Going to Kentucky...

After spending some time in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, we decided to drive on up towards Kentucky...with a few stops along the way, of course ;).

I could not help myself...I kept stopping to admire these quilt paintings on barns that were sprinkled everywhere.  For every one that I managed to get stopped enough to snap a picture of, there were half a dozen more that I had to be satisfied with only a picture in my mind.  So pretty...

We were able to visit and let the kids complete the Junior Ranger programs at the Obed Wild & Scenic River and also the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area.  Each park in the NPS system has their own way of doing the program, some are longer and some are shorter.  Just a FYI, plan for quite a bit of time to complete the Big South Fork one...it was looooong.  Oh, and pack a picnic lunch if you go up there...you'll be very glad that you did :).

the only photo i have from those parks.  camera glitch ate the rest of them...

Big South Fork is right up next to the Kentucky line, so we took the time while we were stopped to look at a map and decide exactly where we wanted to go next.  We saw that Mammoth Cave National Park was only a few hours away and a couple of the kids were instantly intrigued.  We put it to a vote and it was decided...we were heading to the caves... 

The mountains are calling...

The ocean is our first love, but the mountains, they run a close second.  After several months apart the pull is there, the need to go.  And so we did...

After a wonderful night's sleep in Cherokee (hehe), we headed off to spend the day in the Smoky Mountains.  But first, food...  Upon the recommendations of a good friend (thanks B.!), we drove over to Bryson City to pick up a picnic lunch to take with us.  Ya'll, seriously, The Filling Station Deli is worth going out of your way for.  Cuban sandwiches, sweet tater fries, and the biggest richest brownies evah.  Mmm...

We set Cades Cove (one of our all time favorite spots) as the destination for the day, but we didn't rush the drive over.  We took our time, enjoying the scenery and several stops along the way...

their "look, i'm in two states at one time" pose ;)

The kids had wanted to play in a mountain stream.  We found the perfect one...

the boys...always wandering farther and farther away...

When they'd had their fill of the rocks and water, we got back on the road.  We drove and drove and drove, Cades Cove is way on the other side of the mountains.  Just before we got to the cove, we came to a group of cars parked along the highway with people standing and staring into the trees.  Ya'll know in the mountains that means one thing:  wildlife sighting.  Of course we had to check it out :).  We had to park up the road a little ways and walk back...and then we saw them...

Baby bears all snuggled up in a tree!

There was a Park Ranger there, keeping everything safe, and she was happy to fill us in on the details.  What she told us was that there was a momma bear just out of our sight at the bottom of the hill.  The momma bear had her three little baby bears with her...two up in the tree and one down below that she was feeding.  The Ranger said that the momma had been feeding one baby at a time while the other two hung out in the tree, then she'd call them down and they'd swap turns. 

We stayed there for a while, hoping to see them climb down/up, but they never did.  Oh well, that's ok.  They sure were cute little things :)...

There's a campground just outside of the cove.  We've never stayed there, so we pulled in to check it out.  Wow!  It was beautiful...definitely one to come back to someday...

Ok, finally, we pulled into the cove.  There is a one-way road that loops around and takes you to quite a few old structures that have been preserved.  I recommend getting the little tour booklet at the beginning.  It's worth the small fee and it gives a great history of each stop along the drive.

This place is just super special.  When you visit, it really feels like you have taken a step back in time...

i <3 honeysuckle

We've been coming here for many years and it never fails to impress...

can you still spot the deer in this picture?...

...they could :).  My little photographers :)

By the time we got all the way around the loop (and stopped about 100 times), it was getting dark.  We made it out of the park just ahead of what looked to be a big storm that was heading our way.  Hoping to stay ahead of it (driving at night in the rain is the worst), we spotted a Sonic and pulled in to grab a quick something to go.  While the kids all hopped out to use the facilities, I stayed behind to order our food.  The kids all still had full drinks, so I just ordered one Route 44 Diet Dr. Pepper (yep, the giant soda) for me and then two corn dogs a piece for each of us.  One giant drink and a dozen corn dogs.  Annnd, I was still the only person sitting in the car when it was delivered.  Ha ha, kids.  Sooo funny ;)!  (actually, it was pretty funny...hehehe...)

The State of Franklin?

Around the year 1785, North Carolina owned part of the territory west of the Appalachians.  This land was passed around a few times before finally becoming the state we know today as Tennessee.

One of the names that was considered?  Franklin, after Ben Franklin.

The founders of Franklin petitioned Congress for the right to become the 14th state in the newly formed United States.  As you know, since we have no state by that name, they were denied.

I know very little about the very early years of our country.  That's sad.  The happy part is, through this road trippin' lifestyle, I am learning more and more right alongside my family :).

When we were in Greeneville, TN, to visit the Andrew Johnson NHS, we just happened upon the old log cabin that was used as the capitol building for Franklin.  I got really excited...until I read the sign and saw that it was a replica of what they thought the cabin would have looked like.  Oh well, it was still very interesting and it sparked a good learning opportunity for our family :).

Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, Tennessee

When we left North Carolina, we slowly continued north towards Pennsylvania...with many stops along the way :).  I'm sure most of you know that we have a real fondness for the Junior Ranger programs.  The kids (and adults!) learn so much when we do these, there is just no comparison to "living" your history by visiting these places and being able to immerse yourself in what ever it is you are learning about. 

With these thoughts in mind, I looked at a map to see what might be along our route (we had to be in PA by a certain date) that we could make a school day out of.  School?  You bet!  We absolutely count these programs as part of our school learning...we aren't the only ones, either.  On this particular day, there was a big yellow bus full of school children and their teachers learning (and smiling! it's fun to get out of the classroom!) right there with us.

Where did we stop?  The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville, Tennessee!  Never heard of it?  Well, neither had I until that day :).  I am finding as we do more and more of these programs that our favorite ones are often the ones that we knew absolutely nothing about before hand. 

We pulled into Greeneville and quickly saw how tight parking would be for a big camper like ours.  There was only a small parking lot near the historic site and a few spaces on the street.  Not happening.  (I don't know where the bus parked, the driver dropped everyone off in the street and left.)  So, we decided to find somewhere with a big parking lot to have a quick lunch and just leave the truck and 5th wheel there while we all went in my car over to the site.  ***We have done this many times when traveling through small towns that just weren't made for big rigs.  Another perk of traveling with two vehicles!***

The first place we toured was one of the Johnson's first homes.  It was a nice little brick house in the center of town that has been converted into a museum.  We learned a lot from the displays...he was Abraham Lincoln's Vice President, he became our 17th President when President Lincoln was killed, he was in office during the difficult years following the Civil War and had the task of trying to restore a divided nation.

Just across the street was the visitor center, which is also set up as a museum.  The Ranger on duty was great!  Super nice and a wealth of knowledge that he willingly shared with our kiddos :).  We watched the short film (yes, film...I like the old ones that are kinda scratchy) and then toured the building.  Or buildings, I should say!  It turns out that the visitor center was built in the 1920's around Johnson's tailor shop (from tailor to President...wow!).  The actual shop is inside the vc, perfectly preserved just as it stood in the 1800's.  I love that the park service didn't move it, but built around it instead.

Can you imagine all of the people whose footsteps have crossed that threshold?...

While at the vc, we learned that Johnson was the first President who faced an impeachment and why.  We also learned that the vote came down to just one.  One vote.  After learning the facts, we were each given a ballot to cast our own vote on the matter.  This was a powerful experience for the kids to see just how much their one vote counts. 

The kids finished up their books and after a fun conversation with the Ranger, he awarded them their badges and certificates :).

Such a good stop!  If you are traveling the US, with or without kids, I highly recommend stopping at these out of the way sites that have Junior Ranger programs...lots to learn about for us grown ups, too :)!