Given the nice weather forecast today and the chance of some showers tomorrow, we headed out to Stone Mountain Park. Located east of Atlanta, it was about a 15 minute drive (via I-285 and Stone Mountain Pkwy) from the hotel to the park.
The park is built around the largest exposed granite dome (825 feet tall) in North America and is 3,200 acres in area. You pay a daily parking permit of $8.00 per vehicle to enter the park. This lets you enjoy the various facilities such as picnic areas, trails, children's playground, Quarry exhibit and, during the summer, the Lasershow Spectacular. In addition to these facilities, the park has several attractions that can be paid for individually or you can purchase an One-Day All Attractions Pass.
Despite the off-season, many of the attractions were in operation, including the Scenic Train Ride, Riverboat Cruise, 4D Theater, Antebellum Plantation & Farmyard, Treehouse Challenge and The Great Barn. Despite spending just over 6 hours at the park, we didn't get to them all. Unfortunately, the SkyRide to the top of Stone Mountain was closed for maintenance.
We did ride the train round Stone Mountain which provided some awesome views of Stone Mountain. Jeremy and Corbin enjoyed the Crossroads, a replica of an 1870s southern town, complete with a blacksmith, glass blower and candle maker. We visited several shops including the gift shop and candle shop and candy shop. Corbin bought some sheriff's badges for himself and some of his friends. Tina and Adam picked up some candles for Jen and Adam bought himself a hat.
Jeremy and Corbin let loose in the Treehouse Challenge, which consists of two three-story forts - one for boys, one for girls - where kids had to guide colored balls into interactive stations to score points. Next we had lunch at Miss Katies, a full service restaurant, where they hand toss rolls at you. The food was hot and tasty. The kids food came on a Frisbee, that the kids got to keep.
Next, we checked out The Great Barn - a three storey barn where kids are given a bracelet that lets them earn points (again using colored balls) at various interactive stations. There were slides, trampolines, cannons and nets. Jeremy and Corbin thoroughly enjoyed The Great Barn.
We took a drive around the park to give the kids some time to calm down and relax and to get a better idea of what the park has to offer. Stone Mountain Park is a great attraction with lots to do and lots to see. We definitely would recommend it to anyone visiting the Atlanta area.
On our way back to the hotel, Adam took the long way home via the I-285 loop. It took us by the airport which piqued the interest of the boys, especially Jeremy, who loves airplanes. At the hotel, we rested for a short while and ended an awesome day by spending some family fun time in the pool.
After an excellent night's sleep - a king bed seems to do that - our walking alarm clock aka Jeremy, woke up and told us all that it was morning time and time to eat. So Tina and Adam had their showers and we headed down to enjoy a breakfast that included the standard items plus make-your-own waffles, biscuits, gravy, sausage patties and scrambled eggs. Overall, the breakfast met our expectations. We headed back to the room, packed up, checked out and took a very short drive to the Kentucky Horse Park.
The Kentucky Horse Park is a 1,200 acre facility for and about horses. It houses two museums, twin theatres, the National Horse Centre (offices of various horse related organizations), the Hall of Champions (where past winners 'retire'), a campground, shows, competitions and a under-construction therapeutic riding facility. This is in addition to the acres of pastures where over 50 breeds of horses run freely. In 2010, the Kentucky Horse Park will host the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG), the first time the games will be held outside of Europe.
We arrived at 9:00 am and it seemed we were the only ones in the park. This was the end of the off-season, so not all the activities and events were up and running. We walked over to the Draft Horse Barn to see some of the biggest horses that any of us have seen. These horses are used to pull trolleys and carriages around the park.
We took a short tour on the trolley and then walked over to the Breeds Barn, where various breeds are shown off. One horse was being cleaned and we had a pleasant chat with the workers. They even brought the horse out for the boys to pet and to get the horse used to people. Next, was a visit to the International Museum of the Horse, the largest museum of it's kind. From prehistoric to modern times, the history of horse is shown through various displays. It is quite the facility.
The last stop at the Horse Park was the gift shop. Adam bought a baseball cap and the boys got some souvenirs. Tina also bought a few gifts for Becky at the Windsor-Essex Therapeutic Riding Association. Speaking of therapeutic riding, a new state-of-the-art therapeutic riding centre is being built at the Kentucky Horse Park.
After spending two and a half hours at the Horse Park, we headed down I-75 towards Atlanta. A stop for lunch at the birthplace of KFC, Sander's Cafe, in Corbin, Kentucky. Yes, the stop was planned so we could took some pictures of Corbin in front of a sign with his name in it. Lunch was filling and delicious. Tina drove the next leg from Corbin, KY, to just inside the Georgia state line before Adam took over driving duties heading into Atlanta.
1,200 or so kilometres later, we had arrived at the Best Western in Atlanta.
Today was all about getting to Georgetown, Kentucky. This trip was different in that both Jeremy and Corbin, had their own portable DVD player (Adam bought one at Costco, and we borrowed another from our friends, Joe and Jen). This should prevent the fiasco on our previous trip from Cincinnati, where Jeremy talked for five hours straight.
Adam packed the van and we headed out around 2:30 pm. First stop was picking up Jeremy at the sitter's. Next was dropping off Guinea at Sarah's house. Then it was getting some US greenbacks at the bank. It took us about 40 minutes to get through US Customs.
In Toledo, we stopped at Denny's for dinner and gas. The drive to Cincinnati was uneventful. An accident on the bridge over the Ohio River slowed things down, but it was clear sailing after that.
We arrived at the Comfort Suites in Georgetown, Kentucky just after 10:00 pm. Tina could not believe how warm it was - people were walking outside with no jackets. We settled into our King suite - the boys shared a pull out couch - and had an excellent nights sleep.
February was cold - and it shows in the Union Gas bill (where we had the highest monthly consumption of natural gas but our monthly Equal Budget payment was reduced - some sort of cruel joke by Union Gas). Didn't do much outside due to the cold. We did some shopping here and there.
Tina and Adam went out on a dinner and shopping date one Friday night. Had a nice dinner at the Outback Steakhouse and then spent some time browsing at Chapters. Took the long way home.
Tina cleaned up the Everything Room and made it into a small playroom for Corbin (and Jeremy under certain conditions). We got fed up with the plethora of toys that made there way into the living room, so Tina moved the one toy shelf down to the everything room. She also went through the toys, freeing up several bins. Next: the crawl space needs to be tidied and reorganized.
The boys continued with their various sporting lessons. Jeremy is definitely a fish - he loves to swim. Corbin is excelling at horseback riding. Both boys are having fun at gymnastics - though Jeremy needs to try harder to listen and stop being the clown of the class.
It was pick up day. Adam headed back to Detroit (his third border crossing in a week) to pickup the in-laws at the airport. No issues at the border and traffic was very light. Once at the airport, he was able to find someone leaving their parking space and was able to catch a shuttle van as it turned the corner. A quick tour of the airport via the shuttle and he arrived at the arrivals lounge, where Chris was waiting with Madigan for their bags, which were just arriving on the luggage carousel.
Walked outside and caught a parking garage shuttle just as it arrived - the same one Adam had taken to get to the terminal. Another quick tour of the airport and we were loading up the van. No problems heading back to Canada. Cleared customs and brought the in-laws to our house. We mentioned that Goderich was nailed with snow all week. Good timing on their part, heading to Florida during a cold and snowy spell.
Today, Adam drove Chris, Lisa, Teegan and Madigan to Detroit Airport for their flight down to Orlando, Florida. It was sunny but bitterly cold. No problems at the border and traffic to and at the airport was light. By them time the Chris and Lisa got out of the van, their bags had been checked and their boarding passes printed - excellent service. Adam arrived back home by 8:30 am. Heck, he could have gone to work - but seeing as he took the morning off, he decided to do a few errands.
Today, Adam and Corbin headed down to Toledo, OH, to watch the Harlem Globetrotters. Corbin has been talking about this day for weeks.
Adam picked up Corbin just after lunch, packed the van and headed out. It was bitterly cold but sunny. No problems at the border and the traffic to Toledo was typical. They arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in Perrysburg, OH, checked in and grabbed a bite to eat the adjacent Big Boy Restaurant. Then they hung out in the hotel room, with Corbin checking the clock on a regular basis.
The time came and they headed up to the University of Toledo campus, about a 15 minute drive from the hotel. Parking was $5 and plenty was available. Corbin and Adam walked over to the arena. You could tell that Corbin was excited because he was quiet. Once inside, they headed towards their front row seats. In fact, Corbin was located right on the centre line. The boys headed up to get some souvenirs including a regulation Harlem Globetrotters basketball, a reversible jersey and a program. Corbin bought some popcorn and pop.
Corbin thoroughly enjoyed the game and even got a few autographs after the game. He was in a very happy place. Corbin's best memory of the game: two players pulling down their shorts. Adam laughed and was proud of Corbin. It was just another 'regular' father-son event.
The next day did not get off to a good start. Adam threw his back while putting his back. It wasn't debilitating, but the pain was unbearable at times. Still, he managed to get down for breakfast and enjoy those cinnamon rolls. After breakfast, Corbin went for a swim in the pool. After packing up and checking out, they headed for some shopping. They stopped at Target and Corbin bought Jeremy and himself a Star Wars figure.
On the way back home, Adam and Corbin stopped in at Denny's for lunch. Corbin managed to talk his dad into getting him a rocket drinking cup, but in return he had to eat his whole lunch. No issues at Canada Customs. They arrived home safely, just before the crazy snow squall the enveloped Essex County in a matter of minutes.
Given the nice weather forecast today and the chance of some showers tomorrow, we headed out to Stone Mountain Park. Located east of Atlanta, it was about a 15 minute drive (via I-285 and Stone Mountain Pkwy) from the hotel to the park.
Despite the off-season, many of the attractions were in operation, including the Scenic Train Ride, Riverboat Cruise, 4D Theater, Antebellum Plantation & Farmyard, Treehouse Challenge and The Great Barn. Despite spending just over 6 hours at the park, we didn't get to them all. Unfortunately, the SkyRide to the top of Stone Mountain was closed for maintenance.
Jeremy and Corbin let loose in the Treehouse Challenge, which consists of two three-story forts - one for boys, one for girls - where kids had to guide colored balls into interactive stations to score points. Next we had lunch at Miss Katies, a full service restaurant, where they hand toss rolls at you. The food was hot and tasty. The kids food came on a Frisbee, that the kids got to keep.
On our way back to the hotel, Adam took the long way home via the I-285 loop. It took us by the airport which piqued the interest of the boys, especially Jeremy, who loves airplanes. At the hotel, we rested for a short while and ended an awesome day by spending some family fun time in the pool.
