Last week, I wrote about our trip to the Ark Encounter. This week our whirlwind vacation continues in Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina.

Next stop, the Mary Todd Lincoln House in Lexington, KY. The wife of President Abraham Lincoln was one of America’s most interesting first ladies. This House was her family’s home where she grew up.

As the historical home’s website points out, Mrs. Lincoln was sophisticated, educated, and versed in politics. On the surface, her success in the White House seemed assured. Yet, few women in American history have endured as much controversy and tragedy.

During a self-guided tour of the house, you are able to see many rooms on the first two floors, however, the third floor is off limits. The home is filled with as many furnishings and portraits that would have likely been in the home during the time the Todd family lived there.

I learned about a first lady I knew very little of, prior to our visit. It was interesting to learn that her family was considered very well-to-do in those days, and that she ended up marrying a peasant farmer boy from the backroads of Kentucky.

We also learned that her family was split over the idea of abolishing slavery and that some of her siblings didn’t vote for her husband because of this issue. On average, at any given time, the Todd family had five slaves working for them, while Mary was growing up. Enslaved men and women cleaned, cooked, drove carriages, and provided childcare in the Todd home.

It costs $15 for adults to tour the house and there is a gift shop in one of the rear rooms.

From Lexington, we drove on to Ivanhoe, Virginia, where my wife’s sister and brother-in-law live. They know of my love for popcorn, so they took us to an Amish store in Wytheville, where they sell sweet mushroom popcorn. I had never heard of this variety of popcorn, but I guess it gets its name from how large and puffy the flakes are when popped. When our supply runs out, I’ll have to ask them to send me more.

When then spent a couple days in West Jefferson, N.C., with my wife’s brother and sister-in-law. West Jefferson is a quaint little town in the mountains, and it has a very inviting downtown strip. We enjoy walking along Main Street and shopping in the various specialty stores. My favorite is the Ashe County Cheese Factory and store.

At the factory, you can watch through the windows as they make cheese. Across the street is their store, and I can never walk out of there without purchasing a couple pounds of cheese and some jams to bring home. The cheeses I picked out this time; habanero cheddar and horseradish cheddar. The jams were gifts for family back home.

Onward we went, with our last stop, my mother-in-law’s house in Kannapolis, N.C. I’ve written about Kannapolis many times, and on each trip there we always seem to find something new and different to do. However, this time, we revisited the historic Gem Theatre and watched the movie, Cruella.

The Gem Theatre is billed as “The Showplace of Kannapolis, since 1936.” It is a first run, single screen movie theater located in downtown Kannapolis. The Gem has been a landmark place to watch movies for families for generations.

It had been over 10 years since we saw a movie at the Gem, and it has recently been renovated. I love these beautiful, old theaters, with a grand neon lit marquee out front, a balcony, and a curtain that covers the screen. You don’t get the same charm and character with the modern day cineplexes. Before the previews begin, you sit in anticipation of that curtain drawing to each side, which is the cue that the fun is about to begin.

I did not have high expectations for this movie, honestly, but I was hugely mistaken. I enjoyed Cruella very much. The story of how goodness triumphed, even as the lead character wanted to be evil, but really couldn’t because she truly had love in her heart, made for an enjoyable plot and lesson.

All-in-all, it was a great “vacation,” regardless of how tiring it was, and yes, I really do enjoy spending that much time with my in-laws.