From Illinois to Kentucky: Caves, Corvettes & the Best Pizza Since Italy
As we started our journey south again, our first overnight stop landed us in Starved Rock Campground, Illinois. A quiet place to rest, but the real surprise of this stop came just 20 minutes away in the historic town of Ottawa.
A Pizza Revelation in Ottawa 🍕
While wandering through Ottawa, we stumbled upon an authentic Italian restaurant called Iniga—and let me tell you, it served up the best pizza we’ve had since Italy. The crust, the sauce, the flavors—perfection. It was so good, we ordered a second pizza to-go just to have it for dinner the next day when we arrived in Cave City, Kentucky.
Cave City Adventures 🏍️⛰️
Finally, after years of having it on my list, we made it to Mammoth Cave National Park! Unlike other caves we’ve explored, this one is a ‘dry’ cave, meaning no dripping stalactites or underground rivers, but its vast chambers and tunnels were absolutely fascinating. It felt like walking through an underground labyrinth frozen in time.
Beyond the caves, we:
✔️ Took scenic motorcycle rides through the rolling Kentucky hills
✔️ Indulged in homemade Amish desserts 🍰
✔️ Dug into some good ol’ Southern cooking 🍗
✔️ Checked out Cave City’s own version of Stonehenge 🪨
✔️ Explored a small hidden cave in town 🕵️♀️
Corvettes & a Friendly Parrot 🚗🦜
A trip to this area wouldn’t be complete without another stop at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. Nick never gets tired of admiring those classic beauties, and I have to admit—it’s always a fun stop.
For dinner, we found ourselves in downtown Bowling Green, where we unexpectedly met a super friendly parrot. (Only in our travels do we find ourselves sharing a meal while making conversation with a bird!)
Onward to Tennessee
This little Cave City stop was a perfect mix of adventure, good eats, and unique discoveries as we continued our trek toward Tennessee. Who knows what’s next? But that’s the beauty of this life—we’re always one stop away from another unforgettable experience.
