US - Kentucky

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site

The log cabin, originally thought to be Lincoln's, is preserved inside the memorial.  It was discovered later that this cabin is in the correct location, but dates to a slightly later time than Lincoln's birth.  

Mammoth Cave National Park

The park is free entrance, but the Historic cave tour is $14 per person.

This tour guide is very funny and entertaining.

There are creatures living in the cave.  

'The northern cavefish is distantly related to trout and perch. Charles Darwin was fascinated by cavefish. "It is well known," he wrote, "that several animals which inhabit the caves of Kentucky are blind." Darwin theorized that the fish lost the ability to see because it would not use its eyes in the cave's eternal darkness.

Research suggests that natural selection led to an increase in senses like taste and touch, while diminishing the sense of sight-leading to undeveloped eyes.'

  

At 400 miles, it is the longest cave in the world, and new sections of cave are still being discovered and mapped. 

We stayed in Wingfield Inn & Suites at Elizabethtown.  When we got to the room, we discovered it had a whirlpool bath, and the rate was very good. Surely, I'd like to enjoy, as this was the first time I had seen it among those hotels we stayed before. However, I shouldn't have made the water so hot and stayed in so long. I got dizzy and it was hard to breath.

US - Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

The weekend we went to Steve's nephew's wedding in Cincinnati was also the weekend of the Indy 500 car race in Indianapolis (one of the cities we normally pass through), so we took a longer, more scenic route, that goes through Louisville, Kentucky.

Along the way, we stopped to visit Lincoln's Boyhood National Memorial in Indiana (Lincoln was the 16th president of the US), just near the highway.

  

Lincoln's mother, Nancy, is buried near their old farm.

US - Ohio

Wooo... we travel in space! 

We took photos for each other. 

Shot...Steve photography skill spoiled the picture - it was not true.

We to Dayton to visit the National Museum of the United State Air Force, not in space.

There are four hangars, filled with aircraft from different times, starting from balloons and continuing through modern planes.  The fourth building, Presidential Aircraft, Space, Research & Development and Global Research Galleries was closed when we visited.

   

So much to see, and we can't believe it is free.

Then we went to Carillon Historical Park.

The Wright Cycle Company.  

The Wright Brothers made bicycles when they weren't trying to make the first powered airplane.

How did they get onto a cycle with such a big wheel, which is taller than a person's legs?

Dayton Aviation Heritage museum just next to the Wright Cycle Company.

Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial.

We shouldn't have gone to the zoo car park, the fee is $9. Then we found the basic entrance fee is $18 per person. 

There were several admission packages that included riding the train and 4-D theater.  

These tigers had the right idea - let the silly humans walk around in the heat, while they found some cool sand to nap on.

I felt bad all the animals there couldn't live in the wild anymore.

We can touch this adult scorpion, it wouldn't sting. The body changes colors under black light.

   

William Howard Taft National Historic Site. 

During his life, we was an ambassador, the 27th president of the US, and a chief justice of the Supreme Court.  He was also a founder of the Republican political party. 

Hopewell Culture National Historical Park

  

Serpent Mound - a large earthen mound, shaped like a giant snake eating an egg.  

The coils in the snake's body are aligned with solar and lunar calendar events.

 One of the people at the national park recommended a well-known Amish bakery store on the way from the Hopewell Cultural Park to Serpent Mound.

 

Family wedding

We were at Voice of America Park in Cincinatti, Ohio. 

Steve, with his sister, Joan. 

 Steve's nephew, Jason (the groom), at his wedding rehearsal.

I didn't have any pictures of Shellie & Jason's wedding, because I forgot my camera at the hotel!

There was a little time between the wedding and reception, so we went back to the hotel for my camera, before going to the reception.  

The table at the entrance had photos of family members who have passed away, but were there with us, in spirit for the celebration. 

The wedding party.

   

Jason's niece gave a prayer before the meal.

Steve's sister Joan (2nd from left), with her husband Dave. Dave made a short speech during the toasts.  They had celebrated their 50th anniversary a few weeks before, and he wished his son & new daughter-in-law, and every couple, would have their 50th, too.

The dessert bar

The married couple's first dance.

The second dance: the bride dancing with her father, and groom dancing with his mother.

Then came the anniversary dances!  The longest married couple (Joan & Dave, at 50 years) went onto the dance  floor first.  Followed by couples married more than 40, 30, 20, 10, 5...then all married couples, and finally everyone else.

We had family chatting time at Joan & Dave's house.

Peanut butter S'mores (toasted marshmallows & peanut butter cups, sandwiched between graham crackers) made over the fire pit in the back yard.

And a little music & singing around the fire.

That was fun and wonderful; we really enjoyed our brief time there.