Since I started writing, whenever we go on vacation, a book begins to percolate. I often plan our trips around a jaunt I need to make for a book I’m writing. Back when I began my rodeo series, we visited the Fort Worth Stockyards and Aubrey, Texas. Both featured prominently in the series. Since we have family in the San Antonio area, it was easy to visit both sites on the way to see them. In fact, the first time we visited the stockyards, Texas Mom – my husband’s stepmom, met us there since she’d never been. She was telling me something and my mind was wandering, envisioning scenes I’d write. My husband said, “Don’t try to talk to her until later, she’s not really here with us right now.” For some reason visiting places that end up in my books, I often end up with a couple fighting. When we visited the Cowtown Cattlepen Maze at the stockyards, I thought, wow, what would happen if a couple got into an argument in the maze and couldn’t find their way out to escape each other. That scene ended up in Rodeo Hero.
When our church gifted us fully paid vacation trip, I had no intention of setting a book around the experience. We set out on a Monday with an entire week free to explore. This was our first
trip, just the two of us, in 19 years. Though we tried to get our son to go with us, he’s working now and our schedules didn’t work out. The first night, we stayed in Memphis at the Big Cypress Lodge at Bass Pro in the Pyramid. We’d stayed there for our son’s 18th birthday a few years ago and really enjoyed it. This time, we got a room with a balcony overlooking the store. It was so peaceful, listening to the waterfall. Our balcony was fashioned like a screened porch–with air conditioning. I could have stayed there all week, so relaxing. I jokingly call Bass Pro Hotel California–you can check in any time you like, but you can never leave because my husband and son can spend an entire day there. After I check out housewares, I end up sitting on the bench watching the ginormous fish in the aquarium or relaxing in the recliners. Staying there is awesome. When I got tired of waiting, I went to our room and sat on the balcony.
During the trip, we ate at fun places: Westy’s, where I ate the spiciest gumbo ever and we experienced world-famous Hot Fudge Pie. It was pretty incredible. LBOE – Last Burger on Earth, it was pretty impressive. Day 2, we drove to Lexington, which is about 45 minutes from the final destination of our trip, The Ark Experience.
It was fittingly raining cats and dogs the day we arrived at the Ark. My hero drove an extra mile to buy me an umbrella. My hair is stick straight, but
if it gets wet, it fuzzes. And it doesn’t stop fuzzing until I wash it again. He knows I won’t melt, but my hair will. Umbrella in hand, we arrived at the Ark. First up was an open air pavilion style structure, with no bathroom, where we bought our tickets. From there, we rode a bus to the gift shop, where the bathrooms are, and a really yummy coffee bar. We browsed the gift shop and I was kind of disappointed. There wasn’t a whole lot there. The ark is a pretty good, winding jaunt from the gift shop, but I had my trusty umbrella.
It’s definitely an experience. You walk a ramp the length of the Ark – 510 feet – to get inside the ark. Once inside, there are 3 more 510 feet ramps that take you to each level. If you ever get to go, wear comfortable shoes. Thankfully, we did. Each level is fascinating. The storage and living quarters were what impressed me. Every available space was used. Of course, we don’t know if the real Ark was anything like this one, but it all made perfect sense.
3D printed animals of every kine imaginable, along with some that no longer exist. A woodworking shop, 
living quarters for each family member, food, water, supply storage. Each family member is fleshed out and given a name and fictional story to bring them to life and make them seem more like real people. I took tons of pictures, but the entire time, I knew I could never do it justice, and kept thinking, they need to have a picture book we can buy. Thankfully, once you make it back down the 3 levels, there’s a fourth ramp where we ended up in the mothership of gift shops. Where, I found just the book.
I don’t know how anyone could go there an unbeliever and walk out the same way. Or not grow closer to God during the experience. And all the
while, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, seeing amazing things with my husband, a story percolated. What if a couple was forced to go to the Ark together and their relationship is falling apart? I haven’t got it all worked out yet, but it’s coming to me.
On the way home, The Blacksmith, where I had a BLTP – Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, & homemade Pimento cheese on deep fried bread. Yum. I’m thinking my fictional couple will eat, stay, and visit all the places we did.
Our next destination is Surfside Beach, Texas and Comfort, Texas. Both are for research and we’ll end up at Texas Mom’s in the Hill Country area. We haven’t set our trip date yet, but before fall. When I told Texas Mom about the research I need to do, she said, “What does the beach have to do with Comfort and cowboys. Two different books.
Have you been to the Ark Experience or do you want to go? Does traveling inspire you? Tell me about your travel experiences for a chance to win a copy of The Cowboy’s Missing Memory. Giveaway deadline: July 5th.
Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does. She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.
Haven’t been to the Ark (not in Australia). But I do like to travel and do bus tours as I don’t drive. I do enjoy exploring places. I tend to find out what there is to see before going . Like in Hawaii I had booked a few tours and had places like Teddybear world on my list to see. When I got there I had a book of things to do and see and one was a shop where you can make a ribbon lei. It was so much fun.
When I went to Perth WA It was the same I had places I wanted to see and found how to get there.
My aunt loves bus tours, Ausjenny. She’s been tons of places. That would be the way I’d travel, if I didn’t have my trusty driver husband. I don’t like to drive in huge cities or places I don’t know.
Seems like a long time since travelling was a possibility and we’ve just started another lockdown. Haven’t been to The Ark, but I do love travelling to the country beaches in winter.
Oh, my goodness. Where do you live Dianne. I’m hoping my state, Arkansas is done with the lockdowns. I love visiting beaches. I’m a shore walker, shell collector. I have no desire to swim with sharks.
I think Dianne is in New South Wales. but parts of Australia are in snap lockdowns to try to stop the spread of the delta strain. Darwin, Parts of Perth, parts of Queensland and parts of New South wales in lockdowns. My state has slammed borders shut to keep it out. (was meant to go to dentist tomorrow but don’t want to wear a mask and its going to be wet and to go in a taxi means a mask. (I am not anti mask more anti getting wet)
Ugh, I’m so tired so tired of this stuff. Here, the only place we have to wear them is medical facilities. I’ve spent too much time in those places lately. I can’t breathe with a mask on. Especially when it’s hot and humid.
Jenny is correct. I am in Sydney and we have just st started a 2 week lockdown for Sydney, the Blue Mountains and all surrounding areas in an attempt to halt the spread of the delta strain. Practically all Australian state borders are closed. God willing this will be over sooner rather than later :)
Travel does inspire me and make me feel refreshed. It also makes me want to travel more. I have not traveled since the fall of 2019 and I look forward to traveling next year.
Hey Lori. I always feel tired instead of refreshed. Like a need a vacation to get over my vacation.
We don’t travel much anymore. I’m very content to be at home.
There is no place like home, Jeanna. I’ve always thought traveling in a motorhome would be fun. Kind of like you’re still home.
Unfortunately I have no opportunity, for now, to travel to Australia….
But I love traveling and discovering new places to visits.
We try to travel a lot, me and my hubby and we try to visit almost all places in our small country.
I would put a picture taken last week, we visited a small village called Nezilovo, in the hart of two mountains, and climbed almost to the top of one, but it’s not possible in this comment ❤
Love from warm and sunny Macedonia
That sounds fun, Natali. Are you on Facebook. You could put your picture there.
We love to travel domestic and internationally. Hoping that things settle so we can once again enjoy our trips. Learning about other countries and their traditions is greatly enjoyed
I’ve never had a desire to travel internationally, Yvonne. That would be way out of my comfort zone :)
We have not been to the Ark, although we have talked about going. We enjoy exploring new places.
It’s really awesom, Kelley. So many interesting displays such as, on Creation versus Evolution and why the Bible is right. It would be a great place to take a nonbeliever.
I was able to visit the Ark a couple of years ago. It’s very impressive and I was blown away by the size! I do enjoy traveling and am planning to visit Florida later this year.
Me too, Jessica. It totally brought the Bible story I’ve read countless times, to real size life. My husband was fascinated by the craftsmanship.
I haven’t been to the Ark, but my sister and brother-in-law are going! My sister said I could go, though I’m just happy I’ll be seeing my aunt and some cousins, since my sister and brother-in-law are taking me there on their way to their vacation in TN before they head to the Ark.
You should go with them, Trudy. It’s so worth seeing.
I’ve been to the Ark once and it was amazing. When we went it was super busy, it was on a weekend, so I’d really like to go back sometime when its a little quieter and really take it in better. By the time we were done we were so exhausted.
It wasn’t real busy when we there, Megan. Maybe because of the rain. It is exhausting, lots of walking. But so very interesting.
We don’t really do any traveling. We stay at home can’t afford to do any traveling to many other expenses.
We’re usually the same way, Patricia. That’s why this trip was so awesome. It’s the first time, we didn’t have to budget. Ever. I highly recommend churches give their pastors paid trips.
I also can’t afford to travel except the pages of a book.
We usually can’t either, Jcp. Books are an awesome way to travel.
We’ve been talking of visiting the Ark since May…because friends rented our RV and went on a three weeks vacation – you can guess – they visited the Ark. We want to go too! Maybe next year :)
You should go, Natalya. You totally won’t regret it.
I haven’t been to the Ark but I have been wanting to go. Traveling can be a lot of fun, but it depends on who I travel with. :) I just got back from a big trip with a bunch of friends and that was both fun and exhausting.
Hey Angeline, I highly recommend it. So true. There are some people I know that I will not travel with. My husband and I are very compatible on traveling. We both like to stop a lot and not get in a rush.
Going to the Ark Encounter is on our bucket list. We don’t travel as Hubby is to tired after working 10 hour days in the hot sun and weekends he helps me with the lawn and upkeep of the garden, chickens, etc.
It was on my husband’s bucket list too, Lucy. It always something I thought would be cool, but it just seemed too far away. The way we broke it up and stopped and did fun things on the way and back worked great though. It didn’t seem so far since we only traveled 3 to 6 hours each day. I could never work outside. I am not a sun worshiper. I love air conditioning.
I have never been the the Ark, but it sounds like alot of fun! I love to go to the mountains in NM and stay in a cabin, which we haven’t done for a while, but hopefully some day we will go back. Have a great week and stay safe.
The mountains and a cabin sound fun, Alicia. We’ve always talked about building a cabin on the back of our property just to get away. Of course, we’ve never done it, but maybe someday.
I’ve never been to see the Ark but I’ve always wanted to! I think seeing it in person would bring Noah’s story to life for me :-)
My husband and I love traveling. We’ve been all over Oregon & Washington and a couple of times in California. I think one of my favorite places was San Fransisco in 2016, especially Chinatown. I’d love to go back again to do Alcatraz island and cross the Golden Gate bridge. Our one-day dream is to buy a 5th wheel to live in and travel all over the USA!
It definitely made Noah and especially his family more real to me, Trixi. I’ve never been to that area. The motorhome dream is ours too.
I have not been to the Ark Encounter, but it sounds fabulous. I am disabled so walking would be a problem. I have been traveling through reading. It is hard to walk so it is challenging to travel. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you.
It’s all ramps though, Debra. So wheelchairs or scooters can go with no problem. By the time we got up the fourth ramp, I was about ready for one.
Hi Shannon. This avid reader is also an avid travel. Have taken road trips coast to coast – 26 states. Just returned from a week in Williamsburg, VA with my oldest son’s family (our 3 oldest grandkids). About 1600 miles round trip. I have also traveled to 9 foreign countries on 3 continents (Great Britain, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Japan, and Canada). I am German American – was born in Berlin, Germany. At 7 decades I am not sure when we will travel internationally again. Last time we traveled internationally was in 2009 to visit relatives in Berlin. Living in SW Michigan we are only 200 miles from Canada. We were hoping to visit Stratford on Avon in Ontario again. I have not visited the ARK. The concept was in the planning stages when we visited a depiction of the Holy Lands in Eureka Springs, Arkansas in the late 1990s. We attended The Passion Play in an outdoor amphitheater. I also enjoy traveling through reading. Best wishes. Happy Writing.
Wow Renate. You win the traveling prize so far. Out of all the places you mentioned, I’ve been to the Passion Play in Eureka Springs. I live in Arkansas. You should definitely check out The Ark.
I have been to The Ark Experience. I enjoy traveling and learning about the people and the food. I miss it.
Hey Sonnetta, yay an ark visitor. We love eating at unique places on the road.
My sweetie and I love traveling together! We have done road trips and plane trips for both business and pleasure. One of the driving trips included a visit to the Creation Museum (sister destination to the Ark Encounter) but it was before the Ark site was built. We have so many memories of time together and beautiful places seen and friends made. I can only imagine what heaven will be like when all the physical limitations are gone and our hearts are pure. I think it will be an eternal journey of joyful discovery with our family in Christ and our savior Himself. Road trip! :-)
I love road trips, Lincoln. Heaven will be the ultimate.
I have not been to the Ark experience, but I have seen the Biblical Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant at the Mennonite Visitor’s Center in Lancaster.
That sounds cool, Denise. I hadn’t heard of it.
We’re not a traveling family very much but when we do it’s just in our province or one other. We’ve been to a few nice places though & would love to go to some places again to visit even with my parents would be nice.
Most of our traveling has been to see family, Amy. So this trip was very different for us.
I won’t go in a plane so I’ve never been outside of my province except for one that’s 20 minutes away. I’m more of a home person. But love to hear about others travels.
I’ve never flown either, Sylvain. And I don’t intend to. It’s not that I’m afraid of crashing or dying. It’s that I’m afraid of crashing in some jungle or swamp and living only to be eaten by crocodiles. I’d prefer a peaceful death :)