Guest Author - Amanda Masoner

You need to check out Kentucky Lake. And the Land Between the Lakes. And the Lake Barkley State Resort Park. I say this to anyone willing to listen but especially to those of you who live in Kentucky and Tennessee. If you have not been to these places you are in need of a weekend there. Having just moved to Kentucky it is a thrill to see all the adventure at my fingertips!

Let me start in order of recommendation, with Kentucky Lake.

It is a man-made body of water that came into existence because of two things: the Tennessee River and a dam built from 1938-1944. It is monstrous! There is enough water in the lake that if it were at the maximum level there would be enough water in it for the world’s population (roughly 6.5 billion people) to have a cup of water a day for almost nine years!

It is much longer (184 miles) than it is wide making it perfect for water sports and boating. And the water just keeps coming! If just four of the twenty-four gates are open more water is released than the amount that spills over Niagara Falls! With boasting rights like these I’m hoping that you’re seeing why a visit would be in order.

And without Kentucky Lake and Barkley Lake there, of course, would not be the Land Between the Lakes.

This is a pseudo-island lodged between the Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. It is a great hot spot for guests, spring to fall. Make sure to first stop off at the LBL Visitor’s Center (open 9-5). It has loads of brochures on the area attractions and some great reading on local wildlife, vegetation, and history.

Also inside the Visitor’s Center is a Planetarium! Open March to December with four to five shows a day you’d have to try to miss an opportunity for this experience! The telescopes they have are free to anyone 13 and up to look through. The shows are only $2 for kids and $4 for adults. With such low rates and a great chance to learn together-don’t pass this up!

There’s also a living history farm, called the Homeplace open March to November. It has the same entrance fees as the Planetarium. It is a farm that is set up in the same way a mid-19th century farm would have been. You are able to stroll the farm grounds and see how life was lived back then. If you have any questions or curiosities there are interpreters working the farms who are loaded with answers to the questions us modern-dayers may have.

For $5 (per car) you can drive through the Elk and Bison Prairie. From your vehicle you can witness a very similar view to that of what our fore-parents might have had from their wagon trains. And it is open year-round so perfect for any time.

And for those interested in nature of all sorts, LBL has set up the Woodlands Nature Station. Open March-November and has the same rates as the Homeplace. It has an indoor discovery station and a Backyard Nature Exhibit. Throw in some hiking trails and canoeing and you are able to get an up close Kentucky/Tennessee experience.

For those looking for a sweet spot to rest or dine you must visit the Lake Barkley State Resort Park. Lake Barkley was named after President Truman’s vice-president, Alben W. Barkley (who was born in Kentucky). It has a great Dirty Dancing feel to it. With every possible option for sleeping (lodge, cottages, camping) it is perfect for any and every family. The restaurant inside the lodge overlooks Lake Barkley and has three acres worth of glass windows surrounding diners! And I must add that whether or not catfish is your favorite-theirs is the best I’ve ever had and I would recommend it to all of you.

So if you’re looking to learn or are just due for a great adventure, don’t just pencil these spots (all within 10 miles of each other) in. Take a marker, then a highlighter, and set the date for you and yours to head out to see the beautiful back country of Kentucky and Tennessee.