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In August of 1950, two curious teenagers were hunting for Native American artifacts after they had finished their chores and noticed cold air rushing out of a tiny opening, which was causing leaves to rustle on a tree 15 feet away.  They dug their way in and discovered a magical world within, what is now Cub Run Cave.

Venice is the most magical, mysterious city I’ve ever visited. It has to be in as close to in its original condition as any city in the world. It consists of a series of over 100 islands built upon centuries ago. It allows you to wander where you want without hearing the sound of any motorized vehicle. That’s right-no motorized vehicles. Think about it. 

Travel Tips for Road Trips by Mike Miller.

Route 66 took us off the beaten path to discover the amazing Acoma Indians. Members of the Acoma tribe have continuously lived atop a 70-acre plateau called Sky City since 1000 A.D. That’s right- 500 years before Columbus hit our shores in 1492. Sky City is nearly 370 feet above the canyon floor in the desert of Western New Mexico. About 50 Acoma Indians now inhabit the once thriving Pueblo.

The huge Boboli Gardens behind the Petti Palace is a beautiful walk giving spectacular views of Florence in all her glory. We walked up the street that leads behind and overlooking the gardens. Every way you looked took your breath and fired your imagination about what had happened in this great Renaissance City. 

On the historical marker by the replica of his cabin, it says that George Rogers Clark (1753-1818) was “A pioneer, soldier, patriot, conqueror of the Northeast territory…” His brilliant Revolutionary War campaign captured Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes and brought the states northwest of the Ohio River into the Union.  He brought 150 men and 15 families down the Ohio River in 1778 and built a fort on Corn Island to plan and implement this conquest. This fort was the beginning of Louisville, Kentucky. 

As a child, when we were watching Johnny Weissmuller swing through the jungle and swim at lightning speed in Tarzan’s Secret Treasures we really were experiencing Wakulla Springs State Park in Florida up close and personal.  While traveling to visit family in Gainesville we discovered this jungle gem 14 miles south of Tallahassee.  If you want the best family boat ride through an exotically diverse natural habitat, this is your spot. 

On our way to San Antonio to visit our family, we decided to venture off The Beaten Path onto the Natchez Trace between Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee. The 444-mile two-lane highway is a National Scenic Byway, All-American Road and Designated Bike route. We drove 17 miles southwest of Nashville on I-40W and took Exit 192 onto McCrary Lane. We went five miles to the entrance of the Park. We put on two of our “travel” CD’s consisting of the Grammy Songs from the last two years and headed out to find harmony in midst of a sometimes-troubled world. 

In the heart of Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville is one of the largest Gingko trees in the state of Kentucky. On a recent visit, we wandered into its presence. All the leaves were a bright yellow. It was 2:00 in the afternoon on November 8^th so the light was hitting the tree at a sharp angle. The reflections off the surface of these usual shaped leaves filtered throughout the giant tree. This tree is the volume of a two-story house with about 3000 square feet. I was told that all Gingko trees shed their leaves on the same day. The gingko is a living fossil dating back 270 million years. The word Gingko is derived from the Japanese word ginkyo meaning “silver apricot”. The realization that this tree was 150 years old reminds us to think about all the history it had witnessed and that we are standing in a sacred place. 

When we found out the “best” Antique Mall and oldest continuously running Dance Hall in Texas were in a place called Gruene, we had to head out on patrol. We were on our way back from San Antonio visiting our niece and spent a great afternoon walking around exploring this unique small Texas town.

In the heart of Old Louisville overlooking Central Park is the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, known as Louisville’s Castle. In the 1890’s, Theophile Conrad commissioned local architect Arthur Loomis of Clarke & Loomis to design this stone masterpiece. It is one of the finest examples of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in the world.  

Shippingport, Kentucky is a long lost river city that was located between Louisville and Portland in the early 1800’s. When you go there today, you discover how the Ohio River has influenced everyone in the region since Lewis and Clark’s started their journey west at the Falls of the Ohio in 1804. You will find the McAlpine Locks and Dam and a Louisville Gas and Electric Hydroelectric plant, great fishing and one of the best river views of Louisville. 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has a huge collection of the personal artifacts from almost all the Rock and Rollers you know and love. This includes the musical instruments, cars, vans, clothes, advertising, handwritten song lyrics, gold records, jewelry, and much, much more. 

Pensacola Beach has been a destination for our family many times. We have spent Christmas there as well as summer vacations. We visited our niece who worked in the city. Pensacola Beach is on Santa Rosa Island, one of the longest barrier islands in the world. Pensacola Beach pier is a great spot for fishing and one of the longest on the Gulf of Mexico at 1471 feet. 

Our first trip to Italy was transformational. Art, history, adventure, and trauma (lost luggage) combined to leave a lasting impression and a strong desire to return.

While in Florence, we stayed at the Hotel De Lansi. It provided a comfortable home base with easy walking to many of the pictures we had seen in our art history books while in college. Carolynn was a walking encyclopedia of insight and information about the Renaissance and it's cast of characters. One of our favorite walks was looking for the weird and unusual doors of Florence. 

For thousands of years, humans have found areas in the world where the natural mineral springs seemed to miraculously help cure health ailments. For over 9000 years The Jefferson Pools have refreshed the fortunate few who knew her location. Warm mineral springs are relaxing, rejuvenating, and offer a great pit stop on a road trip to brush off the aches and pains of road travel.  Thomas Jefferson came in 1818 at the age of 75 suffering from what he called “rheumatism.”  He stayed for three weeks, taking the waters several times each day.  He reported their naturally warm mineral springs had a healing effect. Mrs. Robert E. Lee came often, but during the Civil War sorely missed her visits because of her fear of travel.  

Our visit to Florence took us to the breathtaking source of the Italian Renaissance. You saw and felt history in every direction and at all times. We spent 5 days on patrol revisiting our art history textbooks from college only this time we were there in person.

During our first trip to Italy, we spent 3 days in Florence. Out the window of our home base, Hotel De Lansi, was the main church of Florence, The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower. The ideas and architectural techniques used to build its dome played an important role in igniting the Renaissance. 

If you are interested in a combination of Revolutionary and Civil War history, and are passing through rural Virginia, then Tappahannock, on the Rappahannock River is one of your destinations.  Being central to so many stories of America’s past, any road you take getting there will deepen your understanding of the ancestors we owe gratitude to for our modern way of life.  Throughout its history, the Rappahannock River has nurtured all of America’s inhabitants from Native Americans to native wildlife.

San Antonio, Texas is the happiest large urban city we have ever visited. People looked you in the eye, said hello, and helped you out. The unemployment rate is virtually zero. Everyone has a job. It is booming. It is a great place to go downtown, find a place to park, and just head out for a walk. 

Going to Hawaii is about as far off the beaten path as I have been.  When we had a chance to go to Maui for two weeks, we were “all in.”  We landed in Maui after a 16-hour plane flight.  We could have done it in 3 less flying hours for not too much more money, which will happen next time we go. It took a couple of days for our internal clocks to adjust to the time zone difference.  Our home base was in a resort area in Lahaina.