Carter Caves State Resort Park

Although a lot of us Kentuckians woke up to snow on the ground (gotta love that Kentucky weather!), beautiful weather is just around the corner. I know you’re as anxious as I am to get outside and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.

The Kentucky State Parks always offer perfect opportunities to do just that.

The Kentucky State Parks’ Family Adventure Quest is gearing up for its 12th year and will be offering a convenient online registration (available for the first time).

From the Kentucky State Parks:

Family Adventure Quest is a digital photo scavenger hunt for families or friends that features “quests” at state parks across the state. By correctly answering these quests, your team can qualify for prizes while at the same time experiencing great adventures!

“Thank you, Parks! We love the quest. We enjoy the prizes, but we enjoy the memories even more. I scrapbook our park adventures every year, and those albums are such fun to look back on,” said Kelly May of the May Team in Versailles. They’ve signed up for the fifth year.

Many of this year’s quests are in the form of riddles. Most of them lead teams along to multiple points of interest throughout the park. About one-third of the 28 quests are park-specific, while the remaining can be completed at whatever park you choose.

Teams have until Dec. 1, 2017, to complete as many quests as they can. A digital camera or a camera phone of a minimum of 8 MP is needed to capture your team’s fun along your journey, and your photos just might show up on the park website or Facebook page.

Participants from 6 months old to 78 years young enjoyed the quest in 2016, and once they start, many teams repeat year after year. Thirty-nine teams that signed up in 2016 were repeat participants.

By correctly completing 10 quests, a team will receive a certificate for a one-night stay at a park lodge or campground (Sunday through Thursday) and free passes to park museums or forts. Complete 20 quests and receive the lodge stay and passes, plus a $35 Kentucky State Parks gift card. Complete 25 quests and get the lodge stay, passes and a $60 gift card. If planned properly, the first prize level can be attained by visiting as few as four parks.

A $15 registration fee gets you the quest booklet, a commemorative fishing hat, a flying disc (to be used for a quest), bonus coupons for some of the destinations involved, and informational materials to help you along your way.

More details and registration forms can be found at www.parks.ky.gov (look for the “Family Adventure Quest” button) with a mail-in or online registration option this year. While there, visit the photo gallery of past participants and feedback. You can also pick up a registration form at any Kentucky State Park. Expect to receive your quest kit within 2 weeks of registering.