Shutterbugs: Brush up Nature Photography at Digital Camera Workshop!

Digital photographers, here’s your chance too sharpen your skills at a nature photography workshop coming to beautiful Lake Barkley State Resort Park on April 17th. Award-winning nature photographer Curt Hart will lead the workshop which begins Saturday at 9a.m. Hart has captured more than 100 species of birds and wildlife with his camera and will share his techniques and expertise with workshop participants during the full-day workshop.

From Lake Barkley State Resort Park:
The program includes classroom instruction, time in the field, critique and editing processes. The fee is $75 and lunch is included. Class size is limited so reserve early for this popular event. Call 1-800-325-1708 to reserve a spot or for more information. This workshop is recommend for DSL camera owners.

The workshop is a perfect excuse to plan a family/friend weekend getaway at Lake Barkley in the heart of far west Kentucky. The park is the largest resort park in Kentucky’s system and the lodge affords a spectacular view of the lake through massive windows. Mid April falls in the thick of spring and is a magical time to be being surrounded by natural beauty and capture the landscape in photos.

Besides the lodge, the park includes cottages, the Windows on the Water Restaurant, 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.  It’s near Cadiz and the Land Between the Lakes at 3500 State Park Road just off I-24. Exit at Highway 68 and go west toward Cadiz and the park.

For more information contact Nick Edmonds at nick.edmonds@ky.gov or call the lodge at call 1-800-325-1708.

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/

Act now for a chance to see Lake Barkley State Resort Park Presents Comedy Dinner Theater Saturday night, February 27.  Over 100 tickets have been sold already, so time is of the essence.

Beautiful Lake Barkley State Resort Park will host a dinner theater Saturday night that’ll provide many laughs, great food, and fun memories. The laughs will be courtesy of television and film star Marty Pollio. The comedian has performed on the “Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno and has appeared on Jerry Lewis Telethons. He has also performed part of his act in the movie “Punchline” with Tom Hanks and Sally Field.  Marty had a recurring role on “Night Court” and guest starred on “Empty Nest” and “Blossom”.

The dinner and show is $25 a person for advance reservation until Feb 24. The ticket price will be $30 a person after that date. There is limited seating for this dinner and show, so call now!

Call for more information: 1-800-325-1708

As you know, we absolutely love Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Grand Rivers, Aurora, the Willow Pond restaurants and all things that fall under the heading Land Between the Lakes. (Especially when they fall under the heading and answer to the name catfish.)

A while back, I wrote a review about the Aurora Landing Restaurant at Kenlake Lodge.  Everything about it was beyond spectacular and I couldn’t wait to share the experience with our readers.

Not long ago, we found ourselves in the area again.  When it came time to eat, we nearly drove to Aurora Landing without even discussing it.  However, we hadn’t eaten in the beautiful restaurant in the Lake Barkley Lodge – very appropriately named Windows on the Water Restaurant - in a while and we were anxious to visit Lake Barkley Lodge.  Besides, variety is the spice of life, right?  The windows in this gorgeous restaurant afford you a breathtaking view of Lake Barkley with an endless parade of sailboats and beautiful birds.  The restaurant is a real beauty, itself. Windows on the Water is always decorated spectacularly, celebrating whatever season or holiday the calendar shows.

Naturally, if the food or service didn’t back up the beautiful surroundings, this would be a short review… something to the tune of, “Go, take a look around, then go eat somewhere else.”  Fortunately, I won’t have to say anything like that because the food was out of this world and the server couldn’t have treated us any better if we were her family.

I actually ventured away from my beloved catfish to try something new:  a Kentucky Hot Brown.  Here’s how it was described in the menu:  Toast points with baked country ham, roasted turkey, smothered in cheese sauce, topped with tomato, bacon and cheddar cheese. Baked until steaming hot…

Here’s how I personally describe this Kentucky Hot Brown:  Good, gracious God in Heaven, when’s the soonest I can have a Kentucky Hot Brown from the Windows on the Water Restaurant again?!?!  My dear reader friend, I am at a loss for words here.  This was one of the most remarkable dishes I’ve ever enjoyed – it was spectacular.  When I took my first bite, I was stupified.  My husband saw the stupification and simply (without saying a word) visited my plate with his fork….   His and Her stupification!

I’d tell you what Michael ordered, but I can’t for the life of me recall.  All I remember is the delicious bread, the perfect sweet tea, the outstanding onion rings and the Kentucky Hot Brown that I’ve been fantasizing about since.

The next time you’re around the Land Between the Lakes, promise me you’ll eat at the Windows on the Water Restaurant.  Oh, scratch that… don’t wait for the next time you’re in the area – just go!   Kentucky State Parks.gov has all the information you’ll need about the Lake Barkley Lodge and I have all the information you’ll need about the Windows on the Water Restaurant… 20 stupifying stars out of 10.

Lake Barkley is, without a doubt, one of Kentucky’s crown jewels. If you want to see a Kentuckian sit a little taller, just mention Lake Barkley.  Like UK Basketball, Mammoth Cave, and Kentucky Lake – we’re understandably proud.

Below are some bits and pieces of Lake Barkley trivia that you might not have known.

• Lake Barkley has 57,900 acres of water and 1,004 miles of shoreline.
• Lake Barkley was named for the 35^th Vice-President, Alben Barkley. Prior to the Vice Presidency, Barkley served in the U. S. Senate from Kentucky for over twenty years. Alben Barkley was born in a log cabin near Lowes, Graves County, Kentucky.  He worked his way through college as a janitor.  After passing the bar, he practiced law in Paducah, Kentucky.
• Alben Barkley coined the term “Give ‘em hell, Harry” as President Truman was leaving Washington on his “whistle-stop” train across the country.  Barkley was popularly known as “the Veep” thanks to his young grandson, Stephen M. Truitt.  Stephen preferred the shortened name to “Mr. Vice President.”  When Alben Barkley told the press about his grandson’s phrasing, the newspapers printed it, and the title stuck. Alben Barkley’s successor as vice president, Richard Nixon, declined the nickname, saying that it had been bestowed on Barkley affectionately and, therefore, belonged to him. However, the term didn’t die, and it’s used to this day.
• Construction of Barkley Dam began in 1959 on the Cumberland River.
• Lake Barkley’s Maximum depth is 68 feet.
• Lake Barkley’s Minimum depth is 12 feet.
• Lake Barkley is known for its Stripers as well as its Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass.  Other fish in Lake Barkley include Crappie (Black and White), Redear Sunfish, Sauger, Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass, and White Bass.

For more information about Lake Barkley:

Download Lake Barkley Vacation Guide (PDF)

The Village Between the Lakes (Grand Rivers)

Green Turtle Bay (Resort and Marina on Lake Barkley)

Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina Condos (Click for a larger view!)

Happy birthday, gorgeous!  Green Turtle Bay is 25 years old this month (April, 2009). To celebrate, they are offering a 10% discount on any reservation for Condos to customers whose birthday is also in April.

They will give you a 10% discount birthday present when you show them your valid driver’s license with proof of your April birthday.  Sadly, this affects me in no way whatsoever, since my birthday is four months away, but I certainly want to wish them a heartfelt happy birthday.

If you’ve never seen Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina in Grand Rivers, Kentucky, you really should make an effort to do so. They celebrate the water way of life with every breath they take. The area is beautiful, the staff is incredibly friendly, and I’m sure I’ve told you about Docker’s Bayside Grill once or twice.  Two words: Onion Rings.

There are over seventy town house condominiums available with gorgeous views of Green Turtle Bay and Lake Barkley.  You can rent one for a day or a week or buy one for a lifetime of weekends filled with water, fishing, boating, tennis, golf, and onion rings.   Just let me dangle my feet in the cool lake water in between trips to Docke’rs Bayside Grill and I’ll be happy.

From Green Turtle Bay’s Web Site:

Green Turtle Bay Resort offers one, two, three, and four bedroom luxury condominium units. Each unit is individually owned and tastefully appointed in a variety of styles, with each bedroom featuring its own private bath. All units have a fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, and gas grill; most feature fireplaces and pull out sofas. Units are complete with linens, towels and complimentary coffee.

Click HERE for more information right away.  The most memorable summer of your life is waiting!

Two of my favorite towns to visit when we’re down around Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, and Land Between the Lakes are Aurora and Grand Rivers. Grand Rivers offers a great deal wit it’s Badgett Playhouse, Grand Rivers Fudge Factory, Patty’s, Lighthouse Landing, and Green Turtle Bay. It’s a beautiful little village with a lot going for it.

Aurora has a different “vibe,” yet I enjoy it every bit as much as I do Grand Rivers.  Aurora, Kentucky seems to delight in being very laid back. This community is home to my favorite Willow Pond Restaurant, one of my all-time favorite BBQ Restaurants (Aurora BBQ – Home of the Winking Pig!), the Dinner Bell, and one of my favorite spots to unload cash that’s weighing down my purse – The Hitching Post Gifts and Country Store. I’ve never…never… gone into this charmingly fun store without exiting with loot that I can’t wait to take home.

In addition to an endless display of Kentucky memorabilia – from t-shirts, jewelery, and hats to candles, figurines, ornaments, and cookbooks – they carry a remarkable variety of Yoder’s Homestyle jams, jellies, etc. They also have BBQ sauces that’ll send you over the proverbial moon.

On our most recent trip, I got a jar of Yoder’s Homestyle Sweet Potato Butter. Have you ever had Sweet Potato Pie? Well, this Sweet Potato Butter pretty much lives in that delicious neighborhood. So, whether you put it on buttermilk biscuits, cornbread, or toast, you get that same amazing flavor. Frankly, I can’t say enough great things about it. Their Apple Butter is also ridiculously good.  It’s great on toast, served alongside scrambled eggs and bacon.

The next time you’re in the Land Between the Lakes region, make a point of visiting the “down home” friendly people at the Hitching Post Gifts and Country Store in Aurora. If you time your day just right, you can work up an appetite at the Hitching Post, have lunch with the winking pig, explore the beautiful Kentucky Lake area, and then make an appointment with the best hush puppies on earth at the Aurora Willow Pond that evening.

It’ll be a day you won’t forget.  Just be sure to remember the apple butter!

About a week ago I wrote a post extolling the virtues of Docker’s Bayside Grill. You remember, Onion Ring Mecca. (I tried to get hooked up with some during Marina Day, because I’d been thinking about them all week, but they couldn’t “come out and play” – so I settled for chips. That’s okay, I don’t mind when they play hard to get.)

We left home early to make sure we got to Docker’s in time for breakfast this time. Good move. No, great move.

My husband ordered the omelette to absolutely end all omelettes. This thing was an absolute work of art. It was HUGE and when I threatened to kick him under the table, he actually parted with a bite – delicious!

I got a biscuit, gravy, and hasbrowns. The gravy was so amazing I’m not even fit to describe it. It’s next to impossible to get good gravy out, but this gravy couldn’t have been better if it’d been served by Johnny Depp, himself. (Did I mention he’s from Owensboro?) The biscuit was spectacular, too. If you order gravy and biscuits – and I strongly recommend it – be sure to order the “2 biscuits” option because they’re very generous with their gravy, you’ll want plenty of bread to grab every drop.

The hasbrowns were perfect, too. Not over-cooked, not under-cooked – just perfect. I loved that about them and I told them so. Even the coffee was Heavenly!

Make it a point to find yourself in Grand Rivers, Kentucky on your next available morning. Then point your empty stomach in the direction of the gorgeous Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina. (Take your morning paper with you if you think anything’s fit to read.) When you get to Docker’s Bayside Grill, sit facing the window and the spectacular view it offers, order your breakfast and coffee and get ready for it. “It” being the ridiculously silly smile that’s about to spread across your face.

This silly grin is another reason to sit facing the windows. You don’t want anyone else to see you like that. The windows, however, are so used to that face they think that’s how humans are supposed to look.