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Spring in Kentucky is a Show Unlike Any Other!

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Daffodils

It may not seem like it today (brrr!) but gorgeous weather is literally right around the corner, and as any Kentuckian can tell you, Kentucky wears nice weather as beautifully as any state ever could.  The birds, the wildlife, the lakes, the rivers, the greenest grass you’ve ever seen, the trees, and the breathtaking flowers…  What a glorious show we get to enjoy every year.  Are you thanking God for living here yet?  I know I am.

Below is a press release from the Kentucky Department of Tourism.  They’re feeling the love, too!

‘Unbridled Spring’- Make Travel Plans

For Kentucky’s Colorful Awakening

FRANKFORT, Ky. About this time of year Kentuckians are itching to trade coats and gloves for short sleeves and sneakers. Spring is when some of the most beautiful scenery in the nation sprouts in the commonwealth as a preview of hot weather to come. It’s a great time of year to get away and see an “Unbridled Spring” unfold across Kentucky as different flowers bloom from region to region. To help plan your path to the posies and where you can kick your shoes off for the night, the Kentucky Department of Travel has the perfect e-guide.

An “Unbridled Spring” web promotion begins April 7 and runs through Memorial Day at www.KyTourism.com. It’s sure to lure you on your way for a long weekend or day trip to see what’s blooming. This year, the program is longer and includes more places to spot buds and flowers, tips for events, locations and trips, photos of Kentucky wildflowers, regional videos, and other tools to plan springtime travel.

“Unbridled Spring” (previously Wildflower Watch) links to places throughout Kentucky to see spring blooms like trails, botanical gardens, state parks and nature preserves. Besides a variety of wild flowers that grow throughout the state, “Unbridled Spring” appeals to travelers to visit public areas including the approach to Kentucky’s state capitol which is paved with tulips, Owensboro’s Azalea-Dogwood Trail and jonquils that glow along major roadways in Louisville.  Information on golf, fishing, trails and children’s activities as well as other outdoor adventures, are available with the click of a mouse.

“Our spring promotion has developed a well-deserved reputation for guiding travelers to a beautiful time in Kentucky,” said Kentucky Department of Travel Commissioner Mike Cooper. “This year “Unbridled Spring” has even more information and pictures to entice native Kentuckians and visitors alike, to get out, travel the state and watch spring return to our very distinct landscapes.”

Information on specific park events at Kentucky State Parks is available at www.parks.ky.gov.   For Kentucky tourism information, go to www.kentuckytourism.com where you’ll find “Unbridled Spring” and other resources for travel in Kentucky.   Travelers are urged to grab their cameras and add to the web site by sharing their “Unbridled Spring” experiences with others by uploading digital photos and videos of their trips.

(Note: Visitors to wooded areas and trails should exercise caution when hiking due to damaged trees caused by this past winter’s ice storm.)

Make a point of seeing as much of our beautiful state this spring and summer as you can.  Hit up the locally owned stores and restaurants – you know that’s where the really good stuff is, right?!  Be safe and have a ball.

Filed Under: Fishing, Golfing, Kentucky State Parks, Kentucky Vacations, Louisville, Owensboro

The USA Takes the Ryder Cup Away from the Europeans – Kentucky Style!

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This was the best Ryder Cup ever. Not just because the USA finally remembered how to win (!), not just because it was on Kentucky soil, and not just because we had two Kentuckians (Kenny Perry and J.B. Holmes) and Boo Weekley on our side. There was just so much excitement and an abundance of American pride.

As a state and a country we all fell under Boo’s spell. He’s SO one of us, how in the world did the stork miss the drop. The bird must’ve had my sense of directions because Boo was born in the Florida panhandle instead. Maybe Stork, United thought, “They’ve got the Waltrips, let’s give this character to Florida.”

Oh, well, it doesn’t really matter. We’ve adopted him now.

What makes Kenny Perry’s performance all the more impressive is the fact that he was in a great deal of pain. He was, in his words, “..eating Advil like candy.” Fellow Kentuckian J.B. Holmes has also made a name for himself. You know, if Boo weren’t scaring up so much attention, I think our own J.B. would be in the center of the limelight. He’s a character, himself!

Below are some of my favorite write-ups about the whole shebang:

Kentucky Comes Up Big in Ryder Cup
Kentucky Boys Give US Boost
Kenny Perry Savors Home Cooking in His Kentucky Reign at Ryder’s Cup

Louisville, Kenny, and J.B., you made your fellow Kentuckians proud. And along with Paul Azinger, Boo Weekley, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, and the rest of the team – you made the whole country proud!

Filed Under: Golfing, Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The 2008 Ryder Cup Will Be Decided in Louisville, Kentucky at Valhalla Golf Club

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Kenny Perry Contemplates his Next Shot

Louisville, Kentucky is just showing off this summer. She’s snapping her fingers and strutting her considerable stuff. I overheard her say something like, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.”

The state fair just wrapped up, so the city can turn its attention entirely to their next big event: The drama of the Ryder Cup! All eyes will be Valhalla Golf Club next month (September 16 – September 21) when the Ryder Cup gets under way.

I’ll just be honest with you, I’ve never golfed beyond miniature golf (but I am something of a guru at that). BUT, I absolutely love to watch golf. My all-time favorite golfers are Kenny Perry, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Tom Lehman, Michelle McGann, Tiger Woods, Paul Azinger (you can just call him Captain Azinger now), Ernie Els, and the Pink Panther – a.k.a. Paula Creamer. There aren’t many things more enjoyable than being able to watch one of your favorites on Sunday afternoon – right in the thick of things!

I hope the USA team will do themselves proud this year. On paper, we look pretty amazing. I’m counting on Kenny Perry to have one of the best tournaments of anyone. Are you kidding me?! A Kentucky boy on his home turf? I’ll put my money on a Kentucky boy any day of the week – but, when he has it in his mind that he’s being challenged on his home soil? Bet the farm!

Captain Azinger (love the way that sounds) will announce Team U.S.A. on September 2. The eight automatic qualifiers are:

  1. Kenny Perry
  2. Stewart Cink
  3. Boo Weekley
  4. Phil Mickelson
  5. Justin Leonard
  6. Ben Curtis
  7. Anthony Kim
  8. Jim Furyk

 

Kentucky Drivers can purchase the new Ryder Cup plates (pictured above) for $44 each. $10 of this cost will go to benefit Kentucky First Tee, a charity of the World Golf Foundation.  Solid.

RYDER CUP TICKET INFORMATION:

Ryder Cup Tickets

Ryder Cup Multi-Day Pass

Ryder Cup Tickets – Season Ticket (Includes access to the grounds all six days)

Ryder Cup Tickets – Practice Round

Ryder Cup Tickets – First Round

Ryder Cup Tickets – Second Round

Ryder Cup Tickets – Final Round

Filed Under: Events, Golfing, Louisville, Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Franklin’s Golden Son, Kenny Perry, Wins the Memorial

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Kenuckian Kenny Perry won the Memorial today and in doing so, joined none other than Tiger Woods as the only three-time winner of the tournament.

While the victory and the money earned are as sweet as Cracker Barrel’s Peanut Butter Pie, the best part is this: The victory is a giant step toward making the Ryder Cup in….where?….. his home state of Kentucky.

At 47, Kenny became the oldest winner of the Memorial. He’ll take it.

Congrats, Kenny!

***As you’ll notice, the “Champ” is in this week’s featured video (see the sidebar).

Filed Under: Golfing, New, News, Sports Tagged With: ,

Golfing in the Land Between the Lakes Region of Kentucky

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There are some really amazing golf courses in the Land Between the Lakes Region of Kentucky. The ones below will give your golf game all it can handle! Click each Golf Course to visit its website (when applicable) and/or call the number for more information.

Kenlake SRP in Aurora, Kentucky (If you go, be sure to eat at Willow Pond!) – 9 hole/par 30 (270-474-2211)

Benton Country Club in Benton, Kentucky - 18 hole/par 72 (270-527-9673)

Marvel Golf Club in Benton, Kentucky – 18 hole/par 71 (270-354-9050)

Lake Barkley State Resort Park in Cadiz, Kentucky – 18 hole/par 72 (800-295-1878)

Calvert Country Club in Calvert City, Kentucky – 18 hole/par 72 (270-395-5831)

Mineral Mound State Park in Eddyville, Kentucky – 18 hole/par 72 (866-904-7888)

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park in Gilbertsville, Kentucky – 18 hole/par72 (800-295-1877)

Drake Creek Golf Club in Ledbetter, Kentucky – 18 hole/par ? (270-898-4653)

Mayfield Country Club in Mayfield, Kentucky – 18 hole/par 70 (270-247-1862)

South Highland Country Club in Mayfield, Kentucky – 18 hole/par 71 (270-247-2918)

Miller Memorial Golf Course in Murray, Kentucky – 18 hole/par 71 (888-313-9862)

Oaks Country Club in Murray, Kentucky – 18 hole/par72 (270-753-6454)

Edwin J. Paxton Park in Paducah, Kentucky – 18 hole/par 71 (270-444-9514)

Deer Lakes Golf Course in Salem, Kentucky – 18 hole/par 72 (270-988-4653)

 

The following Golf Clubs/Golf Courses have websites you can visit for additional information.  (60 Second Rant: A Golf Club, Restaurant, Store, any business of any kind without a website and/or blog today is just nuts.  They’re shooting themselves in the foot with a loaded gun.  It’s honestly equivalent to NOT being listed in the phone book.  Granted, not everyone knows how to design or “put up” a website.  There are people who do, though.  In fact, there are people who will do every second of the work for you.  You simply have to tell them what you want and write them a check.  Within a week (on average), you can have a website or blog you can be proud of!  When I Google a business and discover that they don’t have a website, my opinion of them drops just a little.  A lot of times, I move on to the next one on my list.   If you’re a Kentucky business of any kind, e-mail us and we’ll help get you on the web!  If you have any questions at all, we’ll be more than happy to answer them for you.)

Marvel Golf Club

Calvert City Country Club

Deer Lakes Golf Course

More information can be found on these and other courses HERE.

Click HERE for free, gorgeous Kentucky screensavers and wallpapers from Kentucky State parks.gov.

Filed Under: Golfing, LBL, Sports Tagged With: , ,

Kenlake State Resort Park in Kentucky’s Beautiful Lakes Region

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Kenlake Hotel

Kenlake Hotel

One of my favorite spots in the Kentucky Lakes Region is Kenlake State Resort Park.  Same gorgeous surroundings, breathtaking views, and ridiculously friendly people as the other Parks, but with a quieter feel.

Truth be told, the entire gorgeous Land Between the Lakes area gives you a sense of having found a paradise that the rest of the world hasn’t been let in on yet, but no place drives that feeling home quite like Kenlake.

If you’ve ever been to the beautiful Gulf Shores region in Florida (specifically Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach), you’ll have an idea what I’m talking about.  Navarre has the same amazing white sandy beaches and emerald waters, but about half the people that flock to Pensacola Beach.

Granted, it’s great, great fun to go to the busier places from time to time – but there’s A LOT to be said for losing yourself in the quieter spots.  Spots where it seems like the only ones in the world are you and those you love enough to take with you.

Kenlake Hotel, Pictured Above (click for a larger view) is a family-friendly 48 room lodge, surrounded by pampered, beautiful flower gardens.  Kenlake has two nature trails: The Cherokee Trail (.7-mile) and The Chickasaw Trail (1-mile).  The beautifully-named trails give you a fun workout while enjoying scenery that you’ll never forget.  You’ll want to bring your camera!

You won’t want to spend all your time on land, though, will you?  The marina boasts 21 open slips, 127 covered slips, and a launching ramp. Rental fishing boats, aluminum bass boats, pontoon boats, jet skis, and ski boats are also available.  And don’t forget, Kentucky Lake is also a great place to bring your sailboat.   Open March 1-October 31, (depending on height of lake water level) and there is, of course, a fee charged for rentals.

For those of you who are golf fanatics, the 9 hole golf course is open year round, weather permitting.

Bonus Points:

  • Kenlake has a beautiful gift shop that’s open all year round.  It features a lot of products that are pure Kentucky, from candies to jewelry and from cookbooks to mugs, Kenlake’s is one of the funner gift shops.  The souvenirs and handcrafts will blow you away.
  • Fishermen/Fisherwomen will love the fishing opportunities on Kentucky Lake.  There’s, literally, and endless population of large mouth, small mouth, white and Kentucky bass, bluegill, channel and blue catfish, crappie, and sauger – just waiting for you.
  • Kenlake is a member of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arborea. The grounds are honestly gorgeous.  When you take your eyes off of the water and trees long enough to really look at the beautifully-manicured gardens, your heart will skip a beat.  And so many butterflies!
  • Picnic and playground facilities are available in the camping and cottage areas and throughout the park. One shelter, near the tennis courts, is available for rental.

Click HERE to learn more about Kenlake State Resort Park.  It’s a beautiful and peaceful experience that will do you a world of good.  Be sure to read about the Aurora Landing Restaurant.  If your mouth doesn’t water you simply weren’t paying attention!

Kenlake Marina

Kenlake Marina

Filed Under: Golfing, Kentucky State Parks, LBL Tagged With: , ,

Barren River Lake State Resort Park

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Simply put, Barren River Lake State Resort Park, and its surrounding region, is Kentucky showing off.  The longest cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave, is located just 27 miles northwest of beautiful Barren River.

Barren River Lake Resort Park is a water-lover’s paradise and, with an abundance of large mouth, white and hybrid striped bass, bluegill, channel catfish, crappie, and rough fish, it’s a fisherman’s (or woman’s!) dream come true.

Love boating?  The beautiful 10,000 acre Barren River Lake features 100 open slips, a launching ramp, rental fishing boats, pontoons, deck boats, and john boats.

A swimming pool is provided for exclusive use of lodge and cottage guests, and there is even a public beach and bathhouse.

Barren River Lake State Resort Park Cottages

22 stylish and contemporary cottages each include two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  Each boasts a clear view of the beautiful lake and come with tableware, cooking utensils, and linens.  Fresh linens are available daily.  Cottages are available by late afternoon, check out by 11 am.

The Louie B. Nunn Lodge

The lodge is surrounded by rolling, tree covered hills and overlooks Barren River Lake.  The lodge includes 51 rooms and offers full amenities.  A gift shop features a large selection of Kentucky handcrafts and souvenirs.

Rooms are available by late afternoon, check out by noon,  Central Time.

Meeting Rooms

A variety of meeting facilities are available.  For small group dining, there are two private dining rooms that seat 32 and 20.  The Thistle Room seats 33 guests, the Tartan Room seats 75, and the Highland Room accommodates up to 400 guests.

Camping

The beautiful campgrounds are available for use from April 1 – October 31.  The 99-site campground features utility hookups, a dump station, and two central service buildings with showers and restrooms.

Check out by 1 pm.

Restaurant

Kentucky’s infamous cuisine can be enjoyed in the 146-seat dining room.  Breakfast, lunch, and supper are all served by a courteous staff who embody the phrase Southern Hospitality.

GolfBarren River Lake State Resort Park Golf

Barren River Lake State Resort Park includes an 18 hole regulation golf course with pro shop, riding carts, and rental clubs.

Horse Stables

Guided trail rides through the park.  Open Memorial Day – Labor Day.

Nature Trails

4 miles of beautiful wooded trails, 1-1/2 mile paved trail – easy to moderate level.

Swimming

Swimming pool for exclusive use of lodge and cottage guests, plus a public beach and bathhouse.

Boating

100 open slips, 149 covered slips, launching ramp, rental fishing boats, pontoons, deck boats, and john boats.

Special Events

February:  Buffalo Night

June:  Glasgow Highland Games

October:  Spookout Weekend!

Nearby Cities

Glasgow – 11.28 miles SE

Bowling Green – 40.79 miles SE

Louisville – 106.05 miles S

Nashville, TN - 102.69 miles N

For More Information:

Contact

Barren River Lake State Resort Park

1149 State Park Road

Lucas, KY 42156-9709

Phone: (270)646-2151

Lodge Reservations: 1-800-325-0057

Barren River Lake State Resort Park

Map It Out!

Filed Under: Barren River Lake, Barren River Lake SRP, Golfing, Kentucky State Parks Tagged With: ,
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