Kentucky Pictures, Events, Restaurants
Like all days spent at Rough River Lake and its beautiful state park.
The t-shirt above caught my eye and gave us a laugh. I love it when Rough River puts on its sassy pants!
I’ll add the pictures we took to Genuine Kentucky tomorrow morning. As you’d imagine, there are plenty and they’re all beautiful – not because of me, but because of the park.
Pine Mountain State Resort Park’s Restaurant, Mountain View
I associate many things with beautiful Pine Mountain State Resort Park…
When my husband and I first visited Pine Mountain State Resort Park, I had a bowl of potato soup that is now legendary in our family. Okay, so it was actually three bowls, but who’s counting? It was extraordinary and I remember it fondly to this day, even though it’s been several years.
Beautiful Pine Mountain State Resort Park is cooking up something delicious (see what I did there?) and you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor each Sunday beginning July 5, 2015.
A Sunday buffet in the Park’s restaurant (Mountain View – one of the most perfectly named restaurants in the State Park system) will become a weekly event served noon to 4 p.m.
The menu for July 5 includes roast beef carved on the line, fried chicken, catfish with hushpuppies, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, soup, salad, banana pudding and blackberry cobbler. The menu will vary week to week.
The price for adults is $14, and the price for children ages 6-12 is $7. The price does not include drink or gratuity.
For more information, call 606-337-3066.
The park has a 30-room lodge, cottages and a full-service restaurant. It also has a golf course and other recreational opportunities for guests. Pine Mountain State Resort Park is located south of Pineville, on U.S. 25E, 10 miles north of Middlesboro. It’s in the mountains and is unspeakably gorgeous.
Carter Caves State Resort Park is one of Kentucky’s most beautiful parks. The entire region is just gorgeous – spring, summer, winter, and fall.
Carter Caves gives you an opportunity to literally get off of the beaten path and have extra special fun this summer! Enjoy walking (or even crawling) cave tours and make memories that’ll last a lifetime.
The park offers daily cave tours and more tour times will be added starting June 13.
The cave tours include:
Cascade Cave
Cascade Cave is one of the largest of over 200 caves in Carter County and is noted for its large chambers and numerous cave formations. Highlights of the tour include the reflecting pool in the Lake Room, the unique cave formations in the Cathedral Room and an underground waterfall over 30 feet high. The tour lasts about 75 minutes and covers a distance of about ¾ mile.
Ticket sales stop 15 minutes before Cascade Cave tours. A short drive from the welcome center is required and transportation is not provided. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free.
X-Cave
The tour begins at the welcome center. Some of the highlighted features include turkey rock, the pipe organ, and the giant column which is the largest cave formation found at the park. Be aware of your surroundings and you will discover how this cave became known as “X-Cave.” The X-Cave tour covers about ¼ mile and lasts about 45 minutes. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for children ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free.
Saltpetre Cave
Saltpetre Cave is considered by many historians to be the site of the earliest industry in the area. The cave was used during the War of 1812 as a source of the major ingredient in making gunpowder and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lantern tours are also offered throughout the summer. Saltpetre Cave covers about ½ mile, and the tour last about 60 minutes. Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for children ages 3-12. Children under 3 are free.
Carter Caves also offers wild cave tours which are more challenging and offer more adventure for guests. They include:
Saltpetre Kids Crawl
The Saltpeter Kid’s Crawl is a great way to introduce your child to the
adventurous sport of caving. Your child will be crawling on hands and knees in small dark passages that will be lit by only the flashlight provided. The kids will get dirty as the passages are rocky and dusty. To participate in the tour your child must be between 6-12 years oldand wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. Guardians must sign waivers for the children. Helmets, headlamps and kneepads are provided. Tickets are $10 per child.
Bat Cave Walking Tour
Bat Cave is the longest cave found within the park. The Bat Cave Walking Tour is a wild cave, so the trip is considered rugged and strenuous. The cave is undeveloped, it is not electrically lit and there are no handrails or steps. Plan to get wet and muddy on this tour. You must pass a squeeze test before you purchase your tickets. You must be at least 6 years old and an adult must accompany those under 15 years old. Guardians must sign waivers for children under 18. Helmets and flashlights are provided. Tickets are $12 per person.
Bat Cave Crawling Tour
The Bat Cave Crawling Tour is considered the most strenuous and most adventurous tour offered at Carter Caves. You will be crawling and walking through muddy and wet passages. You must be at least 12 years old and an adult must accompany those under 15. Guardians must sign waivers for children under 18. Coveralls, helmets, headlamps and knee pads are provided. Tickets are $30 per person.
A crawling tour of Saltpetre Cave!
Saltpetre Crawling Tour
You will be crawling on your hands and knees and even doing some belly crawls during this tour. The cave is cold, rocky and dusty. This is considered a strenuous and rugged caving trip and may not be a good choice for some folks. You must pass a squeeze test before you purchase your tickets. You should be wearing shorts and a T-shirt under the coveralls and closed-toed shoes with good tread. You must be at least 12 years old and an adult mustaccompany those under 15. Guardians must sign waivers for children under 18. Coveralls, helmets, headlamps and knee pads are provided. Tickets are $30 per person.
For more information about cave tours and the park, be sure to visit the Kentucky State Parks’ Carter Caves State Resort Park section.
Besides the cave tours, Carter Caves offers canoe trips, hiking, golf, swimming, gem mining for kids, mini-golf, and fishing. Carter Caves also has a lodge, cottages and restaurant. For more information, call the park at 1-800-325-0059 or 1-606-286-4411
To get to Carter Caves State Resort Park from Interstate 64 East, take Exit 161 (Olive Hill exit). Turn left off the exit onto U.S. 60 east. Go approximately 2 miles and turn left on KY 182 north. Park entrance is 3 miles from the left turn onto KY 182 north.
Remember how fun it was to play at a park as a child? Heck, it was (is) even fun as an adult.
When we’d take our three little girls to parks, I was never sure which of the five of us had a better time. I think it was a tie – a 5 way tie.
The National Park Trust organizes a nationwide day of outdoor play to encourage children across the country to explore their community parks and discover history, nature and adventure right around the corner. If you ask me, that’s something that should be acknowledged every month – not just one one day in one moth.
Fresh air, activity, and family fun… I think you could fix a lot of the ills in our society if we got back to good old fashioned family fun and togetherness.
Three Kentucky State Parks will be participating in Kids to Parks Day on May 16, 2015. Of course, by “participating, ” that means these three have special events planned. The other parks are most certainly open and would love nothing more than to see you and your kids coming to spend the day with them.
Columbus-Belmont State Park, Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site and Pine Mountain State Resort Park, however, will be participating in Kids to Parks Day by hosting games and outdoor experiences. Here are the details for each park. All times are local.
Columbus-Belmont State Park, Columbus
Kids and families will enjoy a day of old-fashioned fun at the park. There will be games, hiking, and educational programs. Kids will play mini golf and visit the museum free. For more information, contact Columbus-Belmont at 270-677-2327 or email cindy.lynch@ky.gov
Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site, Wickliffe
Play outdoor games among the Mounds and make a Mississippian Indian style gorget necklace to take home. Games include hoop and darts, stickball, corn toss and a relay race at 11 a.m. for kids age 12 and under. Free for kids age 15 and under with paid adult admission. Limit two kids free with one paid adult for $5. Event is from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information contact Wickliffe Mounds at 270-335-3681 or email carla.hildebrand@ky.gov
Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Pineville
The park will offer a day of free activities starting at 10:30 a.m. Activities include a guided hike, mini golf, a birds of prey program, and s’mores. For more information, contact Beth Byrnes at 606-337-3066 or beth.byrnes@ky.gov
Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park, Buckhorn
Look for white-tailed deer, bird watch, build a sandcastle, visit the playground, go for a picnic, hike the trails, borrow a fishing pole, rent a boat, play a round of miniature golf, or enjoy a campfire. From 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Call 800-325-0058 for information.
The picture above is from the beautiful Rough River Dam State Resort Park Campground (Find more pictures of Rough River Dam State Resort Park in our photo album.). Each time we’re there, I’m struck by how “far away from it all” this campground seems. While you’re, of course, mere minutes from the Park’s lodge, restaurants, stores, and other necessities, it feels like you’re a whole world away.
The beautiful, lush green surroundings are so peaceful and quiet, I think the experience could qualify for therapeutic.
Below is a press release from the Kentucky State Parks that’ll be of particular interest to campers.
{ The following offer has expired – but be sure to visit the Kentucky State Parks’ website (linked below) for current offers. }
Kentucky State Parks are offering a weekday camping deal in April and May – pay for one night and get the second night free Sunday through Thursday.
To get the discount, campers need to make online reservations at www.parks.ky.gov (look for the reservations tab at the top of the page). Use the promotion code SPRING15. The offer runs through May 21, 2015.
The Kentucky State Parks will also be offering two nights camping for the price of one during Camper Appreciation Weekend, April 24-26. Many parks will be holding special events for campers that weekend.
The Kentucky State Parks have 31 campgrounds across the state.
Campsites for horse camping are available at Carter Caves, Pennyrile Forest, Dale Hollow, Taylorsville Lake and Greenbo Lake. About a dozen campgrounds offer Wi-Fi service for a fee. There are camper cabins available at Dale Hollow Lake, camping RV rentals at Columbus-Belmont and bunkhouses available at the Carter Caves campground.
All state park campgrounds have sites with water and electric hookups.
Reservations can be made by visiting the website. Guests reserving online can view pictures of the individual campsites available, allowing them to better select a site to suit their individual needs. Guests may also call 1-888-4KYPARK for reservations.
(This discount offer does not include the Kentucky Horse Park.)
Pictures of Rough River Dam State Resort Park’s quiet and beautiful campground:
