Tag Archives: Skyline Chili

Did We Really Do All This?

RecapI went back over our entire trip, and there’s just SO much that we saw and did…it’s really unbelievable. I also noticed that I mis-counted the number of days we were on the road. We actually spent 53 days on the road. I had mis-counted early on in the trip!

People have asked what I liked the most out of this trip. Here are my favorites:

  • Favorite National Park(s): Zion, Grand Tetons
  • Favorite Food/Meal(s): Southwestern Cuisine in Santa Fe and Taos
  • Favorite Hotel: Cowboy Village Resort, Jackson, WY
  • Best Surprise: Dinosaur Tracks, Tuba City
  • Favorite Road: Tie between Blue Ridge Parkway and High Road to Taos
  • Favorite Person Met on the Road: Gary Turner, Gay Parita Sinclair Station
  • Friendliest People: On Route 66
  • Cheesiest Stop(s): Trading Posts along Route 66
  • Favorite Memory: All of them

Here’s a recap of everything we did. I’m combing through the 703 photos I printed from the trip in preparation for the creation of my Scrapbook. Check with me several years from now to see how much I’ve accomplished…

Date Day Start End  Driven  Total  Activities/Visited
Mon 4/29 1 Amherst, NH Painted Post, NY 405 405 Travel to Duncannon through Catskills, Margaretville
Tue 4/30 2 Corning, NY Duncannon, PA 157 562 Corning Museum, Travel to Duncannon
Wed 5/1 3 Duncannon, PA Duncannon, PA  – 562 Amish Country (Intercourse, PA)
Thu 5/2 4 Duncannon, PA Duncannon, PA  – 562 Cobra ride, Waggoners Gap
Fri 5/3 5 Duncannon, PA Burlington, KY 504 1,066 Travel to KY (via PA, WV, OH, KY), Buckeye Lake
Sat 5/4 6 Burlington, KY Burlington, KY 40 1,106 Villa Hills (Mrs. Egan, Mrs. Wilson), Skyline Chili, Derby Day Party
Sun 5/5 7 Burlington, KY Burlington, KY  – 1,106 Heather Visit, Montgomery Inn Ribs
Mon 5/6 8 Burlington, KY Corydon, IN 159 1,265 Anderson Ferry, Ohio Scenic River Byway
Tue 5/7 9 Corydon, IN Evansville, IN 157 1,422 Indiana: Marengo Cave (Corydon), George Rogers Clark Trail, Hoosier National Forest,
Wed 5/8 10 Evansville, IN Poplar Bluff, MO 267 1,689 Shawneetown Bridge (KY to IL), Shawnee National Forest (IL), Cave-In-Rock State Park, Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge into Cape Giradeau MO, (Indiana, KY, Illinois, Missouri)
Thu 5/9 11 Poplar Bluff, MO Cuba, MO 208 1,897 Ozark National Scenic Byways(Current River, Jacks Fork River), Mark Twain National Forest, Ozarks, Route 66 Cuba, Wagon Wheel Motel, Cuba Mural City,
Fri 5/10 12 Cuba, MO Springfield, MO 139 2,036 Route 66: Shelly’s Route 66 Café (Slinger), World’s Largest Rocking Chair (Fanning Trading Post), Mule Trading Post, Hooker Cut, Devil’s Elbow, Redmond’s “World’s Largest Gift Shop”
Sat 5/11 13 Springfield, MO Joplin, MO 82 2,118 Route 66: Gay Parita Sinclair Station (Paris Springs, MO), Red Oak, Carthage MO
Su 5/12 14 Joplin, MO Tulsa, OK 166 2,284 Route 66: Galena Kansas, Rainbow Curve Bridge, Oklahoma State Line, Afton Station and Route 66 Packard Museum, Totem Pole Park (Foyil), Blue Whale
Mon 5/13 15 Tulsa, OK Oklahoma City, OK 140 2,424 Route 66: Oklahoma City Quilt Shops (Quilt Sampler, Cotton Patch), McJerry’s Route 66 Gallery in Chandler, OK (Jerry McClanahan), Arcadia Round Barn (Mr. Sam),
Tue 5/14 16 Oklahoma City, OK Elk City, OK 116 2,540 Route 66: Fort Reno (El Reno), Cherokee Trading Post (bison, longhorn), Route 66 National Museum (Elk City),
Wed 5/15 17 Elk City, OK Amarillo, TX 196 2,736 Route 66: Oklahoma (Will Rodger Hwy Sign), Texas, Devil’s Rope/Old Route 66 Museum (Barbed Wire Museum in McLean, TX), Bug Ranch (Conway, TX), Amarillo, The Big Texan Steak Ranch
Thu 5/16 18 Amarillo, TX Tucumcari, NM 116 2,852 Route 66: Amarillo Antique Road, Lile Art Gallery (Bob “Crocodile” Lile), Cadillac Ranch, Sunflower Station Gift Shop (Adiran TX), New Mexico, Russell’s Truck Stop auto museum, Tucumcari Mountain, Tucumcari
Fri 5/17 19 Tucamcari, NM Santa Fe, NM 201 3,053 Route 66: To Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe Trail, ThreadBear Quilt Shop, Pecos National Historic Forest (Puebo), Eldorado Hotel and Spa, Blue Corn Café
Sat 5/18 20 Santa Fe, NM Santa Fe, NM  – 3,053 Santa Fe Art Day: Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe Museum of Art, Guadalupe’s Fun Rubber Stamps,
Su 5/19 21 Santa Fe, NM Santa Fe, NM  – 3,053 Santa Fe: Canyon Road, Nidah Spa, Tia Sophia’s, Agave Lounge
Mon 5/20 22 Santa Fe, NM Taos, NM 91 3,144 High Road to Taos, Carson National Forest, Santuario de Chimayo, Taos, Downtown Bistro
Tue 5/21 23 Taos, NM Taos, NM 159 3,303 Taos: Taos Pueblo, Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, Earthships, Abiquiu, Lake Abiquiu, Downtown Bistro
Wed 5/22 24 Taos, NM Taos, NM 53 3,356 Taos: Michael’s Kitchen, Taos Valley Ski Area (Carson National Forest), Arroyo Seco, Old Town Taos, Ranchos Plaza Grill
Thu 5/23 25 Taos, NM Albuquerque, NM 183 3,539 Bandeleir National Monument, Albuquerque
Fri 5/24 26 Albuquerque, NM Albuquerque, NM 49 3,588 Old Town Albuquerque, Back Street Grill, Sandia Peak, High Finance Restaurant,
Sat 5/25 27 Albuquerque, NM Albuquerque, NM 178 3,766 Acoma Sky City, Academy Kennel, Hip Stitch, County Line BBQ
Su 5/26 28 Albuquerque, NM Albuquerque, NM 32 3,798 Albuquerque (down day)
Mon 5/27 29 Albuquerque, NM Flagstaff, AZ 333 4,131 Road to Flagstaff, To’hajilltee, Fort Courage, El Rancho Hotel (Gallup), Meteor Crater (Winslow),
Tue 5/28 30 Flagstaff, AZ Flagstaff, AZ 156 4,287 Grand Canyon, Aloha BBQ (Flagstaff)
Wed 5/29 31 Flagstaff, AZ Springdale, UT 263 4,550 To Zion: Dinosaur Tracks (near Tuba City), Glen Canyon, Kanab (Best Friends), Zion
Thu 5/30 32 Springdale, UT Springdale, UT  – 4,550 Zion, Doggy Dude Ranch, MeMe’s Café (crepes)
Fri 5/31 33 Springdale, UT Bryce City, UT 187 4,737 Zion, Checkerboard Mesa, Dixie national Forest, Cedar Breaks, Red Canyon, Bryce City
Sat 6/1 34 Bryce City, UT Bryce City, UT 40 4,777 Bryce Canyon
Sun 6/2 35 Bryce City, UT Richfield, UT 215 4,992 Escalante Grand Staircase, Kodachrome State Park, Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park,
Mon 6/3 36 Richfield, UT Jackson, WY 418 5,410 Bridger National Forest, Targhee National Forest, Afton Wyoming, Jackson, WY (Cowboy Village Resort)
Tue 6/4 37 Jackson, WY Jackson, WY 94 5,504 Grand Teton National Park, Downtown Jackson, Shoot Out Show,
Wed 6/5 38 Jackson, WY Jackson, WY 259 5,763 Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone Lake, wild bison
Thu 6/6 39 Jackson, WY Jackson, WY  – 5,763 Jacskon ‘down’ day
Fri 6/7 40 Jackson, WY Ft. Collins, CO 466 6,229 Medicine Bow National Forest, Ft. Collins, CO
Sat 6/8 41 Ft. Collins, CO Colorado Springs, CO 343 6,572 Rocky Mountain National Park, Arapaho National Forest, Top of the Rockies Scenib Byway, Pike National Forest, San Isabel National Forest, Pike’s Peak, Forissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Sun 6/9 42 Colorado Springs, CO Independence, MO 580 7,152 Colorado, Kansas, Missouri
Mon 6/10 43 Independence, MO Louisville, KY 501 7,653 Illinios, Indiana, to Louisville
Tue 6/11 44 Louisville, KY Burlington, KY 94 7,747 Burlington, KY
Wed 6/12 45 Burlington, KY Burlington, KY  – 7,747 Burlington, KY
Thu 6/13 46 Burlington, KY Burlington, KY  – 7,747 Burlington, KY
Fri 6/14 47 Burlington, KY Sevierville, TN 331 8,078 Bourbon Trail, Cumberland Gap
Sat 6/15 48 Sevierville, TN Asheville, NC 140 8,218 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway (Asheville), Little Pigs BBQ
Sun 6/16 49 Asheville, NC Wilkesboro, NC 156 8,374 Blue Ridge Parkway: Folk Art Center (Asheville), Little Switzerland, Emerald Mines,
Mon 6/17 50 Wilkesboro, NC Salem, VA 176 8,550 Blue Ridge Parkway: Blue Ridge Music Center, Buck Mountain Band, Mabry Mill,
Tue 6/18 51 Salem, VA Winchester, VA 237 8,787 Blue Ridge Parkway (end)
Wed 6/19 52 Winchester, VA Duncannon, PA 141 8,928 Moose Apple Christmas Tree Farm, Duncannon, PA
Thu 6/20 53 Duncannon, PA Amherst, NH 450 9,378 Home!

Kentucky and the Bourbon Trail

Days 45 & 46: Thursday, June 13 & Friday, June 14, 2013
Start: Burlington, KY
End: Sevierville, TN
Miles Driven Today: 331
Total Miles: 8,078

We were all set to leave on Thursday. We had a great time with the old “gang” from Kentucky. Tom and I were ready to hit the Bourbon Trail. And then a text from Heather came in late on Wednesday night. “Want to meet us for lunch at Skyline tomorrow?”

Hell yes!!!

So, we decided to do lunch with Heather and her daughter. And if we did that, we wouldn’t get to our destination until pretty late. SO that meant staying another night at Minda’s. Minda, being the gracious hostess that she is, let us camp out for another night. We made the best of it with a great lunch and visit with Heather and a nice pot of Coq au Vin and more Graeter’s ice cream for dinner. We know how to live!

Skyline Chili

Chowing at Skyline Chili

The dogs were really comfy and happy at the Michels’ house. They made themselves very comfortable and were peacefully co-existing with the resident dog, Sparky.

Jasmine and Juliet made themselves comfortable

Jasmine and Juliet made themselves comfortable

Alas, all good things do come to an end. And given that Minda’s daughter is having a horde of teen-age girls over for a sleep-over tonight…hm…just in time! (Just kidding, Grace!!!) So, off we went in search of the Bourbon Trail.

Instead of taking the highway all the way to Frankfort, we decided to get off the Interstate and take some back roads. We went through small towns like Owenton, KY and were able to finally take some snapshots of a few of the barns on the Kentucky Quilt Trail.

Barn quilt on the Kentucky Quilt Trail

Barn quilt on the Kentucky Quilt Trail

Barn quilt on the Kentucky Quilt Trail

Barn quilt on the Kentucky Quilt Trail

We made it to Frankfort in less than two hours and hit our ‘priority’ stop–Buffalo Trace Distillery. Tom had been sipping on Buffalo Trace each time we visited the Michels family…so we had to stop there! We picked up a few choice items…given our wild Bison encounters, we are loving the furry beasts (and Tom is loving the bourbon!). I tasted a bit of the Bourbon Cream and had to have some to take home. YUM!

Tom's new favorite bourbon--Buffalo Trace!

Tom’s new favorite bourbon–Buffalo Trace!

Pre- or post-tasting? You decide.

Pre- or post-tasting? You decide.

MMMM...bourbon! The Bourbon Cream is the BEST!

MMMM…bourbon! The Bourbon Cream is the BEST!

Our next and final stop was Wild Turkey. We picked up a turkey call and a great bourbon barrel coat rack. Alas, at both Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey, we couldn’t take the distillery tours even though our timing was good. The day was way too hot to leave the pups in the car for any length of time. We knew that this could be a problem…but we still enjoyed both distilleries!

Wild Turkey Distillery

Wild Turkey Distillery

Tom riding the Wild Turkey!

Tom riding the Wild Turkey! Pre- or post-tasting? You decide!

Back on the back roads. One of the reasons we stopped at Wild Turkey was to see the S-shaped bridge near the distillery. We couldn’t get a good shot of the bridge, but it was pretty darn cool!

S bridge right past the WIld Turkey Distillery

S bridge right past the WIld Turkey Distillery

We also opted to go through Daniel Boone National Forest instead (again) of the Interstate to really enjoy the scenic byways and hills of Kentucky.

Beautiful road past Daniel Boone National Forest

Beautiful road past Daniel Boone National Forest

That route put us through Cumberland Gap on our way to Tennessee. We picked up salads from Cracker Barrel (yes, SALADS…healthy food!) and had a picnic in the park.

Picnic at Cumberland Gap National Historic Park

Picnic at Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. Who says Cracker Barrel can’t do ‘healthy’ food? 🙂

Tunnel through Cumberland Gap

Tunnel through Cumberland Gap

Hello Tennessee! Thanks for the Welcome!

Hello Tennessee! Thanks for the Welcome!

One of today's open roads. Beautiful Tennesse hills.

One of today’s open roads. Beautiful Tennesse hills.

Then it was off to our stop for the night, Sevierville, Tennessee. Sevierville is outside of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We’re going to visit Gatlinburg, the Smokies and hit the Blue Ridge Parkway tomorrow, so this just sets us up for our next adventure. We’re settled in for the night and are looking forward to tomorrow’s sightseeing. We’ll end up in Asheville, North Carolina tomorrow night. From there, we’ll head up the Blue Ridge Parkway to its Northern End. I’m really looking forward to the Smokies and the Appalachian Mountains!