05/05/2008 to 05/18/2008
Back to the East Coast to visit family and take advantage of the many things to see in the Virginia/Maryland area. Another couple Civil War battlefields, the 3 remaining covered bridges in Frederick County, and a really beautiful cave. On the route home we decided to do a bit of The Bourbon Trail. This is really interesting. Think Napa Valley with a southern drawl and a lot more kick.
- Fredericksburg, VA
- Bridges, Falls & A Furnace
- Chancellorsville Battlefield
- Four Roses Distillery, Lawrenceburg, KY
- Heaven Hill Distillery
- Bardstown, KY
- Cedar Sink Trail - Mammoth Cave NP
Fredericksburg is a quaint town with a lot to see. Naturally there's the battlefield which we couldn't pass up, but the town has many historic buildings and interesting shops. Oh, yes. Don't forget food and drink. We managed to find plenty of that as well.
Carl's is an icon known nationally for it's frozen custard
During summer the lines go around the block
Shots of Fredricksburg streets
Sidewalk cafe
On to Fredericksburg Battlefield
The Innis House was shot many times and the bullet holes are still there
Martha Stevens was a woman of questionable repute who gained fame by tending Southern soldiers during the battle
The gray stones on the left mark the former site of Martha Stevens home
The sunken road. Yes, I know. Just about every battlefield has a sunken road
He was a real cutie just hoping we had a goodie for him
Peek-a-boo squirrel
We were heading for Boonsboro, MD when we noticed some covered bridges marked on the map so we changed our plans. There are only 3 remaining covered bridges in Frederick County all built in the second half of the 19th century. We were also going to the Catoctin Furnace built in 1776 which produced iron during the Revolutionary War and Civil War. The Furnace is part of Catoctin Mountain Park which has some nice little hikes and waterfalls.
In a nutshell the proverb says "Don't Destroy Old Things".
Approaching the Utica Covered Bridge
The Utica Covered Bridge
Just a glimpse into the structure of Utica Bridge
Loy's Station Coverd Bridge history. There's a plaque like this on each bridge
Approaching Loy's Station Bridge
Loy's Bridge from the side
Yes, it's the Roddy Road Bridge
Roddy Road Bridge
Such a lovely area
A lovely setting isn't it?
A short hike to the falls
Cunningham Falls
This was a quick tour of the Chancellorsville Battlefield. It is so large we need several days to do it justice, but we managed to see a lot of it and really enjoyed ourselves. Our friends Paula & Bruce joined us since Bruce is also a history buff. Good friends always enhance any trip.
Catherine Furnace was operating during the Civil War producing cannon balls for the Confederate Army
The Chancellor House Inn had 30 rooms at the time of the battle which bore it's name
The remnants of the Chancellor House
Cannon located at Hazel Grove. Hooker abandoned this high ground needlessly
The rock where Stonewall Jackson was brought after being wounded
The current monument to Stonewall Jackson
Heading back to Arizona we decided to go through Kentucky and do a bit of The Bourbon Trail. Yes, bourbon. Believe it or not these distilleries are lovely places to visit.
Our first stop was in Lawrenceburg, KY and the Four Roses Distillery. Four Roses straight bourbon has not been sold in the U.S. since the 1950's but has been popular in Europe and Asia. In 2002 Kirin Brewery purchased the brand from Seagrams and restored the straight bourbon to the line. The tour is fun and at the end you get to taste the product, even the good stuff.
The building is on the National Registry of Historic Places
A favorite photo spot
The Spanish Mission style is quite unique in Kentucky
After leaving Lawrenceburg we headed to Bardstown, KY and the Heaven Hill Distillery. They make many liquors, including several bourbons so we did the Bourbon Heritage Center tour. It's quite slick with lots of time spent in the rickhouse where the barrels are stored and then tasting. Yes, it's Napa Valley with southern accents and hard liquor. I still don't have a taste for bourbon so maybe I need to do a few more tours and sample a few more brands. Oh, how I suffer
Cute barrel family, complete with dog
These are rickhouses where the barrels of bourbon are aged
The black is the result of the bourbon and it's everywhere. Our guide said he moved here so he can lick his house and get his bourbon in the morning
One of the rickhouses has been reworked to allow tours. They normally do not have full floors like this
Just one aisle in the rickhouse. it's a bit dark but you get the idea
There are cross braces like this on each level to keep the building from swaying in the wind with the weight of the barrels
Each barrel is stamped with a code denoting date it was poured
Yes, if you watch Dirty Jobs you saw Mike make barrels used here
There is a large gift shop and the tasting room is inside a room shaped like a huge barrel
Bardstown is now high on our list of places to revisit. Founded in 1780s it has numerous historic buildings and very friendly people. Now, I do not know if there is any correlation between the friendliness and being the bourbon capital, but it's the only place I've ever been that folks yell "Ya'll have a great day" when you wander in front of them on the street or step in front of a car while trying to read the walking tour map.
Typical of a Southern town the Courthouse is in the middle, but it's not a square
Typical of a Southern town the Courthouse is in the middle, but it's not a square
The Courthouse is also the Welcome Center
One of the streets in town. I think there are 4 or 5 historic era buildings on this street alone
One of the streets in town. I think there are 4 or 5 historic era buildings on this street alone
The is the Jacob Yocum House built in 1792
Talbott Tavern is another building dating from the 1700s. Nice place to eat
As you can see it dates from 1779
More street shots
A downsized replica of the first steamboat built by John Fitch in 1786. Bet you didn't know that
What old town worth it's salt doesn't have a set of stocks
The old jail is a bed & breakfast. Maybe next time we'll stay there
After lots of sitting and with more sitting in our future we thought a little hike would be nice. Mammoth Cave National Park was not far away so we headed there to find a short trail to do so we could get a bit of exercise and walk out the kinks in our old bodies. Cedar Sink seems just right.
Our only wildlife on the trail
The colors were so pretty and soft
We just thought these pods were unusual
As you can see it's really plushly green in the park
Moss and ferns among the rocks
Great rock formations around the sinkhole
That's the sinkhole bubbling merrily along
Just some more pretty trees and plants