wayne county ky tourism

Daniel Boone National Forest

The Largest National Forest in Kentucky

Experience the beauty of nature while exploring Daniel Boone National Forest.

With an abundance of outdoor recreational activities such as camping, hiking, swimming, boating, horseback riding, and fishing, it is no surprise that Daniel Boone National Forest draws millions of visitors every year. It also features scenic byways for you to embark on a driving excursion through Daniel Boone Region in Eastern Kentucky. 

The London District extends south from the Kentucky River to the Cumberland River. The district covers 208,044 acres and spans eight counties: Laurel, Whitley, Rockcastle, Jackson, Estill, Owsley, Lee, and Pulaski. Notable district attractions in London include Arches , Waterfalls , Laurel River Lake , Cumberland River, Sheltowee Trace National Recreational Trail and and Battle of Camp Wildcat Mountain .

Learn more at the London District Office to the US Forest Service/US Army Corps of Engineers Resource Managers Office on KY 1193 between Holly Bay Marina and Laurel River Lake Spillway and Beach.

859-428-7706 606-864-4163

Available by phone Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Office is open to visitors Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m.

Spend The Day Exploring These Three Swinging Bridges In Kentucky

Sarah McCosham

I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books. I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.

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There’s something inherently charming about swinging bridges. Exciting to encounter on the trail, wonderfully wobbly to cross, bridges take an ordinary outing to the next level. And in Wayne County, Kentucky, you’ll find three swinging bridges, each more delightful than the last. Plan to spend a day exploring these three swinging bridges in Kentucky, and be prepared to be positively enchanted by these sweet little structures!

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Learn more about the three swinging bridges in Wayne County at the Lake Cumberland Tourism website . And for more delightful swinging bridges to explore in Kentucky, be sure to check out these beauties !

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Wayne County Fishing Update

Updated July 10, 2024 Lake Ontario The Sodus Pro-Am runs this week. Sodus Point will be the hangout for the teams. Should be high scores with

Community Farmers’ Markets

Wayne County is home to a number of communities who host weekly Farmers Markets throughout the County. The markets showcase local businesses, access to fresh fruits

Wayne County Fishing Derbies

Wayne County has a rich history of sportfishing on Lake Ontario. The area has a one of a kind fishery that offers the opportunity to target

Discover Wayne County

Explore the erie canal, quaint villages and spectacular scenic beauty..

Welcome to Wayne County, New York! We are located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario between the cities of Rochester and Syracuse in the northern Finger Lakes Region.The Seaway Trail (a national scenic byway) and the Historic Erie Canal wind through our rural county providing the visitor with a wide variety of events, attractions and endless activities.

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There's so much to love about wayne county, experience it from home or start planning a future trip, accommodations, outdoor dining, wine & craft beverages, hiking & biking.

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Lake Cumberland

As one of the largest and most visited lakes in the eastern United States—encompassing six different counties in Kentucky, spanning 65,000-plus acres of lush nature— Lake Cumberland remains a year-round playground for visitors and locals alike.

What was originally constructed as a dam in the 1940s for flood control, is now a thrilling vacation destination and recreational hub of The Kentucky Wildlands. With more than 1,200 miles of federally protected shoreline, Lake Cumberland's forested landscape and clean, fresh waters attract adventurers looking for a bounty of on and offshore activities. Even those just looking for some R&R will find it on Lake Cumberland.

Lake Cumberland State Parks

Considered one of the finest fishing and boating areas in the country, Lake Cumberland visitors can explore two state parks. General Burnside Island State Park in Burnside, KY is uniquely positioned on an island in the middle of the lake and includes an 18-hole golf course, a 102-site campground and a six-lane boat ramp.

Meanwhile, Lake Cumberland State Resort Park in Jamestown, KY offers endless natural beauty, premium lodging and outdoor adventures galore, including sandy beaches, tennis, disc golf, geocaching and hiking trails.

Houseboat Capital Of The World

Renowned as the Houseboat Capital of the World , Lake Cumberland offers world-class boating opportunities and is home to the largest fleet of rental houseboats in the U.S. Rent from a variety of marinas located on the lake, including Lake Cumberland State Dock Marina , Lake Cumberland Marina , Lee’s Ford Resort Marina , Safe Harbor Jamestown Resort & Marina , Beaver Creek Resort , Wolf Creek Marina and Safe Harbor Burnside Marina .

Beyond houseboats, discover a water enthusiast’s paradise full of jet-skiing, tubing, wakeboarding and swimming. Don’t own a watercraft? Lake Cumberland features a variety of boating rentals including pontoons, fishing boats and ski boats, as well as watersport excursions through local tour companies.

Record-Breaking Fishing on Lake Cumberland

If you’re a fishing enthusiast, Lake Cumberland is a must. The state-record 58-pound striped bass was reeled in here, and 40- and 50-pounders are caught regularly. Known for its abundant striped bass, trout and crappie fishing, Lake Cumberland is also full of rockfish, walleye, bluegill and four other bass species.

Plentiful fishing spots can also be found along the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam, which is recognized as one of the nation’s top fly-fishing areas for rainbow and brown trout. Plan a visit to Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery for a unique and educational fishing experience.

Keep in mind that state fishing licenses are required. Purchase your license online here .

Hiking Trails Near Lake Cumberland

Take in breathtaking sights atop the mile-long landmark Wolf Creek Dam and along the scenic hiking trails circumventing the natural shoreline, where bald eagles are frequently spotted.

Enjoy the tranquil sights and sounds of the lake and forestry as you trek along two Lake Cumberland State Resort Park trails: Lake Bluff Trail, a four-mile loop around Lure Lodge, and Baugh Branch Trail, a 1.5-mile one-way trail that leads to a lake overlook.

Birding At Lake Cumberland

Lake Cumberland is also a popular destination for birdwatching. Pack a pair of binoculars and be on the lookout for raptors and water birds. American Kestrel, coopers hawk, red-tailed hawk, barred owl, great horned owl and screech owl can be spotted year-round.

If you’re visiting in the warmer months, look for cardinals, eastern bluebirds, goldfinches, hummingbirds, pileated woodpeckers and tufted titmice, among other species. In the fall and winter months, you might see belted kingfisher, great blue heron, green heron, whip-poor-will and wood and mallard ducks. Keep your eyes peeled for wild turkey and turkey vultures as you explore the park as well.

Golfing Near Lake Cumberland

With some of the finest courses in The Kentucky Wildlands, golfing is the perfect way to dry off on land from all the wet-and-wild watersports in the lake.

Book a tee time at one of the best public golf courses in the state. Bring your clubs and play a round of 18 at the award-winning course at General Burnside Island State Park . Designed by course architect Brian Ault, this 6,394-yard waterfront course offers stunning Kentucky scenery.

If you’re traveling with the kids, Lake Cumberland State Resort Park offers all kinds of family fun . Try your hand at the park’s disc golf course, head to the Lake Cumberland Farmers Market , catch a dirt track race at Lake Cumberland Speedway or play a round at the 18-hole miniature golf course.

Up for a challenge? The park is also home to many geocaches. Put on your adventurer’s cap, grab your GPS and start caching.

Or pack your favorite grub and enjoy a laid-back day at one of the picnic areas, which feature grills, picnic tables and playgrounds for the kiddos. Picnic shelters are available for rent at both state parks.

How about a tennis match? Visitors will find tennis courts near Lure Lodge. Bring your racket and gear up for some friendly competition. Need equipment? Tennis gear is available for check out for lodge guests.

Lodging & Campgrounds at Lake Cumberland

One of the best ways to experience Lake Cumberland is by camping it. General Burnside State Park features a 75-acre campground with beautiful views, open from mid-March through mid-November. The campground features utility hookups and two service buildings with restrooms and showers. Book your site today by calling 606-561-3625.

Lake Cumberland State Resort Park is home to the 63-room Lure Lodge. Overlooking the lake, the lodge features amenities like a year-round indoor pool, Wi-Fi, pet-friendly rooms and the lakeside Rowena Landing Restaurant. The park also offers 29 cottages, 29 year-round primitive sites and 46 RV sites with utility hookups. Book your room or campsite today.

Located at the midpoint of the main lake, Cumberland Point Recreation Area hosts 30 primitive campsites with many vistas to catch a breathtaking sunset. Kids can play on the large playground with an adjoining horseshoe pit while the adults hang at the open picnic shelter.

Have a specific type of accommodation in mind? Numerous hotels, homes, cottages, cabins and campgrounds provide lodging options on or near the lake to suit any taste.

Plan Your Lake Cumberland Getaway

Need help planning your Lake Cumberland, KY trip? Depending on which part of this vast lake you want to anchor at and spend your time exploring, you can find more information to help plan your trip from the websites below:

• Lake Cumberland Tourist Commission
• Lake Cumberland, Somerset-Pulaski County Tourism
• City of Burnside
• Monticello-Wayne County Chamber of Commerce

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The Kentucky Wildlands

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New winner for Cave Country Trail Challenge announced

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) -Today, Franklin/Simpson County Tourism announced the June winner of the Cave Country Trail Challenge.

Wayne Garmon won $500 for his picture of him using his bike on a trail.

RELATED: Cash prizes now included in monthly Cave Country Trail Challenge winners

Entry for the monthly competition is completely free, and multiple entries can be submitted at any time.

Warren, Barren, Hart, Edmonson, Butler, and Simpson counties all participate in the challenge, each with their prize packages for each month’s winners.

Want to get out of town? 7 places to take a summer vacation in Kentucky

A summer road trip may sound more appealing than ever when you consider the long lines at the airport and (relatively) reasonable gas prices.

Here are a handful of road trip and vacation ideas in Kentucky that won't break the bank but will still satisfy a bit of your summer wanderlust. This guide just may provide you with some inspiration for your next locally-based road trip from Louisville — without needing to stop for gas.

Where to kayak, go whitewater rafting in Kentucky

While Kentuckians will tell you we live in one of the most beautiful of the lower 48 states, it’s not just the land that’s remarkable.

Nearly 2,000 miles of navigable waterways — more than any other in the contiguous United States — and dozens of lakes mean there is enough water for any type of adventure this summer. From flat water paddleboarding, canoeing, or kayaking through the serene waters of an ancient eco-system at the Kentucky River Palisades to adrenaline-pumping whitewater Class II and III rapids at  Cumberland Falls State Resort Park , there are enough options to keep water enthusiasts busy all summer and well into the fall. 

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Or, if you fancy yourself more of a thrill seeker,  The Big Sandy River  in eastern Kentucky includes several Class V+ whitewater rapid drops. It is considered one of the most serious stretches of whitewater in the U.S. where commercial guides operate.

Where to vacation, visit in Northern Kentucky

There's plenty of aquatic life and riverfront charm to enjoy in  Northern Kentucky , but the area offers so much more to explore, including German culture, a big-time racetrack, and miniature architecture.

The state-of-the-art  Newport Aquarium at Newport on the Levee is a popular family attraction that features 70 exhibits and 14 themed galleries, including five seamless acrylic tunnels for an up-close view of thousands of aquatic creatures — from African penguins to rare white alligators. If you’re craving authentic German food and entertainment, opt for Hofbrauhaus Newport, the first in America modeled after the legendary beer hall in Munich, Germany. 

Pick up the pace with a visit to the  Kentucky Speedway near Sparta, where you can schedule a track tour to get an inside view. Or check ahead and plan your trip around a driving school so you can learn to handle a race car like a pro. 

The  Kentucky Gateway Museum Center  in beautiful downtown Maysville is where you’ll discover one of the most impressive collections of miniatures in the country. Then explore a truly fascinating piece of U.S. history at the  National Underground Railroad Museum , which displays artifacts that chronicle the Underground Railroad and provide your family with a greater understanding of how the nearby Ohio River was once an obstacle to freedom. 

Visit the 'Horse Capital of the World,' Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Only one-and-one-half hours from Louisville, Lexington offers lots of activities for a regional road trip.

Known as the “Horse Capital of the World," travelers can visit the historic  Keeneland Racecourse , which offers tours during the summer season. People can also enjoy exclusive access to 400+ championship thoroughbred horse farms, including the historic  Claiborne Farm , which has been visited twice by Queen Elizabeth II, via  Visit Horse Country . 

If you're looking to do a little bourbon tourism this summer, the area is also home to the "Bluegrass region" of the  Kentucky Bourbon Trail  and boasts 14 of the state's largest distilleries. Lexington is also home to more than 120 locally-owned restaurants that boast everything from Asian-fusion, West African, and Caribbean cuisines to locally-sourced fare at one of seven-time  James Beard  nominee  Chef Ouita Michel’s  six restaurants .

And don't skip the outdoor adventure opportunities in the Lexington area. It's where you'll find the Kentucky River Palisades, great for hiking and watersports, or soar 185 feet above the Palisades via  Boone Creek Outdoors’ Zipline Canopy Tours .

Where to stay during a trip to Lexington, Kentucky 

If you plan to make Lexington your base for a multi-day summer excursion, the city has plenty of unique accommodations. For fans of the Golden Globe-winning show  "The Queen's Gambit,"  you can book a night at the  21c Museum Hotel Lexington’ s Queen’s Gambit-inspired Harmon Room. Guests are transported into a scene from the Netflix series complete with chess pieces suspended from the ceiling above the Queen-size bed.  

Or perhaps you prefer to stay in Kentucky's first registered bourbon distillery. The Manchester is a brand new 125-room hotel located in Lexington's historic Distillery District. This high-end hotel features a bespoke bottle shop and a spirited lobby bar and lounge and two restaurants offering unmatched culinary experience.

For the history buff and families,  Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill  offers private cottages with spectacular countryside views. Situated on 3,000 acres of native prairies and woodlands, this landmark destination was home to the third-largest Shaker community in the United States between 1805 and 1910.

And for the camping experience without the bugs, humidity or the outdoors,  Origin Hotel Lexington  features 120 spacious loft-inspired suites with the option to request an in-room tent or sleeping bag for an in-room camping adventure

Where to visit in Hart County, Kentucky

If a summer vacation with a planned itinerary is what you are looking for, check out the activities in Hart County, Kentucky.

Intersected by Interstate 65, the  Horse Cave/Hart County Tourist Commission  has taken the guesswork out of planning your family's multi-day excursion. You can travel from the Louisville area to the Tennessee border, or fewer miles if you prefer, using a map of attractions that will direct you to fun at almost every exit. 

Whether it's visiting  Mammoth Cave National Park ,  Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo ,  Hidden River Cave , or a stop at  President Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace National Historical Park , the  multi-day itineraries  will help you plan your stops, dining and lodging.

Like the rest of the Bluegrass State, Hart County has some incredible water adventures suitable for a family excursion.  The Hart County Blueway on the Green  features 42.5 miles of paddling adventure on the Green River, one of the world’s most biologically diverse rivers. It also features river islands and sand bars to explore, blue holes to dip into for a refreshing break, and many freshwater springs.

Big Buffalo Crossing Canoe & Kayak  offers Green River trips that include five of the state’s largest springs, or travel by water into Mammoth Cave National Park. Day or overnight tours can include camping, fishing, swimming, caving, and/or sightseeing. 

Once you make it off your river adventure, don't be surprised if you see a horse-drawn buggy slowly moving along one of the back roads in Hart County. The region is home to approximately 200 Amish families who run businesses including greenhouses, bakeries, window and lawn furniture manufacturing and general merchandise stores. Hart County Tourism offers an  online brochure  that details the Amish businesses in the area.

Safari, animal adventure vacations in Kentucky

One of the Amish businesses in Hart County worth visiting is the  Dutch Country Safari Park , the region's newest animal attraction. Visitors will find a 3/4-mile exotic animal safari drive-thru and animal encounter areas where you can feed camels, pet baby animals, and maybe even bottle-feed a baby goat.

Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo  is another option for animal lovers in your family. Whether it's the thrill of petting a kangaroo, feeding a rainbow lorikeet or watching sheep herding, the adventure park features animals from Australia, Kentucky and around the world. 

Who knows, you might even learn to play the  didgeridoo . 

Spend the night in a covered wagon, treehouse or a yurt in Kentucky

Top off your trip to Hart County with a one-of-a-kind experience when you sleep in a covered wagon at  Conestoga Wagons  at  Horse Cave KOA . Each wagon has its own private patio and fire pit. Inside you'll find one king-size bed, one set of twin bunks, bedding, a small fridge, microwave, coffee maker, electricity, and heat and air conditioning. 

For a birdseye view, the campsite also offers a treehouse. You'll climb the stairs and nestle into a 20-foot-high, two-bedroom treehouse decked out with a full kitchen, full bath with a tub and shower and more.  Rustic cabins  (no bathroom) and  Deluxe cabins  (full shower and bathroom) are also available at Horse Cave KOA.

You'll find more treehouses when you travel to  Red River Gorge located within the expansive Daniel Boone National Forest of east-central Kentucky. Red River Gorgeous offers several architecturally stunning treehouses plus a handful of yurts (round tent structures) stocked with queen-sized beds, full kitchens, and bathrooms for an unforgettable overnight stay.

Treehouse Adventures in Brooksville, Kentucky is another destination that boasts treehouses and tree-climbing activities for all ages. 

More: Summer travel ideas From Corvettes to caves: Bowling Green is the perfect Kentucky getaway

Dappled Light, a new glamping operation located 15 minutes from the world-class climbing destinations at Red River Gorge, also offers visitors a balance of luxury and ruggedness. Each tent features a comfortable bed, beautiful decor, and enough amenities to keep you comfortable in nature. Guests can relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of the outdoors after a day of hard climbing or low-impact hiking while still having all the comforts of home.

Whether you travel for a week or a day, with an abundance of waterways, natural beauty and unique experiences, you don't have to travel far to travel well when you choose Kentucky. 

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at [email protected].