Rick picks his favorite local attractions for those wanting to stay close to home

There is nothing more memorable from my youth than the annual mid-July car trips between Northern Kentucky and Florida for summer vacations with my grandparents. Back then the epic journey involved jumping back and forth between completed sections of Interstate 75 and the Dixie Highway in a 1956 Chevrolet without air conditioning.

While my memories of those summers are of exciting adventures defining my childhood, I am certain my parents thought of them as a sunset dinner cruise on the River Styx in Dante’s fifth level of Hell.

Dad always had places he wanted to stay along the route and each day involved putting enough road behind us to get to a particular motel. In retrospect, it was always a Holiday Inn with a pool and a bar. After a day’s worth of driving the family, I guess we all needed to blow off some steam.

No matter the year—no matter the economy—the trip was always on the calendar. Other than worrying about where we could find the next Texaco station, Dad did not fret about fuel. Of course, in the early ‘60s gas prices hovered around 30 cents a gallon.

Now with gas prices higher than tailgaters in the parking lot of a Phish concert, the summer vacation has been a financial stretch for many families. Adding to the summer-trip dilemma is the concept that a so-called “reservation” on an airplane is quickly becoming an invitation to merely visit an airport while waiting for a pilot to arrive.

In response to our ever-changing travel conditions, many have opted for what is referred to as a “Staycation.” A Staycation is a parental fiction whereby mothers and fathers attempt to convince their children that Kings Island is just as nice and fun as Disney World.

I no longer have children expecting me to drive them to Mickeyville and the line at the Racer is far too long for me to stand in. However, to show my solidarity with those families remaining in Northern Kentucky this summer, I am planning my own Ludlow Staycation.

All vacations (including Staycations) should involve educational components. My dad always pointed out historical markers along our travel route. We never really stopped to read them. Still, we knew we were passing someplace important.

So, I plan on starting my trip by visiting the ancient ruins of the Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club. Located on the border between the twin cities of Ludlow and Bromley, these historically rich remains take visitors back to a forgotten time in pre-pandemic America where people regularly joined together for social interaction over alcoholic beverages while listening to live music by the Drysdales.

With outdoor recreation being such a large part of family Staycations, I’ll set up a tent at the vacant lot on the corner of Elm and Kenner streets where the Stag Café used to be located. My glamour camp (“Glamp”) will be conveniently located across from Tom Gaither Studio Gallery, which features original artwork, white wine and professional storytelling by the artist in residence.

And when Gaither’s wine bottle is empty and his stories start repeating (again), I can always head to the circus…or the Bircus to sip a cold craft beer while watching as the proprietor, former Ringling Brothers clown Paul Miller, balances a step ladder on his chin.

If Glamping in your favorite Northern Kentucky community does not appeal as an appropriate Staycation, find an old ’56 Chev without air conditioning, load up the kids in the back seat and head south on the Dixie Highway. Send me pictures of the historical markers.

Rick Robinson’s latest book, A Fish Ate My Homework: a beginner’s guide to fly fishing, is available on Amazon and at bookstores everywhere.