If you’re a Christian parent looking for faith-based vacation ideas, take heart, two great options are just a short drive from the mountains. The Ark Encounter and The Creation Museum are family and faith friendly, and each offers highlights to appeal to all ages.
Both are Disney-like venues, with “Imagineering” featured inside the museums and outdoor activities the kids will love, without the kind of problematic cultural positions many Christian parents try to avoid. And while each park offers different types of entertainment, each presents some challenges to consider.
Getting there
This past spring, my wife, Melonie, and I made the trip, and we were glad to cross this off our bucket list. At just under 400 miles from Macon County, visiting both destinations makes for an easy and economical road trip. Kentucky offers beautiful countryside, quaint small towns and bigger city sights, sounds, and amenities.
Along the way, we stopped to enjoy Kentucky’s horse country. While we did soak up a few sights in Lexington, we prioritized the areas around the city itself. Rolling hills, historic towns, and perfectly manicured horse farms make for a beautiful and relaxing sightseeing. Some highlights included the Kentucky Horse Park and The Kentucky Castle.
The Horse Park (pictured above) is a theme park and campground. By design, it is in part a monument to thoroughbreds of the past like Secretariat and Man O’ War, and an experience offering horse shows and everything equine.
The Kentucky Castle (above) is a scene out of King Arthur, a European castle in the middle of America. It’s worth a stop for good food and a walk around the parapets and royal gardens.
The Ark ‘wow’ factor
Our ultimate goal, though, was the Ark Encounter, just a short 45-minute drive from Lexington to Williamstown, Ky.
Completed in 2016, this brainchild of Ken Ham and his organization, Answers in Genesis, is both a world-class entertainment destination and a creative resource for teaching the science behind God’s Word. It was voted best religious museum in 2020 by USA Today/10Best.com Readers’ Choice Award.
Upon arrival, we immediately were blown away. The Ark’s sheer size, even at a distance, was awe inspiring. It was like visiting the Statue of Liberty for the first time.
In Genesis, God tells Noah to build the vessel 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high (450 feet by 75 feet by 45 feet). This Ark measures 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high. The Statue of Liberty is “only” 305 feet tall. It is recognized as the largest timber structure in the world with more than 3.3 million board feet of wood.
Once inside, there are 132 bays on three levels with short movies, cool animatronics, and marvelous dioramas showing life during Noah’s time. Numerous habitats full of robotic animals and dinosaurs, growling and chirping, give you the true Disney-level feel.
Considering the sophistication of the technology combined with the overall atmospherics, we were hard pressed to distinguish the big-picture Ark experience from that of the Magic Kingdom. It is that immersive.
For this old man, the highlight was the Ark’s operations. How did Noah possibly feed and water all those creatures? Or, keep the Ark clean? Personally, I know the challenge of one pet. Imagine hundreds of creatures in an enclosed floating structure. And then there are the obvious questions like: What about dinosaurs? And fish?
This is where the Ark Encounter shines as a combination theme park and museum. While adults may be floored by the ancient ingenuity, the presentation is smart and simple enough to inspire kids. We witnessed many animated, curious discussions among the families around us.
Personally, I wonder if the genius of Noah could be recreated with modern practices and without God’s inspiration.
The park
Of course, the Encounter is more than just a massive wooden museum. Outside are zip- lines, the Ararat Ridge Zoo, Noah’s Village, camel rides, a virtual reality theater and a “fossil find” area.
If you show up hungry, there are numerous snack locations, but I’d recommend the Epcot-style food court for more complete meal options, including Emzara’s Buffet and Noah’s Village.
The Creation Museum
With the Ark thoroughly explored, we prepared for stage-two of our trip dedicated to the Book of Genesis. Located in Petersburg, Ky., The Creation Museum’s outside footprint also offers an experience beyond the museum. Like its sister park, there are ziplines, a 4D theater, and a zoo. In addition, there is an Aerial Challenge Park, a mining sluice, and an observatory. Of course, a museum dedicated to Creation would be incomplete without gardens and walking trails through amazing flora and fauna.
Inside, it offers its fair share of world-class animatronics, dioramas, and entertaining short videos, but in comparison, this is not the Ark. And that’s where parents will want to plan if they have young children.
While the Ark is truly a Disney-like experience, The Creation Museum’s main mission is to teach the science behind the Book of Genesis. It is more education and less entertainment. Attendees should be prepared to read a lot of text and view pictures explaining the science of creation, while debunking secular theories.
Given the amount of information, it was hard for this adult to stay engaged and focused after a couple of hours. I don’t believe young kids will last that long. But don’t let that scare you off. This destination is not to be missed. You and the kids will be entertained and you will be educated. Just plan accordingly.
Proper planning required
There are two main challenges for these attractions respectively – timing for the Ark Encounter and information overload at The Creation Museum.
In terms of timing, like every other popular destination, these attractions can be very crowded in season. If possible, the family experience will be more enjoyable if you visit during the off season – any time other than summer and holidays. Of course, traveling off-season with school-age kids is easier said than done. That said, we have friends who visited during a school break and loved the trip despite the crowds.
In terms of information overload, The Creation Museum’s displays require patience and a willingness to read. Some are not short, digestible blurbs. They can be long-form, science-based explanations.
Yes, there is plenty to read at the Ark, but the mix of animatronics, movies, dioramas, and interactive activities make the Ark much more friendly to young children. If you bring kids to The Creation Museum, just prepare them, and yourself.
Overall, these are great road trips for Macon County families. In fact, for all ages, both the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum are must-see destinations.