From horse races to underground ziplining, these are the best experiences to suit every family vacation
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By Adam Waxman
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Kentucky is one of those states where, when you zoom into the map, iconic titles appear, each one representing a totally unique experience worth discovering. The undulating highway is a veritable Choose Your Own Adventure book of off-ramps leading to historic caverns and adventures.
The morning get-up-and-go on this autumn sunrise in Bowling Green is crisp. Diners reanimate over a steaming cup of joe. Our waitress hurries over with good cheer, a print of a firetruck and some crayons to greet us as we sidle up to the counter for a chicken fried steak and a side of grits with butter and sugar. “What can I get you, hon?” She smiles. The sign above her head reads, “I love you like biscuits and gravy.” Southern hospitality is as comforting as southern comfort food. As we pull out of the lot, that soft crackle of tires in the dirt ushers the start our family road trip through Kentucky.
The race is about to begin! We quickly assess the Form to determine on which horse to wager our bet. It’s been said that famed breeder, Federico Tesio, once said, “A horse gallops with his lungs, perseveres with his heart, and wins with his character.” With that we decide on Line of Scrimmage and hand our cash to the teller. Our hearts racing, we reach our seats, but can’t sit down. The horses are positioned in their starting stalls. A bell rings like an alarm. And they’re off! As their gates swing open, the racers lunge forward with the force of a hurricane. That turbulent clopping of the ground. The kicking up of mud. The power. The grace. We’re instantly enthralled and screaming for “our” horse. As they round that final turn, he’s breaking out of the pack. Now he’s out in front, but the others are gaining. There’s so much tension. And…it’s Line of Scrimmage for the win! What an absolute rush!
We return to the teller to receive our cash. “What are you gonna do now?” He asks. I tell him, we’re going to quit and head out for lunch. “You’re the smartest fellas I’ve seen all day!” He laughs.
On guard in a boxing ring, we look up at the screen as Laila Ali, lauded as one of the greatest female boxers in history, demonstrates how to dance like her father did, how to punch and how to jab. We may not master the Ali Shuffle, but we practice our stance against a shadow and our rhythm against a speed bag.
My Dad and I were seated along the 1st baseline when Carter smacked that ball high into left field. As it sailed into the sky our collective gasp could fill a hot air balloon. We froze. Our dream-filled eyes opened wider than that moonlit night. And then, that unbelievable roar of 52,000 fans experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime thrill as Carter leaped around the bases letting us know we had won! We won! That was one of the greatest moments of my childhood—hugging my Dad as we jumped up and down with such jubilation. Baseball is the most romantic sport there is. Just holding Joe’s bat triggered that well of emotion that I felt with my Dad on that incredible night.
Turns out, this former limestone mine is one of the top attractions in Kentucky. Strapped into our harness and gear, we hook onto cables and make our way through a ropes course of seventy-six challenges. I gaze in amazement at my son who zips along like a circus performance on a high wire, while I, not as bendy, fold myself into an uncomfortable pretzel to reach each platform. I hook on to the zipline. My son beams. I chicken out. He looks sullen. “You can do this, dad.” He assures me. This is a real test of confidence. With one deep breath, I say, “I can do this, son.” I re-clip my hooks, give him a smile…and jump.
As my stomach quickly flies up into my mouth, I recoil from that zipper sound, and it doesn’t matter that it’s dark, because my eyes are firmly shut, but soon enough I crash into an awaiting net, hear my son cheering in the distance, and think to myself, “You know what? I can do that again!” And so, I do! This is a remarkable experience, and so much fun for us both. The mere concept of it is as awesome as the feeling of accomplishment and bonding that we both feel.
