A Day Away By Mike Steely
I’ve been thinking recently of the many places my wife and I have visited that have left a memory. I had a position for several years that required me to travel to various southern states and, on those trips, my wife accompanied me.
We visited all the places you might expect, but some places are little-known and worth a mention.
So, here are some interesting places in several surrounding states you might consider, especially if you are in those areas.
The Jefferson Davis State Historic Site in Fairview, Kentucky, near Hopkinsville on Highway 68, caught our eyes from the road. Rising out of the trees ahead was what looked like the Washington Monument in the District of Columbia. We just had to stop and see what it was.
The white obelisk stands 351 feet in tribute to the confederacy’s only president, who was, like Lincoln, a Kentucky native. The park there has a museum, playground and shelters.
Another Kentucky park we’ve visited is Carter Caves State Resort Park, with tours, camping, a museum and shelters. One of the caves there has what is believed to be the grave of a Native American princess. The park is located near Olive Hill off Highway 182.
Micanopy, Florida, is just south of Gainesville and is a pleasant small town that is often overlooked. But if you are a fan of Michael J. Fox and have seen his movie, “Doc Hollywood,” you will enjoy seeing the sites that appeared in that memorable movie. The town is just off I-75 along Highway 441.
Just south of Huntsville, Alabama, is the Ave Maria Grotto, on the grounds of St. Bernard Abbey in the town of Cullman. A walk through the grounds is inspiring and interesting with a landscaped hillside that holds 128 miniature houses and buildings of stone and cement. A monk created the models over the course of 50 years, beginning in 1891. You don’t have to be Catholic to appreciate the craftsmanship and devotion that goes into such an unusual project.
West Virginia’s The Greenbrier hotel is located in White Sulphur Springs, east of Beckley along Interstate 64. The upscale hotel has a fine restaurant, well-cared-for lawns, expensive rooms, and a courteous staff. The hotel has a secret beneath the large building: an emergency shelter for our nation’s Congress, complete with bunks, a dining hall, and even an assembly room. The shelter’s construction ended in 1962, and its existence remained a secret until 1992. Today, it’s open to visitors and worth a stop.
Plains, Georgia, is the late Jimmy Carter’s hometown. The small town has many attractions dedicated to the late president, such as the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park, a neat little downtown with a museum in his childhood school building, his boyhood home, and the final resting place for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. Plains is located west of Americus on Highway 280.
The Casey Jones Village and Museum is in Jackson, Tennessee, the home of the railroad engineer whose tragic collision was captured in a song. Casey Jones Village attractions in Jackson include a museum, a gift shop and a family restaurant that serves tasty food. The complex is located just off Interstate 40 at the Highway 45 exit.
These places are special places for a family to visit, different than most commercial attractions or parks. Each is worth a trip as a destination or a side trip while you’re on your way through that area.
