A Quiet Escape to Western Kentucky
I recently traveled to western Kentucky, where I spent several days exploring the small town of Cadiz, walking the trails at Land Between the Lakes, and boating on Kentucky Lake.
Cadiz, Kentucky, is a quaint town of just over 2,500 people, perhaps best known for its antique shops and historic downtown. It’s the kind of small town that fits naturally into a slower-paced trip through this part of Kentucky.
Antiquing isn’t really my thing, so I spent more of my time exploring Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, a sprawling outdoor recreation area covering more than 170,000 acres of forests, wetlands, and open land between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley in western Kentucky and Tennessee.
For families traveling on a budget—or anyone who simply enjoys spending time outdoors—Land Between the Lakes is an especially appealing destination. There is no general admission fee to enter and explore the recreation area, and there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, picnicking, wildlife watching, or simply finding a quiet place to enjoy the scenery.
There are also several attractions within Land Between the Lakes, including the Elk & Bison Prairie, the Homeplace 1850s Working Farm, and the Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory. Some of these experiences charge a modest admission fee, but you could easily spend an entire day exploring the area without spending much at all.
The last few days of my trip were spent on Kentucky Lake. I brought along my fishing gear with hopes of trying my luck with bass, crappie, or catfish, but the temperatures during my visit were extremely hot. Instead, I spent much of my time cruising the lake, exploring its coves, and simply enjoying being out on the water.
One thing that caught my attention while boating was the number of commercial barges traveling along the lake.
Kentucky Lake is part of the Tennessee River, while nearby Lake Barkley is part of the Cumberland River. Both are part of America's inland waterway transportation system, which means the boats you encounter aren't limited to fishing boats, pontoons, and recreational traffic. Large towboats regularly move barges carrying commodities such as grain, coal, crushed stone and limestone, sand and gravel, metals, fertilizer, and petroleum products through the region.
And these aren't small loads. A standard loaded dry-cargo barge can carry roughly 1,500 tons, and a towboat on the open river may push 15 or more barges at once. That means a single 15-barge tow can potentially move around 22,500 tons of cargo.
Seeing one of these massive tows from my much smaller boat gave me an entirely different perspective on Kentucky Lake.
It also helped me better appreciate the importance of Kentucky Lock and Barkley Lock. Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley may look and feel like recreational lakes when you're boating, fishing, or relaxing along the shoreline, but they're also part of two major commercial river systems. The Tennessee and Cumberland rivers eventually connect with the Ohio River system and, from there, the Mississippi River and the Gulf.
For my stay, I chose Kenlake State Resort Park, where I stayed in a one-bedroom cabin. Lodge rooms are also available for travelers who don't need the additional space of a cabin.
I found Kenlake to be a convenient and reasonably priced base for exploring the area, particularly since I had my boat with me. The marina is just a short distance from the lodge and cabins, making it easy to get out on Kentucky Lake without having to travel far each day. During my stay, the park was also providing a complimentary breakfast coupon for each day booked in a lodge room or cabin.
Between the quiet roads around Cadiz, the forests and trails of Land Between the Lakes, and several days spent exploring Kentucky Lake by boat, western Kentucky offered exactly the kind of trip I enjoy most—one where there isn't necessarily a long list of attractions to check off, but plenty of opportunities to slow down, explore, and see where the day takes you.