When it comes to freak accidents, few are any freakier than the one that befell the Eggner Ferry Bridge at the western entrance to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. The bridge at US 68 and Kentucky 80 remains indefinitely closed after a Delta Mariner crashed into the bridge Thursday night, knocking out a 322-foot span.

Hopefully, people will rise up to the challenge, as they normally do when catastrophes and “freak accidents” happen. People generally pull together to support their neighbors and the people in the communities around them. Kenlake and Lake Barkle State Resort Parks are open and eagerly await your visit. Whether you go for a weekend (or week long if you need it!) retreat or just dinner in one of their excellent lodge restaurants, know that you’ll be doing your part to support fellow Kentuckians and Kentucky State Parks when they really need you the most.

I hope you’ll visit them this month…. and each month thereafter. I know you’ll fall in love with the area as much as I have. I’ll probably even see you there! I love each of these state resort parks as well as every single restaurant in Aurora:

• Willow Pond (best catfish in the world)
• The Brass Lantern
• Belew’s Dairy Bar (open seasonally)
• Aurora Bar-B-Que

During the winter months, Willow Pond isn’t open every night of the week. You’ll want to check before planning your trip. Call (270) 474-2202 for information. Believe me, Willow Pond’s catfish, hush puppies, beans, and desserts are worth the drive!

What You Need to Know:
Guests traveling to Lake Barkley and Kenlake State Resort Parks should be aware that the U.S. 68/KY 80 bridge over Kentucky Lake is closed to traffic. It was struck Thursday night (Jan. 26) by a cargo ship, destroying a main truss.

Both parks are open. Guests should use alternative routes, such as Interstate 24 on the northern end of the Land Between the Lakes.

For more information, guests can call the parks. The number for Lake Barkley is 1-800-325-1708. The number for Kenlake is 1-800-325-0143.

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The husband (also known as Michael) and I visited Kenlake State Resort Park yesterday.  Aurora was busier than I’ve ever seen it, thanks to the Fall Festival. It was a real rush to see tons of people enjoying Aurora BBQ, The Hitching Post & Old Country Store, The Brass Lantern, and Willow Pond – 4 of Kentucky’s best-kept secrets… all within walking distance of one another!!!

We ate at Kenlake – I had the catfish, of course.  LOVE their catfish. Their onion rings are and rolls are also out of this world.   My only problem was the little dark brown hush puppies. I love the Kentucky State Parks dearly and we throw our support to them at every possible opportunity but, their hush puppies have become a bit of a personal challenge.

I keep looking for the State Resort Park restaurant that has really good hush puppies!  Just about every restaurant (even the great ones) has at least one thing you wish was a little better, don’t they?  I just have a personal aversion to anything that’s overdone in the kitchen.  Some people might not realize that food continues to kind of “cook,” even after it’s taken out of the oven or off of the stove. So if you let it get really brown, it’s going to be darn near black when it’s brought to the table.

At a Cracker Barrel, once, the manager strolled by our table, took one look at the overdone onion rings, and her eyes popped out.  She took them, apologized, and said, “These should never have been brought out!” I loved her for that.  We hadn’t even complained (and we weren’t going to). SHE caught it.  Yay, her.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned it on this site before, as well as my food blog, but I am hush puppy picky. Willow Pond in Aurora has the best hush puppies in the entire world, which makes it hard for everyone else because I’m always comparing their hush puppies to the Willow Pond’s big fat yummy golden delicacies.  The other Willow Ponds also have good hush puppies, but they aren’t quite as good as the ones you’ll find in Aurora.  I don’t hate Cracker Barrel’s hush puppies either.  Truth be told, I’m kind of enjoying my pursuit for hush puppies equal to Aurora’s Willow Pond. I’m not convinced they exist, but if they do, I’ll find them!

Oh well, when catfish is on my plate, hush puppies aren’t the star of the show anyway, and the Kentucky State Parks restaurants know precisely how to fix catfish. It’s always breaded and seasoned to perfection.  The rolls are worth writing home about as well. SO tasty!

We also stopped by Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park (pictured above) and got a kick out of their beautiful Autumn decorations. Both of these very special state resort parks looked as lovely as ever.  I hope you never make the mistake of thinking that Kentucky State Parks are only for warm weather enjoyment because nothing could be further from the truth. They’re always decorated and festive, ready to celebrate the season and/or holiday at hand.

Make a point to visit more Kentucky State Parks and Kentucky State Resort Parks. I’d LOVE to see more Kentuckians keeping their money in the state by taking more in-state trips, vacations, and mini-vacations.  I’d also LOVE to see more people support state parks.  They’re something we should all be proud of and should want to support in any way we can.  Most of us are within reach of at least one Kentucky State Resort Park, certainly close enough to visit for lunch or supper.   The food really is excellent (the Kentucky Hot Brown, Catfish, Catfish sandwich, and Country Ham are as good as you’ll in other restaurants) and the prices are outstanding.  If you’d rather go “buffet style,” that’s certainly a viable option. The salad bars, vegetables, and meats always look (and smell) extraordinary.  I can’t say that I do the buffet often…. have I ever?…. but that’s just because the fried catfish and I have an understanding.

I’ve added more pictures of Kenlake State Resort Park and Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park to the photo albums, so be sure to take a look.

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Michael and I took a quick trip to Kenlake State Resort Park this past Saturday. We sat and ate ice cream from Udderly Delicious Frozen Treats on the Marina and listened to the relaxing music the water made.  A family was on one of the boats, fixing to head back out on beautiful Kentucky Lake. I’m not sure which of them was enjoying their day more, the humans or the gorgeous black lab in their party.  Even the dog seemed to be taking everything in – enjoying the sights and sounds of Kenlake Marina.

Take it from me and the Lab, it’s really something else.

We also visited (as always) the beautiful flower gardens near the lodge.  The picture below if one I took of a gorgeous butterfly. She posed for the longest time, seemingly loving the camera as much as a 13 year old girl.  If, like me, you love photography, Kenlake State Resort Park, as well as the entire Land Between the Lakes region, is a dream come true. You’ll wear your camera’s button out!

We ate at The Willow Pond in Aurora (if I only had a dime for each time we’ve walked through those doors!) and, I have to tell you, the catfish was EVEN better than usual. The beans were delicious, the coleslaw delicious, and the catfish blew my mind, again, even more than before.  The hush puppies played tricks with my mind, though.

Here’s the thing – I’m SUPREMELY hush puppy picky.  The pickiest hush puppy eater in all of the world.  My family knows me for always insisting on eating Catfish at one place in particular over any other… and that’s The Willow Pond in Aurora. Their hush puppies are better than the other Willow Pond restaurants, in my own humble, hush puppy picky opinion.  In fact, their hush puppies are better than any restaurant. They’re bigger, full of flavor, sweet but not too sweet, and they’re more golden than they are brown.

You could put a tray of 100 hush puppies in front of me and I could pick out the one from Willow Pond in Aurora.  However, as I said, Saturday night they played tricks with me! In the first basket the server brought out, about half of them were the hush puppies I’ve grown to love and crave.  The other half were imposters that looked like they were from __________ (insert the name of another restaurant).  They were smaller, much darker, and I can’t account for the flavor because I didn’t eat one.  I stuck with my beloveds.

The second batch was the same way. Half were the excellent “regulars” and half were “imposters.”  I even asked my husband, “Who do you think snuck in some of the ____________’s (insert same name) hush puppies in here?“  It was actually kind of funny because, as I said before, I’m KNOWN for always harping on the excellence of The Willow Pond in Aurora’s hush puppies.  I can’t tell you how many times we’re eating out and I say, “These hush puppies are okay, but they’re not as good as Aurora’s Willow Pond.” If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 3,464 times.

So, I was amused at the “imposters” sneaking in.  If they’d been the only ones in the basket, I’d have walked outside and double-checked which Willow Pond we were at!

Anyhoo, we’ll end on a huge, fat positive: The catfish is the best catfish in the world and it’s worth the drive, I don’t care how long it takes you, how far you have to drive, or what time of the year it is.

To read more about Kenlake State Resort Park and the area, visit our new Kenlake page on Genuine Kentucky.

To see more pictures of Kenlake State Resort Park, see the photo album!

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My husband, Michael, and I frequently make trips to Kentucky Lake.  You can’t help but fall in love with the area. The beautiful lake, Kenlake State Resort Park, Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, friendly people, fun shopping, antiques, a gazillion and one photo opportunities, and wonderful food.

What’s not to love?!

A favorite spot, and one we joyfully hit each time, is The Hitching Post and Old Country Store in Aurora.  It has been a favorite destination for years – even before the new owners.  However, with the re-opening of the wonderful old country store, this is a not-to-be-missed step back in time.  An extra treat is the hot dot vendor in the front parking lot. These fresh and unique Chicago-style hot dogs make you think you’re in Heaven while you’re eating them – then you spend all day thinking about them… wanting to go back!  They’re THAT good.

• High quality hot dogs (too good to even be called hot dogs actually)
• High quality buns (too good to be called buns)
• Extremely friendly owners (artisans of the American classic!)

The Hitching Post has been a favorite with tourists, frequent quests, and Kentucky locals since 1941. It’s a beautiful Kentucky Lake tradition, you simply can’t have one without the other. Many years have passed and millions of feet have walked through the front doors but it’s still THE best place for Kentucky souvenirs, novelties, Kentucky food specialties, toys, T-Shirts, jewelry, crafts, fudge, honey, jams, jellies, bar-b-que sauces, soap, cookbooks, hats, home decor, garden decor, old fashioned candy, and on and on and on.  The past few Christmases I’ve gotten a few wonderful, completely unexpected and original gifts for family members at The Hitching Post.  Of course, I also buy just-because treats for my daughters frequently – something they absolutely love.

My favorite section of The Hitching Post (besides the front counter where I could stay and visit with the owner and workers for days) is the Kentucky food specialties wall.  I think we’ve tried just about all of the sauces, jams, and jellies and have loved each greatly.  The unique flavors positively cannot be found in stores and they take homemade buttermilk biscuits and cornbread to a whole new level.

A favorite appetizer in our home is simple and involves one of these jellies.  I place a block of cream cheese on a platter and smother it with Red Pepper Jelly (the kind from The Hitching Post tastes just like the Red Pepper Jelly my mom used to make up and give as gifts every Christmas).  I serve it with Ritz crackers and watch as it magically disappears.

On this particular trip, we got the excellent Yoder’s Homestyle  Blueberry Jam – from Crab Orchard, Kentucky.  It has an appointment with buttermilk biscuits.

You can find some of their food items on The Hitching Post’s website, including Pappy’s outstanding Bar-b-que sauce.  Pappy can dish it out, as hot as you want it!  Click HERE to browse the selection of Pappy’s BBQ sauces as well as an EXCELLENT Hot & Spicy Mustard that was made to be served with pretzel sticks.  It makes an ideal game-day snack.  

After eating our amazing hot dogs and drinking our cans of soda (normally my husband drinks ice cold sarsaparilla from inside The Hitching Post but he branched out today), we sat on the front porch and played a classic “boxing” game my husband remembered from his childhood.  The boxers looked like crosses between Howie Long and Transformers.  My Howie Transformer cleaned my husband’s clock!

You can also play checkers on the big,  shady, beautiful front porch, or just sit, relax and take in the ambiance – which is golden by the way.

You’ll want to stroll around the property – which is such a delicious step-back-in-time.  It’s also a photographer’s dream come true!  There’s an authentic moonshine still, antique buggies, old blacksmith and wagon shop, antiques, and a life-size paper mache horse that has long been a favorite site for photographs.  He’s incredibly life-like and has, literally, stood the test of time.

The Country Store

A new favorite spot is the renovated, overhauled Country Store.  It blows my mind straight out of my head.  It’s a store, make no mistake about it, and antique lovers will get weak in the knees.  However, it’s like an adorable, charming, amazing museum – again, a step back in time, to a simpler time.

• Before grocery carts
• Before intercoms
• Before dvds
• Before technology took over the world

You walk in and you’re instantly transported back to “the good old days.”  The beauty is, you can take some of the good old days home with you.  My husband and I collect old books.  I specialize in old cookbooks (many of you know I have a food blog and cooking and recipes are an obsession with me).  I also LOVE old antique kitchen gadgets, dishes, and cooking tools.  I’m just in Paradise in the Country Store!

Another obsession of mine is coffee.  How I keep from smelling like coffee is beyond me (I guess my Avon perfumes cover it up).  My eyes popped out of my head and my pulse began to race when I saw their coffee beans near the front.  They even have a Hitching Post Blend.  I love it!

Su (the wonderfully friendly owner) has put an unbelievable amount of time, money and effort (and even more love) into renovating The Old Country Store. Honestly, it’s mind-boggling. If you could see BEFORE and AFTER pictures, you’d wonder where this woman hides her Wonder Woman cape. I stopped looking for it after a few visits, I figure if she wants her cape to be found, it’ll be found.

You know me well enough to know that I get around my beloved Kentucky. My daughter and I were looking through Kentucky brochures a few days ago, because she and her boyfriend were wanting to see something new, and I was amazed at the number of places she and I had already seen. She kept saying, “We’ve been there, but he hasn’t..” Something else struck me – why would anyone ever leave Kentucky for a vacation?!?!

Before I climb up on my stump and begin preaching about Kentucky, let me just say, I’ve seen a lot of Kentucky! I can honestly say that, not counting home (of course), there’s no place I’d rather be than in Aurora, Kentucky enjoying a step back in time at The Hitching Post & Old Country Store. There’s no place quite like it and I know you’ll feel it’s magic just as surely as we do.

The Hitching Post & Old Country Store
16474 US Hwy 68 East
Aurora, Kentucky 42028
www.hitchingpost.us

Hours:
Summer hours (Memorial day – Labor day):
Closed Mondays
Tuesday – Saturday  9:00 – 6:00
Sunday 10:00 – 4:00

Find more pictures of The Hitching Post & Old Country Store in our Aurora, Kentucky Photo Album

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Why are there not 7,000,000 cars lined up in The Brass Lantern’s parking lot each evening – with anxious passengers awaiting each Heavenly bite?  Why have there not been books and movies made about the excellent food and friendly service?  When people mention the state of Kentucky, why do other’s not instantly ask, “Oh, Kentucky! Home of The Brass Lantern!”?  Why did Oprah never film one of her shows from the front porch?  I don’t have the answer to any of these questions but I do have the answer to this one, “Where can you get food so delicious that it makes you dance in your seat?”  Well, The Brass Lantern in Aurora, Kentucky, of course.

I feel like a nitwit. If you’ve read Genuine Kentucky long, you know that I write a lot of restaurant reviews.  I’m ALL ABOUT Kentuckians keeping Kentucky dollars in Kentucky, so my husband and I scour the entire state finding the best of the best.  We’re frequent visitors to the Land Between the Lakes region and Aurora is a personal favorite town.  The people are so friendly, as I’ve said before, you’re certain they’re mistaking you for a long-lost relative.

Sometimes you find yourself wondering, “Am I a long-lost relative? These people feel like family…. I’ve got to talk to my mother…”

We always visit The Hitching Post and Kenlake State Resort Park – and depending upon what time of day it is, we eat at The Willow Pond, Kenlake, Aurora Barbecue, or Belew’s Drive In.   Because we’re always in the area between the hours of noon and 4:00 pm, I guess I just assumed that the beautiful restaurant “The Brass Lantern” was a victim of the economy. It was never open, as far as I could see.  That’s where the nitwit feeling enters.  The Brass Lantern, in all of its magnificence, opens at 5:00 pm.

Saturday, Michael and I were in the area (visiting, taking pictures, shopping) and as it started getting close to suppertime, we began weighing our options.  The nit wit had recently learned that this beautiful restaurant was very much in business, so when my husband asked where I wanted to eat supper, I told him The Brass Lantern.

It’ll go down as one of the best decisions I ever made.

You know how you just KNOW a place is special when you walk through the doors? That was very much the case at The Brass Lantern.  The decor is gorgeous and just screams Southern Charm.  The lovely hostess couldn’t have been any warmer or friendlier (as it turned out she was an owner) and our server (Royce) was a total sweetheart.  He was everything you’d want a server to be – knowledgeable, friendly, attentive, and dead on about the Blackberry Cobbler!  If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a billion times, a server sets the tone for the whole dining experience and Royce did so beautifully.

We decided on one of the specials Royce told us about and chose Coconut Shrimp with an Orange Marmalade Dipping Sauce.  Shockingly delicious doesn’t even seem to cover it. It was the most amazing coconut shrimp I’ve personally ever had and this is something this seafood addict is completely familiar with.  The orange marmalade could have been eaten by itself, but I wouldn’t have slighted the shrimp for anything on earth.

In addition to servers, hosts, and hostesses, a few other things I look closely at when doing restaurant reviews are:

• Tea
• Coffee (when applicable)
• Salad
• Salad dressing
• Sides

Too many restaurants rely on the meat and throw sides to the side.  Big mistake.  Rarely do you find a restaurant where everything is above par and beyond excellent:  The appetizer, the tea, the service, the meat or fish, the vegetables, the salad, and the salad dressing.  Even in the best of restaurants, at least one falls short.

Apparently they haven’t heard about this rule at The Brass Lantern.  Not one area, not even one smidgen of an area was less than stellar.  The decor was beautiful, the service exceptional, the tea fresh, and the food was so incredible I didn’t want to leave.  Unfortunately, if I’d eaten another bite, I wouldn’t have been able to stand, though – so we eventually did have to leave.  For now.

To make certain I don’t leave one area uncovered, I’ll take the menu items one at a time, because each truly was deserving of its own moment in the spotlight.

• The tea was perfectly fresh, and spot on perfect.
• The coconut shrimp was the best I’ve ever eaten and I’ve enjoyed coconut shrimp from here to the Keys and back.
• The grilled asparagus was crisp and so flavorful that I can’t stop thinking about it.
• The grilled fish was absolute perfection. Perfectly seasoned and delicious.
• The rice was wonderful. I normally avoid rice unless it’s fried rice in an authentic Asian restaurant. Rice has never done anything to be, it just doesn’t dazzle me.  Let me say, it usually doesn’t dazzle me.  This amazing wild rice blend was Heavenly and, yes, I was definitely dazzled.
• There was a magical dipping sauce on our plates that I used for dipping my asparagus in.  It reminded me of the delicious Yum Yum sauce in Japanese restaurants, except it was white.  It was so amazing!
• Remember how I listed salads and salad dressings amongst the things I always, always pay special attention to?  The way I see it, you can tell a lot about a restaurant and the pride they take in their food, as well as the appreciation they have for their patrons in a very unexpected place: The Salad.  If the salad is obviously straight out of a bag you buy in a grocery store or if the salad is simply iceberg lettuce and tomatoes that are too cold.. that tells me the pride and appreciation levels aren’t as high as the water in a pot hole.  If the salad dressing tastes like they opened a bottle of cheap salad dressing, it’s even worse.  When I looked at and then took a bite of the beautiful little salad at The Brass Lantern, the word that popped into my mind was EXCEPTIONAL.  You get a mixture of iceberg lettuce with spinach leaves, tomatoes that (thankfully) don’t freeze your teeth, carrots, and fresh sliced mushrooms.   I always order my favorite dressing, French, when I eat out and inevitably keep my fingers crossed that it’s not the color of a Sesame Street character – never a good sign.  I knew upon sight that this dressing was homemade even before I tasted it.  Then, after one bite, I knew it was the best French dressing I’ve ever had. Again, EXCEPTIONAL.  My husband ordered his favorite, Blue Cheese – which, while good, wasn’t as good as mine.  I was like, (deep voice) “Look at your dressing. Now look at mine.  Back at yours. Now at mine. Sadly, it’s not mine.“  As it turned out, the owner makes it her brilliant self. Outrageously delicious.
• The dessert. Royce gave us the choices for dessert and happened to mention that the Blackberry Cobbler was his favorite.  I was tempted (as I always am) by the desserts with chocolate on their minds, but I went with Royce and, let me tell you, that young man knows his desserts!  The blackberry cobbler was breathtakingly good – after just one bite, there was a party going on in my mouth.  Some people make Blackberry cobbler too sweet and I’m left thinking, “I guess there were blackberries in there with the sugar…”  With this blackberry cobbler, there was no doubt about it – blackberries were the star of the show and the sweetness was in the background, in a supporting role. Just like it should be.  Even the ice cream was especially delicious!  Around this time, I wondered if  The Brass Lantern could make a bad dish if they were paid to.

My husband and I agreed, we have NEVER had a better meal out anywhere. Anytime.  Every bite was mind-numbingly delicious and a few times, we were both speechless.  Suffice to say that never happens.

Don’t wait for the next time you’re in the Kentucky Lake area to eat at The Brass Lantern – make a special trip!  You’ll soon find yourself visiting Kentucky Lake when you’re in The Brass Lantern’s area.  The Brass Lantern is exquisite dining in a very charming, beautiful, and relaxed environment.  It’s also one of Kentucky’s best kept secrets, but with the number of people we’re raving to that won’t last long!

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My husband (Michael) and a buddy of his recently played golf in the Land Between the Lakes area.   Since I didn’t marry a fool, the wandering golfers ate dinner at The Willow Pond in Aurora and paid a visit to the Hitching Post Country Store.

Sigh. I love a man with a brain.

I also love great catfish, so I love all of the Willow Pond restaurants.  But the Willow Pond in Aurora is extra-special.  Their hush puppies, for one thing, are simply the best.  The staff is extra-friendly, the food exceptional and…

…. it’s just down the road from one of my favorite spots in the entire state:  The Hitching Post Country Store. While there, Michael sampled the fudge.  I would have been beside myself except for one thing – he brought me a piece back.

My favorite varieties of fudge are peanut butter, Tiger Butter, and chocolate. H-O-W-E-V-E-R, the piece of fudge he brought back has thrown itself firmly into my list of favorites.  Pumpkin!  When I opened the paper, my dessert ninja nose knew instantly that this piece of fudge had pumpkin pie on its mind.

It was outstanding – far better than mere words can describe.  So, you know what that means, right?  You must take yourself, and every sweet tooth in your head, to Aurora, Kentucky asap and let the exceptionally friendly and warm people at the Hitching Post hook you up with this autumn-ly, Heavenly fudge.

While there, you’ll also wax brilliant if you buy a jar or two or twenty of Red Pepper Jelly.  Then, when you get home, take said jelly and pour it over a block of cream cheese.  Served with Ritz crackers, it’s a snack you’ll never forget.

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If you’ve been in business since 1951, you must be doing something right.  In the case of Belew’s Dairy Bar in Aurora, Kentucky, they’re doing at least one thing deliciously right – burgers!  My husband, Michael, and I stopped at Belews for lunch on a recent trip to Kentucky Lake.  We had hamburgers and onion rings, but the burgers were so outstanding that we nearly forgot about the onion rings.

There are few things quite as impressive as a remarkable hamburger.  If you echo this mouth-watering sentiment, you MUST stop by Belew’s Dairy Bar on your next trip to Lake Barkley, Kentucky Lake, or anywhere in the Land Between the Lakes area.  It’s located on US Highway 62 East, just a little past Aurora BBQ – Home of the Winking Pig (Outstanding BBQ!).

I truthfully loved everything about Belew’s Dairy Bar and can’t wait to visit again and try their other sandwiches, sides, and dairy treats.  It will be, however, hard not to order their hamburger though – sheer perfection.  I also loved the “feel” of Belew’s – it’s a throwback to a simpler time: Carhops, milkshakes, Coke with crushed ice, and hamburgers so big and delicious you’re certain you’re in Burger Heaven.

I’ll see you there – I’ll be the smiling brunette with a melting ice cream cone in one hand and a half-eaten burger in the other.

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The Hitching Post in Aurora Kentucky

We were in Aurora, Kentucky recently – visiting the wonderful Hitching Post and it’s remarkably friendly people and grabbing hot dogs so sensational you have to see them to believe them and taste them to truly experience a hot dog.  They’re called Dixie Dogs and you only think you’ve had a true hot dog before.

Aurora Bar-B-Que in Aurora Kentucky

While we were in town, I wish we had eaten at Aurora Bar-B-Q (delicious!), but we were anxious to try another barbecue restaurant in the Land Between the Lakes region.

Big mistake.  The service was decidedly unfriendly (as cold as ice cream) and the food wasn’t fit to write about.  Literally – since I don’t do negative food reviews on Genuine Kentucky.  If we have outstanding food and service, I write about it on Genuine Kentucky – if it’s the pits…. I pretend it never happened.  A throwback to, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all!”

See, mom, I was paying attention.

Honestly, if you want the best bar-b-que in and around the Land Between the Lakes region, you simply have to make your way to Aurora and the home of the winking pig.  Trust me.  We’ve had bar-b-que from just about everywhere in the Lake’s region and Aurora’s home to the absolute best.  The workers are friendly, the service is wonderful, and the food is outstanding.

I’ve said it in other posts on this site before, but I’ll say it again (after all, when I’m truly impressed with people and/or food, I’ll sing their praises for the rest of my life – I’m nothing if not loyal):  You have to spend some time in Aurora, Kentucky. It’s one of my favorite places on earth.  The town is very small, quiet, and unassuming.  It’s also extremely charming, friendly, warm, and fun.

Dixie Dogs in front of the Hitching Post in Aurora, Kentucky

What makes Aurora Kentucky so special?

• The people couldn’t be nicer if you paid them to be.  Not once have I come across an unfriendly person Aurora.
• In my personal opinion, the Willow Pond Catfish restaurant in Aurora is the best of all the Willow Pond restaurants. They’re all outstanding, mind you, but the one in Aurora Kentucky is just a little better.  The servers are a little friendlier and the hushpuppies are a little better.  Maybe more than a little.
• The Hitching Post is one of the most outrageously cool and fun places you could hope to spend an afternoon in. The new owners have made the Hitching Post such a wonderful place to visit that it’s a wonder they don’t charge admission.  They obviously have a great passion for what they do and a great love for their guests.  The Hitching Post is, at once, the funnest and coolest gift shop you could ever conceive AND a remarkable little “Step Back in Time” museum.  They have put a great deal of time, money, and work into renovating a little country store beside the Hitching Post’s main shop.  They proudly display some truly remarkable things from the distant past – it’s simply outstanding.  I’ve seen (and paid) admission required for far less fascinating exhibits.
• Right out front of the Hitching Post is Dixie Dogs (click the link for my other review of this deliciousness)! After browsing around the Country Store and gift shop (be sure to grab a bottle of pop), you’ll want to walk out to the Dixie Dogs stand and introduce your taste buds to the most remarkable hot dog they’ve ever met.
• Another of my favorite places on earth to visit is the gorgeous nearby Elk and Bison Prairie. I’m the biggest animal lover in the world and these majestic animals just take my breath away every single time. We once had the pleasure of having our vehicle completely surrounded by peaceful bison. They’re a favorite animal of mine, so I literally had tears in my eyes.  It’s moving to be so close to such amazing animals as elk and bison.
• The nearby Nature Station and the Bison Range are also great experiences and provide wonderful photo ops along with memories for a lifetime.
• Kentucky Lake! Kentucky Lake is one of the largest man-made lakes and is a beautifully relaxing way to spend a family vacation. Over 160,000 acres of water and 2,064 miles of shoreline are populated with over 100 species of fish, including catfish, crappie, bluegill, stripes any more. Talk about an outstanding fishing vacation.
• Kenlake Lodge is a quiet, charming, understated, and wonderful place to stay and/or eat.  I often call it the best kept secret in the Land Between the Lakes.  Click the link to see what makes Kenlake State Resort Park so special.

Kenlake State Resort Park

Do yourself and your family (of all ages!) a huge favor and spend a weekend or a week in Aurora Kentucky on your next vacation. While there’s something to be said for keeping our dollars in Kentucky, it wouldn’t be worth it if there weren’t extraordinary places to see, visit, and stay.  Fortunately, Kentucky is full of remarkable places and Aurora, Kentucky is one of them.

The Land Between the Lakes is an outstanding place for people of all ages and will provide fun memories that’ll last forever.  When the vacation comes to an end, your only question will be, “How soon can we come back?!?!”

This, I promise.

EDIT:

Since writing this particular article, I’ve found something else to strengthen my Aurora obsession:   The Brass Lantern!  I’m in the process of writing an entire article about this outstanding (seriously OUTSTANDING) restaurant – I’ll link to it as soon as the article is published.  I’ll just sort of whet your appetite by saying this: I’ve never eaten anything better in any restaurant, anywhere, at any time.  This beautiful Kentucky restaurant is just exceptional and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. – Joi

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My husband and I have been making the rounds, visiting different Kentucky State Parks and their restaurants.  The ones we’ve been to have featured basically the same menu – but our experiences have been greatly varied.

Last night, we ate at the Aurora Landing Restaurant in Kenlake Lodge. It was our first time eating at Kenlake Lodge, but it certainly won’t be our last. Our excellent server (Renai) and extremely warm hostess (Kathy) were, by far, the friendliest we’ve encountered at any state park.  Ever.  Each lady seemed to genuinely love her job and the resort she worked for.  Furthermore, they treated us the way I would treat company that visited my home.   Renai (beautiful name, right?) never allowed our tea to anywhere near half empty and even offered to give us more ice.   This tea, by the way, was amongst the best I’ve ever gotten out.  When we left, she asked if we wanted some tea for the road, in a “to go” cup.  I’ve never experienced that  outside of an Applebee’s.  How’s that for service?!

My husband and I never tell a hostess, server, or any worker that we publish a website or that I write reviews.  I want to see how workers generally are – for better or worse…. when they don’t know anyone’s planning to write about them!  Like I said, for better or worse, you see how people generally are and you get an idea for the way a restaurant is managed.

Words just can’t express how amazing and friendly these ladies were.  I will say this, as a proud Kentuckian, I wish each of our state parks were filled with workers JUST like these two ladies.  Can you imagine the wonderful impression the rest of the world would get of Kentuckian hospitality and warmth?

Given the lovely dispositions of the workers, I was SO hoping that the food would measure up and be deserving of their presence.   In another first from any of the State Park restaurants we’ve visited, Renai brought delicious rolls and butter to our table to enjoy while we waited for our meals.  These rolls were beyond spectacular – they had a light sprinkling of herbs on top and, frankly, tasted unlike any bread I’ve ever had.   I could have eaten 100.

I ordered chicken breast with onions and mushrooms, a baked potato, and pinto beans.  I’d never tried the chicken before, because I’m such a catfish addict that I usually go that fishy route.  I certainly picked the right time to venture out!

The chicken, mushrooms, and onions were so amazing that my mouth is watering from the memories.  The chicken had a delicious grilled, mesquite flavor and was cooked perfectly.  It honestly couldn’t have been any better and the mushrooms and onions were just as perfect – not overdone, not underdone.  Perfectly perfect and delicious beyond belief.

For dessert, we got the Kenlake Brownie  with Ice Cream, cherries, and whipped topping. Oh, sweet goodness, it was amazing!  I’m a total chocohaulic, so I know my chocolate stuff – this dessert was spectacular.

We were delighted to discover that the people in the kitchen were as wonderfully skilled as those in the dining room.  The Kentucky State Park system can certainly be proud of beautiful Kenlake State Park and, even more so, of the workers in its restaurant.

The next time you visit Land Between the Lakes, I promise you that you won’t find a better place to eat than the lovely restaurant at Kenlake Lodge.  With the delicious food, friendly workers, and gorgeous view of the flower gardens and lake – you might not want to leave.

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When I think of Aurora, Kentucky I think of The Hitching Post and great food: Hot Dogs (only the best in the world, guys), Catfish, hush puppies, BBQ from the Winking Pig (also known as Aurora BBQ!), and fudge that is now being sold in The Hitching Post.

I also think of the Elk and Bison Prairie and the 1850′s Homeplace, which are just minutes away.

If you haven’t visited Aurora, Kentucky lately – take your camera, your family, and an empty stomach.

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