

The cave was very cool and unique compared to mammoth. The blue hole was beautiful.

They were setting up for a wedding. Our guide said there was a star trek wedding the night before.

The cave was also a former night club and hideous (once) for Jessie James.

We are grabbing lunch and downtime at the mall then the boys have a special kids cave tour.

 

[dpuck1998]

We dropped the boys off for the trog tour. While waiting we took the quick self guided discovery tour. It was very good and just right for us since we have to pick up the boys shortly. The historic entrance is much different than the new entrance. You really get a feel for how big the cave is on this tour.

Lily hamm'en up on the way out.

 

[dpuck1998]

We picked up the boys from their tour and they loved it. They got to crawl around and were all dirty and muddy from the adventure.

Lily has been wanted to play mini-golf, so we hit Joes Diner/Mini Golf and had a nice greasy spoon dinner and a riveting round of mini golf in 90 degree heat. It was pretty fun, Brady got a hole in one on his first shot! I managed to soundly beat them all at mini golf, no holds barred!!

Back at the hotel to relax, tomorrow we might hit Kentucky Down Under and then we head out to Santa Claus.

 

[Alice2020]

I feel like such a trend setter! Went to Bowling Green last weekend and going to Holiday World in two weeks.

Quick suggestion- I don't find that Holiday World is a 4 day park- have you thought about taking a day to explore the resorts at French Lick? It is approximately 45 minutes away from Holiday World, but the hotels (especially the West Baden) ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how beautifully restored these gems are! Go on line and look (the photos can not do justice to the scale of the interior dome of the West Baden Hotel). Their spa is a little pricey, but nice and there are historical tours of the grounds. As an added bonus, there is a great summer read out called "So Cold the Rive" by Michael Koryta. The book is of a supernatural/thriller sort (think Stephen King) and it features French Lick prominently. I would read the book and take a day trip to the hotels.

Have a great vacation!
-Kelly

 

[Alice2020]

oh yeah- For the kids, there are stables for horse/pony rides and for the whole family there is a railroad museum that gives rides on old fashioned train rides. On certain days, the train rides are "held up" by a group of locals on horseback and it is very cheesy and very fun. (We did that for Father's day last year and my son still talks about it).

-Kelly

 

[tlcoke]

I remember going to Guntown Mtn when I was about Lily's age. I have a similar "Stick Up" picture with one of the Cast Members there. I haven't been on a tour of Mammoth Caves since the 80's.

 

[dpuck1998]

Travel day today. We are off to Santa Claus right now. We spent the morning at Kentucky down under.

Saw the cave tour here, it might have been the prettiest of the caves we saw.

Lots of fun stuff, feeding birds, petting kangaroo and milking cows

Even learned to play a new instrument

 

[tlcoke]

Travel day today. We are off to Santa Claus right now. We spent the morning at Kentucky down under.

Wave as you pass the University of Louisville (exit 133).

Even learned to play a new instrument

A didgeridoo, cool.

 

[dpuck1998]

We had a fun day, after Kentucky Down Under we drove from there to Santas Cottages just outside Santa Claus. This place is wonderful. Cute cottages on a small lake that the kids can fish and run around. Per Tracey and Kim we hit Schnitzelbank! It was fantastic!! Thanks a ton for the suggestion.

I picked this up for George!

Lily did the chicken dance while waiting for our food.

Tamra and I split a meal, well ok it was a meal for two. The German Sample Platter. Six different items and they were all wonderful, it came with 4 sides and I tossed on the salad bar which was excellent. I don't eat a lot of german food, but it was a great meal. Better than Beirgarten for sure!

After dinner we hit Santas Candy Castle and for some treats and tickets for holiday world tomorrow. Brady and Lily checked in with santa to see if they were on the good list.

Surprisingly they were both on the list.

Went back and let them run off energy at the play ground with my Sister in laws kids (she is here to "vacation" with us for 2 days). Everyone is in bed and anxious for a fun day at Holiday World tomorrow!!

 

[tlcoke]

Per Tracey and Kim we hit Schnitzelbank! It was fantastic!! Thanks a ton for the suggestion.

I am glad you liked the Schnitzelbank, I have eaten there twice at the restaurant and once they catered a banquet meal at my church. I have enjoyed every meal I have had there.

I picked this up for George!

George will need to exercise those Stein lifting muscles if he plans on carrying his new stein around DATW.

 

[exwdwcm]

looks like a great time- loving all the pics and total cheesiness! reminds me of our old family vacations growing up, crammed in the back of the station wagon with my two sisters! Love the caves too.

 

[dpuck1998]

Busy day today, not a chance to post yet. Having a blast at Holiday World. What a great park. Since the park opens at 930 we had time to fish this morning.

Got in the park nice and early.

Hit the raven first, a few smaller rides, singing with Santa and then the voyage. The best wooden coaster I have ever been on.

Going on some kiddie rides now and then the legend.

 

[chaoscent]

Great lloking family, great pictures. Looks like you are having a fun time.
Penny

 

[dpuck1998]

Great looking family, great pictures. Looks like you are having a fun time.
Penny

Thanks!

After hitting all the coasters and several smaller rides we hit the water park. This was much more crowded that the park itself and the newest ride, the Wildebeast, has an hour and forty five minute wait. We didn't wait to ride it. We spent some time in the wave pool and a few other rides then headed out.

Didn't take many photos today, too busy having fun I guess. After the park we drove about 20 mins south to a Mexican restaurant that was recommended by the owner of Santas Candy Castle. It was excellent. The staff barely spoke english, always a good sign! Came back and did a little fishing on the pond. All the kids caught as many fish as they wanted then went to play. We got a fire going, the kids all played freeze tag or something, made smores and hung by the fire till bed time.

Tomorrow back to holiday world, the water park first I think then the rest of the day in the park.

 

[dpuck1998]

Checking in quickly, had a great time yesterday at the park. Again didn't take a lot of photos, we spent the entire day at the park including dinner. Hit some Ice Cream and just played at the cottage. Today we are just chill'en then going to see a dinner show about Lincoln.

 

[BriarRosie]

It looks like everyone's having a great time. Have fun at the Hoop De Lincoln show.