After being cooped up all winter (and during COVID-19), a trek out to Bernheim Forest may be the perfect way to spend the day. With 16,000 acres, Bernheim provides ample space to take a hike in Kentucky. With life still being fairly chaotic, marketing and communications manager Amy Landon says, “Nature can be healing, and Bernheim offers some peace.”
For a touch of whimsy, check out the Forest Giants, an exhibit that was completed in 2019 by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. Each of the giants was created using recycled materials, including wooden pallets, fallen trees, and discarded Louisville Slugger bats. Not only does the exhibit immerse visitors in nature, Amy says it is a reminder to “reconsider your trash [because] recycling can be a beautiful thing.”
Because the giants are out in the elements, they are expected to have a lifespan of three years, although Amy says Bernheim will take them down before nature does in order to keep the public safe.
The three giants are located at different points at Bernheim and offer a bit of a treasure hunt for visitors who want to see them. Individuals who like to walk and don’t have mobility issues can start at the visitor’s center and take a trek that is about two miles out and back. Little Nis is visible on the drive into Bernheim Forest on Visitor Center Drive and is situated near the Olmsted Ponds, while Mama Loumari sits in the Sun & Shade section of the park off Arboretum Way; both are near parking. Of the three giants, Little Elina is the furthest from parking and sits in an open field just past the Cypress/Tupelo Swamp of Lake Nevin.
By Carrie Vittitoe | Photos submitted
P.S. Looking for other outdoor activities in Louisville? Consider about a trip to Yew Dell Botanical Gardens or the Falls of the Ohio.
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