Frankfort

When I got back from Utah, I had a few items on my 'must do' list before school started. We had limited to what we could do this summer with swim team every morning, so I was ready to check a few places off. So Monday at noon we loaded up the van and headed due west to Frankfort- our state capital. We had driven through years ago when Rich was in medical school and the capital building reminded me so much of the Salt Lake Capital. This time I wanted to go in and explore the surrounding area (Photo: Kentucky River and Historic Frankfort). Thankfully, after years of being dragged here and there by mom, my boys were happy to go along with my plan. If fact I think they were as excited as me. Okay, maybe not, but they had a great time and didn't complain one bit. (Except seven hours after our adventure began while heading home I made a wrong turn as we drove past the distillery and had to backtrack 11 miles each way on the Bluegrass Highway, but I digress....)First stop: The Capital. We entered from the west side and found no ramp or handicap access. So after a few quick photos the boys I lugged the massive double stroller up 3 sets of stairs. I laughed the entire time thinking how ridiculous we looked as Matt kept falling down and we struggled to move the girls forward, but I knew if I let the girls out to walk I might never get them back sitting down. After a bit of sweating we finally made it to the top!After a quick check in with photo ID, metal detector and another flight of stairs we made it inside (and happily discovered elevators and a handicapped entrance in the basement.)It was well worth the effort. It was gorgeous inside.Carved marble The imposing dome above the rotunda, which houses sculptures of famous Kentuckians, was modeled after the one over Napoleon's tomb in Paris, France. At the center it rises seven stories. A statue of Abraham Lincoln in the center of the rotunda stands above others of Jefferson Davis, Henry Clay, Alben Barkley and Ephraim McDowell. Office of the GovernorCross Stitch Mural of each of Kentucky's 120 counties.The girls enjoyed the dolls of each Kentucky First Lady.Massive marble stairways modeled after the Paris Grand Opera House rise to the second floor--or the judicial floor. This is where the Supreme Court, the state law library and the state reception room, which was recently restored, are located.The newly restored State Reception Room was designed in the Louis XIV period and includes a handwoven Austrian rug which designed expressly for the room in 1910. It has French style furniture and elegant wall murals and decorative finishes. The House of Representatives and the State Senate. The boys were amazed that these were the real rooms and were used to make laws and run our government.The beautiful floral clock behind the capital.The Governor's Mansion located just east of the capital. It was closed for tours (only open on Tuesday and Thursday). The Mansion's exterior was modeled after the Petit Trianon, Queen Marie Antoinette's villa near the Palace of Versailles in France. Next stop: Frankfort Cemetery We visited Daniel Boone's grave. His wife Rebecca is also buried there. As we drove up, I noticed a large statue of what looked like a solider and graves placed in a circles around it, which seemed odd. We went down and explored. It turned out to be a monument honoring the Confederate soldiers and the small graves were those of soldiers. It was very fascinating. Kentucky was a divided state during the Civil War. I am sure there were Union graves as well, but we didn't have time to hunt for them.Next up: Rebecca Ruth Candy Tour and Retail StoreThis candy shop was established in 1919 and is the founder of Kentucky's well renowned Bourbon Balls. They mix Kentucky made Bourbon into a candy center and top with dark chocolate and a pecan. No, we didn't sample them, but the boys did enjoy the chocolate they gave to them at the end of the tour. While the boys enjoyed a DVD in the back seat and the girls were passed out in their car seats, I drove through Frankfurt's historic section and snapped a few pictures of a few of the lovely homes that have a bit of history. On Wapping Street you can find a home whose architect also built the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs, and where the phrase, "Dog is Man's best friend" was born. Frankfort was breathtaking.Our last stop: The Salato Wildlife Education Center, which we found out was closed on Monday. But that was fine. We did find a vending machine that worked and explored a pond stocked with fish. We are planning to head back next Friday to visit the museum and fish since the boys do not have school that day.Kentucky have been a lovely place to live these past almost 8 years.Next up: Finding a time to visit this place: The Woodford Reserve Distillery. I might be able to talk Rich into going to a Bourbon Distillery since it is a National Historic Landmark- it's the birthplace of America's Whiskey. I've got my fingers crossed.And on the drive home we passed the Castle. It's almost done. Like I said, Kentucky's been a great place to live and explore.