Top Five Day Trips from Paducah!
Five fun day trips near the Paducah, KY area.
Paducah is at the center of it all. You just didn't know it.
We sit at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. We are mere miles away from Kentucky Lake and 15 minutes from Illinois. In fact, a two-hour drive can get you to five—count 'em FIVE—states. Sure, we don't have the ocean but who needs it when Superman lives just over the bridge!
So, I'm going to cheat just a bit and break down the Top 5 categories of day trips, instead of specific locations.
The City Museum. Image via Delta Sky Magazine.
1. Big Cities.
Nashville and St. Louis are easy day trips for families aching to get out of town and stare at some skyscrapers. Both cities are great destinations for kids. Nashville has an amazing zoo, and St. Louis's City Museum, which describes itself as an "eclectic mixture of children's playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel," is one of the best, most unique children's attractions in the nation.
Mammoth Cave. Image via National Geographic.
2. Outdoor Recreation.
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is only about thirty minutes away and boasts miles of hiking, camping, and fishing area. Above ground recreation isn't your thing? Kentucky also has the world's largest known cave system - appropriately called Mammoth Cave. The Shawnee National Forest and Garden of the Gods are also less than an hour away.
3. Roadside Attractions.
Y'all, Superman is totally my neighbor. Metropolis, IL, is only about 15 minutes away and the Superman statue alone is worth a visit. Up for other wacky locales? How about where Corvettes are made? You could even go to Paris...
4. Cultural Experiences.
Kentucky has one of the fastest growing Amish populations in the nation. Seeing the horse and buggies never gets old. Neither does their amazing food or craftsmanship.
5. History at your back door.
Some of the most famous names in American history lived and died in this area. From Abraham Lincoln to Davy Crockett, this area was the wild, wild west for a significant portion of our country's history and has plenty of amazing stories to tell.
~ Sarah Stewart Holland
Day Trip To Jim Beam American Stillhouse
Jim Beam's American Stillhouse is a fantastic place to play Kentucky Hometown Tourist!
Yesterday, I attended a lunch and tour at the Jim Beam American Stillhouse. I figured it would be a fun working lunch where I had the opportunity to learn a little more about the production of Kentucky bourbon whiskey. I was pleasantly surprised to feel like I'd taken a mini-staycation quite close to home!
The Jim Beam Stillhouse is located in Clermont, just outside Shepherdsville. It's really hard to believe that such a gorgeous landscape is only two miles off I-65! It only took me about 25 minutes to get there from Louisville's East End!
The tour takes you through the entire process of bourbon production -- from grain to bottle. No matter how many distilleries I visit, I'm always fascinated by the idea that a handful of basic grains can be transformed into so many different flavor profiles!
The Beam tour is firmly rooted in the history of both the company and the founding Beam family. I even had the opportunity to chat with Fred Noe, Jim Beam's great-grandson, who had some hilarious and larger-than-life stories to tell!
Barrel head from the very first barrel of Jim Beam bourbon
Bourbon warehouses are always a fascinating visit. Here, we learned that the iconic Jim Beam white label -- the world's most popular bourbon -- is produced in such volume that the distillers don't rotate the barrels for climate control, opting instead to create each batch from a cross-section of barrels that have been stored in different areas of the warehouse.
The tour also includes a trip to the bottling line. Here, the single-barrel bourbon Knob Creek is being bottled. (Fun fact: before the bottles are filled, they are washed out with "leftover" bourbon!)
One of the tour's most fascinating sights is this liquor cabinet, where two bottles from each batch are held back for control purposes. After two years, these bottles will be given to Beam employees.
Of course, no tour is complete without a little taste! I sampled two of my favorite craft bourbons from the Beam line, Basil Hayden's (clean, soft, and complex) and Booker's (big, spicy, and robust).
This was perhaps my favorite view of the day: one of Mr Beam's original warehouses nestled between a Baptist church and a graveyard. It seemed so iconic of Kentucky ideology!
The tour was incredible, the food and bourbon were fantastic, and the Beam staff were so, so friendly. They really did live up to the distillery's motto: "Enter as friends, leave as family!" Thanks so much to Jim Beam Stillhouse for inviting me out to dinner; I hope to see y'all again soon!
If you're looking for a fun day trip to learn a little more about Kentucky bourbon while enjoying a gorgeous landscape, you should take some time to play Hometown Tourist at the Jim Beam American Stillhouse!
The HerKentucky Guide to Kentucky's 2015 Primary Elections
Happy Election Day, y'all!
Here at HerKentucky, we're not committed to a Red State or a Blue State. We're way more concerned about having an informed, active state. We never try to sway our readers toward a particular candidate, but we sure hope that y'all make informed choices. Most importantly, we hope that y'all honor the Commonwealth by exercising your right to vote!
Here's a little about all of the candidates in today's statewide elections.
Gubanatorial Primary
Kentucky's gubernatorial candidates pick their own running mates; these pairs are elected on shared tickets in both primary and general elections.
Democratic ticket:
- Attorney General of Kentucky Jack Conway and his running mate State Representative Sannie Overly (Official Website Here)
- Retired engineer Geoff Young and his running mate Jonathan Masters (Official Website Here)
Republican ticket:
- Hedge Fund Executive Matt Bevin and his running mate 2014 State House candidate Jenean Hampton (Official Website Here)
- Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky James Comer and running mate State Senator Christian McDaniel (Official Website Here)
- Former Louisville Metro Councilman Hal Heiner and running mate Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman K.C. Crosbie (Official Website Here)
- Former Associate Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court Will T. Scott and running mate former Menifee County Sheriff Rodney Coffey (Official Website Here)
Attorney General
Republican Ticket:
- Lawrence County Attorney Michael T Hogan
- State Senator Whitney Westerfield
Democratic Ticket:
- Andrew Beshear
Secretary of State
Democratic Ticket:
- Alison Lundergan Grimes, incumbant
- Fayette Co PVA David O'Neill
Republican Ticket:
Former Erlanger City Councilman Steve Knipper
State Auditor
Republican Ticket
- State Representative Mike Harmon
Democratic Ticket
- Incumbent Adam Edelen
State Treasurer
Democratic Ticket
- Executive Chairman of Great Northern Building Products Neville Blakemore
- State Representative Jim Glenn
- Jefferson County Commissioner Daniel Grossberg
- Former State Representative and former Mayor of Jeffersonville Richard Henderson
- State Representative Rick Nelson
Republican Ticket
- Allison Ball
- Kenny Imes, State Representative
- Jon Larson, former Fayette County Judge/Executive
Agriculture Commisioner
Kentucky Supreme Court, 7th District Special Election
(A non-partisan special election will be held along with the May 19, 2015 primary elections to fill the 7th district seat of the Kentucky Supreme Court.)
- Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge and former Kentucky Supreme Court JusticeJanet Stumbo
- Kentucky Circuit Court Judge Sam Wright
For more information:
Ballotopedia
Remember, if you don't vote now, you shouldn't complain about your elected officials later!
So What do You Do in a Silques Class?
When I tell people that I've been taking Silques classes at B.You, they tend to react one of two ways. A few folks are really intrigued, but most seem to think that an aerial silques class would lead to a huge catastrophe. If you went to see Pitch Perfect 2 this weekend, you probably know what they're thinking...
I PROMISE y'all it isn't that traumatic. I really would tell you if it were. Instead, I'm going to tell y'all exactly what to expect from a Silques class at B.You.
First off: what to wear. You'll be doing a lot of the same poses you'd expect in a barre or yoga class, so you don't want a lot of loose-fitting clothes in which to get caught. Stick with the same leggings/ tights, tank top, and sticky socks that you wear to barre. Oh, and leave your jewelry at home. You don't want to snag the silque and risk getting caught during a pose.
Second: what to bring. Of course, you'll need water. All equipment is provided. A can-do attitude and a good dose of humility are good to bring as well; we all feel a little awkward as we navigate the silques.
Finally: what to expect. There are several different silques-based classes at B.You.
The level of inversion and skill needed varies highly by class. I love the B. Silque Yoga class, where traditional yoga poses are aided by the inclusion of the silque, the B.Silque Barre, which incorporates many of the same exercises used in barre class, with the silque taking the place of the barre for stability, and the B.Lifted class, which does incorporate more time standing or sitting in the silque.
Most of all, expect to have fun, work hard, and be a little amazed by your own strength and flexibility!
Before signing up for any silques class, be sure to consult with the inspirers at B.You Fitness to make sure that this regimen is right for you. Pregnant women should not take aerial fitness classes. This post was brought to you by B.You Fitness; all opinions are my own.
Alltech Rebelation
Previewing the Alltech Rebelation symposium.
So, I recently had a couple of really good ideas that could become exciting business opportunities. That alone isn't cause for celebration. Most of us have really good ideas every day.
Think of it this way: Once upon a time, somebody thought up the idea that peanuts would taste even better if they were ground into a buttery paste. Then, a Lexington-based businessman named William T Young stepped in, and THEN we had JIF Peanut Butter as we now know it. Of course, y'all know that explanation is wildly oversimplified; there were mergers and patents and recipes and decades of hard work along the way. Good ideas only become great businesses when you have the right mix of inspiration, hard work, and a great support system.
I'm super-excited to attend Alltech's Rebelation Symposium next week as I take my own inspiration to business plan stage, assemble my support system, and hopefully build something great.
Alltech, of course, is the central Kentucky-based animal health and nutrition company that has brought us everything from algae farms to Kentucky Ale to the World Equestrian Games. The company has made a huge impact on the Lexington business landscape, and they've put together an incredible event focusing on big ideas in business, food & beverage industries, and agriculture, with sub-tracks focusing on everything from building digital businesses to distilling whiskey. Speakers include Colin Powell, Coach Calipari, Bill Samuels, and Alltech's founder and president Dr. Pearse Lyons. From farmers to marketers to techies, there's a presentation for everyone!
If you're local to Kentucky, you still have plenty of time to register and attend Rebelation, which will be held Sunday through Wednesday (May 17-20) at the Lexington Center. You also won't want to miss the Craft Brews and Food Fest on Saturday from noon to 8 pm.
Make sure to follow along on HerKentucky's Twitter and Instagram as I attend the event! Hope to see y'all there!
Western Kentucky Barbecue is Better Than Your Barbecue
For fans of Western Kentucky-style barbecue, only the original will suffice!
I may just be the world's biggest barbecue snob.
I'll eat your smoked pork shoulder or your crockpot pulled pork or the ribs in store-bought barbecue sauce that you think are so legendary. Every once in a while, I'll order a plate of barbecue just to see if someone can do it right. I'll eat them all and I may even enjoy some of it. To me, though? That's not barbecue. That's as different from barbecue as hamburgers are from salmon filets. It might still taste good, and I'll still congratulate you for slaving over your hot grill, but inside, I'll be reminiscing about real barbecue and feeling sorry that you've missed out on it.
See? I told you that I was a barbecue snob.
I'm from Western Kentucky. Owensboro, specifically, which calls itself the barbecue capital of the world. I can accept that. The region is renowned for its International Barbecue Festival and the famous Moonlite Barbecue restaurant. Here's a barbecue snob inside tip - that's not real barbecue either. Oh, it's good food. I won't deny that. Eating at Moonlite is an experience not to be missed when in Owensboro. It is a buffet of southern culinary delight of epic proportions. The pies alone are worth the trip. So, yes. Go eat there. Enjoy!
If you ever find yourself in Owensboro during the summer, though, try your hardest to find a local Catholic parish's annual picnic. This is where the real barbecue is.
Photo by E. Gish. ca. 1985
When I was a child, my grandparents lived on the church grounds of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Reed, Kentucky where my grandfather was the caretaker. Never heard of it? You aren't alone. A few years ago, the Transportation Cabinet re-routed about a two-mile portion of Highway 60 in Henderson County. Before that, you could tell you were in Reed because of the small green sign that told you so. I'm not even sure that they installed a new sign when the new road was built.
We celebrated the Fourth of July with the church's annual picnic. It was a key fundraiser for the parish and featured barbecue, burgoo, a Bingo stand, games like ring toss and cake walk and the best stand ever (if you asked my cousins and I) - the Toy Store stand. The toy store had grab bags for sale for $1. We'd hit up each of our grandparents, aunts and uncles for contributions to feed our grab bag addictions. As a kid, the toy store definitely trumped the food.
As an adult, knowing that the picnic no longer is an annual occurrence (dwindling volunteer efforts, increased gaming and food regulations caused the event to end), I find myself reminiscing more and more about the food.
During the week leading up to the picnic, the church grounds were a bustle of activity. The men busied themselves cleaning out the barbecue pits - long, concrete block-laid structures that would be filled with wood for the barbecue fire and covered with wire mesh and laid with chicken, pork and mutton. The men would also be cleaning out and seasoning the giant burgoo kettles (imagine a HUGE witches cauldron). The women of the parish would be in the basement of the old school house, peeling, slicing and dicing all of the burgoo's vegetable ingredients. They would fill huge washtubs with cabbage, corn, tomatoes, and onions - all while socializing and constantly telling the kids to get out from under their feet and go outside to play.
(A quick note about burgoo. The word is just about like "Louisville" with all of its various pronunciations. A lot of Central Kentucky folks pronounce it with a sound at the end that makes it rhyme with "bamboo." In my family, it's got a long "u" sound. I contend that we're right simply because I like to be right. Also? It's Louh - vul. Two syllables.)
Back to the food. Our variety of Western Kentucky barbecue centers mainly around barbecue chicken. Chicken halves and quarters are laid flat on the barbecue pits and then a barbecue dip (featuring lots of oil, vinegar, black pepper, lemons, and pickling spice) is applied with a mop at regular intervals. You eat it with your hands and it's very messy but very tasty. I'm a weirdo who has issues with eating meat with the bones still in it, so barbecue chicken was never my favorite.
Mutton was always where it was for me. Lots of WKy barbecue restaurants feature chopped mutton sandwiches, but I prefer it just coarsely diced. Big hunks of meat that have been boiled, then barbecued with dip. It is fan-freaking-tastic and definitely in my top three favorite foods.
Burgoo is a family favorite, but I always found it off-putting to eat boiling hot soup in the heat of summer. I loved watching the men work the burgoo kettles, though. You want to talk about hot? Try nine enormous kettles of boiling stew with wood fires below. Each kettle had to be constantly stirred. The men had long paddle-like stirrers that allowed them at least a few feet of distance from the heat of the kettles. The best thing was always to buy a few gallons of burgoo to put in the freezer. It's a perfect, hearty winter meal.
Now that the St. Augustine picnic no longer happens every July 4th, I've not had good picnic barbecue in quite a while. You can still find church picnics in the area. Each one has its own special method of cooking and its own special recipe. None of it quite replicates the barbecue and burgoo I remember from my youth.
However, my family regularly gets together to replicate the food on a smaller scale. My aunts are pros at making the barbecue dip ahead of time. My uncles perform a well-choreographed dance around the grills to mop, dip, flip the meat (the secret is having a good hose-man to put out the flare ups of fire). My uncles also bought a smaller burgoo kettle for special occasions. My dad constructed a paddle to stir it. Family events aren't complete without centering around barbecue. Family friends ask when our next party will be so they can come have some. Family weddings aren't complete without it as our main course.
Barbecue is a personal thing for a lot of people. Across the country, you'll find a different variety for every state or city you go to. I can understand that you think your particular favorite is the best. You probably think it's the best for the same reasons I think Western Kentucky Catholic Church barbecue is the best. In the South, barbecue is a constant in our lives. The tastes and smells can take us back to the lazy summers of our youth. We can remember just what Grandpa looked like as the King of the Grill long after an uncle or your dad has taken over those duties. Barbecue is a special tradition. In my family, it's nearly a sacred one.
If you're interested, check out this recipe for Crockpot Burgoo , submitted by my Aunt Jan to the St. Augustine Parish Centennial Cookbook.
The Best Kentucky-Themed Gifts for Grads and Newlyweds!
When your friends and loved ones are undertaking new beginnings, the best gift is a little piece of home!
It's the season for new beginnings. College and graduate school graduations are wrapping up, high school graduations are just around the corner, and pretty soon, you'll be attending a wedding every weekend. With these wonderful accomplishments come cross-country moves, new starts, and lots of changes. This year, why not send your loved ones out into the world with a little piece of their Old Kentucky Home to remind them of their heritage?
I wear my Maya Brenner Designs Kentucky pendant with everything. Seriously, I go for like a week at a time without taking it off. I love the symbolism of keeping Kentucky close to my heart. This would be a fantastic gift for a recent grad or bride who's moving to a new state, starting a new career, or simply loves the Bluegrass State!
This Hand-Embroidered Kentucky Pillow from UncommonGoods is pretty high on my own must-have list. It's such a gorgeous and unique way to celebrate all of the unique aspects of your home state! I love the way our friend Allison gets a new embroidered state pillow each time she moves for her husband's work. (He's an NFL player, so they've moved a little bit, but Kentucky will always be their home!)
This Richwood Creations "State Silhouette" Cutting Board is almost too pretty to use, but it certainly makes an elegant piece for newlyweds or for the professional school graduate who wants to add a sophisticated flair to a new home.
For most Kentuckians, no matter where we live, the Bluegrass State will always be home. These etched-glass coasters proclaim that sentiment tastefully.
For the graduate who's looking to furnish a new office, a Kentucky-themed clock makes a stylish statement. This one from Green Leaf Art adds a fun and tasteful touch of the Commonwealth to any space.
Here's to new beginnings and celebrating your roots!