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!

Win a Three Day Motorhome Rental from El Monte RV!

June 30, 2012 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Lakeside Camping at Rough River Lake — Lakeside Camping at Rough River Dam State Resort Park. Location! Location! Location!

You might want to round up all of your great vacation pictures because one could win you a three day El Monte RV Motorhome rental. Seriously, how cool does that sound?

Rules of the contest:

The pictures must be ones you’ve taken yourself.
They should be pictures of places that people can visit on a motorhome vacation showing: great scenery, interesting places to visit, and wonderful attractions.

Here’s how it works:

People send El Monte RV their favorite RV vacation photos in June and July.
They post them to their Facebook account at the beginning of August.
The person who sent in the picture that receives the most likes in August wins.

….. Oh, and everybody gets $25 worth of Monty bucks good toward a motorhome rental just for entering the contest!

Kentucky offers a lot of great places that’d be perfect for this contest!

We have the best state parks in the nation.
Lake Cumberland is the houseboat capital of the world.
Our lakes are the stuff dreams are made of: Kentucky Lake, Rough River Lake, Lake Barkley, Barren River Lake, Lake Cumberland…
Land Between the Lakes Recreational Area
Two words: Mammoth Cave
Beautiful Eastern Kentucky
It’s never a wrong time for beautiful Lexington or Louisville

Please click here for more information about the contest, including instructions on entering. Best of luck!

Safety Tips for Boating, Camping, Driving, and Cycling

June 21, 2012 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Boats at Lighthouse Landing Marina in Grand Rivers — Boats in the Lighthouse Landing Marina in Grand Rivers, Kentucky!

The following GREAT safety tips were written with the 4th of July weekend in mind and are provided by the Land Between the Lakes Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers.

In time for one of the most popular holidays at Land Between The Lakes (LBL), Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers are offering their annual list of safe habits to follow while visiting the National Recreation Area and area State Resort Parks.Ã?Â Ã¢â?¬Å?We want everyone to have fun while they are here,Ã¢â?¬Â explains Forest Service Law Enforcement Patrol Captain, Duane Cameron, Ã¢â?¬Å?and often times practicing safe habits can make all the difference in the world.Ã?Â Already this year a boat motor explosion injured a man and caused damage to his boat.Ã?Â This could have been avoided through proper ventilation before starting the engine.Ã¢â?¬ÂÃ?Â Cameron asks visitors to keep the following safety tips in mind while enjoying the great outdoors this summer:

Boating Safety

Be courteous at all times, especially around boat ramps.

Be aware of your surroundings.Ã?Â According to the U.S. Coast Guard, driver inattention is the number one cause of boating accidents and deaths.

Ventilate the inboard motor before starting the engine to release any gas fume build up.

Engage your carÃ¢â?¬â?¢s emergency brake when pulling out or lowering your boat into the water.

Be responsible for the safety of your riders; ensure availability of life jackets for each and keep within legal weight limits.

Do not drink alcohol and operate a boat.

Driving Safety

Be courteous.Ã?Â Share the road with bicycle and motorcycle riders.

Watch out for wildlife, especially deer since they tend to travel in pairs and often feed along the highways.Ã?Â Also watch for hikers, horse riders, and mountain bikers that cross the roadways.Ã?Â Take extra caution when approaching these cross-over areas.

Stay on designated roads as identified in LBLÃ¢â?¬â?¢s Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM).

These roads are numbered.Ã?Â The map is located at http://www.lbl.org/mvum.html.

Keep a map with you to guide you through the numbered backcountry roads.

Be aware of your surroundings.Ã?Â Heavy rains may wash out sections of creek crossings or roadways.

Do not text and drive.

Do not drink and drive.

Biking and Hiking Safety

Be sure to carry sufficient water to keep hydrated.

Know where you are and where you are going before you head out.

Plan ahead and inform a responsible person of your route.

Carry a map and a compass or a global positioning system (GPS) unit with you.

Some cell phones may not work in all areas.

Use tick, chigger, and mosquito repellant.

Camping Safety

Be aware of the high fire danger associated with hot, dry weather.

Be courteous to other campers.Ã?Â Honor quiet hours from 11pm to 6am.

Be cautious around campfires.Ã?Â Remove any debris around the fire ring.Ã?Â Make sure your campfire ashes are cold before leaving them unattended.Ã?Â Keep a bucket of water and a shovel nearby.Ã?Â Remember, only you can prevent wildfires.Ã?Â http://www.smokeybear.com/campfire-safety.asp

Before setting up your camping site, look to see if any tree limbs may be ready to fall in strong winds and adjust accordingly.

Fireworks are prohibited in Land Between The Lakes.Ã?Â Neighboring State Resort Parks provide fireworks displays visible from many places at LBL.

Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers are on duty to help keep Land Between The Lakes a safe place to visit.Ã?Â In case of emergency, dial 911 or 877-861-2457 for 24-hour dispatch.Ã?Â Visitors are asked to immediately report any unusual smoke that you see or smell.

More safety tips can be found on the U.S. Forest Service safety website at http://www.fs.fed.us/safety/ and at the U.S. Coast GuardÃ¢â?¬â?¢s Boating Safety Division http://www.uscgboating.org/default.aspx.Ã?Â Visitors can find information about tick safety on our fact sheet at http://www.lbl.org/documents/2012LBLTickFacts.pdf.Ã?Â Site and trail maps can be found at http://www.lbl.org/VCMaps.html.

Celebrate the Fourth of July 1850’s Style at The Homeplace!

June 21, 2012 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

This Land Between the Lakes 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!

Fourth of July is just around the corner, so most of us are already gathering up our flags of all sizes and sticking them around the yard and in the house. The Fourth is a wonderful holiday and VERY worthy of “doing up right.”

Below is a great idea for celebrating the Fourth of July in Kentucky’s beautiful Land Between the Lakes.

Celebrate July 4^th1850’s style with Independence Day at The Homeplace in Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area. Bring the family to relive the patriotic spirit of the era with games, music, and a cool slice of watermelon.

On Wednesday, July 4, The Homeplace hosts a traditional 1850’s Independence Day Celebration under the farm’s shade trees. Kick off the day’s festivities with the raising of the 1850’s USA 30-star flag at 1pm. After the flag-raising, join the group reading of The Declaration of Independence, a favorite speech in the 1850s. Enjoy a special performance by Kentucky statesman Henry Clay, portrayed by George McGee and funded by the Kentucky Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Spend the afternoon enjoying historic games for all ages, a pie eating contest, old-time music, and some mouth-watering watermelon.

All programs are included with general admission to The Homeplace: $4 ages 13 and up, $2 ages 5-12, and free for ages 4 and under.

Come Outside and Play at Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. Managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Land Between The Lakes provides outdoor recreation, lake access, and environmental education for the public to enjoy. Visitors are encouraged to review LBL’s official website at www.lbl.org often for Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, safety information, maps, and temporary trail and road closures. Follow Land Between The Lakes on www.Twitter.com/LBLScreechOwl. Additional LBL information can be found on the website or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.

See more pictures of Land Between the Lakes, including The Homeplace.

Be sure to check out the pigs! -They’re so cute I want to bring them home with me each time but my husband and cats aren’t in favor of the idea. They’re funny like that.

Picture of the Day: Hummingbirds at The Nature Station

June 13, 2012 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

The beautiful hummingbirds above call The Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes home, and who can blame them?! The Nature Station is one of this animal lover’s favorite places to visit. You can tell how much the staff cares for the birds, butterflies, and wildlife they care for here. You can see it in their faces and hear it in their voices.Ã?Â They love these animals!

There’s a gorgeous bird and butterfly garden where you can sit and watch (and photograph) a wide variety of butterflies and birds, including adorable hummingbirds like the ones you see above.Ã?Â Each time we’re there, I think of new yard projects for Michael… it’s a wonder he ever takes me back!

Learn How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard!
Read more about The Nature Station.

The Golden Pond’s Planetarium in Land Between the Lakes

May 4, 2012 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Golden Pond Visitor's Center and Planetarium

The Golden Pond Visitor’s Center Planetarium and Observatory in Land Between the Lakes

There’s always something extra cool going on in Kentucky’s Land Between the Lakes region. As I’ve said a million times before (more, but who’s counting?) you could go to the beautiful area between and around Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake each weekend and see something new.

The Golden Pond Planetarium is definitely one of the places you’ll want to put on your “Must See” list. The gift shop, alone, is worth the trip! Shows at the Planetarium create memories that’ll last a lifetime – they’re very special and the entire experience will leave your jaw somewhere on the floor near your feet.

After reading the following press release from the Friends of Land Between the Lakes, I’m guessing that now the jaw will just go right through the floor. I’m cool with that.

From the LBL:

The world’s first full-dome, full-color digital planetarium with single lens projection, the MEDIAGLOBE II, arrived at Land Between The Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area just in time for the 2012 season. “This compact, full-color dome projection system has thrilled our audiences since we installed it in March, reported Ross Workman, the new Golden Pond Planetarium manager. He continued, “The projection range covers our entire dome with vibrant colors, sound, and action by using the 3D astronomical simulation function. It’s amazing!”

New digital videos will entertain and educate people of all ages. Computer animated programs are offered throughout the day starting at 10am. People can find the complete schedule of planetarium shows and times on LBL’s website, www.lbl.org, under the See and Do tab. Topics include:

The Little Star That Could - teaches how stars are formed.

Interstellar Boundary Explorer – joins scientists searching for the edge of the solar system.

Earth, Moon, and Sun - explores the relationship between the earth, moon, and sun while weaving in Native American traditional stories.

The Golden Pond Visitor Center, Planetarium, and Observatory are located south of US68/KY80 junction on Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway (KY Hwy 453).

Below is a great video (courtesy RoundAbout U.) that’ll give you an introduction to the Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory. As you’ll see, this is someplace you’ll want to see as soon as possible. Just be sure to see the gift shop!