Bernheim Forest...

A friend posted on Facebook about an adventure her family went on in Kentucky. We have a beautiful forest named Bernheim Forest. It is not far from Bardstown, Kentucky. Claude and I drove through Bernheim Forest after a weekend trip to Bardstown to ride My Kentucky Dinner Train several years ago. I drove Papa over one day and we drove through it for fun. Bernheim Forest is celebrating it's 90th anniversary. In conjunction with this occasion, Bernheim welcomed Danish artist, Thomas Dambo, to construct three giant sculptures throughout the arboretum using recycled wood from the region. They are Mama Loumari with her children, Little Nis and Little Elina, and her third baby Giant, who is currently living in Mama's belly. This piqued my curiosity and was something I truly wanted to see. I shared it with Claude and he too wanted to visit this exhibit which should be in Bernheim Forest for about three years.

Saturday, August 3rd, was an afternoon we could do this. So, I was up and visited Papa early in the day. Claude came to Georgetown and picked me up and we drove on to LaGrange. We would pick up the Mini's to enjoy this adventure with us and give Andie a few hours to get some things accomplished preparing for her school year. 

At the Marx home we gave Andie a hair cut and picked up a pair of shorts Bailey needed to have a seam mended. I took some embroidery floss from Andie and mended the shorts as we drove to Bernheim. 

There is no cost to go and see the Giants but there is a suggested $10 per car donation to Bernheim Forest. I find that a very good donation to make. We made the donation and then managed to find parking. After a brief walk to the Visitor's Center, we were given this map showing where we would need to walk from the Visitor's Center to get to all three Giants. It would be a mile walk out and a mile walk back. The temperature was 90 degrees. With caps, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen on each of us, we set out on our journey.

The trail to find these Giants was marked with Giant footprints on the ground.

Please note the beginning position of our 14 year old. It will continue through our visit.

Bailey and Claude led out because, well, I have to pause to take pictures. This is the walk to the first Giant we would see. We first past a Fairy Village built of recycled wood from the forest. We walked along a beautiful lake. Along the edge of the lake were geese. Hayden reminded me that we needed to show this to Katelyn. She had a traumatic experience as a toddler when Jake, Claude and I took her to feed geese. Katelyn got a kick out of the picture we sent to her.

Our first stop was to see Little Nis. He is looking at his reflection in the water. If you look closely at the middle picture, you will find Bailey, Claude and Hayden by Little Nis' right arm and hand.

Now we checked our map and found what we felt was the right way to take the short cut across the field in search of Mama Loumari. Along the way we found this sculpture and Claude and Bailey cheerfully posed for me to take a picture.

Not far from this sculpture we found Mama Loumari. She is resting with a big belly as she is carrying the next baby. 

Behind Mama Loumari is their home. Lots of interesting wooden features here. Our resident 14 year old found his favorite pieces of furniture here. The second chair he was sure he needed in his room at home or the man cave which is his basement. The second picture is a dragon skull which would bring good luck. And as we left the home behind Mama Loumari, there was a plaque with a poem about this Giant family.

Now we are off in search of Little Elina.

She was located and pictures were again taken.

After finding all three Giants, my own personal Gentle Giant posed for his picture.  

Then we headed back the mile to the Visitor's Center. This is my gang hiking back across the forest trails. (Hayden, Bailey and Claude).  

I did okay on this walk, however, on the return trip the heat was getting to me. There was a snow cone wagon near Mama Loumari and as we approached it I assured Claude we all needed to rehydrate. Claude was happy to purchase a snow cone of choice for each of it. It was very refreshing in that heat.

We got out of this adventure without buying one souvenir. The kids are getting older. Hayden was happy with the cup his snow cone came in. It was plastic and changes colors with the cold items placed in it. Apparently he is collecting these cups this summer and our treat added a blue one to his collection. How fortuitous!

We enjoyed seeing these Forest Giants and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Bernheim Forest. Plan on walking a lot. There are parking lots near each of these Giants, however, you still need to walk from the lot on gravel paths to the Giants. One lady in one of the motorized carts was having a bit of trouble getting up a slight gravel hill. She made it. Great outing and very interesting to see.