When it comes to making the best decisions in Kentucky, choosing to live here is just the beginning. There are so many other things we can do that just help us experience the Bluegrass State to the fullest. Here are 13 suggestions just to get things started, but I look forward to hearing your opinions as well.
13. This applies only if you live in the Ohio Valley...
Invest in an allergy medication. You will thank yourself at some point for doing so, especially if you miss a dose.
12. Invest in storage tubs.
They make life a lot easier when you are switching out the spring and summer closet for the fall and winter seasons. We actually have four seasons. It is not uncommon for them to all occur within 48 hours.
11. Experience or create some renowned barbecue.
Most Kentuckians love barbecue something… and we have barbecue everything from meats and vegetables to sauces with fruit. Old Hickory or Moonlite in Owensboro, Bubby’s in Cumberland Falls, or Smokehouse in Louisville are all unique in their sauce and their sides. If you haven’t tried at least one of them, put it on a to-do list. Another option is to master your own homemade sauce to add that special touch to family barbecue days. I promise you it will make a bigger impact than the average store bought.
10. Attend an event at the Kentucky Derby Festival.
Even if you are not a horse racing fan, this festival is the Kentucky Mardi Gras. It begins mid-April and ends the first weekend in May. During that time you have your choice of balloon and steamboat racing, a romantically hypnotic balloon glow, a Pegasus Parade, and more.
9. Go to the Bluegrass Museum.
Bluegrass Music is part of Kentucky’s roots. There is something about the sound of pickin’ banjo, bass, guitar or playing a fiddle that is hypnotic. If you aren’t a fan of the music, you still might find the history interesting. The International Bluegrass Music Museum is at 117 Daviess Street in Owensboro and it is worth a visit, as are most Bluegrass fests throughout Kentucky.
8. Go camping or rent a cabin.
Take a weekend and camp out or rent a cabin in Red River Gorge, Cumberland Falls or one of our other beautiful parks. Spending an afternoon is great, but when camping out you experience the full force of nature in all its glory. Our vast woodlands and scenic landscapes make for a great visual when waking up.
7. Visit a Kentucky horse farm.
Thoroughbreds are something Kentucky has quite the reputation for. If you don’t know anything about horses, you might find them fascinating. They are highly intelligent, graceful, and can make excellent companions. Watching them in their native terrain can be magical.
6. Get a hammock.
You can get them in handy frames if you don’t have trees to utilize for the rope style. Once you have one, it will be the go-to place for naps in good weather. There is nothing like lounging in the shade on a warm day as you gently sway with the breeze. Just thinking about it makes me kind of sleepy.
5. Eat or grow farm fresh.
There are farmers markets all across the state, so likely there is one somewhere near you. There is an amazing quality difference in something grown local versus food shipped from across the country. You might even have your own vegetable garden, be it in a yard, containers or buckets. If so, you already know exactly what I mean.
4. Visit the Kentucky State Fair.
The Kentucky State Fair will be August 18th through the 28th this year. As always, it will be at the Fairgrounds on 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville. There is a little bit of everything at the fair. You can ride carnival rides or just check out the exhibitions and shows. The fair is almost guaranteed to have something for everyone, and they have discounted days.
3. Take some time to fish.
Even if you don’t like to fish, there is something almost meditative about sitting with a hook in the water. You can just feel the water all around you and the life stirring within it. Some people swear fishing is better than therapy… I’d have to agree in most cases.
2. Spend some time in our state parks.
We have over 1/3 woodlands in this state and quite a bit of it has been dedicated to state parks. You will find plenty of places to hike, picnic and soak up some sunshine.
1. Take the time to relax around water.
We have some amazing manmade lakes, natural lakes and rivers. Kentucky is bordered in parts by the Mississippi River to the South and the Ohio River to the North. You don’t have to fish to enjoy the water in Kentucky. There are great places to swim, do water sports or just putter along enjoying the view. If you don’t have a boat, or a friend with a boat, you can rent a boat by the hour or day at places like Lake Cumberland, Barkley, Kentucky Lake, Nolin Lake and Rough River Lake, to name a few.
Living life to the fullest is making the best decisions in Kentucky you can. It is like being all you can be in the military. The beauty of our state seems to embrace us. This allows for a consistent Feng Shui atmosphere, excluding allergies and individual experiences. What else would you add to make this a list of perfect decisions?
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