We traveled 10 minutes to get out of state, a novel idea for former Southern Californian residents. After crossing the famous Ohio River and into Indiana we traveled another 15 minutes through green countryside dotted with houses and barns. Our path took us to The Forest Discovery Center built by the Koetter family to demonstrate woodworking and forest management techniques.
It was strange to walk through an indoor forest, but seeing how the seasons are actually "seasons" here, it made sense that to have a year round display, you have to put it indoors. This realistic-looking forest gave a glimpse to the travelers of different native trees (though you couldn't actually find all of these trees in the same real habitat).
Woodworkers busily manufactured their pieces of home decor woods like wood flooring and crown moulding in this famous mill. This was my favorite part of the tour as we walked on the catwalk high above the factory floor to see wood change from sawn lumber into pieces of usable and decorative artwork for a home. Koetter wood pieces fill the East Room and Oval Office in the White House.
The videos on the activity floor were designed for younger audiences so we just sighed over the silly characters, the puns, and the animation. Our exclamations changed to delight as we watched an on-site master craftsman hand carve wood into intricate artwork murals--I would have taken one home but their prices matched the careful work involved in making them.
Of course, following famous Wallis tradition, the trip home took longer because we wandered over to Huber Farms for fresh Golden Delicious Apples, cheeses, and Indiana peaches (just as good as the Georgia peach). Also, we had to try a different route home to see if it was faster--it wasn't--but we saw some beautiful countryside while Carolyn took at least one wrong turn.
1 comment:
How fun. I bet there is so much to do and see over there.
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