Pleasant Hill Shaker Village by davecallahan
Shakers were/are a religious group begun in Manchester, England, emigrated to Boston, USA and traveled to Albany,NY. (We have been to Shaker homes and woodcraft places between Rochester, NY and Albany.) After a period of religious languor, a revival in the sect took place and Shakers settled in middle Kentucky and Ohio. Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill is dedicated to the history and memory of those sects.
Like Williamsburg, VA and Genesse Country Village, NY, this village is a vibrant, alive recreation of the 19th century; a living-history museum. There are original and refurbished homes; volunteers dressed in period costumes, talking and working as if this was their village and these their houses. The farmers farm, the cooks cook, the tin-knockers knock tin. There are musical activities for the adults and outdoor play activities for the kids. They have seasonal and holiday re-enactments of special events (like harvesting and Christmas). You are encouraged to partake of the walking tours and hiking trails in the park. Nature workshops are held for the children and birdwatchers can attend seminars on birds native to the area.
The Kentucky River runs adjacent to the park and river excursions can be taken along the village outskirts. And what village in Kentucky would be without its equine acivities (horse care, horse riding).
And when you have adventured for a day and are hungry, there is a period-accented dining room and for those that wish to spend the night (or the weekend) there is an authentic 19th century Inn.
And if you have a few dollars left, you can always go to the Shaker gift shop and buy some original Shaker craft gift or furniture (made just as it was 200 years ago).
Prime season rates for entering the village are about $15 per adult (half that for children) plus extra fees for the riverboat and horse-riding activities. Dining room costs were reasonable (given that there is no competition) but the Inn facilities were above average motel rates but similar to other bed-and-breakfasts in the area.
