Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021 - 39

THE MUSEUM OF THE MIDDLE APPALACHIANS

KENTUCKY TOURISM

ABOVE LEFT: Take a
trip through time at the
Museum of the Middle
Appalachians.
ABOVE: Stand among
ancient geologic formations
in Mammoth Cave NP.
LEFT: Enjoy guided tours
at Highlands Museum &
Discovery Center.

KENTUCKY TOURISM

Japanese Meditation garden, formal
walled herbal display garden, Woodland
garden, Gravel/Mediterranean garden
and Wildlife Habitat garden. The owners'
dedication to education and conservation
has earned this destination recognition
as a Certified Habitat Garden by the
National Wildlife Federation, a certified
Monarch Watch Site, a Bee Friendly Site
and a Pesticide-Free Zone. beagleridge.org

Museum of the Middle Appalachians
Discover the wide expanse of time " From
the Ice Age to the Space Age " at this
facility. The Saltville Valley's ecosystems
made it a natural location for animals
of the late Pleistocene Epoch (the most
recent ice age); and their fossils are still
being discovered today. On display are the
woolly mammoth, mastodon, musk ox
and giant beaver among other mammals,

fish and birds. Additionally, the museum
contains a large collection of artifacts
from Woodland period Native Americans
(1,000 BCE to European contact).
smythchamber.org

)) Kentucky

Cave Wildlife Museum only minutes
from the park. nationalparks.org/exploreparks/mammoth-cave-national-park

Southfork Elk View
For an easily accessible elk viewing
opportunity, travel the paved road to the
Breathitt County facility. The largest elk
population lives in this area of the state.
The landscape includes mountain views
and wetlands; so keep an eye open for
other wildlife. There are also trail rides
available in the vicinity with upcoming
plans to build a campground in addition
to the primitive camping currently
available. In addition to developed
equestrian trails, the surrounding
area has ATV trails. kentuckytourism.
com/jackson/attractions/guided-tours/
southfork-elk-view

Mammoth Cave National Park

Highlands Museum & Discovery Center

Prepare to be amazed at the sheer size
of this underground destination-1,000
miles (estimated) with 400 miles explored!
This earns the distinction of being the
longest known cave system on the planet.
Guided tours are available for ten miles of
the cave with up-close views of ancient
geology at a comfortable (constant) 54°
F year-round. Stay topside during your
visit to explore the 52,800-acre forest, two
rivers and 11 miles of trails. Conclude
your stay with a stop at the Mammoth

For a wide variety of experiences, visit
this museum to ride an actual river
towboat; learn about satellites; interact
with displays about early cultures; see the
early days of medical care in the region;
discover the natural world; and " meet "
early pioneers of art, music and aviation.
The facility has permanent and rotating
exhibits, an art gallery, workshops for kids
and offers self-, semi- and fully-guided
tours of their 11,000 historical artifacts.
highlandsmuseum.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

39
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country January/February 2021
