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Land Between the Lakes

Kentucky's Land Between the Lakes (LBL) has so many things to do, see, and photograph. On the following pages, you'll find the proof!

Picture of the Day: Too Much Cuteness for One Little Guy (or Gal) to Be Sitting On

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Flying Squirrel at the Nature Station, Land Between the Lakes
Adorable Flying Squirrel a the Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes.

The little guy (or gal) above is a flying squirrel. The cutie is just one of the many, many, many precious residents at the Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes. I’ve said it a million times, but please go to The Nature Station as soon as… and as often as… you can.Ã?  Anytime we’re in the area, my husband knows it’s one of the places I can’t pass up. It and the Elk & Bison Prairie are a couple of my favorite places in the whole world (click here for pictures of each).

The Nature Station is a lot of fun for kids and adults, alike. If you love birds and animals and love to get up close and personal with them, The Nature Station is someplace they’ll have to pull you away from.

The picture above was taken by my husband on a trip to the Nature Station last year.Ã?  I’ve found that it’s best if he takes the pictures at the Nature Station and Elk & Bison Prairie… I’m far too busy ooooooh-ing and ahhhh-ing.

Picture of the Day: Butterfly Enjoying an Afternoon Zinnia

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1850's Homeplace Zinnia and Butterfly

Without a doubt, one of the coolest places you’ll ever visit is the 1850’s Homeplace in the Land Between the Lakes. I took the picture above on a visit a couple of weeks ago.Ã?  I remember a couple of things about this particular day:

  • It was so hot I thought my face was going to melt off.
  • The ladies working in the Welcoming Center were uncommonly friendly and fun.
  • I never saw so many big, beautiful butterflies in my life!
  • The pigs in the pig pen put on a really good show.
  • My husband treated me to a catfish dinner at the Willow Pond in Aurora for supper.

Great day!

You can read more about the characters in the Welcoming Center and see more pictures here: Hot, Lovely, Eventful, Hot, and Fun Day at The 1850’s Homeplace

The Hummingbird Festival Returns to LBL’s Woodlands Nature Station

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Hummingbird

If you’re a bird watcher or simply someone who happens to love hummingbirds, Woodlands Nature Station is having a Festival that you won’t want to miss. It’s the Hummingbird Festival and the popular event is just around the corner.

Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area is the place to be in early August for a lot of reasons, but hummingbird lovers have an extra reason to head for the lakes.�  On Saturday & Sunday, August 4-5, enjoy the migration of the Ruby-throated hummingbird during the annual Hummingbird Festival�  at Woodlands Nature Station.

“Hummingbird migration in this area is at its peak in August,ââ?¬Â said Nature Station Interpreter Carrie Szwed. ââ?¬Å?A large number of hummingbirds stop here on their journey south to Mexico and Central America. During this time, up to 200 hummingbirds visit our feeders in a single day. The festival is an opportunity to be a part of this awesome event.ââ?¬Â

The main Hummingbird Festival events take place at the Nature Station Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. Admission to Hummingbird Festival 2012 is $5 ages 13 and up, $3 ages 5-12, and free for children 4 and under. Visit with the staff and guest exhibitors to learn more about these amazing little birds and how you can help them survive their long migration. Highlights of the weekend include hummingbird banding demonstrations, a nature photography program, a native plant sale, a honeybee observation hive, activities and games for children, and live animal encounters. Take-home information will be available about building nest boxes, participating in citizen science projects, downloading nature apps to your smartphones, and more. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the stars of the weekend, the Ruby-throated hummingbirds.

Hummingbird banders from Louisville, Kentucky, Brainard Palmer-Ball Jr. and Mark Monroe, will give up close demonstrations throughout the day on the technique of bird banding. If a hummingbird is recaptured at another study site along its migration route, the leg band number is recorded and added to a database. Biologists can look at all the data collected over the years for clues about the habits of these tiny birds and how best to meet their habitat needs. Visitors can attend ongoing demonstrations and visit other information stations Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.

Other weekend activities include Dinner with the Hummingbirds on Friday, August 3. This event requires reservations and full deposits due to limited space. For complete information or reservations, contact 270-924-2020.

The following is a list of Nature Station programs for the weekend:

Friday, August 3

  • 6-8pm Dinner with the Hummingbirds – $20 per person (includes dinner and evening admission)

Saturday, August 4

  • 9am-4pm Hummingbird Banding Demonstrations
  • 10am Hummingbirds 101
  • 11am Hummingbird Photography: The Basics & More
  • 12pm Hummingbirds 101
  • 1pm Hummingbird Photography: The Basics & More
  • 2pm Hummingbirds 101
  • Ã? 3pm Gardening for Hummingbirds & Butterflies

Sunday, August 5

  • 10am-4pm Hummingbird Banding Demonstrations
  • Ã? 11am Hummingbird Photography: The Basics & More
  • 12pm Hummingbirds 101
  • 1pm Hummingbird Folklore
  • 2pm Hummingbirds 101
  • 3pm Hummingbirds for Kids

Please visit http://www.lbl.org for more information about the beautiful Land Between the Lakes area!

Hot, Lovely, Eventful, and FUN Day at The 1850’s Homeplace

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1850's Homeplace, Land Between the Lakes

 

My husband, Michael, and I spent the Fourth of July in one of our favorite places in the world: Land Between the Lakes.  The 1850’s Homeplace always throws a great Fourth of July party, and far be it from us to miss a great party.

When we arrived, Henry Clay was addressing a crowd near the main entrance.  People were interacting and applauding, oblivious to the 575 degree heat. And that was in the shade.  There was a wonderful band playing as well, wisely situated beneath shade trees.

Before I get to the pictures, let me set the scene for those of you who have yet to visit  The 1850’s Homeplace.  I assure you that you’re in for a wonderful surprise.  See, most people see the word, “Homeplace” and think there’s only one cabin (or home) involved.  In all actuality, as soon as you enter the doors of the welcome center, you’re in a wonderfully fun and educational place.

The welcome center is, itself, a lot of fun. There’s a gift shop with all kinds of things for kids of all ages.  There’s a vending machine, restrooms, candy, endless fascinating educational displays and materials, and some of the friendliest, warmest, most adorable workers I’ve ever encountered.

In fact, each time we’ve been (which is FAR too many to even begin counting), the women at the desk have been nothing short of southern charmers – with a whole lot of spirit thrown in to keep things interesting.

The two women working the desk yesterday afternoon (July 4) were a credit to the Homeplace and the Land Between the Lakes. When we left, I thought, “What a fun world it’d be if those ladies worked everywhere!”  I would have told my husband what I was thinking but he was too busy laughing at these gals.  See, he’s the biggest character in all the world and approaches each day as though it were his birthday party.  Half of the time people we encounter don’t know what to make of him, but sometimes (like this these ladies), we’ll get the treat of someone going toe to toe with him… more than holding their own ground.

The 1850's Homeplace - Land Between the Lakes

Anyway, it was a lot of fun and whoever hired these two ladies should pat themselves on the back.  Then take these ladies out to dinner. Their pick.

When you exit the welcome center (after paying admission), you enter a whole new world. Right off the bat, you realize that you’ve stepped out of the present day and have gone back in time to the mid-19th Century! The 1850’s Homeplace is actually a rural Tennessee farm much as it would have appeared in the 1850’s. The main house (pictured above and below) is absolutely adorable. I wanted to get a lot more pictures, but there were a lot of people coming and going and I didn’t want to get in anyone’s way or interrupt their enjoyment of this wonderful place.

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If you love photography, you’ll fall head over heels in love with everything about the 1850’s Homeplace – from the main house to the stables, the animals, the people in their 1850’s attire, the tools, the garden, the pig pen (love, love, love the pigs), the flower garden, and even the outhouse.

This is one incredibly special place and we love every inch of it.

The 1850’s Homeplace is a beautiful place to visit in spring, summer, and fall. You’ll actually want to visit the Homeplace in each season because you’ll see how the house, farm, and people changed along with the seasons. The Homplace’s season runs from the first of March to the end of November, so you’ll have plenty of time to go and go and go and go!  I love the Homeplace in spring and summer, but my favorite time to visit is definitely in fall.

There’s just something extra special about autumn on the farm.

Kids and adults, alike, will love all of the animals and sights.  Whenever we’re there, we always see kids running around having a ball. While they do gravitate toward all of the animals, they also get a huge kick out of all the creeks, trees, hills, and people “playing dress up.”

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You can read more about The 1850’s Homeplace by clicking the link.  Whatever you do, just GO! You’ll be so glad you did and, trust me, as soon as you leave you’ll start planning your next trip back. Been there, done that. Many times!

The 1850's Homeplace Butterfly on a Zinnia

The 1850’s Homeplace Schedule:

SEASON: Mar. 1 – Nov. 30
DAYS:  Wed. – Sun., Mar. & Nov; Daily, Apr. – Oct. Closed Mon. & Tues. in Mar. & Nov.
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. thru Sat. & 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun. Last ticket sold at 4 p.m.
ADMISSION: $4 ages 13 & up; $2 ages 5-12; 4 & under, free. Pre-scheduled Group rates are available. Call 270-924-2020

More pictures from The 1850’s Homestead:

The 1850's Homeplace Butterfly on a Zinnia The 1850's Homeplace Butterfly on a Zinnia The 1850's Homeplace The 1850's Homeplace The 1850's Homeplace The 1850's Homeplace The 1850's Homeplace - Land Between the Lakes The 1850's Homeplace - Land Between the Lakes The 1850's Homeplace - Land Between the Lakes The 1850's Homeplace - Land Between the Lakes

Cool and Crawly Critters Day at Woodlands Nature Station

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Cool and Crawly Critters Day at Land Between the Lakes

These adorable faces are priceless!�  I wonder if their t-shirts come in my size???

If you’re blessed with children in your life, you know how much they love cool and crawly critters. Spiders, snakes, bugs, turtles – kids can’t get enough of these fascinating animals.Ã?  Heck, a lot of us adults enjoy them as much I’d take snakes out of my own personal line up, however. I have a deal with them – they don’t come near me and I won’t go near them.Ã?  Oddly enough, I’m incredibly fascinated by spiders and other crawly animals.

If your kids enjoy catching bugs and other critters, you’ll want to mark July 14th on your calendar.Ã?  Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area is havingÃ?  Cool & Crawly Critters Day at Woodlands Nature Station on Saturday, July 14, 2012, from 10am to 4pm.Ã? Ã?  You and your kids can get an up-close look at bugs, snakes, turtles, fish, and more!

ââ?¬Å?The Nature Station buzzes with opportunities for children to learn about critters that sometimes give them the creeps,ââ?¬Â said Nature Station naturalist, Carrie Szwed. ââ?¬Å?Families can spend the day having fun while learning about these animals hands-on!”

The day�s events include games, crafts, programs, and lots of cool and crawly critters. Stop by ongoing exhibits such as the Insect Road Show, Rescued Reptiles, Aquatic Animals, and Slithery Snakes. Throughout the day scientists and naturalists will be on hand conducting programs and answering questions.

Be sure to say hello to Smokey Bear when he visits throughout the day!

Featured programs include:

  • 11 am: Live Animal Show: Creatures of the Night
  • 12 pm: Turtle Races
  • 1 pm: Live Animal Show: Creatures of the Night
  • 2 pm: Amazing Animals Puppet Show
  • 3 pm: Live Animal Show: Creatures of the Night

Your family will have a fun day (with lots of learning experiences for the young ones) as you get up close and personal with these amazingly cool animals. Food will be available for purchase from Aurora BBQ (outstanding BBQ!) The day offers a variety of activities for all ages and is especially geared for ages 5-12. Activities are ongoing throughout the day from 10am to 4pm. Event admission fee is $4 ages 13 and up, $3 ages 5-12, and free 4 and under. Cool & Crawly Critters Day is perfect for Home Educators. Event admission includes all programs.

While at the Nature Station, you’ll want to visit the other resident critters – deer, owls, eagles, turkeys, wolves, and more. They’re magnificent animals who are kept safe at the Nature Station. You’ll soon learn that these are very special animals that wouldn’t (for various reasons) be able to survive on their own. I’m struck, each time we go, by the level of love the workers have for these animals.Ã?  As the world’s biggest animal lover, it always warms my heart.

Visit our Land Between the Lakes Pictures page to see a few of the faces waiting for you!

"When reading about a Kentucky event, please be sure you check the date. Old events are not always deleted from the website. If you have an event you'd like to see on Genuine Kentucky or a 'Made in Kentucky' food or product you'd like reviewed, please contact us! " ~ Joi ("Joy")

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