Beautiful Kenlake State Resort Park is one of Kentucky’s loveliest little secrets. Located in Hardin, Kentucky, the resort is 40 miles southeast of the “something for everyone” town of Paducah.
Located on Kentucky Lake, with the longest shoreline of any man-made lake in the world, Kenlake State Resort Park is a beautiful state park that I’m eager for you to get acquainted with.
Kentucky’s State Resort Parks are home to truly outstanding restaurants with food that’s above par, and Kenlake’s Aurora Landing Restaurant is amongst the best. Click the link for my review to see what makes it so special. When you find yourself in this area of Kentucky, you absolutely must eat dinner at Aurora Landing. The view is gorgeous, the food is outstanding, and the people are so friendly you’ll never want to leave. They make you feel at home – and, come on, can a dining experience get much better than that?
Things to Do at Kenlake State Resort Park:
- Spend the day boating on beautiful Kentucky Lake (capped off, of course, with dinner at Aurora Landing!). Rentals include fishing, pontoon, bass and ski boats, as well as jet skis. Contact the operators of the Kenlake Marina by email or by Phone: (270)-474-2245.
- Enjoy a round of golf on the nine-hole golf course. A full-service pro shop, rental motor carts, pull carts, and clubs are available. Golf packages are offered.
Pro Shop open March-November. Course open year-round, weather permitting. - Take a refreshing dip in Kenlake’s beautiful pool – surrounded by gorgeous landscaping. The swimming pool, located behind the lodge, is available for lodge and cottage guests seasonally.
- Tennis is a favorite sport at Kenlake – and can be enjoyed year-round. The indoor tennis center features four indoor courts, locker room facilities, and a fully equipped pro shop. Four lighted outdoor courts are adjacent to the tennis center, and one court is available near the lodge.
- Take a hike! Kenlake has two wonderful trails that wind through wooded terrain. The Cherokee Trail is .7-mile and the Chickasaw Trail is 1-mile.
In addition to Paducah, Kentucky, other nearby attractions include:
- Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park is just 27 miles northwest of Kenlake on US 641.
- Columbus-Belmont State Park is 63 miles west of Kenlake, in Columbus, Kentucky. This was the site of the 1861 Battle of Belmont. History buffs will want to mark Columbus-Belmont State Park as a MUST SEE.
- The infamous Land Between the Lakes is mere minutes from Kenlake State Resort Park… if that long! Land Between the Lakes is a paradise of 170,000 acres. This National Recreation Area is something we Kentuckians are incredibly proud of. Nature lovers will feel like they’re experiencing an early Heaven in this area of Kentucky.
I hope you’ll schedule a weekend getaway to Kenlake State Resort Park as soon as possible. I know you’ll have the time of your life and I know you’ll return again and again. When you go to Kenlake State Resort Park – or any of Kentucky’s State Resort Parks for dinner, know this: You cannot go wrong with the catfish OR the Kentucky Hot Brown. The buffets are always wonderful, but ordering off the menu is even better. The Kentucky Hot Brown will blow each and every brain cell you possess.
That’s a promise.
Want to read more about Kenlake State Resort Park?
Kenlake State Resort Park Contact Information:
Kenlake State Resort Park
542 Kenlake Road
Hardin, KY 42048-9737
Telephone: 270-474-2211
Toll Free: 800-325-0143
Kenlake@ky.gov
Park Manager –John Rittenhouse
I just came across this U.S. National Parks Quarters Coin Collection online (while surfing around trying to calm down after UK’s mammoth win over Mississippi State to win the SEC Tournament Championship – SWEET!). I thought you’d love them as much as I do, so I thought I’d tell you about them.
I’m all kinds of flipping over these coins because I’m totally obsessed with US National Parks. The history, the beauty, the peacefulness – who couldn’t love national parks? These beautiful coins celebrate these special places and the people and states they represent.
From Collectible’s Today:
Capturing the breathtaking grandeur of America the Beautiful, The Bradford Exchange Mint is proud to introduce the most exciting coin series in decades – The U.S. National Parks Quarters Coin Collection. This much anticipated sequel to the U.S. Mint’s hugely popular Statehood Quarters series takes you on a historic 50-state tour through America’s unparalleled natural wonders. Your historic FIRST-EVER collection begins with Issue One, the John Muir “Father of our National Parks” quarters in a commemorative panel. Soon after you will receive your FREE custom-designed National Parks coin collector album, followed by Issue Two, the Hot Springs National Park quarters in a commemorative panel and Issue Three, the Yellowstone National Park quarters in a commemorative panel. Additional panels and coins, each a separate issue, will follow.‡
Each issue you receive will provide you with 2 collectible quarters – one from the Philadelphia mint and another from the Denver mint – in a commemorative collectible panel. Every commemorative panel fits conveniently within your FREE collector’s album and preserves and protects your coins, as well as showcases full-color images, historical background, fascinating facts, maps and park trivia on each national treasure. Act immediately to ensure you receive all 56 of the U.S. National Parks quarters in Brilliant Uncirculated condition. Minting will be limited to only 10 weeks per coin, so supplies may never meet collectors’ demand for such a sought after and valued commodity. Timing is crucial if you want to own the entire U.S. National Parks Quarters Coin Collection. Don’t wait to take advantage of this exclusive introductory offer. Order now!
This exclusive Brilliant Uncirculated U.S. National Parks Quarters coin collection from The Bradford Exchange Mint features:
A historic quarters coin collection, commemorating the historic beauty of America’s National Parks, in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, available only from The Bradford Exchange Mint
Included FREE custom-designed National Parks coin collector album to hold your commemorative panels in one convenient place – in heirloom condition
Each of the 56 coins in this incredible collection comes displayed in a commemorative, collectible panel that protects your quarter and showcases full-color images, historical background, fascinating facts, maps and park trivia
Each issue in your collection will included 2 U.S. National Parks quarters – one from the Denver mint and another from the Philadelphia mint – sent to you in the order that each park was established
Every collectible quarter is individually designed and minted with a unique National Parks design on one side and George Washington on the other
Minting will be limited to only 10 weeks per coin, and demand for this landmark collection will be great, so act now to secure yours
Free collector album measures approximately 13-1/4″ L x 12″ H x 3″ W; 33.7 cm L x 30.5 cm H x 7.6 cm W; commemorative panels measure 11″ L x 9″ H; 27.9 cm L x 22.9 cm H
Visit U.S. National Parks Quarters Coin Collection to take a closer look and to order your own piece of history.
Lake Barkley State Resort Park is geared up and ready for Spring. After Old Man Winter’s especially cantankerous mood, aren’t we all?!
Lake Barkely SRP is throwing out the welcome mat to welcome spring’s arrival in southwestern Kentucky with a celebration of nature and nurture for every member of the family on March 19-21.
This celebration is an ideal time for a weekend getaway to enjoy and celebrate one of the most beautiful spectacles in the world: Springtime in Kentucky.
The celebration begins Friday evening (March 19, 2010) at 6:30 with the “owl prowl.” A guide will lead you to prime owl habitats, allowing participants to listen and learn more about these beautiful birds. The hike is $1 per person but children 5 years and younger prowl free.
Saturday marks the official beginning of a full day of spring. Lake Barkley SRP will continue the spring celebration with an 8 a.m. lap swim at the park’s fitness center. At 9 a.m. the park naturalist will lead a leisurely hike in search of the first signs of spring along the ground, in the trees and other surroundings.
The archery range is open from 1 – 2:30 p.m. with an instructor available for beginners.
Learn tips on attracting birds to your own backyard beginning at 3 p.m. and you’ll even learn how to construct your own recycled hummingbird feeder. Birdwatching and recycling are two things near and dear to my own heart – so kudos to Lake Barkley State Resort Park for this activity.
On Sunday morning, you can join the naturalist for a migratory bird hike.
More About Lake Barkley State Resort Park
Lake Barkley State Resort Park is the largest state resort park in Kentucky and visitors will find that there is something for everyone to do and enjoy. The park features a lodge, cottages, the Windows on the Water Restaurant (an exceptional restaurant – click the link for my own review), a seasonal campground, 18-hole golf course, fitness center with indoor pool, marina, fishing, tennis courts, hiking trails, gift shop, and recreational and nature programming. See? Everything you could hope for!
The park is located at 3500 State Park Road in Cadiz. From I-24, take the Highway 68 exit west toward Cadiz.
For more information about the Spring weekend celebration of other amenities at the park, contact Mary at mary.schmidt@ky.gov or Nick at nick.edmonds@ky.gov.
You can call the lodge at call 1-800-325-1708.
The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges — more than any other state! For more information on Kentucky parks, visit http://www.parks.ky.gov/
It’s a girl!
The first baby gorilla born in North America this year was at the Louisville Zoo. The adorable bouncing baby is a girl.
She was born February 6, 2010, to Louisville Zoo’s 20-year-old western lowland gorilla Mia Moja. While the baby continues to cling tightly to mom nearly all the time, ZooKeepers have been able to get several close looks to determine and verify the baby is a girl.
A naming contest for the baby is being planned and I’ll post more about the contest when I get more information.
Below is an excerpt from the Louisville Zoo’s press release:
“I’m excited, either way—boy or girl,” Gorilla Forest Keeper Michelle Wise said. “On the night the baby was born, Mia Moja made a big fluffy nest out of hay and a soft, pink blanket and settled herself and the baby into it. I think maybe she was giving us a hint at the time with the pink blanket!”
This is the second gorilla ever born in the Zoo’s 41-year history. (The first was male Azizi born to Makari on December 4, 2003, a year after Gorilla Forest opened in May of 2002.) The father is 22-year-old silverback Mshindi. It is Mshindi’s first offspring and Mia Moja’s second. She proved herself a good mother with the birth and subsequent raising of Olympia, who was born in 1996 at Zoo Atlanta and still resides there.
Mia Moja and baby are continuing to bond and baby is staying awake longer, looking around and being very observant with her big, brown eyes.
Since there are only 354 western lowland gorillas in 52 zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, each birth is a celebration of life and a step toward preserving the species.
“We hope the community will come and see the precious baby,” Louisville Zoo Director John Walczak said. “This remarkable baby girl is engaging and inspiring—a true ambassador for her relatives in the remnant wild. Because of her, we hope visitors will be motivated to learn more about conservation and preservation, which are at the core of our mission to better the bond between people and our planet.”
Western lowland gorillas are a critically endangered species and the wild population has declined rapidly over the past decade. According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are approximately 100,000 western lowland gorillas in the wild. However, there is no truly accurate census as these elusive apes inhabit some of Africa’s densest and most remote rainforests.
Mia Moja became pregnant as part of a recommendation from the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP), a collaborative effort of North American zoos designed to encourage a healthy gorilla population in captivity and to ensure that the population remains viable, genetically-diverse and self-sustaining.
Female western lowland gorilla Kweli (pronounced “quay lee”) is also housed with the baby, Mia Moja and Mshindi. She arrived at the Louisville Zoo in 2008 from Cincinnati.
This birth brings the total gorilla population at the Louisville Zoo to 12. For more information on the Louisville Zoo’s gorillas in Gorilla Forest, visit www.louisvillezoo.org/collection/exhibits/gforest/gf-meet.htm.
Even during cold weather, visitors can view the gorillas inside Gorilla Forest’s comfortable, climate-controlled sanctuary. But note, in Gorilla Forest the animals rotate through the exhibit spaces on a daily basis so baby, mom Mia Moja, father Mshindi and Kweli will not always be visible.
Starting Monday, March 1, the Zoo will be operating on its spring and summer schedule. You will be able enter the Zoo daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (exit by 6 p.m.) For more information, visit www.louisvillezoo.org.
GORILLA BIRTH INFORMATION
* A gorilla’s gestation period is about 8-1/2 months
* Labor can range anywhere from 20 minutes to 2.5 hours
* Gorilla babies usually weigh at least 4 pounds and are about the size of human babies
* Nursing usually occurs in the first 24 hours
* The baby will begin eating solids at 2 months of age
* The mother may first put her baby down for extended times at 3 months of age
* The baby may begin weaning as early as 4 months of age
* A baby begins to crawl away from mom and starts exploring at 4-5 months of age
Michael and I went to the beautiful Lake Barkley Lodge last night for the Lake Barkley State Resort Park Presents Comedy Dinner Theater featuring Marty Pollio. The food was delicious and the laughs were constant.
Marty Pollio is a tremendously talented Louisville comedian. You can read more about him in my previous post and learn even more by visiting his website. In fact, I insist that you visit Marty Pollio’s website. Not only is he a total riot – he apparently shares one of my own great passions: cooking! He has tons of delicious-sounding recipes on his website. I’ve actually been saving a lot of them this morning to print out and try. Italian food… come on, it doesn’t get any better.
I am so grateful to the Lake Barkley State Resort Park for putting together this Dinner and a Show evening. What a brainstorm! I’d love to see more of Kentucky’s wonderful state parks doing the same. And if they bring in Marty Pollio, I’ll want a ticket to each and every show.
As you know, I’m a huge fan of the Variety! Music, Memories, and More shows in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. On the way home last night, I thought how amazing it would be if they’d bring Marty to the Badgett Playhouse. I nearly laughed out loud at the thought of him interacting with Bill Minihan and Steve Sherling. I’d give up 6 months of Starbucks to see the three of them on stage together. If you know me, you know that’s as good as offering up your first born.
Marty Pollio has “it” – that certain something that a comedian either has or doesn’t have…. they own it or fake it. He’s like a cleaner, Italian, juggling Dane Cook. Let’s see Mr. Cook juggle 4 balls at once!
As luck would have it, my husband was one of the faces in the crowd that Marty interacted with. My husband, who is as big a ham and character as anyone, played along beautifully. As a mother who loves her daughters more than her next breath, I do have to clear something up. When he asked Michael how many children he had and if he was proud of the way they turned out- he shook his head NO! For anyone there, know that he was (of course) playing around.
He also said he wasn’t there for their births – he was there (and green) for all three. Liar.
Anyway, aside from getting my husband into all kinds of trouble, Marty was just spectacular. He had everyone laughing hysterically and his juggling and miming were simply unreal. How does anyone juggle like that? I’d struggle with 1 ball, let alone 4.
If you are reading this article and are looking for a hilarious clean comedian for an event or show – here’s your guy. Just promise me one thing: Let me know when he’ll be there because I’ll be headed that way. I might even let “you know who” come along. And sit in the back.
A few links you’ll love:
How to Juggle and Other Cheap Tricks (Marty’s How To)
Marty Pollio’s Italian Recipes
Friday night, my Husband (Michael) and I took his brother and his wife to Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. We see shows at Badgett on a regular basis and wanted them to see what they were missing out on. Some of our favorite Badgett Playhouse shows have been (you can click each title for my review)…..
- The Fabulous 50’s Show
- Bus Stop (I still smile when I think about this one – outrageously good)
- The Variety! Show Christmas Spectacular
- The Greater Tuna Shows (only for people who want to laugh so much their sides ache)
- The Variety! Music, Memories & More Show
- It’s a Wonderful Life (loved it!)
I’m certain I have other reviews floating around the site (along with the standard praises for catfish at Willow Pond and our State Park system). What can I say, we love to smile, laugh, and have a great time. We also love (make that LOVE) the concept of supporting fellow Kentuckians and businesses in our beautiful state. Why take our hard-earned money to other states on a regular basis?
Outrageous!
The fact that there are so many wonderful places to eat, smile, and laugh within the Bluegrass helps our cause considerably. The men and women at Badgett Playhouse 
take a great deal of pride in the shows they produce and the building in which they perform them. You can tell in each and every detail that there is a great level of pride and integrity. From the musicians, singers and dancers to the uncommonly friendly women at the ticket office, the usher, and concession stand workers… each individual obviously has one goal: To make this particular night one that each guest will remember with a smile on his or her face.
Like my car driving to Starbucks, they hit their mark every time.
Here’s just a tiny illustration. After the four of us sat down Friday night, we were looking around – taking in the beauty of the theater and the decorations. An older (I mean, older, older, older) gentleman came through a side door. The usher went directly to him to help him find his seat. That might be kind of expected, but then he offered to let the little guy hold onto his arm. I thought that was very considerate, very friendly, very Kentucky.
I have to tell you this quick little story: As the usher and the little old (old, old, old) man were passing in front of us, I caught the older gentleman’s’ eye and gave him my biggest, “By gosh, you’re cute!” smile. He returned it. Then, he stopped in front of me and my husband and said in a voice that started off faint, then rose at the end, “Whoever said these were the golden years…. didn’t know what the hell he was talking about!”
Some things, I’m convinced, only happen within the state borders of Kentucky.
Something else I’m convinced of – If you have never been to a show at Badgett Playhouse, you MUST head directly to their website, view their schedule and order your tickets right away. If the trip is one you can make in a day, go early and eat at one of the spectacular nearby restaurants. Another one of my favorite things about having Genuine Kentucky is that I get do a lot of restaurant reviews. If you click the link, you can find plenty of restaurants in the vicinity – I have pages of restaurants reviewed, so you’re sure to find one you’ll love.
If you can make it to one of the Always, Patsy Cline shows, you won’t be disappointed. The story is a beautiful and emotional one and the two ladies (Erica Delkou as Patsy Cline and Sara Minihan as Louise) who make up the cast do a wonderful job – they’ll make you sing along, laugh, smile, cry, and leave with a heart filled with wonderful memories.
You can read my original review of the Always, Patsy Cline show at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. The only things that have changed between that particular show and this one was the singer portraying Patsy Cline (Patsy is now brought to life by Erica Delkou – pictured on the left) and the wonderful addition of Eddie Dunlap on the steel guitar (he did an outstanding job and I hope he’ll be featured in many upcoming shows).
Sara Minihan (pictured above – on the right) was outrageously hilarious, as always, but don’t let her comic talents take attention away from her voice. She has an outstanding singing voice. In Always, Patsy Cline you only get a hint of this talent, so you’ll have to grab tickets for some of the other shows as well! She’ll blow you away in the Variety! Music, Memories, and More Show, Pickin’ and Grinnin’, as well as The Fabulous 50’s Show with her singing and dancing. If you ever get a chance to see her in Bus Stop, you won’t want to miss that either. I know there are only so many shows they can put on at the Badgett Playhouse, so I’ll try to ease up with my campaigns for more Greater Tuna shows and the return of Bus Stop. (Do you think the airplane banners, megaphones, and Goodyear blimp were overkill?) One of my other absolute favorites, The Fabulous 50’s Show, is featured prominently on the schedule. You can’t miss this one.
Something else that’s fascinating about Sara…get this, the lady makes the gorgeous costumes that you see in these shows. No wonder she dances as well as she does, with that much talent coursing through your body, it must be hard to stand still.
I was also very impressed with the singer portraying Patsy Cline – native Texan Erica Delkou. Erica has a beautiful voice and I would absolutely love to hear her sing more. She made the Patsy Cline classics seem contemporary, like you could hear them on the radio today. Walkin’ After Midnight and Stupid Cupid were a few of my favorites, though they were all memorable and beautiful.
The band -Thomas Michael, Eddie Hall, Scott Durham, and Eddie Dunlap – made the evening complete. I wish I had a cd of the evening right now to listen to, actually!
Always Patsy Cline will be running through March 20. Pickin’ and Grinnin’ will run from March 27 – May 1. Click the link for more information on Pickin’ and Grinnin’.
I’ll keep you informed on upcoming shows and announcements. I do know there are upcoming dates for The Big Band Show, The Fabulous 50’s Show, Pickin’ and Grinnin’, and the Variety! Memories, & More Show. Smoke on the Mountain will be back in September. Also, at the risk of getting way ahead of myself, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play will return in November and, yes as a matter of fact, I’m already looking forward to it. It’s another CAN’T MISS show.
A few of my favorite actors are Johnny Depp and George Clooney – they would be EVEN if they weren’t born in Kentucky, but I do love that little fact. I got an e-mail a few days ago from a woman who currently lives in Manhattan but was born in Clay County (Manchester) and raised in Butler, Kentucky. Her name is Lisa Ashe and she’s apparently a George Clooney fan as well.
She passed along this video she’d like to share with the readers of Genuine Kentucky and I’m SO glad she did – it’s a lot of fun! I love the bluegrass sound of her voice and music – they’re a great fit. The UK grad has a degree in theatre and wrote the song she sings in the video below. You can learn more about Lisa by visiting her website, http://www.LisaAsher.com.
Thanks Lisa!
Check out the cool old pic of George Clooney I found. My oldest daughter said he looked like Velma on Scooby Doo… and, sadly I must agree. But a very cute Velma, right… right?… Am I right?
If you’ve never had the privilege of seeing Always, Patsy Cline performed at Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, here’s your chance. Always Patsy Cline returns to the Badgett Playhouse February 26 through March 20.
Always Patsy Cline is an outstanding and very touching story that the talented performers of Grand Rivers Variety turn into an outstanding and very touching show. I strongly urge you to go – more than that, I strongly urge you to fill your car up with others and give them a night they’ll long remember as well. You can read my own personal review of Always Patsy Cline by clicking the link. I wrote this review on July 4, 2008 and titled it “Always Patsy Cline Will Never Be Forgotten!” Two things stand out to me about the title of the review:
- I seldom ever use exclamation points in the title of my articles or posts. I use them freely in my writing (lots, actually!) but hardly ever in titles. I just rarely, rarely, rarely ever do it. However, there’s a big old exclamation mark at the end of this article’s title. I was… as we say in Kentucky… worked up when I wrote it. Great food, great coffee, and/or great entertainment work me up and the exclamation points fly like arrows from an bow.
- I was right. It’s been nearly a year and 7 months and I still recall what a wonderful experience it was. We go to Grand Rivers Variety Shows often enough to know that the music, the costumes, the singing, the dancing, the popcorn, the coffee, the performances…. everything… will surpass our hopes and expectations every single time. Everyone associated with Grand Rivers Variety seems to subscribe to the concept of giving their guests more than they paid for. They do it each and every time and no one ever leaves thinking otherwise. We expected that, but we didn’t expect for the show to be so funny! It’s hilarious – in addition to being very moving. And the singing… exceptional.
Visit Grand Rivers Variety for more information. You can launch your own exclamation points!
Mark your calendars: Pre-historic creatures are set to invade the Louisville Zoo in March 2010.
A new adventure will be stomping into the city of Louisville and heading straight for the Louisville Zoo in March. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we’re very lucky here in Kentucky for a great number of reasons and one of them is the outstanding Louisville Zoo. There’s always something extra-special going on at this amazing zoo. Just check out what’s coming in a few months!
From the Louisville Zoo:
Precautions are being taken as the Zoo prepares Dinosaurs Alive!, a temporary dwelling for a herd of 16 robotic dinosaurs never before seen at the Zoo—including the giant Brachiosaurus, the menacing Tyrannosaurus rex, the fierce Deinonychus whose name means “Terrible Claw,” and the Cryolophosaurus which is often referred to as the “Elvisaurus” because the large crest atop its skull resembles the iconic hair of Elvis Presley.
Through the magic of incredible, futuristic technology, the mammoth, life-like animatronic creatures that roar, snarl and move will offer a full-blown dino-reality experience to visitors as they travel back in time along a lush, winding pathway where these enormous primeval creatures lurk at every turn. There, guests will encounter adult dinosaurs, youngsters and even a nest with eggs and hatchlings.
The robotic dinosaurs are built on steel frames by Billings Productions of McKinney, Texas, and high-tech electronics and air pistons power the dinosaurs’ menacing claws and gnashing teeth while a booming sound system gives them their distinctive roars and chirps. One of the animatronic creatures can even be operated by visitors using a remote control box.
In addition, kids can excavate dinosaur fossils at a paleontologist dig site using brushes and sifters to search for clues about the lives of dinosaurs.
“Guests of all ages will be transported back in time as the world’s largest and most advanced collection of high-tech, life-size animatronic dinosaurs come to life here in Louisville,” Zoo Director John Walczak said. “This Dinosaur exhibit will be a fun and educational learning adventure for the entire family. We’ve lost many animals from this planet over the course of history, and unfortunately animals are still becoming extinct today. Conservation and preservation are at the heart of the Zoo’s mission and it is our hope that visitors will come away from this exhibit both excited and more aware of the need to conserve animal species living today.”
In a revenue-sharing partnership with Billings Productions, Dinosaurs Alive!, is similar to other new attraction partnerships at the Zoo like Sky Trail High Adventure Course and the 4-D Ride Theater.
Dinosaurs Alive! will open mid to late March and will continue through the end of September. A special attraction fee of $5 applies for non-members in addition to regular Zoo admission and $4 for Louisville Zoo members. Children age 2 and under are free. Groups of 15 or more may call (502) 238-5348 in advance for group discounts.
Shopasaurus—a new gift shop at the exhibit’s exit—will be fully stocked with “dinorrific” toys, games and souvenirs to help visitors take home a reminder of their amazing experience.
***
The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
*** Get up-to-date information about the Zoo’s upcoming Glacier Run exhibit by checking out our new Glacier Run blog. You can also show your love for the Louisville Zoo by becoming a fan on Facebook.
Although I was born and raised in Madisonville, Kentucky, it never ceases to amaze me.
Since moving away, we’ve lived in the Henderson area, Louisville, Wichita (Kansas), Rantoul (Illlinois), and on Pensacola Beach, Florida. We currently live in Owensboro Kentucky and have for some time.
We frequently visit Madisonville – the place, in the words of Montgomery Gentry, “Where I was born…where I was raised… where I keep all my yesterdays…”
A few days ago, I was working online from our home when my husband called me from his office. It seems he had to go to Madisonville to check a building site and wanted to know if I’d be interested in riding shotgun and eating at Foxy’s Barbecue.
I’ve lived in Owensboro (BBQ Capital of the world!) long enough to jump through hoops for barbecue, so I promptly threw aside what I was doing online and threw on a favorite sweater.
This was the first time I’d been inside the new restaurant and I was very, very impressed. It looks fantastic – very cozy and very comfortable.
More importantly, the food was outstanding. As a rule (in my experience – personal dining as well as dining out while reviewing restaurants), most barbecue restaurants have a weakness – whether it’s the potato salad, coleslaw, fries, onion rings, sauce, or pork. You know – somewhere that they drop the ball and seem to not care if that item is as good as the rest or not.
I can’t find Foxy’s weak spot. I suspect they don’t have a weak spot.
I’ve eaten barbecue from here to Kingdom Come – including infamous restaurants in Nashville Tennessee – yet just about every single one of them has a weak spot. Then, here you have a barbecue restaurant in humble little Madisonville, Kentucky and they’re like, “Weak spot… what’s that?” Beautiful.
The pork is wonderfully smoky and full of delectable flavor. It’s JUST how I want my barbecued pork to taste. The pulled pork sandwich was sheer perfection. The sauce was equally delicious. In fact it was so good, I was searching around for things to dunk into it.
The potato salad was superb, exactly how potato salad should taste – like a summer picnic. If you read any of my writings on any of my sites, you know that I’m all about sides at restaurants. Sure the meat is important, as is the bread. The desserts? Supremely important! But I’m crazy mad about sides. You know one of the reasons? It’s where you can tell JUST how important a restaurant’s customers are to them and JUST how passionate the cook is about his/her food. Trust me, it’s in the sides.
Think about it – if a cook is only half-heartedly into what they’re serving, where will they slack off? Not the meat – it’s considered the star of the show. Usually not the bread (important co-star, you know) – and definitely not the dessert. Most restaurants realize that the dessert is the last thing a customer eats and the last impression they’ll have. That’s why so many desserts are so spectacular and why I have to walk each and every day. Sometimes twice.
If a restaurant is going to slack off anywhere, it’s in the sides. Of course the great restaurants wouldn’t even consider such a thing.
And that’s what you must understand about Foxy’s – Foxy’s is a great restaurant. Not only did the potato salad blow me away, my husband’s coleslaw was exceptional too. When we’re eating someplace that I’ll be reviewing for this site – we’ll order a little bit of everything, so I can have a really well-rounded idea about what the menu entails. I always order baked beans, if they’re on the menu – because they’re a personal favorite. LOVE baked beans! These particular baked beans made me want to stand up and dance. A lot of times you order baked beans in restaurants and they taste like someone opened a can of Pork ‘n Beans and heated them up for you. There are a few where I’m certain they did just that.
Foxy’s baked beans taste like baked beans are supposed to taste. It’s as though they were made to be the star of the show. Truth be told, that’s what makes Foxy’s so special – each item stands on its own, as though it’s the main event. You can taste Foxy’s passion for food and pride in their name in each and every bite.
They don’t just say, “This is a BBQ place, let’s focus all of our attention on the barbecue… just throw some mustard in some potatoes and open up a few cans of beans.“ Fortunately for their diners, Foxy’s has too much pride in their food and respect for their customers for that.
The servers and the hostess could not have been any friendlier. They were what I call, “Mayberry Friendly.” I love friendly, smiling, warm hostesses and servers – people who seem genuinely happy to be doing what they’re doing and happy to see guests. That makes a huge impression on me. These vital individuals also reflect well on the restaurant. I’m convinced that workers actually reflect the managers and owners. Friendly, warm people draw in and want to surround themselves with friendly warm people. Grumps? They don’t mind other grumps and people lacking personalities never notice if one’s missing in another person.
Foxy’s obviously knows more than the average restaurant… which is why they’re way above average. After seeing AVATAR, I have a new favorite word – one that is my highest praise, and that word is “Outstanding.” Foxy’s is Outstanding in every way.
I purposely saved the Loaded Potato Soup for last for a perfectly good reason. If I got to thinking about this soup earlier in the review, I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate on anything except the memory of each bite.
How do I even begin to describe it? I work with words all day, every day. I string them together for Self Help articles, I make them play nice together for reviews of restaurants, books, kitchen and office gadgets, office supplies, and kitchen appliances. I write articles for 16 different websites and blogs and never, ever find myself at a loss for words. Yet this soup has me stumbling and stalling, searching for adverbs that are up for the task. It’s usually around this time that I make up words. But I won’t do that to you this early in the year.
The Loaded Potato Soup at Foxy’s is stupid good. Make that stooooopid good! It’s ridiculously, perfectly, deliciously, amazingly perfect. Stoooooopid good. Thick and creamy with big chunks of potatoes, topped off with real bacon (not bits, pieces, or pebbles), chopped green onion, shredded mozzarella cheese and shredded cheddar cheese. It’s mind boggling delicious and you simply MUST have some as soon as you possibly can.
Don’t wait until you’re in or near Madisonville, Kentucky to pay a visit to Foxy’s Barbecue Restaurant – just go. I don’t care where you live, it’s worth the drive.
Foxy’s is located at 301 East Center Street. Visit their website (Foxy’s Barbecue in Madisonville Kentucky) for more information as well as a menu. Best of all there are pics of a personal hero of mine who visited Foxy’s – Coach John “I brought the magic back” Calipari.
When you go to Foxy’s (and why haven’t you left yet), tell them you read about their restaurant on Genuine Kentucky and that the writer has a big ole crush on their restaurant. Big ole stoooooopid crush.
