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You are here: Home / Archives for Events / Autumn Fun

Autumn in Kentucky is an Especially Beautiful Thing

October 21, 2012 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Autumn in Kentucky

Don’t get me wrong, this Kentuckian loves to photograph Kentucky all year/every season/any day of the week.  I know our state is the most beautiful one in the country and love to prove it with camera in hand.  Having said that, is there or is there not something extra special about autumn in Kentucky?

I can’t put my finger on it, but autumn (or fall, if you prefer) fits Kentucky the way a cat fits in your lap. Beautifully. Perfectly. As though all is right with the world.

When driving or riding through Kentucky during this time of year, I find myself wanting to stop everywhere. The land pictured here, with the rolling hills, wonderful trees, and bales of hay begged to be photographed.  One of my husbands friends visited us recently and we struck up a conversation about photography.  As I told him, my favorite things to photograph are things that are ALIVE: family, birds, animals, trees, plants, flowers, butterflies, insects, and even spiders.

Sue me – I think they’re cool.

My fascination with trees began when I was a little girl and never saw a tree that didn’t need climbing. Kentucky provides us tree lovers with endless joy. So many trees! While I love all trees, I have a special place in my heart (and in my picture collection) for trees with character.  You can’t describe a tree with “character,” but you sure know it when you see one.

The tree in the picture above? Character with a capital C.

The pictures above and below were taken near Columbia, Kentucky yesterday. I’ll have a lot more pictures and reviews from yesterday’s trip across our beautiful state in a day or two.

A picture of Kentucky in Fall

Filed Under: Autumn Fun, Kentucky Picture of the Day Tagged With: Columbia, Kentucky pictures, picture of the day

Fall Photography Weekend at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park

October 5, 2012 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Deer at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
 

This event has passed, but there’s always something going on in the LBL! Check our Kentucky Events page for up to the minute events and news. Also, check out our ever-growing Things to Do in Kentucky page!

 

Talk about the perfect setting for taking beautiful pictures! Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park will host its fall digital Photography Weekend Oct. 19-21, 2012. With more trees than you could count in a year’s worth of Saturdays, Pennyrile Forest is especially breathtaking in the fall.

Many deer, turkeys, squirrels, and other wildlife call this beautiful region home – making the photo ops even more special.

The weekend will include a contest in which participants can take pictures anywhere within the state park and Pennyrile State Forest. The categories of the contest vary, but they will always have a nature emphasis such as wildlife, landscape and water.

Participants turn in one photo per category and should bring their own camera. Registration is $35. Register at least one week before the event and get a $5 discount. Children 16 and under pay just $10. The park offers a 10 percent discount on available lodging.

Contestants can begin taking photos as soon as they check in on Friday. Check-in begins at 2 p.m. Participants will be divided into three divisions: master, intermediate, and point-and-shoot. Participants in the master division have sold their works before; those in the intermediate division have an SLR camera, but are hobby photographers; and point-and-shoot participants use cameras that do not have detachable lenses. Children may compete in any of the three divisions.

Evening programs will be held at 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. The Friday night program will be an introduction to the competition. The weekend will end at approximately noon on Sunday after the awards ceremony and slide show of the weekend’s photographs.

Call 1-800-325-1711 for reservations and information.

The resort is 20 miles northwest of Hopkinsville, on KY 109 N. From the Western Kentucky Parkway, exit at Dawson Springs and take KY 109 South.

Named for the tiny Pennyroyal plant found in the woodlands surrounding this resort, Pennyrile Forest is the perfect back-to-nature hideaway. The rustic wood and stone Pennyrile Lodge, with 24 rooms, sits serenely on a high cliff overlooking Pennyrile Lake. Open year-round, the park has 12 cottages located in the wooded lodge area and on the shores of Pennyrile Lake. The restaurant seats 200, including a private dining room for up to 80. Enjoy the beauty of the Pennyrile Forest in the 68-site campground. The campground features utility hook-ups, a dump station, and one central service building with showers, restrooms and a laundry. Horse camping sites are scheduled to be available after April 16. The park also has an 18-hole golf course with a pro shop, riding carts, pull carts and rental clubs. The course is open year-round, weather permitting. The park also offers hiking trails, fishing and boating, mini-golf, basketball and tennis.

Click the following link to see pictures of Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park.

Filed Under: Autumn Fun, Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park Tagged With: Kentucky Photography Weekends, Kentucky State Parks, Pennyrile Forest State Park

Barren River Lake State Resort Park Embraces Autumn Beautifully

November 1, 2011 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Barren River Lake State Resort Park

My husband and I ate at Barren River Lake State Resort Park this past weekend. Whenever we’re in the vicinity of a Kentucky State Resort Park around mealtime, we seldom even discuss where we’re eating. Our state parks meals are that good.

Since I LOVE photography, I snapped a few pictures. Places as gorgeous as Barren River Lake State Resort Park provide photographers (amateur, like me, or professional) with a gazillion and one photo opportunities.

I added the pictures to a new gallery, Barren River Lake State Resort Park Pictures, so be sure and check them out. I’ll add more pictures to the gallery tomorrow. Believe me, we have plenty!

Supper at The Driftwood Restaurant (in the beautiful lodge) was exceptional as usual. Our hostess, Katie, was unusually sweet and helpful. That always warrants a shout out on Genuine Kentucky. I LOVE to come across people, like Katie, who represent our state just as we’d want it represented. Happy, sweet, and uncommonly friendly.

Filed Under: Autumn Fun, Barren River Lake SRP Tagged With: Barren River Lake State Resort Park

Kenlake and Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park Celebrate Autumn’s Colors

October 10, 2011 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Autumn at Kenlake State Resort Park

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. . I love the Kentucky State Parks dearly and we throw our support to them at every possible opportunity.

There’s nothing quite like fried catfish, and the Kentucky State Parks restaurants know precisely how to do it right. 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, 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.

Filed Under: Autumn Fun, Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park Tagged With: Kenlake State Resort Park, Kentucky State Parks, restaurant reviews

The Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky

October 7, 2009 by Joi Sigers 5 Comments

The Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky

The Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky

The original Waverly Hills Sanatorium was a two-story wooden structure which was opened in 1910.

The larger brick and concrete structure you see today was built in 1926.  The hospital has always been dedicated to the treatment of tuberculosis patients, a disease that was fairly common in the early 20th Century.

Reports estimate that as many as 63,000 people have died in this sanatorium. Furthermore, there have been many reports or patients being horribly mistreated.  Oh, it gets worse… there were (again reportedly) highly questionable experiments and procedures conducted.

If these occurrences don’t set the stage for a haunted location, nothing does!

Get this:  Ghost and paranormal experts and investigators who have ventured into Waverly have reported a host of strange paranormal phenomena, including voices of unknown origin, isolated cold spots and unexplained shadows. Screams have been heard echoing in its now abandoned hallways, and fleeting apparitions have been encountered.

Screams, isolated cold spots (indicating a paranormal being…. Holy Cats, I’m sleeping with the lights on tonight…), voices of unknown origin, shadows!?!?  I could not be more creeped out right now.

Click HERE for more information… if you dare.

Filed Under: Autumn Fun, Holidays in Kentucky, Kentucky History, Louisville Tagged With: Kentucky, Louisville, Waverly Hills Sanatorium

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