The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide - The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide 2023
Western Waterlands
2022-12-22 12:34:40
Unplug and escape to the wild side at Land Between the Lakes, an idyllic inland peninsula setting for everything outdoors: camping, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, picnicking and playing along 300 miles of shoreline. On either side you’ll find the shimmering waters of Kentucky’s dynamic duo – Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake.
With access to both lakes is Grand Rivers, a tiny village treasure tucked between two marinas – Green Turtle Bay and Lighthouse Landing – that overflows with fun: downtown dining, a playhouse theater and outdoor adventure.
Mother Nature rules and outdoor lovers drool over Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park. Pitch a tent, saddle up a horse, lace up your hiking boots or kick off your shoes and dig your toes into a sandy beach at Lake Barkley State Resort Park. Or “dig” for treasure with antique shopping in nearby Cadiz.
Take a detour into history, circa 1830s, at the Trail of Tears Commemorative Park in Hopkinsville to pay respects at the gravesites of Chiefs White Path and Fly Smith, two of the few verified gravesites on this nationally designated trail. Travel further back to A.D. 1100 at Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site, where a Native American village once flourished. Today, the archaeological site has museum exhibits, picnic areas and a walking trail.
As the world’s most prestigious venue of its kind, Paducah’s National Quilt Museum puts the art of quilt-making on display through a rotating 650-piece collection of quilts. The contemporary pieces are grounded in quilting’s age-old traditions.
Is there anything more aromatic than fresh-baked Amish bread and just-picked produce? Follow your nose to the Marion Amish Community and we think you’ll agree there isn’t. Then follow the scenic drive southeast to Crofton to admire (and buy!) high-quality pottery, wood and bamboo creations at Brushy Fork Creek Gallery
REGIONAL ART HIGHLIGHTS
One would expect a designated UNESCO Creative City to be bursting at the seams with art, and Paducah does not disappoint. Its Wall to Wall Murals present the city’s history in more than 50 life-sized, richly detailed panoramic paintings.
Follow the glorious pink and white blooms of dogwoods, redbuds and weeping cherry trees on a 12-mile lighted trail through Paducah’s historic downtown, Lower Town Arts District and residential neighborhoods during the Annual Dogwood Trail Celebration in mid-April.
The Wooldridge Monuments – known collectively as “The Strange Procession That Never Moves” – depicts 18 lifesize statues voguing it up in Mayfield’s Maplewood Cemetery. Even the family pets are remembered, with monuments to hunting dogs Tow-Head and Bob.
Enhancing the “pretty town perched upon a handsome hill” – Mark Twain’s description for this tiny river town on the Mississippi along Kentucky’s Great River Road – are the 76 historical paintings comprising the Hickman Floodwall Murals.
REGIONAL ITINERARY
DAY 1
1 Antiques, Boutiques & Unique Shops, Murray
It’s a retail therapy kind of town, with more than 20 locally owned shops and cafés that can be sandwiched (see what we did there?) between morning brews at Shaffer’s Coffee and savory chews at Jasmine Thai Cuisine and Sushi Bar.
2 Land Between the Lakes, Golden Pond
Safari through the Elk and Bison Prairie. Gallop or wagondrive horse trails at Wranglers Campground. Watch the sun slide into Kentucky Lake from the top deck of your houseboat or the waterside porch of your cottage at Lighthouse Landing Resort and Marina. Then shoot over to Oak Grove Gaming and Racing for 1,300 Vegasstyle gaming machines, live weekend entertainment and summer shows at the amphitheater.
3 Patti’s 1800’s Settlement, Grand Rivers
For nearly 50 years, this dining destination has been dishing up charm and memories, plus Flower Pot Bread and Bill’s Boatsinker Pie. The setting is resort-picturesque with a re-created historical log cabin village, gardens, a gift shop and lodging, all tucked between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley.
DAY 2
4 Mantle Rock Nature Preserve, Smithland
Pack your camera and a sense of awe for this certified site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail with a 30-foot-high natural sandstone bridge, floral spring bling, and the best example of rare and fragile sandstone glades in Kentucky.
5 Piper’s Tea and Coffee at The Coke Plant, Paducah
Mmm. Savor locally roasted coffee and handcrafted loose-leaf tea paired with locally made baked goods and artisanal chocolates in a place steeped in the arts. You’ll find arts exhibitions, music events, chalkboard poetry and a “behind the scenes” storytelling mural by local artist/ filmmaker Shanden Simmons.
6 Hotel Metropolitan, Paducah
Listed in the “Green Book” as a hotel operated by and for African Americans during segregation – the first in Paducah – it hosted Jazz Age legends Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, singers Tina Turner and Ella Fitzgerald, and sports greats the Harlem Globetrotters. Book a tour and learn about its 24-year-old founder.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Cadiz/Trigg County 888-446-6402, gocadiz.com
Calloway County 270-713-0110, experiencekylake.com
Grand Rivers 270-362-0152, grandrivers.org
Hickman 270-236-9335, kygrro.com
Hopkinsville/Christian County 270-887-2300, visithopkinsville.com
Kentucky Lake/Marshall County 270-527-3128, visitkylake.com
Kentucky’s Great River Road (Ballard, Carlisle, Hickman and Fulton counties) 573-427-8348, kygrro.com
Kuttawa/Lyon County 270-601-6885, visitkuttawaky.com
Lake Barkley 270-388-5300, lakebarkley.org
Livingston County 270-557-9835, kentuckylakegateway.com
Marion 270-965-5015, discovermarion.com
Mayfield/Graves County 270-247-6106, visitmayfieldgraves.org
Murray 270-759-2199, tourmurray.com
Oak Grove 270-439-5675, visitoakgroveky.com
Paducah 270-443-8783, paducah.travel
Princeton 270-365-9575, tourprincetonky.com
©Kentucky. View All Articles.