So we left Virginia for a short trip around Kentucky, with a few stops in West Virginia on the way home.
Our 7 hour drive south took us by this scenic overlook – Veterans’ Overlook in Bean Station TN, which overlooks the Cherokee Reservoir.We drove through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel, which brought us from Tennessee to Middlesboro KY.
CUMBERLAND GAP NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK – KY/TN/VA
Colonists discovered Cumberland Gap as an easier path for westward travel and exploration in the mid-1700s. Daniel Boone made this pass legendary, blazing the trail west into Kentucky, where he encountered the Shawnee and Cherokee, sometimes as enemies and many times as friends. Boone’s encounters with the Indians is depicted in one of the four relief sculptures on the US Capitol doors. This is Daniel Boone Country! This area has seen a lot of action over the years!We were surprised to see so much color – we thought we would be a couple weeks early, but this was really colorful and beautiful!Mary Jean at the top of Pinnacle Overlook. She is standing in Virginia. Kentucky is to the right on the picture, Tennessee to the left.Cumberland Gap TNKentuckyWalking up to the Tri-State Peak. The trail is 1.2 miles long, uphill all the way, and gets pretty steep at the end.We started around 9 AM in light fog.“Indian Rock” marks one of the documented trails that Daniel Boone used in 1775 from North Carolina to Kentucky.The sun peeking through the fog.This is the Cumberland Gap “Saddle”Daniel Boone monument.This is a steep path. The picture doesn’t really capture its steepness.At the top of Tri-State Peak, where Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee meet at a point. This is the Kentucky sign.The view of Kentucky from the Kentucky signTennessee signThe view of Tennessee from the Tennessee signVirginia signView of Virginia from the Virginia sign. This is the trail we hiked.This is the far southwest point of the state of Virginia. The round marker is the point. Mary Jean is sitting in Virginia, Tennessee is on the right, and Kentucky is on the left.Survey marker at the pointStanding in three states at once!Colorful view on the hike back downWarrior!
THE ORIGINAL KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN, CORBIN KY
This the location of the very first Kentucky Fried Chicken! The original restaurant was named Sanders Cafe, and was attached to a motel. Of course, it is under renovation so we could not visit the museum. We did get our lunch at the drive-thru. This will be a pretty neat site when it is finished.Colonel Sanders statue in town.
CUMBERLAND FALLS, NEAR WILLIAMSBURG KY
Cumberland Falls is nicknamed the Niagara Falls of the SouthSo here we are at Cumberland Falls! Beautiful waterfalls – 125 ft. wide, 68 ft. tall, 3,600 cubic feet of water over the ledge per second!Unfortunately, the most recent full moon was October 3, so we did not experience the moonbow, but if we did, it would look like this:(nighttime picture from the internet, not me!)
