2020-01-02 12:12:38
A trifecta of fresh-water wonderlands – Green River Lake, Dale Hollow Lake and Lake Cumberland – means lazy or action-packed days of endless fun on land or water.
LIVE THE LAKE LIFE
Ahh, the lake life! Boating along wide open stretches of water, cannon-balling, sun-worshiping, picnicking in hidden coves, meeting friends at the marina for dinner and drinks, dropping a line to fish for a trophy striped bass, walleye or musky. And with the largest collection of houseboats anywhere, it’s no wonder this region is known as the “Houseboat Capital of the World.”
Casual sunscreen-scented days melt one into the next as you float, ski, canoe and kayak your cares away or tie up for an adventure on land to play a round of golf, grab binoculars to spy a ring-necked duck or pileated woodpecker, meander along a wooded trail – by wheels, foot or hoof.
HiSTORY & ADVENTURE ABOUND
In addition to the allure of the lakes, history holds appeal at several area landmarks, including the lakeside log cabin of prolific novelist Janice Holt Giles, who wrote with genuine affection about her adopted state in books like 1950’s The Enduring Hills.
Also here is Mill Springs National Battlefield Visitor Center & Museum, recalling the January 1862 battle between Union and Confederate armies, and Big South Fork Scenic Railway, which chugs 600 feet down into the Big South Fork Gorge and into coal-mining history.
Regional Highlights
Lake Cumberland: The largest collection of rental houseboats in the U.S. – plus floating cabins, resorts, golf, wineries, spectacular waterfalls and year-round fishing – make this spot a family favorite.
Green River Lake: Also a hotspot for families, you’ll find floating cabins, boats, a beach, mini-golf, marinas, camping, sports courts, horse trails, picnic areas and historic sites.
Janice Holt & Henry Giles Home, Knifley: This restored log home of the married authors, on the National Register of Historic Places, preserves their literary legacy.
Dale Hollow Lake: Lodging, dining, golf, boating and camping abound at this peaceful getaway tucked along unspoiled shorelines.
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area: Rock climbing, whitewater paddling, horseback riding, hiking and breathtaking waterfalls await amidst gorges and sandstone bluffs.
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