The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide - The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide 2026
Southern Kentucky Vacations
2026-02-06 05:54:23
With great getaways and good times implied by its very name, this region practically writes the itinerary: Cannonballing off a floating hotel into Lake Cumberland, the Houseboat Capital of the World; mountain biking amid scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs; scuba diving at Dale Hollow Lake; horseback riding in a backcountry wonderland; and swinging an iron on an island golf course.
BEST-KEPT LOCAL SECRETS
ATKINSON-GRIFFIN HOUSE MUSEUM, Campbellsville
Its blood-stained floors a grim reminder of the Civil War, this museum on Green River Lake once served as a Confederate Hospital. It is the final stop on the 3-mile, 12-stop Tebbs Bend Battlefield Driving Tour that recalls Confederate General John Hunt Morgan’s 1863 raid.
STEPHENS CLASSIC CARS MUSEUM, Russell Springs
More than 100 gleaming vintage beauties strike a pose with hoods popped on the black and white checkerboard floor at Stephens Classic Cars Museum. Browse a collection of signs and other motorsports memorabilia surrounding them.
SLEEPING IN THE WOODS FESTIVAL, Monticello
Beneath the stars and amid the trees — May’s annual Sleeping in the Woods Festival showcases over 20 singer-songwriters from across the country as they gather to make magic at Lake Cumberland’s dreamy Hidden Ridge Camping.
LAKE LIBERTY, Liberty
Bring your fishing pole for the lake and your camera for the wildlife. Surrounded by trees and wildflower-strewn trails, Lake Liberty is a tranquil spot for fishing, hiking, canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.
PARANORMAL ROADTRIPPER’S NIGHTMARE GALLERY, Somerset
Straight from the Bluegrass Triangle — find exhibits related to Bigfoot, cryptozoology, ghost hunting, serial killers, UFOs and the paranormal, plus haunted objects and horror movie-used props and prop replicas, at the Paranormal Roadtripper’s Nightmare Gallery. Free admission by appointment only.
SEVENTY-SIX FALLS, Albany
Whether from above at the sheltered picnic area or below from a houseboat, the sights and sounds of Seventy-Six Falls tumbling into Lake Cumberland never get old.
SOGGY BOTTOMS CAMPGROUNDS, Liberty
Roasting marshmallows and telling campfire stories under the stars. Paddling winding waters. Family-owned Soggy Bottoms Campgrounds offers an old-fashioned Kentucky camping experience along the scenic Green River.
WOLF CREEK NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY, Jamestown
Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery beckons with the interactive Visitor and Environmental Education Center, a working trout hatchery, nature trails, a pristine fishing creek, wildlife watching, a picnic area, a theater and a gift shop.
GREEN RIVER PADDLE TRAIL, Taylor County
Rent a canoe or kayak from Green River Paddle Trail for a self-guided adventure — including shuttle service — on the biologically diverse Green River. Expect to see wildlife, riffles, a waterfall, miles of dramatic bluffs and other photo-worthy scenery along the way.
GREEN RIVER LAKE, Columbia
Flowing from the banks of Russell Creek, Green River Lake is a paradise for fishing, paddling and boating. Rent a boat from Holmes Bend Marina to play along these scenic waterways.
FOUR MUSTS
Grab a Bite: Coe’s Steak House, Russell Springs
Stop & Shop: Sheltowee Art Fair, November, Somerset
Magical Moments: Creelsboro Natural Arch, Creelsboro
Local Heritage & Culture: Big South Fork Scenic Railway, Stearns
"KENTUCKY, YOU ARE THE DEAREST LAND OUTSIDE OF HEAVEN TO ME." The Everly Brothers, American Country Rock Duo
REGIONAL ROAD TRIPS
1 Stearns: Start your adventure at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Explore this primordial wildland, featuring nearly 350 miles of trails, before camping at Bear Creek or Blue Heron Campground.
2 McCreary County: Up next, beauty meets brawn at area waterfalls — the state’s most powerful and picturesque — thundering away at the end of a hike: the 44-foot Eagle Falls, Princess Falls along the Sheltowee Trace Trail, magnificent Yahoo Falls plunging into a pool 113 feet below, or the showstopping Cumberland Falls, the Bluegrass State’s largest waterfall.
3 Parkers Lake: On ancient hunting grounds surrounded by forest, the Natural Arch Scenic Area shelters a spectacular sandstone arch that slants dramatically and spans nearly 100 feet. Enjoy panoramic views from the overlook, hiking trails, a playground with horseshoe pits and picnic sites.
4 Burnside: Go for a round of golf on an inland island. General Burnside Island State Resort Park and Golf Course stretch out over this island, surrounded by Lake Cumberland. Spread a lakeside picnic, fish for largemouth and smallmouth bass or make waves on a ski boat.
5 Burkesville: Head next to the Kentucky Trail Town of Burkesville in the Appalachian foothills. Go boating, fishing and paddling on the Cumberland River or try hiking, golfing and fishing at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park. Check into a Mary Ray Oaken Lodge room for sweeping views of the lake and woodlands from your private balcony.
6 Liberty: Make a morning drive to the South Fork Creek Amish and Mennonite Community, clip-clopping along at a slower pace with horse-drawn buggies on backroads and shops showcasing tradition and craftsmanship with handmade, heirloom-quality furniture, fresh produce, baked goods and more.
TRAVEL RESOURCES
Burnside
Clinton County
Columbia/Adair County
Cumberland County
Green County
Liberty
McCreary County
Pulaski County
Russell County
Somerset
Taylor County
Wayne County
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