My Old Kentucky Hotels
Day 1
Sunless in Paducah
Day 2
Museums and More
Day 3
Woo Hoo, Sixty-Two
Day 4
It's a Miracle
Day 5
Down Town Brown
Day 6
Christmas in Derby City
Day 7
Take Me Home, Country Roads
December 26, 2024 (day 7)
I followed the Ohio River back toward Cincinnati with breakfast and an
Ale-8-One on the south side before taking a ferry across to Indiana.
December 25, 2024 (day 6)
A breakfast buffet to start the day and comfort food and bourbon to end
it made Christmas merry for me. Sure wish it was merry for all.
December 24, 2024 (day 5)
I walked on a little old Dixie Highway when that postponed meeting took
place then I finished the day with a Hot Brown at the source.
December 23, 2024 (day 4)
A change in plans made room for a theater visit.
December 22, 2024 (day 3)
Even though it meant no time to dilly-dally, I treated myself to a drive
on US-62 illustrated with drive-by shots only.
December 21, 2024 (day 2)
I roamed a cemetery, a park, and the Paducah riverfront before heading
off to a Toyland on the outskirts.
December 20, 2024 (day 1)
I reached the mounds in time for the sunset but it was invisible. I
consoled myself with catfish delivered by a carhop.
Prelude 1 - December 1, 2024
This trip simmered for a month then jelled in an instant. The first input
was a desire to find something related to the solstice besides sunrise at
Fort Ancient. Another input came while I was putting my Thanksgiving plans
together. At some point, I searched for historic Kentucky Hotels and the
1923 Brown Hotel in Louisville naturally came up on the list. It's fairly
pricey and had nothing spectacular going on for Thanksgiving so I did not
really consider it for that occasion. I was well aware of the Brown Hotel
and the search results refreshed any thoughts I had about staying there.
More importantly, it made the internet aware that I was aware. I began
seeing ads for the hotel. A Black Friday Special ad appeared over
Thanksgiving. 30% off room rates and free parking. As attractive as the
discounted rooms were, it was probably the free parking that really sealed
the deal for me. The $30 parking fee -- $35 for valet -- had definitely
been off putting. Other ideas had been, as I said, simmering so, with
that, the 2024 Christmas Escape Run agenda quickly fell into place.
This year's Winter Solstice occurs at 4:21 EST December 21 and I plan to watch the sun set over Wickliffe Mounds in Kentucky a few hours ahead of that. I don't believe these mounds have any connection with solar or lunar events but the park recognizes the solstice and I could be wrong about the solar connection. I will spend a couple of nights in a historic guest house in nearby Paducah then head east to spend a couple nights in a historic hotel in Lexington. That takes me up to Christmas Eve which will be spent, along with Christmas Day, at the Brown Hotel in Louisville.