My wife, daughter and I just returned from a 10-day whirlwind “vacation.” I use that term loosely, because it was not very relaxing, but it sure was a lot of fun.

A few times each year, this sports column focuses on travel; my travels to be specific, and this is one of those times.

First stop on this trip was the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky. As we were riding the shuttle bus from the parking lot to the [visitors’] Answer Center, the massive ark came into view and my first thought was, “Wow, it’s humongous!” That was from a mile away. As we got closer, the more and more impressive it’s size really became.

The ark was built to Biblical proportions and is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and over 50 feet tall.

Inside the Answer Center is a large auditorium, set up like many modern churches, with a huge open area for floor seating in individual chairs and a large stage. As I walked into the auditorium, I thought, “boy, would I love to play a concert here sometime.” Who knows? Maybe someday.

Also in the Answer Center is a gift shop, book store, snack shop and coffee shop.

From the Answer Center, we walked over to the ark itself. As we entered the ark, a time lapsed video was playing on the monitors showing the construction of the ark, which took about six years to build.

Inside, the ark is made up of three decks that are jam-packed with exhibits; in the open and in separate rooms. If I described every exhibit and every deck, this column would take up two pages of the newspaper. Suffice it to say, the exhibits depict the Biblical stories from Adam t to Noah, what the world may have been like in Noah’s time, how the original ark may have been built and how the animals on the ark were cared for, the great flood, and the days after the flood.

You must allow yourself three hours, at the very least, to read all the signs and descriptions on each exhibit, and to fully enjoy the interactive nature of this attraction. We were there a little over three hours and could have spent at least another hour there.

On the grounds outside the ark are several other things to see and do, such as Ararat Ridge Zoo, a virtual reality experience, zip lines, and food vendors.

The day we were there, began with beautiful weather, but as we were coming out of the ark, it was pouring rain; how appropriate. We didn’t even have to pay extra for the rain special effect. Anyway, because of the change in weather, we chose to avoid the outdoor activities, but I would have loved to visit the zoo and some of the other attractions.

This won’t be our last time to visit the Ark Encounter. There are plans to build more interactive and educational exhibits on the grounds, including; a walled city, the Tower of Babel, and a journey in history from Abraham to the parting of the Red Sea.

The Ark Encounter and it’s sister Creation Museum, about 40 miles away, are the work of an organization called Answers in Genesis, which was founded by and led by Ken Ham, who is one of the foremost experts on Biblical history and interpretation. Admittedly, the Ark Encounter, it’s exhibits and the descriptions depicted on the signage in the ark, are the interpretation of Ham and his group, of the actual events of Noah’s days. However, I learned a lot walking around the three decks of the ark and reading the information presented there, and I found myself saying, “Well, that makes sense. I never thought of it that way.”

One thing I learned was Noah didn’t have to take full grown, mature animals on the ark; elephants for instance. Instead, it would have been much easier and save a lot of space by having young, smaller animals, as long as they were able to propagate and replenish the Earth after the flood. That just makes sense.

I highly recommend a visit to the Ark Encounter. Although it’s a great experience for anyone of any age, it is best suited for adults and young people old enough to read and walk a long distance, and not necessarily for those that are very young who may get bored or tired easily. Also, for the elderly or those who can’t walk long distances, you can rent a wheel chair or an electric scooter. My mother-in-law was with us, and with her bad knee, we felt it was best for her to ride a scooter, and boy were we right. She was able to enjoy the whole thing without getting worn out.

If you haven’t already, I encourage you to put this one on your Bucket List.