Kentucky has one of the most impressive state park systems in the entire country. Many of our parks and resorts are situated right on a body of water, which makes them even more appealing. In western Kentucky, many locals and visitors flock to the area in the summertime to enjoy fun on the water and the wide variety of outdoor adventures and roadside attractions. One particular waterfront state park in Kentucky that has so much to offer is Lake Barkley State Resort Park. Right on the banks of the massive Lake Barkley, this beautiful park has places to stay, options for a day trip, and much more, making it a great option for one place to visit in Kentucky this summer.
If you've never traveled to western Kentucky, summertime is a great season to fully experience all this area has to offer. And this waterfront state park in Kentucky is the ideal spot to call home for a few nights, or even a day trip.
The lodge is wonderfully designed to take full advantage of its curved positioning on the lake and the pool on the back offers the best views of Lake Barkley. This pool is for lodge and cottage guests only, so if you stay, you can play!
But even if you're just visiting the park for the day, there are other ways to enjoy the water. Set up a few chairs and towels on the sandy beach and splash in the water. Of course there are also many opportunities to rent a boat from a nearby marina if you want to explore the area by water.
Or you can do some more exploring by foot on the 6 miles of hiking trails throughout the park. This view is along the Blue Springs Trail and you can read about all of the park's hiking trails on the website linked below.
Inside the lodge, you can grab a bite to eat at Windows on the Water Restaurant. It is open to the public (check the website for current hours) and serves up tasty food with incredible lake views.
Be sure to follow along with the park on Facebook, linked below, to see what events are coming up. The park is often the launch spot for a sunset cruise on the lake and they also offer eagle tours and other special events throughout the year.
In addition to the lodge rooms and cottages, the park also has a campground. Other highlights include an indoor pool in the lodge that is open year round for guests, a golf course, fishing, a game room, and more. No matter what you fill your day with at Lake Barkley, be sure you're near its banks at sunset and relax with this incredible view to wrap up your evening.
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Where else can you spend the night in a lodge or cozy cottage, relax by the pool, overlooking the lake, play in the sand, hike, and enjoy dinner by the water? And all right here in Kentucky! If this sounds like the ideal summer getaway to you, check out Lake Barkley State Resort Park and all this waterfront state park in Kentucky has to offer.
For more information and to book a stay, visit the Lake Barkley State Resort Park website and you can also follow along with the park on Facebook.
And for more waterfront fun in western Kentucky, check out the town of Henderson and all of the summertime adventures you'll find here.
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