We Be Trippin': The Great DIS-nee Road Trip

[Suz D]

We took this shot in the hallway at French Lick Springs. Any Stephen King fans out there? Redrum, Redrum.

 

[Suz D]

Be sure to take time in the morning to sit on the porch. Great idea to visit the spa.

 

[Suz D]

One of the many beautiful ceilings at the Springs Hotel

And for those of you who were wondering how the name French Lick came to be:

HISTORY OF FRENCH LICK SPRINGS

The area called French Lick, Indiana, site of the French Lick Springs Resort and one of the earliest outposts in the middle – Western wilderness, was first settled more than 200 years ago by French traders.

After the discovery of rich mineral springs, which attracted animals that flocked to lick the waters and wet rocks, this valley became known among the settlers as “The Lick”.

 

[Suz D]

If anyone is having a little tummy trouble from the long journey, Pluto Water (no disrespect to one of our favorite dogs), a best selling laxative of the first half of the 20th century, was bottled here.


The springs then:

and now:

 

[Suz D]

Get a good nights sleep because tomorrow morning we'll be going on a train ride and a boat ride. Then up to Bloomington for a few sights, dinner, and then you'll be on your way.

I know you all understand that I need to be brief, but everyone has set the bar really high! Night, Night!

 

[Circusgirl]

Thanks, Suz I have ALWAYS wondered about French Lick and what it meant! Sleep tight, everybody!

 

[Marshay]

BAM!! I just surpassed 1,500 posts! ("O Tag Fairy! Wherefore art thou?") Surely that kind of hallmark is deserving of some "love," right?!?

Oh, and congrats, Marshay, on your DD's progress on the potty-training front!

Day 2 -- 1 accident and 3 potties. We are making progress! I just knew you wanted to know!

Thanks Marshay. I am glad you enjoyed the tour and hope that you will get to Louisiana one day and visit Avery Island when you do. I found it very interesting and beautiful there.

There's nothng like sweet tea, is there? McDonalds now carries Sweet Tea, do they have it up your way??? You could get yourself a glass there!

Great you have mastered the Mint Tea, your Mom, I'm sure, is proud and happy that you did that after her own recipe!

Yes, actually McD's is the first sweet tea I had in years. I wasn't going to mention it b/c I thought you'd say, "now that's not real sweet tea!"

Does anybody want to go to the spa with me for a mani-pedi once we've checked in?

Oooooh! I'm there!

Me, three!! I'm also going to throw in a massage, body wrap, facial and anything else!

And for those of you who were wondering how the name French Lick came to be:

Ah ha! Now it makes sense!!

Oh, I'm staying in the domed resort -- that just looks way too cool!

 

[Suz D]

Good morning everyone! Rise and Shine! Be sure to have breakfast at the buffet at French Lick Springs. The food is delish and it's one of the best breakfast values around. We're treating so don't worry about the $9.95 adult & $4.95 kids 12 and under price tag.

Grab a quick swim or hit the spa

This morning we are going to take a ride on the train

Jeff, Katie, Balloon Guy and Ethan waiting for the train to depart.

 

[Suz D]

On select days we have...

 

[Suz D]

I've packed a nice picnic lunch for us to enjoy in the park after the train ride. Then we'll make our way up towards Bloomington and make a stop at

 

[Suz D]

As you glide silently over the quiet waters of Myst'ry River in
a custom boat tour, the natural wonders of this subterranean world pass before your eyes.

See rare blind fish and crayfish living in a world of perpetual darkness... where they developed eons ago and thrive yet today.

On-board electric lighting suggests the adventure of early explorations as passages carved by endlessly-flowing waters are revealed. Your imagination will be stirred by the power and majesty which remained, for so long, unknown to man. Many thousands of years ago the White River, today flowing only a short walk from the entrances to Bluespring Caverns, had cut its way deeply into the soluble limestone that now envelope the cave. The rapid deepening of the river left surface streams flowing high above on the flat plain. Surface water found its way into small cracks or joints in the limestone rock and slowly dissolved it, forming cave passages enroute to the river.

Time passed and the passages enlarged to become a complex system of underground streams in high, vaulted passages. Eventually, these underground streams found their way down to a level near that of the White River, then flowing in a steep-walled canyon.

Then came in cold and ice. Glaciers from the north slowly pushed down into Indiana, carrying soil and rock before them. As these great masses of ice began melting, the accumulated debris was carried to the surface streams. The deep canyon of the White River and the great caverns nearby were filled with these glacial sediments to depths of over fifty feet.

In the warmer climate after the glaciers retreated, streams in the caves and the White River itself began again the neverending effort to reach the level of the sea. Bluespring Caverns gradually enlarged as the free-flowing streams cut their way into or around the glacial debris. In the early 1940's, a large pond on the George Colglazier farm disappeared overnight in a heavy rain to reveal the entrance which is used today. This new access to the cave opened the way for young explorers to discover and perhaps understand the great forces of water and ice whose works were preserved in the slowly-changing world below. These evidences of the works of nature can yet be seen by the observant visitor. Our knowledgeable guides will help you experience the past in the present.

The Hospitality Center is open from 9am to 5pm Eastern Time each day. Cavern temperature is 52 degrees, a light jacket is recommended.

 

[Suz D]

Tonight we'll be staying in the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park.

History of the Inn
Abe Martin has become a favorite son of Brown County and of the State Park. The Abe Martin Lodge commemorates his connection with the county.

For twenty-five years, from 1905-1930, "Abe Martin" was the mouthpiece for Kin Hubbard's daily quips in The Indianapolis News, which, accompanied by sketches of Abe and his friends in action, were syndicated across the nation. Born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, then settled in Indianapolis, Hubbard started the Abe Martin character in 1904. At first Abe Martin belonged to no particular locality, but on February 3, 1905, he announced, "I'm goin' ter move ter Brown County Tewmorrow," and the next day he was depicted in a wagon piled high with household goods.

His comment was, "By cracky, it's sum travelin' ter git ter Brown County." The reason for the move lay in the fact that the steep hills and the general "picturesque-ness" of that area lent themselves to humorous exaggeration and provided the material Hubbard liked for his pictorial backgrounds.

Gradually many of Abe's neighbors came into being, to appear in the pictures and text. The cottages of the Abe Martin Lodge in the Park bear the names of these characters.

Much of Hubbard's humor is as timely now as it was during its heyday, from 1905 to 1930. Will Rogers called Kin Hubbard "America's greatest humorist."

Hubbard's cartoons played a significant part in drawing the attention of artists and tourists to Brown County. They, in turn, have made the area world famous. In dedication to his memory, the Department of Natural Resources built Abe Martin Lodge in 1932 on Kin Hubbard Ridge, naming the cottages after his principle characters.

 

[Marshay]

On select days we have...

Hey, your kids look like they are having fun!

As you glide silently over the quiet waters of Myst'ry River in
a custom boat tour, the natural wonders of this subterranean world pass before your eyes.

See rare blind fish and crayfish living in a world of perpetual darkness... where they developed eons ago and thrive yet today.

On-board electric lighting suggests the adventure of early explorations as passages carved by endlessly-flowing waters are revealed. Your imagination will be stirred by the power and majesty which remained, for so long, unknown to man. Many thousands of years ago the White River, today flowing only a short walk from the entrances to Bluespring Caverns, had cut its way deeply into the soluble limestone that now envelope the cave. The rapid deepening of the river left surface streams flowing high above on the flat plain. Surface water found its way into small cracks or joints in the limestone rock and slowly dissolved it, forming cave passages enroute to the river.

Oh, now this part looks like fun! I've been in caves before, but never boated in one!

"By cracky, it's sum travelin' ter git ter the Road Trip."

Edited.

 

[catotigger]

Wow Suz! I know how out-of-this-world busy you've been, but thanks so much for posting all this!

It's a perfect amount to give us the picture of the area, and it sure makes me want to visit some time!

I sure would enjoy going on the underground cruise!

 

[Disneymommom]

We took this shot in the hallway at French Lick Springs. Any Stephen King fans out there? Redrum, Redrum.

OMG I was just talking about that Redrum, Redrum tonight, the place looks gorgeous. I'm in to stay there!!!

 

[Disneymommom]

If anyone is having a little tummy trouble from the long journey, Pluto Water (no disrespect to one of our favorite dogs), a best selling laxative of the first half of the 20th century, was bottled here.


The springs then:

and now:

That is a riot, LMAO, a big fancy place to go get a laxative,

 

[Disneymommom]

Day 2 -- 1 accident and 3 potties. We are making progress! I just knew you wanted to know!



Yes, actually McD's is the first sweet tea I had in years. I wasn't going to mention it b/c I thought you'd say, "now that's not real sweet tea!"





Me, three!! I'm also going to throw in a massage, body wrap, facial and anything else!



Ah ha! Now it makes sense!!

Oh, I'm staying in the domed resort -- that just looks way too cool!

Oh Marshay, that is great, DD is surely making progress, before you know it she'll be day time trained!!!!! Keep going, it will happen!!!!

Nah I think that McD's sweet tea is good sweet tea also!

 

[Disneymommom]

Great job so far Suz D! I can't believe there is so much to see in Indiana, I never realized it. You certainly have peaked my interest enough to know I want to visit there one day!!!!

thanks!

 

[Suz D]

I'm sending your schedule for tomorrow now so that you will know where to go and what to do. I won't be able to be online much at all as we're really getting down to crunch time on moving. I'm so glad you've enjoyed Indiana. It really is a beautiful state and I just barely touched on all of the neat things there are to do.

Here's the schedule. Breakfast at the Abe Martin Lodge and the morning spent in Brown County State Park.

Beautiful views

Plenty of wildlife

For lunch we'll make a quick trip to Gnaw Bone Indiana (yep, that's really the name) and have one of their famous pork tenderloin sandwiches.

then a visit to beautiful Nashville, Indiana for some fun shopping.

I've arranged for a special concert after lunch from the world's only handbell soloist. We'll meet at the Joybell Theatre and Gift shop at 1:30. If you'd like a preview, here's the link...

http://www.joybelltheater.com/

You have to watch this. It's amazing!

Joybell Theater and Gift Shop is the only handbell theater in the world. But we don't have a handbell choir here. We have a HANDBELL SOLOIST! Kristine Stout, handbell soloist performs seven days a week during the months of April through December*. Her inspirational Christian program will put a song in your heart and a spring in your step.

We specialize in JOY!

Watch Kristine as she gracefully handles three octaves of English Handbells (37 bells) ALL BY HERSELF! Not only will she amaze you with her gifts of grace and coordination with the bells, she also writes and/or arranges all of her own music for handbell solos and digital keyboard orchestrations. You'll hear more than handbells. Kristine is a symphony of one. It's joy un-speak-a-bell!

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon on your own. Some fun snack suggestions are

We'll meet for dinner at The Season's Lodge Dining Room at 6:30

After we eat, we'll go to the Coachlight Musical Theatre

to see "The Higher the Hair, the Closer to Heaven II".

Coachlight Musical Theatre is a true "repertory" company offering six different shows throughout the year, January through December. Douglas May, former Creative Vice President for Walt Disney Entertainment is Co-Producer and Artistic Director/Writer.


Then back to Abe Martin Lodge for a good night's sleep before you all leave me here to pack and you hit the trail. I hope to catch up with you later in the journey. Thanks for stopping by on your way!

Suz D

 

[DISgeeksfromDC]

This morning we are going to take a ride on the train

Jeff, Katie, Balloon Guy and Ethan waiting for the train to depart.

Yay, "Balloon Guy"!! (How's he doing, btw?)

I bet that one of the bittersweet parts of moving is having to leave Balloon Guy and his family behind. I got the vibe that your families were quite close neighbors!

A Brief "History Lesson": For those of you who are new to the DIS-nee Resort Family, "Balloon Guy" was one of the Top 20 contenders for Disney's CMO position. He first materialized in our debut thread "Diser's for CMO!" when somebody "outed" him as a semifinalist! (It happened towards the end of the thread.)