One discovery we’ve made over the years of traveling is our enjoyment for National Historic Sites. These sites offer so many opportunities for exploration, and they provide learning experiences for both us and the kids. We’re amazed by the experiences they offer, leaving us with conversations and memories long after we’ve visited them.
Balancing our work commitments while making our way to Disney, we decided to do some shorter drives, allowing us to get as much out of each state along the journey. It took us a week to reach Orlando, and throughout that week, we enjoyed historical sites and other things. Here’s a glimpse into our vacation:
- Explore Toronto!
- Why Our Travels Keep Getting Longer
- A Week Road Trip to Disney
- The Wonders of Camping and Hiking.
- Contentment
Turkey Run State Park
This gem of a State Park is not to be missed. You can tell by how difficult it is to get a campsite at any local campgrounds! Not only does this park spoil you with hiking opportunities, but they also have many covered bridges (31 to be exact) you can drive through if you dare, or walk through. Parke County, is called “Covered Bridge Capital of the World”, and it’s worth the drive around to at least see a few of the bridges. They even have their own festival in October for their Covered Bridges. We only visited 2 of the 31 bridges, we probably could have visited more if we came more prepared with maps, but it was an adventure finding them!
George Rogers Clark National Historic Site.
Revolutionary War fans will find this site both interesting and beautiful. We really didn’t know what to expect before we stopped here, but it was really great! We arrived at an impeccable time, just seconds before they took the last group of the day to the memorial building. The Memorial is impressive from the outside, but the inside was really beautiful and touching. There are a few statues around the site, and on the Walbash River. We were really impressed with what we learned here and by how nice of a facility this Historic Site was! You need to go!
The George Rogers Clark Memorial represents the triumph of American expansion and the legacy of George Rogers Clark’s crucial contributions during the Revolutionary War.
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Vincennes, Indiana
Why this random town? Well it is where you find George Rogers Clark National Historic Site. And a small hometown feeling town. We have a few hours to spare, and knew we had to spend some time working/meetings. We found I’Mpressed Coffee which was surprisingly busy and hard to find a parking spot – but worth it! While we worked the kids worked on their writing projects, and we had delicious coffee (Mocha and Chai Tea’s were ordered) and a pastry for the kids to share, which was devoured, yum!
Nashville, Tennessee
Drury Inn
Who doesn’t love a Drury Inn. They take care of you and your kids well, and you don’t have to worry about food! On this trip I prepped a few dinners that we could just warm up in the hotel microwave to help save money, but at Drury Inn they feed you well, and the kids always want seconds and thirds! If we don’t have the camper, this is always the first hotel we look for because it’s easy and usually pretty nice and we feel safe staying at. Nashville didn’t disappoint, and was actually really big and tall and pretty to look at!
Stones River National Battlefield
Battlefields always give me a weird feeling, especially Civil War fields, I think there is something within the purpose of why they are fighting I just can’t seem to understand fully and it makes me get emotional inside. There is something really harrowing about standing where battles happened, standing where someone may have died. It really makes you think about their lives fighting, their families at home, and even how different battles are now. Battlefields also always lead to unique conversations with the kids, and they always have so many thoughts and comments when we are discussing these events. It’s a really cool thing to witness as your kids grow, and their understanding grows and yet they can be so passionate about inequalities and how God intended the world to be and how we can really mess it all up.
Stones River National Battlefield represents the valor and sacrifice of soldiers during the pivotal Civil War battle fought in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It serves as a reminder of the human cost and strategic importance of the engagement in shaping the outcome of the war.
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Rock City, Lookout Mountain, Georgia
We had initially planned to visit Raccoon Mountain Caverns, but the beautiful sunny weather and all the signs for Rock City changed our minds. I had done some prior research on Rock City and had always wanted to go, so we decided to explore it instead. Let me tell you, it turned out to be the perfect choice! When we arrived, there were maybe 8 cars in their entire lot, it felt as if we had the entire place to ourselves. The experience was worth every penny we spent. The kids had an absolute blast, there was so much to see, not just the tall waterfall that’s all over the billboards. Plus, our hotel was conveniently located nearby, allowing us to burn off some extra energy before retiring for the night. It’s a place I would encourage people to go to, especially with kids, you won’t be disappointed.
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
Walt Disney
Andersonville National Historic Site
This place is WAY underrated! WOW! Our daughter was a little spooked out listening to some of the stories here, and shivered in thought that you can stand in the Andersonville prison area, where a lot of people struggled and died. The museum displays incredibly intense pictures, and there’s a video that’s not recommended for young children due to its extreme content. Andersonville Prison, also known as Camp Sumter, is an infamous Confederate prisoner of war camp that was during the Civil War. It’s very moving, and you need to prepare yourself for places like this as they are emotional.
I highly recommend taking part in the Junior Ranger Badge Program when you visit. It’s a story-driven program that takes you through the museum and grounds, as you navigate through you must decide whether to and how to escape or stay imprisoned. It truly immerses you in the park and helps you gain a deeper understanding of its significance. In fact, it may be the best badge program we’ve ever done.
Andersonville National Historic Site represents the harrowing reality and memorializes the prisoners of war who endured unimaginable conditions during the American Civil War.
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Best Western in Americus, GA
Looking at hotels in this area was easy, as soon as I saw this Best Western by Windsor, a Historic building with jaw dropping design. The room we had was huge! They had 2 restaurants in the hotel and a lot near by as it is downtown. Not a single room in this hotel is the same and all 53 rooms are period style rooms and it has an interesting history they staff will share. The restaurants within the hotel were quite good, although we felt under dressed in this hotel.
Jimmy Carter National Historic City
What makes this city truly unique is that it is the hometown of Jimmy Carter, who still resides here to this day. You can drive past his heavily secured current residence to catch a glimpse. We thoroughly enjoy parks that offer ample opportunities for strolling and sightseeing, and this particular park encompasses the entire city, making it a delightful, albeit time-consuming, experience. The visitor center, located in his former high school, allows you to explore classrooms, an Oval Office setup, and more. Additionally, you can venture into his childhood home, where we had the pleasure of meeting a woman who dedicates a day each week to quilting inside or on the porch. She graciously shared her latest project with us and eagerly discussed the property and quilting. The park also boasts a farm with friendly cats and donkeys that our kids couldn’t resist fawning over. Furthermore, there are various other buildings to explore, such as a blacksmith area, a barn, and a charming little store. To add to the experience, you can even step inside the neighboring house of a family close to the Carters. In town, a visit to the railway station treats you to a collection of presidency posters and memorabilia, as well as an old television featuring some of Carter’s speeches. As you can see, this site offers an abundance of fascinating attractions and valuable knowledge to absorb. National Historic Sites never cease to surprise us, continually reminding us of the vast amount we have yet to discover and the importance of continuous learning.
Jimmy Carter National Historic Site represents the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter, showcasing his humble beginnings, notable achievements, and dedication to public service.
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Gainsville, Florida
This was our final evening prior to reaching Orlando! Once we settled into our hotel, we decided to explore a delightful restaurant. It felt surreal to be in January without the burden of winter attire, basking in the warmth of the sun and relishing the experience of dining on a patio. It truly was a special indulgence for us. That Bar and Table exceeded our expectations, and as always, there’s an inexplicable charm to eating outdoors that enhances the flavors of your meal.
With an overwhelming amount of accommodation choices in Disney. We chose Fort Wilderness Cabins, it was the perfect solution with separate beds for everyone (bunks for the kids and a queen size bed for adults), along with the convenience of a bathroom, kitchen for meal preparation, a living room, and a table for workspace when needed. The cabin was an excellent choice for us that we would happily repeat.
Overall, this was a great trip. We took our time and really got to see some cool new places, without feeling rushed. At Disney we went to all the parks and did Magic Kingdom twice (highly recommend due to it’s size!). We had a couple days off as well to rest up (also, highly recommend). One day we watched TV, aka Bluey, all day (not even joking) and our other day off we visited some nearby friends we haven’t seen in too long. It was overall a very magical trip, and Disney is expensive but worth every penny in the memories it made for our family, it is an unforgettable vacation we will not forget!
