Kings Island, Kings Island Splash Park, Mammoth Cave, Dollywood, Dollywood Splash Park, Hocking Hills State Park June 14-26, 2024
Start 30,196 -- End 31,531 -- 1335 Miles Click any of the images for a higher resolution picture It is rare that while on a trip I don’t find myself daily, or every few days, jotting down my memories of the adventures. This trip was different. Matt, Lesa, Liam and Landon flew in from Houston, Texas for a fifteen day visit. Twelve of those days were devoted to this trip. This is being written a week after the kids left for Houston. Now think about this. Three adults, a thirteen-year-old, an eight month old baby and two dogs packed into a twenty four foot motorhome. Yahoo! Looking back and finally having the time to write this, it was a fabulous trip. We were in a rental home for three nights, and on one of those nights it rained. It did not rain except for that one time. All of our sites were chosen blind. Everything worked out quite well. They were near the bathhouse, full hookup and proper in every way. And Landon crawled into the lake. I had twisted or somehow injured my right knee prior to this trip. While it did not stop me, it did slow me down. No coaster would allow that knee. So, let’s remember: KING’S ISLAND On arrival there were initial chores:
We had a nice site at a large King’s Island campground. Day one was devoted to the amusement park. Day two at the water park. Matt and Liam rode all the major coasters. Landon did his thing on the merry-go-round, cars, etc.
On the merry-go-round Matt stood next to Landon riding the horse. I have a King’s Island Fred Flinstone shirt that is about thirty-five years old. I remember taking Matt to this park. And I remember standing next to a merry-go-round horse holding Matt at about that same age. It brought a tear to my eye, that did. I found myself wondering if my dad was behind me watching. Someday, Landon will be standing there with his kid, Matt on my horse and Dad and I behind.
Liam did ride some rides with Mom. Landon doesn't show up very well on the rides.
MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK
Jellystone campground:
Toodles and Odo got to know Landon!
Three hundred and ten feet down. I hate mountains. I hated them at the surface. I hated them three hundred and ten feet below the surface. We took the “Historical Tour." I had been there. I had done that. I probably have a t-shirt from Mammoth Cave. No matter. It was great fun watching Liam and Lesa experience the cave for the first time. I smiled a bunch while Matt, Landon riding in a front pack, negotiated the low ceilings and, especially, “Fat Man’s Misery.” Fat Man’s Misery has very low ceilings and a very tight passageway. Matt isn’t fat but having a Landon belly while negotiating Fat Man’s Misery was something to behold. The Historical Tour ends with a three hundred and ten foot climb to the surface. We stayed at a Jellystone Park. They had excellent facilities. All kinds of things to do. Lesa rented a golf cart. They had a big, shallow, warm lake with huge blown up toys to play on.
Landon was deposited on the beach. He immediately fell in love with the sand. But he also crawled right into the water. Not all the way. Only as much as he could. By himself. On his own. Epic. DOLLYWOOD and GATLINBURG
We stayed at a rental home. The first day we were tired. Matt and I were sitting in chairs in the back yard. Matt fell asleep. I went in to take a take a shower. Matt came flying into the house reporting a large animal coming out of the woods. Indeed! Two big bears trundled through the yard, inspecting the house and the motorhome. Friggin’ awesome.
While on the back porch of the rental Liam reported a snake on the floor of the screened-in back porch. It was a large rat snake. He found his way out.
While doing his fatherly duties, washing baby bottles, Matt spotted a bobcat in our yard. Awesome again.
Gatlinburg I had visited Gatlinburg with Matt when he was just a baby. He had no memory of that visit. I remembered a long street with local vendors selling things they had made by hand. Not now. Most of the street is a tourist trap with trashy gift shops. It had been worth a visit. Still fun with the family. We were able to park the motorhome at the Smokey Mountain Visitor Center and shuttle into Gatlinburg. The traffic is stupid and crazy inside and outside of the park. The visitor’s center took a clue from the vendors at Gatlinburg. We found a visitor center that was 97.3% store and about 2.7% national park. The Smokey Mountain Visitor Center had little to do outside of profit. Dollywood Dollywood is a respectable, clean and well maintained amusement park. They have great parking for an RV. It is on a mountain. We went through a lot of up and down. Again, Matt and Liam knocked off all the big rides. Landon, Lesa and I hit the smaller rides. The splash park was day two and Landon had a great time. He made friends in the water. HOCKING HILLS STATE PARK We stayed at a nice KOA. I was able to get the motorhome to the visitor center without a problem. That was a nice visitor center. We hiked a bit in very hot weather. I had a devil of a time because of my knee and because of... wait for it … mountains. Matt and Liam determined to continue walking but a storm forced us back. BACK AT HOME Back at home Landon got to sit in real grass ... without fire ants.
A copy of our lodging agena is here.
CONCLUSION Rarely has a trip involved so much time with family. It was a fantastic trip and I will remember it forever. For up-to-date park maps and information, check the |
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