This past spring, I was fortunate enough to explore a section of the country that had never crossed my mind and probably not yours, either. I visited Western Kentucky.
Living in a landlocked city like Atlanta all my life, I like a beach trip as much as anyone. Now that I am a more mature traveler, the sandy beaches of Florida, the Bahamas, Mexico, and Jamaica don’t have the same lure as it did when I was in my 20s and 30s. I don’t recommend this as a trip for small children, teenagers, or even 20-somethings.
The beauty of this vast country is that there are literally thousands of interesting places that are calling you to come explore. Many of them are located in the Southeast, a few hours away by car or train.
On this small city tour, I had two major takeaways: One, you don’t have to restrict yourself to large metropolitan areas to find some really good dining options, and two, you can find some big surprises in these small cities.
THE ITINERARY
My fellow travel writers and I flew into the Muhammad Ali Airport in Louisville and boarded a van for the drive to Madisonville for the night. Fortunately, we flew out before the massive Kentucky Derby crowd arrived.
Our stops included: Central City, Purple Toad Winery, Flood Walls, Quilt Week Convention, Paducah, Madisonville, Mahr Park Arboretum, Henderson, John James Audubon State Park, Farmer and Frenchman Winery & Cafe, Robards, KY
Probably most people outside the state aren’t familiar with Western Kentucky other than Louisville. The region has a rich musical history, scenic river landscapes, charming small cities, arts districts, southern hospitality, and a plethora of good eats and drinks.
Central City: Where the Music Never Ends
A stop in Central City’s Muhlenberg County Music Museum & Motorsports Museum took me back to my childhood in the 1960s. One of my favorite rock groups from the ’60s was The Everly Brothers, who were introduced to most of America through Dick Clark’s TV dance show “American Bandstand”. I loved the harmonizing of the two brothers, and it was a delight to be in their hometown. Country singer Merle Travis is also a native. The town celebrates its heritage with events like the annual Labor Day Weekend Cruise-In, which evolved from the Everly Brothers Homecoming.
Walk through a connecting door, and you will find yourself looking at some vintage cars and race cars. Visitors can also delve into local history at the Kentucky Women’s Hall of Fame, Inc. within the Central City Public Library, or enjoy a stroll or bike ride along the scenic Muhlenberg County Rail Trail, a paved path following an old railway route, perfect for a peaceful outdoor escape.
Paducah: A UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art
I’ve heard of Paducah before, but in what context? The city lies at the junction of two rivers, the Ohio and Tennessee. Historically, the city is known for being totally submerged during the Great Flood of 1937. Some 27,000 people had to be evacuated. The water level reached a historic 60 feet, resulting in $22 million in damages. The next month, city leaders petitioned Congress to build the flood walls.
But these aren’t just any flood walls. The Floodwall Murals tell the history of the city and its people through 60 life-sized murals. These are works of arts which should be expected since Paducah is a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art and is located in the Lower Town Arts District where the artistic spirit thrives through galleries and studios.
Paducah is also known for its National Quilt Museum which we didn’t get to visit but we were treated to an event at its convention center which was just as amazing – Quilt Week sponsored by the American Quilt Society. These weren’t quilts that you pull out the closet on a cold winter night. These were quilts you hung on the wall like art. Many of these quilts took months to complete. Awards were given out to the best of the best.
We enjoyed a pizza lunch at Paducah Beer Werks where we sampled a variety of their pies. I’m not a big pizza lover, but I did go back three times for slices. The casual restaurant also features an award-winning craft beer.
Kentucky is known for bourbon, but now craft beer and wine want a share of the beverage spotlight. Among our food stops were Henderson Brewing Co., Holly J’s Grill, Brothers Bar-B-Que, and Cap & Cork.
I sampled more craft beer and bourbon during this trip than I have in my entire life. The sacrifices I make for our readers.
If your preference is wine, then make a stop at the Purple Toad Winery, a family-run business, for a guided tour and tasting. I can assure you that you will find something there that you like. Since our visit, they have added a new line of fruit whiskey selections. Their products are distributed through eight states, but the nearest spot to metro Atlanta is Columbus, GA.
Madisonville: Outdoor Adventure and Cultural Delights
If there was one place during our visit that I wished we could have spent more time at it was Mahr Park Arboretum, a 265 acre nature beauty in Madisonville in the heart of Hopkins County. The park was gifted to the city of Madisonville by Dr. Merle and Glema Mahr in 2009. It officially became a city park in October 2016. The park offers a variety of activities like boating, walking trails, fishing, a dog park, a disc golf course, pavilions for picnics, company retreats, and weddings. During the summer, they show movies under the stars. For those seeking indoor entertainment, the Glema Mahr Center for the Arts provides a diverse array of performing and visual arts.
Henderson: Riverfront Retreat and Avian Wonders
If you have an even mild interest in birds, you must stop at the John James Audubon State Park, which is located on the banks of the Ohio River. The park is home to the world’s largest display of Audubon originals and artifacts within the Audubon Museum and Nature Center. Visitors can enjoy miles of hiking trails, serene camping, golf, fishing, and birdwatching, truly immersing themselves in the natural beauty that inspired Audubon’s masterpieces. John James Audubon was a renowned artist and ornithologist. His family’s story is just as fascinating as the variety of birds he studied.
Come to Henderson in mid-June and you can experience the W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival. This free festival draws performers and visitors from all across the country. The festival is a celebration of the life and legacy of Henderson resident and “Father of the Blues,” William Christopher Handy.
A Taste of the Countryside: Farmer and Frenchman Winery & Cafe
Just a short drive from Henderson, in Robards, KY, lies the enchanting Farmer and Frenchman Winery & Cafe. This small farm vineyard and event venue offers a unique blend of French and Italian-inspired cuisine made with local Kentucky ingredients, all set within an idyllic vineyard. Guests can enjoy wine tastings, savor artisanal pizzas and pastas, and even stay in one of their charming, solar-powered cabins with 360-degree views of farmland and woods. It’s the perfect spot to unwind, indulge, and experience the agricultural beauty of the area. The place feels like someone plucked it out of California Wine Country and transported it to Kentucky.
Black travelers will want to know more about Kentucky’s Black heritage beyond the greatest heavyweight boxing champion of all time, native son, Muhammad Ali. The Kentucky Department of Tourism has developed in cooperation with six counties, the Kentucky Black Trailblazers. Visitors can use their mobile devices to experience holograms of Kentucky historical figures at more than six sites across the region. Visitors can explore the First Black Baptist Church in Elizabethtown or learn about Henry Bibb, a leading abolitionist for freedom, in Oldham County. Check out the different sites before you go to www.kentuckyblacktrailblazers.com. For other parts of the state, check out the African American Heritage Trail on the state’s tourism website.
We spent our last night at a good old-fashioned bed & breakfast, the L&N, situated right next to the elevated train tracks. We had a nice breakfast there before heading back to the airport. Two thumbs up for the property and for the owners.
Who knew Western Kentucky had so much to offer?
For more tourism information: www.kentuckytourism.com