The Ark Encounter, Williamstown, KY

The story of Noah's Ark has always interested me. On one hand, I've heard and read about it so many times that it almost seemed mundane. At the same time, I could never quite grasp the immensity of the structure or really comprehend just how it was all possible. It was one of those "I guess I'll just have to believe it because the Bible says it's true" sort of deals. Until last Summer.

I cannot think of a neater way to bring the Bible to life than to visit the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY. Everything about this attraction is very well done and will be appreciated by visitors of all ages and interests. It will answer questions you had and questions you never even thought to ask!

Is this how the smaller animals were stored? Just one possibility!

The sheer size of the structure is impressive. The attention to detail is fantastic. There's a lot of scientific information to satisfy even the most dedicated, but it's also a very immersive and entertaining for those who just want the experience.

What You Need to Know

The local town doesn't have much going on - or at least it didn't when we were there. Plan ahead for lodging and meals. It's probably best to plan on eating at the Ark.

Prepare to do a bit of waiting and walking before the actual Ark. The parking lot is large and good parking can fill up quickly. Ticket lines were long and once we were inside we had a good bit of walking to get to the actual Ark. Thankfully, there's plenty to entertain and distract on the way there, but you'll want to make sure you have anything you need on hand because running back to the car will be quite the task.

For more FAQs including accessibility, locker and stroller rental, and more, click here. 

Depending on your group, you can spend anywhere from 3 hours to 2 days at the Ark Encounter. Our crew had our fill after about 4 hours. We also went off season so there wasn't much waiting for anything we wanted to see. If you're going during peak hours and members of your group really want to read everything, you might want to consider staying two days. 

Many people visiting the area also take time to see the Creation Museum. If you plan ahead of time, you can purchase combo tickets and save money!

Additional Resources

Worksheets and crafts here.

Bill Nye and Ken Ham tour the Ark video.

Bible study.

Noah's Ark: A Feasibility Study 

Search for the books below at your local library! If you decide to purchase, please consider using the links below. I'm a member of the Amazon Affiliate program so buying through my links helps support my blog!

I don't usually promote toys, but the one below is a classic!

Local Adventure: Elephant Rocks State Park, MO

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to travel. I can't help but marvel at the amazing diversity on this planet; rocks, trees, flowers. Flat prairie land, tall mountains, sandy beaches. It's all incredible.

I also really, really, love my home state of Missouri. Missouri is where I was born and raised and I'm fairly certain I will live here until the day I die. And I'm perfectly fine with that. I love visiting new places, but I really value having a home to return to when it's over.

So every now and then I'm going to highlight some fun places to visit here in MO (and probably Southern IL, too.) Most of these places are no more than 2 hours from St. Louis. If you're in the area, I hope they inspire you to check them out. If you aren't in the area, I hope these posts encourage you to explore something cool where you live!

Elephant Rocks State Park is so named because of the massive pink granite boulders that sit clumped together in this state park. This area is well known for its granite and a nearby quarry stays busy supplying the state with granite for building projects.

HUGE!

View from the top

What you need to know

The park itself is peaceful and can be explored in just a couple of hours. For those with limited mobility, you can walk the 1 mile trail around the boulders. For those who like to climb, you're free to climb the boulders and explore to your heart's content.

Tight squeeze

Even big kids like ERSP!

Take plenty of water and sun protection because there's no cover on the rocks and it gets HOT up there!

If you're wondering about safety, I'd say it's pretty safe for kids who are sure-footed and listen well. Everything is pretty stable, no loose gravel or anything like that. If you decide to climb you'll need to be in decent shape. It's a great workout!

 Shaded picnic sites, flush toilets, and a playground can all be found at the park. There's not much to be found in the immediate area surrounding the park so a lunch and/or snacks are a great idea.

While the park can easily be enjoyed in a few hours, you can still make a day trip out of visiting this area! Johnston's Shut-Ins State Park is only 20 minutes away. Consider visiting ERSP first and then cooling off with a dip at Johnston's Shut-ins.

Additional Resources:

Learn about MO geology here, which highlights Elephant Rocks. (Secular viewpoint, but some interesting scientific and historic info throughout.)

Diamond Head State Park, Oahu, HI

If you or your child happens to be crazy about craters, then hiking the rim of Diamond Head crater should be at the top of your travel bucket list. While extremely challenging, the views from the top make for a fantastic reward. As a bonus, those who brave this trail can boast about experiencing the best view of  the city of Honolulu. 

View from the military observation tower.

The trail from the parking lot starts out innocently enough, but quickly steepens. You'll climb up the side of the crater, through a tunnel, into an old military observation tower, and then outside. Once on top, you can view the interior of the crater to one side and the ocean and city on the other. The view is amazing and provides ample photo opportunities. 

View of the observation tower

City of Honolulu

Rim view of the inside of the crater

What you need to know

Arrive early. Even in the off-season, this was a popular attraction. If you don't mind extra walking and want to save money, you can park off-site. Otherwise you pay a small fee to park and then you'll have to queue up and wait until a spot opens up. Thankfully, parking lot attendants are available to make sure everything is done in an orderly fashion.

Water fountains and restrooms are available at the beginning of the trail, but there's nothing past that point so make sure to stop in on your way up. 

Aside from the brief time spent in the tunnel and observatory, there's no shade to be found during the hike, so sun protection is a must!

The trail is rigorous and very steep in some places. Not stroller or wheelchair accessible. Climbers need to be in good health. There are only a very few stopping points over the course of the trail. The trail is narrow and there are a lot of handrails so you can't easily rest unless you simply stop in the middle of the trail, but then you'll be blocking other hikers.

Steep, uneven trail.

It's absolutely worth noting that there is a fairly long tunnel that hikers have to traverse if they want to get to the top. There's simply no way around it. There is some faint lighting and some handrails, but if you're claustrophobic, you may want to keep this in mind.

Narrow tunnel

There's a refreshment stand near the parking lot so consider having some cash on hand. After your grueling hike you will probably be in the mood for something cold. They offered several types of tropical soft serve and smoothies. We rarely spring for things like that, but it sounded so, so good after we were done.

Learn More

Here's an 8-minute video about volcanoes. 

Volcano lesson plan and experiment.

Lots of info and a plethora of free printables. 

The Biltmore, Asheville, NC

It's not very often that my crew gets overly excited about touring a historic home. I have to pick my battles carefully and make sure these types of stops are far and few between. Imagine my relief and delight when the Biltmore house tour engaged everyone in our group!

The Biltmore was the home of the Vanderbilt family and is the largest home in the United States. Situated on 8,000 acres, this 178,000 sq ft house also boasts a conservatory, acres of gardens, a boat house, winery, and much more. While there's so much here to keep you busy, it's absolutely possible to see most of the home and gardens in one day.

If you're a fan of period dramas such as Downton Abbey, you'll be giddy at the Biltmore. Construction on the home started in the late 1800s and has been very, very well preserved. Some early 1900s updates were made, but you'll feel whisked away to another time and place as you tour the home and wander the grounds.

Tours are self-guided. Each person will be given a booklet that informs you of the highlights in each room. A tour guide leads each group around and points out a few details. Audio tours are also available, if you have more time and would like more info. The Vanderbilt's were very wealthy and well connected and their home boasts many treasures in each room. Having said that, based on the sheer enormity of the home and the time it takes to tour (about an hour) we opted to pass on the audio tour. 

After touring the house, you'll want to browse the gardens. The conservatory is beautiful and is full of gorgeous plants.

There are several terraces, pathways, ponds, fountains, and even a trail, depending on how much time you want to spend outdoors. You're completely free to explore at your own pace.

What you need to know

Like a lot of popular attractions, this one can get very busy during peak times. Tours are timed to keep the crowds down so you'll want to purchase tickets online ahead of time. Plan carefully because it's near impossible to add someone to your party after tickets have been purchased.

Before reaching the house itself, you'll leave the main road, park, and then walk along a wooded trail. The trail leads you to the far end of the drive, which is where the above picture was taken. As you can see, there's a good bit of walking before you even start the tour. Shuttle services are available, for a steep fee, but you must plan ahead and make a reservation.

Restrooms are limited. You'll want to be sure to use the restrooms up by the house prior to starting the tour because there are none to be found inside the home, in order to best preserve the house. 

Quick-bite restaurants, gift shops, and restrooms can be found within walking distance of the house. We were surprised by the quality of the food and appreciated that they had a few gluten-free options available. 

There are activities galore so you could easily spend a full day or even several days here on the estate, but the house and gardens were the main draw for us. You can see everything in just a few hours and then continue on your way.

Be sure to read up on their policies so you know what to expect regarding pets, outside food and drinks, etc. You do need to walk through a scanner so large pocket knives might be better left in the car.

Despite the restrictions, the Biltmore is very family friendly! Visit their page to learn more and to find family-friendly itinerary suggestions. 

If you visit, I hope you end up enjoying your time as much as we did. We really were in awe of the sheer size of the home and with all of the attention to detail. What a neat insight into the Vanderbilt family and that time period.