Back during Spring Break, we drove our family down to the Red River Gorge area to stay there and hike together. There's just something about getting everyone out in the great outdoors that is so healing.
On this day, we drove out to a trail head and hiked our way through the woods to Creation Falls.
The trail from the parking lot to the falls was about a mile long. There were benches to stop and rest along the way. And although the hike felt pretty easy on the way out, I noticed we were going downhill the whole time...meaning we would be going uphill all the way back. We always make sure to bring a good amount of water with us and healthy snacks to keep our bodies moving while we're out. And since we're in nature, we're not in a hurry. We make sure to take time to stop if one of us needs to or just enjoy the areas we find ourselves in.
The kiddos found lots of opportunities to climb up on rocks and challenge themselves. We kept a close eye but didn't want to hinder them since they were being careful and respectful of their surroundings and each other.
I was all smiles when we made it to Creation Falls. It's a smaller waterfall but that made it very family friendly for us. We could walk across the stream and make our way down to the bottom of the falls were there was a sandbar. The sound of the waterfall? The bright green hue of the trees and plants around us? The smell in the air? Y'all, I could have stayed there for quite a while and been content.
What I love the most about hiking with my family is that it challenges all of us and gives us countless opportunities to work as a team, encourage each other, and give each other high-fives as we meet the challenges we find. It's a wonderful way to bond as a family and remind each of us that there are beautiful places to explore and enjoy.
In another post, I'll share with you just about the VRBO house we stayed in. I think you may want to look it up, too. I'll also share about our hike out to the Natural Bridge in the Red River Gorge.
If y'all haven't been down there yet, you need to make plans to get there. I'm itching to go back again and explore different trails. Gosh, I love living in Kentucky! :)
Keep your eyes on Instagram. I'll be sharing a reel there with some video from our hike.
Do you enjoy hiking? Do you hike with a family?
I would love to hear about places we should look into as a family. Share with me in the comments so I can add your recommendation to my list.
**thanks to Kentucky Down Under for hosting my family for a visit. I was not compensated for this post. This is my experience and opinion. Others may have a different experience or view.
My family was recently invited to spend a day at Kentucky Down Under. We didn't know what to expect going in, but I can give you 3 Great Big Reasons to take your family for a visit soon.
1. The amazing animal encounters
I honestly have never been to a "zoo" like this before. The way we were able to experience the animals that are part of Kentucky Down Under is "once in a lifetime" kind of stuff. Quite literally, I wouldn't even begin to guess another place where you can feed a kangaroo by hand (for example).
Check out the beautiful creatures we encountered.
In the kangaroo's habitat, they will hop right up to you. It's amazing!! Just make sure you follow their instructions and don't pet them on the head. Instead, offer them a chest rub. They love that.
Can you see the joey feet sticking out of the pouch? Check out the Kentucky Down Under Facebook and Instagram feeds to see more of the new joey.
You can also meet this gorgeous Sulcata Tortoise, feed an Emu, and even feed Cavies in the same area as the Kangaroos. Buy a cup of food on the way in!
There are amazing and kind Great Pyrenees dogs that are residents at Kentucky Down Under. This one is Macy (I believe) and she was taking in all the love my kiddos had to give her.
Check the schedule of sheep herding shows and say hello to the Sheep, Mini-Horses, Zebus, Donkeys, and Llama.
Walk down the path and meet the most stunning birds. I was a bit partial to the owl that was rescued after being blinded by a chemical spray. There are more than I have pictured.
Feed nectar to the Rainbow Lorikeets! This was another thing I've never done before. I loved the experience and being able to share it with my family.
Yes, one landed right on top of my head. It was hysterical! :D
During the animal show, you'll see even more animals and have the opportunity to get your picture taken with one (or more) of them. My kiddos loved seeing what a Cayman felt like. Apparently, it's pretty bumpy. LOL
There are several other animals not added in this post. But. I had to add this White Bison. What a majestic animal to see up close.
2. Tour Mammoth Onyx Cave
Besides the Australian animals that can be visited, another way to go "down under" is on the Mammoth Onyx Cave Tour. This tour was perfect for my crew. It was long enough to enjoy but not too long for their little feet. There are stairs and railings to help you move through but there are also a couple "tight squeeze" areas to be aware of. Overall, our tour guide made sure we were aware of what was coming up so we could stay safe and get the most out of our visit. It's something to add to your "must see" list.
Underground water! It looks clear and gorgeous but don't drink it. The water is mineral dense and can really upset your stomach.
3. The Amazing Staff
I've got to tell you, it is rare that I visit somewhere with my family and see that every person on staff we encounter is happy to be there and beyond friendly. That was our experience at Kentucky Down Under.
Here's an example. At one point, my kiddos took off in front of me and ran into the Woolshed when there was no scheduled show coming up. When I got in there with them, I saw two staff members talking to each other and I could tell it wasn't technically time for us to be there. However, they took a moment to talk to my kiddos about the wool and even the dogs in the shed. They could have handled that scenario one million different ways, but they chose above and beyond patience and took away any embarrassment that my kiddos may have had for charging in there.
From the entry building, to the kangaroos, to the cafe, and every other spot we visited, the individual people we met were incredibly kind and helpful.
A few tips for your visit:
Rent a golf cart. They have battery powered carts available on a first come, first serve basis. It is well worth the cost. The park is not small and it's in the hills of Kentucky. You'll be glad to have it handy to get you around and even to the different show times in a timely manner.
Bring your water and/or lunch. There are picnic areas available to use. We were really glad to have our own water on hand as the day we were there was pretty hot.
Bring dollar bills. They will come in handy should you want to buy a cup of food for the kangaroos and a cup of nectar for the lorikeets.
Take your time and enjoy your visit. We had an amazing morning at the park and we were glad to stop and see all we could while we were there. It's the perfect stop for some family fun.
My kiddos hope to visit again sometime and still can't believe they were feeding kangaroos. Now we're keeping up with the videos and photos of the baby joey.
As always, we are blessed and so grateful for opportunities like this. I look forward to more opportunities to share our photos and fun with you all.
Thanks to Twelve Oaks Mall and American girl for this review opportunity. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. Others may have a different opinion or experience.
If you live in or around Novi, Michigan, I'm sure you've heard of the American Girl store opening in Twelve Oaks mall. (And if you haven't, don't worry. You have permission to be in the know now)
American Girl is in the Mattel Brands family and has been around since I was a girl. They have beautifully made dolls and accessories for girls aged 5 and up. But believe me, this brand is not just about the dolls. They've always been about celebrating girls in their differences and creating memories that are built around each girl at an individual level.
The store opening at Twelve Oaks Mall is a temporary store, closing in January.
---OK, I saw that pouty lip you just made. Don't worry. If we flood the store with sales this holiday season, we have a good chance at getting them to build a permanent spot for us. (Shop, shop, shop!)
ANYway, my girls and I made an afternoon of visiting the store before the grand opening and we're so excited to share our 3 favorite things from our visit.
1. Wellie Wishers!
Photo by Amy Clary
Photo by Amy Clary
My Sunshine Girl, Mikki, is crazy about the Wellie Wishers. These are made perfectly for her (almost) 5 year old hands and play along perfectly with her imagination. She loves all the dolls but would like to get Willa next. (She has Camille.)
When she was shopping in the Wellie Wishers part of the store, I thought we would have to stay there the rest of the day. She loved playing with the doll house and checking out all the little accessories. Of course, she wants everything. LOL
Photo by Amy Clary
Photo by Amy Clary
Photo by Amy Clary
Photo by Amy Clary
Photo by Amy Clary
Little Mikki was so excited when she got to pick a box of accessories for Camille. She made sure to play with it as soon as she got home, too. In the box was a mermaid tail for Camille to wear, a little plush seahorse, and a treasure chest to hold a sea shell, an hour glass, & a message in a bottle. She's been carrying around her treasure chest all afternoon. It's so sweet to see.
2. Lea Clarke, the 2016 Girl Of The Year
There is a whole section dedicated to Lea and all her fun outfits & accessories. Eliana brought her Lea doll along so this was especially exciting for her. And? She found Lea's Sloth was in stock so she made sure to grab it up and bring it home. (Is anyone else living with a sloth-crazy girl since the release of Lea? lol)
Photo by Amy Clary
Photo by Amy Clary
Photo by Amy Clary
Photo by Amy Clary
Photo by Amy Clary
3. The Doll Hair Salon
Photo by Amy Clary
After we paid for our things, we were asked if the girls' dolls could be used for a bit of practice in the doll hair salon. They excitedly agreed and loved every moment of choosing the hairstyle and ribbon color for each doll. With big smiles and anticipation building, they waited for the finished product.
Oh, I wish you could have seen their little faces when they saw how beautifully the dolls' hair turned out.
This is something they want to do again, but next time I think we'll make it a real pampering day for all of us. We learned that the dolls can also get their ears pierced and/or nails painted as an add-on for the styling. Our idea is to get the doll's hair styled and nails painted and then go get our own nails painted. It's a great idea, right? (Hey, I'm all for it.)
Photo by Amy Clary
Photo by Amy Clary
OK, enough of looking at my photos. Go to Twelve Oaks Mall and make your own memories with your girls (Or nieces, or granddaughters, or god-daughters, or your friend's girls...). The memories are right there waiting to be made and the employees in the store are waiting to greet each little face and make her feel like SHE is the star.
Photo by Amy Clary
And if you're looking for even more fun for little ones, check out the Summer Fun Thursdays in the mall. American Girl is one of the sponsors for this so I'm positive it will be worth checking out.
