Wanderings And Ponderings

Witnessing the Moonbow at Cumberland Falls: A One-of-a-Kind Kentucky Experience Near Corbin, Kentucky, tucked within the rolling hills and thick forests, sits one of my favorite places to revisit again and again: Cumberland Falls State Resort Park . My family and I have made several trips over the past few years, but on this visit, we set out to witness something truly rare— a moonbow . What Is a Moonbow? A moonbow is similar to a rainbow, but instead of sunlight, it's formed by moonlight reflecting off water droplets in the air. The effect is subtle and surreal—a white or silvery arch that can appear over waterfalls under the right conditions, especially during a full moon. One of the best and only places in the Western Hemisphere to reliably see a moonbow is right here at Cumberland Falls. You can read more about the science behind moonbows on Wikipedia . Our Family’s Night at Cumberland Falls We arrived just after 9:00 p.m. and walked down the path to the falls, below the...

An Epic Striper Fishing Trip at Lake Texoma Earlier this summer, my dad, Uncle Bill, our friend Jody, and I packed up for a quick fishing getaway to Lake Texoma, one of the best places in the U.S. to catch striped bass. We were lucky to book a guided trip with Marty Zamora , a well-known striper guide in the area. Years ago, my dad and I fished with him and had a great experience—so when I saw he had a cancellation for Saturday, June 21, we jumped on it. We headed down to the lake the night before and camped out right on the sandy shoreline near Cedar Mills Marina . No fancy lodge this time—just four guys, a campfire, and the lake. It was roughing it in the best way. Fishing Lake Texoma with a Local Guide We hit the water early with Marty the next morning. While we didn’t quite hit the legal limit of 10 fish per person, we had an awesome problem: we were catching fish that were too big! Under Texas and Oklahoma regulations, only two striped bass per person can be over 20 inches...

This January, I had the chance to visit Kincaid Lake State Park, and it turned out to be a quiet, unexpected gem in the coldest of seasons. The lake was mostly frozen over, and the snow-covered hills gave the whole park a stillness that felt almost sacred. Few people probably get to see the park like this—blanketed in snow, hushed, and glistening. One of the coolest moments? I skipped a piece of ice across the frozen lake—something I’d never done before. The sound it made as it glided across the surface was like a low echo bouncing across a natural amphitheater. A small, unexpected memory I won’t forget. The wildlife was active too. I spotted turkeys moving through the woods and a few deer foraging in the open snow-covered fields, searching for anything edible beneath the crust. It was a simple reminder that life keeps going, even when everything feels frozen in place. Quiet Beauty and Warm Hospitality Beyond the views and the wildlife, one thing stood out during my visit: the ...

I took some time during this cold snap to visit Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park, and I have to say—winter might be my new favorite season for park visits. There’s a peacefulness that settles in with the frost, and the views take on an entirely different character. You notice things you might overlook in the green of summer: subtle contours in the land, low winter light casting long shadows, and wildlife moving through the stillness. I especially enjoyed watching a few deer foraging calmly in the open patches, unfazed by the quiet chill in the air. If you're in Lexington, KY or Cincinnati, OH, this park is an easy day trip, offering a scenic and reflective escape into both nature and history. History Beneath Your Feet Blue Licks is more than just a beautiful natural space—it’s the site of one of the last battles of the American Revolutionary War, fought on August 19, 1782. In a tragic and pivotal moment, a group of Kentucky militiamen—led by figures like Daniel Boone...

Located in Boone County, Kentucky, Big Bone Lick State Park is one of the most fascinating—and underrated—historic and scientific sites in North America. While the name might raise a few eyebrows, the story behind it is anything but a joke. This park is widely recognized as the birthplace of American vertebrate paleontology and offers a unique look into the prehistoric past of the continent. A Quick Big Bone Lick History Lesson Long before highways and hiking trails, this land was a salt and mineral lick—a marshy area where animals came to ingest essential nutrients. During the Pleistocene era (about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago), this spot became a gathering ground for mammoths, mastodons, giant ground sloths, and other now-extinct megafauna. Many became trapped in the soft, boggy terrain, leaving behind a treasure trove of fossilized bones that would one day revolutionize science. Indigenous peoples, including the Shawnee, Cherokee, and others, knew of the lick’s significance fo...