It was a very early start this morning—we packed up, grabbed a quick breakfast, and were on the road by 6:25am, bleary-eyed but ready for a full day ahead.
Our first quick stop was Fort Knox, and yes, the rumors are true—security is tight! We weren’t expecting to get in (or strike gold), so we settled for a few photos outside the visitor center before moving on.
Next was a short detour to the Jim Beam Distillery, but since it was still early, nothing was open. We still managed to snap a couple of pictures before continuing on our way.
We arrived at Maker’s Mark around 8:50am, well ahead of our 9:40am tour, so we had a bit of downtime to relax in the car. The kids were welcome on the tour (minus the tasting, of course), but opted for some screen time instead—no surprise there—so we left them to it and headed off.
The tour turned out to be one of the best we’ve done. While the distilling part of the factory wasn’t operating, we did see the bottling line in action and explored the beautiful grounds. Our guide shared some fascinating facts about the brand’s heritage, craftsmanship, and quirky touches—like the iconic red wax seal.
At the end of the tour came the tasting, and let’s just say they weren’t stingy with the pours! My favorite was definitely the Maker’s Mark 46—smooth and rich. The Private Selection Panna Cotta smelled divine, but the 46 had my heart (and tastebuds). Naturally, we made a stop at the gift shop, and yes, we brought a bottle home. The fun part? You can dip your own wax seal. Mark did the honors… and I completely failed to press record. ????? So, you’ll just have to take my word for it—he nailed it.
By the time we got back to the car, nearly two hours had passed and the kids were not impressed—hot, restless, and apparently “suffering.” Though let’s be honest, they could’ve just sat on the grass! We reminded them (again) that this is Mark’s sabbatical, and some things they just have to suck up. This time, Mark kept that line to himself, since Sophia has started charging him $2 every time he says it. ?
Finding lunch proved tricky—Maker’s Mark’s restaurant was closed, and options were few and far between. Eventually, we gave in and ended up at McDonald’s, much to the kids’ utter joy despite our vow to avoid it this trip. Sophia even declared it was “the happiest she’s been.” We’ll call that a win.
Next up: Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace, a small but peaceful national park. Greer was the only one keen to do the Junior Ranger program, but it turned into a team effort when we saw how much work was involved. Once we completed the booklet, she proudly received her badge from the ranger—mission accomplished.
Back on the road again, we gained an hour as we crossed into Central Time. Our next destination: Mammoth Cave National Park. While waiting for our tour, Mark—determined to get another Junior Ranger badge—took matters into his own hands, grabbed a booklet, and got started himself. Eventually, he recruited Sophia to help, and the two of them made quite the team.
Our tour took us into the heart of the cave system on the Niagara Tour, where we admired impressive stalagmites and stalactites, and even descended an extra 48 steps to the Banner Room. It wasn’t a long tour, but it was enough to give us a feel for this incredible underground world.
Back at the visitor center, Sophia claimed her Junior Ranger badge, and we hit the road one final time for a 90-minute drive to Nashville.
We went straight to Edley’s BBQ, a spot Mark had scoped out ahead of time. It seemed only fitting given that one of his best mates is a Mr. Edley! The place was clearly a local favorite—and for good reason. The food was delicious, the portions generous, and the service on point.
We ended the day checking into our Airbnb, which instantly became everyone’s favorite so far. Not only did everyone get their own bed (a luxury for the girls!), but also their own room—pure bliss. As for me? I may or may not have fallen in love with the double washer and dryer setup. Yep… definitely getting old
