America's Best Idea

Mammoth Cave National Park

While exploring the Bluegrass State, my mom and I visited the iconic Churchhill Downs, where America's oldest continuous sports event, the renowned 'Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports,' unfolds. This event truly captures my attention, especially watching those magnificent horses race for the roses while enjoying mint juleps and searching for the perfect hat. The Kentucky Derby kicks off the trio of races: the Derby itself, followed by the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. In 2018, we had the incredible opportunity to witness Justify, an exceptional horse, clinch the Triple Crown by triumphing in all three races—the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes—with incredible skill and determination. It was an electrifying and monumental moment that we were fortunate enough to experience!

Adding to our own self-guided tour, we swung by the world's largest Bat. It looks just like Babe Ruth's Louisville Slugger bat, weighing 68,000 pounds and towering at 120 feet high. An interesting fact about this massive bat: it took 6,500 pounds of steel to build, becoming a real symbol of baseball history and Louisville's sporting legacy.

After scoping out the area we were hungry for some local delights, the famous Hot Brown at the Brown Hotel was on the list and an absolute must-try while in Louisville. This dish was created at this hotel in 1926, this sandwich, made with Texas toast, turkey, cheesy sauce, crispy bacon, and tomatoes, a dish we recreate at home with my husbands amazing culinary skills!

Staying in Louisville gave us the perfect chance for a day trip to Mammoth Cave National Park. Before going, I did some research. Surprisingly, Mammoth Cave happens to be the world's longest known cave system, boasting an impressive 400 miles of explored passageways. Its sheer size and complexity make it an utterly captivating place to explore. Interestingly, the cave was named "Mammoth" due to the grandeur displayed by its immense chambers, not in reference to the Wooly Mammoth. The name was used to emphasize just how incredibly enormous and impressive the cave truly is.

My mom had never explored an underground cave before. So I got tickets for a guided tour, it's the only way you can get into the caves and learn more about what went on underground and discovering the captivating stories hidden within this extraordinary park.

As we approached the cave's entrance, a sudden chill filled the air, prompting us to layer up in anticipation of the different temperature awaiting us inside. Staying connected with the guide amidst our large group proved challenging, particularly for my mom and me due to our partial hearing loss. Our attention tends to wander if something doesn't captivate us from the start, leading us to explore brochures and guidebooks to catch up on missed information.
As we took charge of our own tour, we became our own guides, interpreting everything along the way, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to our journey. I tend to stray from the group easily, captivated by the scenery, and I often lose myself in taking photos and recording videos. Despite missing most of the guided information, I spotted intriguing inscriptions on the walls and later looked up their meanings online.

J.N. McDowell, M.D., 1839, is one of the inscriptions found in Mammoth Cave, recognizing the significant contributions of James Newman McDowell, a doctor from Kentucky, in exploring and documenting the cave in 1839. McDowell's role in mapping and documenting the cave's passages is commemorated by this inscription, honoring his exploration efforts in the cave's history.

Once again, nature's amazing work unfolded before our eyes. Stalactites hang like chandeliers from the ceiling, while stalagmites rise majestically from the cave floor, forming a whole different world down there.

My ultimate highlight was navigating through Fat Man's Misery, a narrow and winding path requiring us to duck and twist our way through. It might unsettle those uncomfortable with confined spaces, but for me, it was fascinating—a journey filled with unexpected curves and turns.