2023-12-29 09:37:00
Attention wildflower lovers: Throughout hiking season, find a profusion of wildflowers adding their colors to the Shut In Road Trail, a nature trail meandering creekside and along Green River in Liberty.
Within Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area are gorges and sandstone bluffs, rivers, streams and waterfalls, including Princess Falls, a curtain of water splashing into Lick Creek at the end of a family-friendly 1.3-mile hike. In Whitley City in the Daniel Boone National Forest, climb several flights of stairs to a spectacular sight: the sandstone Natural Arch, which spans 100 feet, is a sight to behold from the overlook.
An island vacation in landlocked Kentucky? Yep. General Burnside Island State Park in Burnside has a gorgeous campground and award-winning golf course on an island surrounded by rolling forestland and the waters of Lake Cumberland.
See corn ground into meal at Monticello’s historic Mill Springs Mill, located on the grounds of the Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument and a stop on the history driving tour that winds through the battlefield.
When was the last time you sipped freshly squeezed apple cider from apples hand-picked from the orchard? Indulge at Haney’s Appledale Farm in Nancy and shop for fresh produce, jarred condiments, handmade toys and more.
The Downtown Historic District of Campbellsville offers a Main Street shopping experience amidst a beam-to-board collection of beautifully preserved 19th-century brick, stone and iron buildings with Italianate architectural facades.
The caliber of entertainment at Somerset’s July Master Musicians Festival is stellar, with multi-cultural and multigenerational music — from bluegrass to Celtic to jazz — ringing out from the stage. Bring a lawn chair to Russell Springs’ Lake Cumberland Bluegrass Festival in August for regional and national touring acts paired with dusky nights and pulled pork nachos.
Feed fish in the outdoor flumes. Cast a line at Hatchery Creek. Witness the industriousness of the residents in a honeybee hive at the interactive Visitor/Environmental Education Center. It all happens at Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery in Jamestown — featuring a theater, gift shop and picnic area, too.
Saddle and Saloon
Bring your horse to Quiet Woods Green River Stables for camping and exploring the Green River Lake Trail System. Located near Campbellsville, a Kentucky Trail Town and home of Green River Lake State Park, this horse and RV camp has a saloon, bathhouses and live entertainment.
Muskie Make for Fun Fishing Challenge
Ahh, the elusive muskie. Anglers wishing to catch these predators built for speed and known as the fish of 10,000 casts head to Green River Lake — especially in the fall. That’s when the water cools down and the odds of catching a trophy fish go up.
Heaven on a Houseboat
Check the Houseboat Capital of the World off your bucket list. A fleet of houseboats. Gorgeous Lake Cumberland. Sunny days, sparkling water, secret coves. Plus, hiking, fishing, mini golfing and dining at Jamestown’s Lake Cumberland State Resort Park. And a family that never wants to leave.
Ready to Sling Dirt?
You may not be at the wheel, but the adrenaline rush is just as intense for Saturday night racing at Lake Cumberland Speedway in Burnside: open-wheel modifiers, road hogs and late-model racing events on a 3/8-mile red clay oval track, April through October.
Up a Not-So-Lazy River
Rock Creek. Dale Hollow Lake. Cumberland River. With multiple river access points, Kentucky-designated Scenic Wild Rivers and Outstanding Water Resources, Whitley City brings the whoosh of whitewater canoeing and beginner and intermediate rapids. Fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing, too.
Coal Country
Step inside a former working mine on a guided tour at Barthell Coal Camp in Stearns. Nearby, explore an abandoned coal mining town at the Blue Heron Mining Community, an outdoor museum whose “ghost structures” tell the story of Mine 18.
Burnside: 606-561-7117, visitburnside.com
Clinton County: 606-387-2051, clintoncoky.com
Columbia/Adair County: 270-384-6020, visitcolumbiaky.com
Cumberland County: 270-864-5890, cumberlandcounty.com
Green County: 270-932-4298
Liberty: 606-706-7777, explorelibertyky.com
McCreary County: 606-376-3008, mccrearytourism.com
Pulaski County: 606-679-6394, lctourism.com
Russell County: 270-866-4333, lakecumberlandvacation.com
Somerset: 606-679-6366, seesomerset.com
Taylor County: 270-465-3786, campbellsvilleky.com
Wayne County: 606-348-4241, theheartoflakecumberland.com
Plan your regional road trip!
©Kentucky. View All Articles.