Think bigger is better? Head to Kentucky Lake . At 160,000-plus acres, it is a water-water-everywhere experience stretching across western Kentucky. Slightly smaller, Lake Barkley off ers aquatic bliss with sailing, houseboating, water skiing, jet skiing – even champion-level sport fi shing. Forty-nine state parks across the state encompass hundreds of thousands of acres of green space, wooded hiking trails, pristine lakes and meandering streams, blanketed with an abundance of wildfl owers and wildlife and given dimension by the hills and mountains that surround them. Like to hike, bike, paddle or swim? Choose your activity (or more than one!), then choose your park. Kentucky’s state parks off er rock climbing, horseback riding, fi shing, camping, museums, historic sites to explore and outdoor amphitheaters that stage Broadway-style musicals beneath the stars. Park restaurants also are known for home-style cooking with an emphasis on locally grown meats and produce. Natural Beauty When Daniel Boone said “Heaven must be a Kentucky kind of place,” he was surely inspired by Kentucky’s wild side. The thickly forested swaths of land, proliferation of lakes and Mother Nature’s fanciful sculptures: the soaring cliff s, sandstone arches, limestone outcroppings, rushing waterfalls and stunning gorges that characterize the topography. Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is a strapping outdoor playground with wetlands, undeveloped forests, hundreds of miles of natural shoreline, tranquil settings for camping and picnicking, an Elk & Bison Prairie, Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory, and more. It’s a place to come with your camera and leave with memories that will lure you back again and again. The Bottomless Pit. Fat Man’s Misery. Mammoth Dome. They belong to a place deep beneath our feet and a time long before Kentucky achieved statehood – but they can be seen at Mammoth Cave National Park , home of the world’s longest known cave system. Fan faves include the Frozen Niagara, Domes & Dripstones, Historic, Great Onyx, Grand Avenue and Wild Cave tours. Above ground, visitors can go hiking, birding and canoeing on the Green River, fi shing on the Green and Nolin rivers, and horseback riding on more than 60 miles of trails. Twenty-fi ve miles of the park’s trails are designated for bikes, as are all park roads. There are also three campgrounds – one near the visitor center, one on Green River and one for groups or campers with horses. For more information on Kentucky’s outdoor adventures, visit: kentuckytourism.com/ outdoor-adventure Fishing in Rock Creek 32 1-800-225-8747 / 1-800-225-TRIP
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