There Are Many Areas In The - Vitality Magazine Cape Cod

There are many areas in theUnited States that offer a real changeof scenery, but few are as majesticas the mountains of southeasternKentucky. The area south and eastof Lexington, which is part of theAppalachian foothills, was one ofthe last wilderness areas of the eastto be explored; In 1800, the area wasSTILL a wilderness. Today, the areaholds arguably the most magnificentforests in the United States.Not only does SoutheasternKentucky provide a real contrastin scenery, but it also is part of theextraordinary Kentucky State ParkResort System the state offers. Thereare 49 State Parks and 17 LakeResort lodges throughout the state--all built with a main lodge, cottages,and campgrounds. Lodging is quitereasonably priced and provide awonderful opportunity for visitorsto not only take advantage of lakeactivities like fishing, boating orswimming, but also golf, hiking,horseback riding, bird watching,and a full range of organizedactivities provided throughout eachday put on by Park Naturalists. Parkfacilities located in SoutheasternKentucky include:JENNY WILEY STATE RESORTPARKLocated on 1100-acre, 18-milelongDewey Lake, the 49-room MayThe incredible view from Jenny Wiley State Park Lodge overlooking Dewey LakeLodge at this Resort Park offersfull amenities, including a 224-seatrestaurant and a new park marinathat offers pontoon boat rentalsfrom April-November. You can fishDewey Lake for large mouth bass,croppie, sunfish and trout. Alsothere’s an amphitheater called theJenny Wiley Theater, which offerspolished performances of Broadwayshows (during the warmer months).It’s considered one of the nationsleading outdoor amphitheaters.Hikers can enjoy over 10 milesof moderate-level hiking. And don’tforget to ride the Sky Lift to the topof Sugar Camp Mountain for anunforgettable mountain-top vista!Golfers will enjoy the new 18-hole Championship Golf Coursebuilt on the mountain overlookingDewey Lake. Ask about the park’sspring and fall golf packages thatinclude room, meals and golf.like Ricky Skaggs, Kathy Mattea, TyHerndon, Ralph Stanley and MerleHaggard; rock and roll groups likethe Temptations, the Platters andDrifters and Doctor Hook; and gospelgreats like The Kingsmen, Bishops,John Hagee and Steve Green), plusfamily theater like Always PatsyCline and Babes in Toyland); andbig bands like the Tommy Dorseyand Glenn Miller orchestras; plusmany other nationally acclaimedartists. (www.macarts.com) (www.prestonsburgky.org)Be sure to see the May House, abrick home built in 1817 by pioneerSamuel May, which is constructedentirely of native materials. For atour, call 606-886-8079. (http://www.mayhouse.org)In nearby Van Lear, you can visitthe mountain home of Loretta Lynnand Crystal Gayle. Loretta’s brotherHerman will give you the tour andLodgers will enjoy the answer your questions about thelodge’s proximity to the city ofPrestonburg—a small town witha surprising amount to offer. It’shome to the Mountain Arts Center, a$7.2 million, 1050-seat theater thatoffers live music and theater yearround, and has already establisheda reputation for presenting the bestfamily entertainment this side ofthe Mississippi.. The Center hasrecently hosted performances bymajor country and Bluegrass starsfamily. There’s fascinating familyphotos on the wall, and you’ll seefirst hand what it’s like to grow upin a “mountain holler” (ButcherHollow), located seven miles fromPaintsville.In Staffordsville, be sure to visitMountain Homeplace, a workingfarm of the 1850’s era reminiscentof our own Plymouth Plantation.(www.mountainhomeplace.com)Also nearby is Pioneer Village,located in Salyersville. This is amuseum of circa 1800’s log homesthat have been moved and displayedhere. (606-349-7678)A great place to stay in this areais the LakeView Hideaway B&B,located in Louisa, Ky. This 28-acre, immaculate mountain villaboasts roomy creature comforts andwonderful hospitaIn Paintsville,be sure to try Wilma’s Restaurant,located next to the Courthouse at212 Court St. Owned by WilmaEldredge, the place is nothing fancy,but all the food is made from scratch,and everything is delicious.NATURAL BRIDGE STATERESORT PARKThis Park is home to the greatnatural sandstone arch that standslike a sentinel over this mountainhideaway. Located in the midstof the Daniel Boone NationalForest, near the Red River GorgeGeological Area, the NaturalBridge arch spans 78 feet in lengthand 65 feet in height. The 35 roomsof the park’s Hemlock Lodge haveprivate balconies. Or try one of thepark’s cottages. Tableware, cookingutensils, and linens are provided,with fresh linens available daily.The 175-seat dining room servesbreakfast, lunch, and dinner. Thelodge overlooks Hoe Down Island,site of weekly square dances heldPage 2, Vitality, November 2007Houseboating is all the rage throughout Kentucky

seasonally, weather permitting.Next to the island is a complex thatincludes a spacious stone bathhouseand an 80,000 gallon pool. HoeDown lake offers self-poweredwatercraft.You can hike to see NaturalBridge or ride on the sky lift. Theascent begins one-half mile fromthe park entrance and ends within600 feet of Natural Bridge. Hikingtrails in the park range from one-halfmile to eight-and-one-half miles.Naturalist-led programs focusingon native plants, animals, and localhistory are conducted year-roundunder the direction of a full-timenaturalist. (606-663-2214)Another nice place to stayin the Natural Bridge area is theCliffview Resort. Located just a fewmiles from the Red River Gorge,Cliffview sits in 1500 wooded acresof majestic cliffs and rolling hills,including one of the area’s manynatural arches. The Cliffview Innsits on a cliff with spectacular viewsof Calvin’s Creek Gorge. The Inn isa large log structure with 16 rooms.Most rooms have sliding glassdoors that open to a cliff-side viewand wrap-around porch. (www.cliffviewresort.com)Adjacent to the Natural BridgeArea is the Red River GorgeGeological Area, which is partof the Daniel Boone NationalForest. This area has a number ofinteresting natural and man-madefeatures including:• natural stone arches--over 100of them (more than any other parkin the U.S., except Arches NationalPark in Utah), rock shelters, toweringcliffs, and 60 miles of hiking trails.The Gladie Historic Site includes• the Gladie cabin, a reconstructedlog house, which is the onlystructure in the Gorge that datesto the late 1800’s. There’s a smallherd of bison nearby. Also, you’lldrive through the remarkable NadaTunnel,• an interesting way to enter theRed River Gorge. This 900-foot,one-lane, 12-foot-by-12-foot tunnel,located on Rt. 77, was built for useby a small-guage logging railroadduring the early 1900’s.If you find poisonous snakesinteresting, you can see cobras,mambas, rattlesnakes, alligators,turtles and giant pythons at theKentucky Reptile Zoo, located 1.5miles south of Mountain Parkwayon Highway 11 in Slade, Kentucky,near Natural Bridge State Park. Thezoo's staff provides educationaltalks three times daily using livereptiles. The facility is used largelyEvergrowing Kudzu covers thousands of acres in Kentuckyfor venom extraction for scientificresearch. (606-663-9160, www.geocities.com/kentuckyreptilezoo/content.htm)While in the Slade, Ky. area,absolutely do not miss stopping atMiguel’s Pizza for lunch or dinner,at 1890 Natural Bridge Rd. Thisunpretentious landmark has arguablythe best pizza you’ll ever have. Theyhave ALL the toppings. And theyalso have a chicken sandwich that’stotally unique. Bring your appetite.(606-663-1975)BUCKHORN LAKE STATERESORT PARKBuckhorn Lodge contains 36rooms and features private balconiesor patios. If you desire seclusion,there’s two-bedroom executivecottages and one three-bedroomexecutive cottage. Tableware,cooking utensils,and linens are provided, withfresh linens available daily. The 210-seat dining room serves continentalbreakfast (included with lodging),lunch, and dinner.The Buckhorn Lake marinaoffers rental of pontoon boats andfishing boats. Buckhorn Lake offerslarge-mouth and Kentucky bass,croppie, bluegill, channel catfishand muskie. Hikers can explore thenatural beauty of Buckhorn Lakewith a stroll along a 1.5 mile, selfguided,easy walking trail. And theopportunities for mountain hikingThe view from the Lodge at Buckhorn State Resort Lodgeare limitless. (606-398-7510)PINE MOUNTAIN STATERESORT PARKThis was the first Kentucky StatePark, created in 1924. The charmingstone and wood Evans Lodge has 30rooms, two-bedroom cottages, andone-bedroom log cabins with stonefireplaces and private decks. Theeleven two-bedroom cottages haveporches or decks surrounded bywoods. The 216-seat Lodge diningroom serves breakfast, lunch anddinner. Grills are furnished for thecabins and cottages. There’s also a36-site campground. All campsitesare primitive (no electric hookups),and a central service building offersshowers and rest rooms. Grills,picnic tables, and a picnic shelterare available.Golfers will love the WasiotoWinds Golf Course, which unlikemany Kentucky courses, remainsgreen virtually year round.Pine Mountain has 8.5 milesof self-guided trails. And there’syear-round interpretive programson native plants, animals, and localhistory under the direction of a fulltimenaturalist. (606-337-3066)OTHER SITES TO SEE IN S.E.KENTUCKYHarlan County offers a uniqueopportunity for the public to seean actual coal mine in the town ofLynch. Called Portal 31, this formerworking coal mine was dug 13 milesinto Black Mountain and set therecord in 1923 for coal production-- 12,820 tons in a nine-hour shift.The mine will be ready for visitorsnext year. (www.portal31.org)Nearby in Benham is theKentucky Coal Mining Museum.The first two floors depicts the area’scoal mining heritage and the thirdfloor is devoted to memorabilia ofthe area’s “coal miner’s daughter” -- Loretta Lynn. (606-848-1530).Resting from a hike through BlantonForest atop Kobby RockWhile in this area, be sure tostay at the very unique BenhamSchool House Inn. This mountainresort is actually a convertedschool house, complete with halls,lockers, and classrooms--the latterbeing converted to guest rooms.A fearless couple are ready to enter the Portal 31 coal mine in Lynch, Ky.Page 3, Vitality, November 2007

It’s a real one-of-a-kind, and verycomfortable. (606-848-3000).Nearby in Cumberland, enjoythe Sleepy Hollow Golf Course,which was build more than 60 yearsago. (606-589-2502).Hikers visiting Harlan Countyshould take advantage of the BlantonForest, a recently discovered 2300-acre old-growth forest that’s verydiverse, with over 400 varieties ofplants. The entire Blanton Forestis 6700 acres. Many trees towerover 100 feet in height. The hike toKnobby Rock takes about 2 hours upand back. It’s considered moderatein difficulty. (http://blantonforest.org)Most of Estill County is takenup by the Daniel Boone NationalForest. While there, take in theFitchburg & Cottage Furnaces, oldTobacco barns are a common sight in Southeastern Kentucky.iron furnaces which produced ironfrom native ore deposits. FitchburgFurnace is known as one of thelargest of its kind in the world.Constructed in 1868 by masonsfrom Ravenna, Italy, this twinstack furnace went into operationin 1870. Measuring 60 ft. tall, 60feet deep this impressive nativestone structure became the largestcharcoal burning furnace in theworld. (606-723-2450)The Estill County MountainMushroom Festival is held everyyear during the last weekend in Aprilin the city of Irvine to celebrate theelusive Morel mushroom.The Tater Knob Pottery & Farm,located just outside of Berea, is the30-acre farm home of Jeff Enge andSarah Culbreth, who do incrediblethings with red and white clay andyou’re invited to watch the workbeing done. Their hand-thrownearth-wares are famous throughoutthe area. (859-986-2167)If you’d like to stay at awonderful place that is genuinelyin the country, don’t miss staying atthe Snug Hollow Farm and CountryInn, in Irvine. This B&B, whichwas featured on Oprah, is hosted byBarbara Napier. Located 20 countrymiles east of Berea, this workingorganic farm boasts 300 acres ofrolling meadows, babbling creeks,glorious wildflowers, abundantwildlife, wooded mountain-sidesand the simplicity of country life.Accommodations consist of aspacious country farmhouse with 4bedrooms and 2 shared baths. Mealsserved are sumptuous and totallyvegetarian. (606-723-4786, http://snughollow.com) (www.estill.net)When passing through LeslieCounty, a great place to stay is theFrontier Nursing Service B&B andWendover Big House, in Wendover,Ky. This was built in 1925 by Mrs.Mary Breckinridge and recentlyrenovated. This beautiful log homeis listed on the National Registerof Historic Places and designated aKentucky Landmark.Mrs. Mary Breckinridge, who isprobably best-known as the “motherof Midwifery”, spent a better partof her life helping the under-servedpeople of this area as a nurse. Shestarted Frontier Nursing Service,sending nurses out on horsebackto the hollows of Kentucky to helpthose in need. Her home served asthe first clinic in this rural area viaPittsburg or Philadelphia. (800-428-4322).For information aboutKentucky State Parks, call 800-255-PARK (7275), or go to www.kystateparks.com, or for regionaltravel information, contact theSouthern and Eastern KentuckyTourism Development Association(SEKTDA), 2292 South Highway27, Somerset, KY 42501, telephone:844-868-7735, or go to www.tourseky.com.And thanks for travelling.One of the many circa 1850 buildings at Mountain Homeplace