Day Tripping Around Kentucky

Every bride and groom in America waits in anticipation for their guests starting to arrive to help celebrate their nuptials. There is something exciting in the air when you begin blocking guest rooms, filling baskets full of goodies native to the area in which you live, and waiting for news that the guests have begun trickling in.

Depending upon how early your out of town guests choose to fly in to town to celebrate, it is an excellent idea to share sightseeing opportunities they may opt to check out. This particular article (Day Tripping around Kentucky) will become a regular newsletter feature as together we will begin to explore the great points of interest around our wonderful bluegrass state. Brochures for many of the places we will review are available through either your local Chamber of Commerce or Visitors Bureau as well as area hotels. Come now as we begin our journey:

Cumberland Falls is a beautiful Kentucky state park located only 20 miles southwest of Corbin, Ky. Cumberland Falls is situated right in the Daniel Boone National Forest. The park boasts a waterfall that forms a 125 foot wide curtain, plunging 60 feet into a rock filled gorge below. There is a legend of the moonbow at this waterfall that speaks to the magic of the moonbow (evening rainbow) that is created by the mist from the Falls on a clear evening when the moon is full. The parks brochure actually posts dates on which a full moon is scheduled, however, as we all know, no one can predict that far in advance about whether the night sky will be cloudless. By the way, this facility is distinguished as the only place in the Western Hemisphere where the moonbow appears.

Activities abound at Cumberland Falls, including 17 miles of hiking trails (great photo opportunities), camping for both RV's and tent lovers, cottages wi/ fireplaces, dining facilities, olympic size pool, horseback riding, white water rafting, and wonderful fishing in the Cumberland River.

The park is a great getaway in the Spring and Summer, however, Fall is when the park is at its peak beauty.

Visitors to this legendary farm will view the original Owner's House, an on site Fire Department (imperative for emergencies), the Barrel Warehouse (where nature works its magic), a breathtaking arboretum and last but not least, the Still House (where folks can watch the whiskey being made and bottled).

The final leg of the Maker's Mark tour is a stop at the Visitors Center. The gift gallery has great souvenirs for the return trip back home and you can even dip your own souvenir bottle of Marker's Mark as a keepsake.

This is a Kentucky must see for guests with extra time to check out the hot spots!

Shakers chose a peaceful, simple way of life and believed in equality of race and sex. Thirty three original buildings have been restored and over 2700 acres of farmland have been preserved. This wonderful step back into history can be enjoyed as a one-day trip or spread over several days. There are fifteen buildings available for a self-guided walking tour where costumed interpreters share the unique history of the Shaker religion and family life.

The village offers fine dining on traditional Kentucky foods and Shaker recipes where all 3 meals of the day are served. All meals are served family style with wonderful fresh breads and home-baked desserts.

In addition to walking tours, there is also the opportunity to step aboard the Dixie Belle sternwheeler for a turn down the historic Kentucky River. The tour highlights the river's high limestone cliffs and a ride under High Bridge, and engineering wonder built in 1877.

There is an admission charge for village tours and the riverboat excursion, but trust us when we say your guests will be charmed and delighted with this outing.

And so we bring this cyber field trip to a close. Wedding guests will be so pleased at the effort you have made on their behalf when they find brochures of these treasures in their accommodations just awaiting their adventurous spirit. So take the extra time and remember that the little things often make a big difference when folks have extra time on their hands.