Spring into Summer at Kentucky State Parks

UPDATED April 17

Spring is here, and there's no better place to catch Kentucky's spectacular spring colors than at Kentucky State Parks. April and May are full of new activities and events.

Spring discounts are continuing at select Kentucky State Resort Parks during April. Guests can get lodge rooms for two consecutive nights for $99 or get a lodge room on Monday nights for $29 and $39 during April. The $99 deal for two nights is good Sunday through Thursday at these parks: Lake Cumberland, Cumberland Falls, Buckhorn Lake and Natural Bridge. The offer is good any night at: Blue Licks Battlefield, Carter Caves, Dale Hollow Lake, General Butler, Greenbo Lake, Kenlake, Lake Barkley, Pennyrile Forest, Pine Mountain and Rough River Dam.

Hidden eggs, special meals and plenty of photo opportunities will be available at Kentucky State Parks this month as the Easter Bunny makes his way across the state. Many state parks will be holding special events during Easter weekend. All 17 resort park restaurants will be serving a special Easter Buffet on April 24. The dinners will be served from noon until 8 p.m. at all 17 resort parks. The menu includes beef carved on the line, baked country ham, golden fried catfish and hushpuppies. The meal will also include fresh fruit, a cheese bar, garden vegetables, salad and desserts. Click here for a list of special events along with the park phone number. (Please note that not all events are on April 24.)

Join friends and community volunteers as they clean up Buckhorn Lake on Saturday, April 23, 2011. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park marina. Gloves and bags will be provided. All participants are invited to a cookout lunch, where door prizes will be awarded.

On April 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Red Hatters are invited to join Lake Barkley State Resort Park in celebrating the upcoming Derby. Come dressed in your finest Red Hatter’s Derby outfits and get ready to pick a winner while having a great time! At this pre-Derby celebration Red Hatter’s will enjoy lunch, tea, and an afternoon at the races. The cost for this event is $12, and reservations are required.

Glorious spring adorns the vaulted slopes of Kentucky’s Pine Mountain in a cloak of green and the lush forest enters an enchanting period of flowerings. By late April, the blooming of wildflowers is nearing its peak, and an assortment of warblers can be observed migrating through Kentucky. Now, there’s an adventurous weekend opportunity to celebrate the occurrence of both! Pine Mountain State Resort Park will host its Flowers and Feathers Weekend April 29-30.

The Kentucky Native Plant Society’s Wildflower Weekend, April 29-May 1, 2011, is a chance for botanists, gardeners and nature lovers to enjoy the hundreds of species of native plants at Natural Bridge State Resort Park.

Nolin Lake State Park, in cooperation with Friends of Nolin Lake member Carl Suk, will offer a “Spring at the Lake Wildflower Walk” on Saturday, April 30, at 9 a.m. CDT. Participants may enjoy discovering spring wildflowers such as Spring Beauty, Bluets or Quaker Ladies, Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Rue Anemone along the 1.6 mile Waterfall Trail.

Jefferson Davis State Historic Site and the Kentucky Young Writers’ Connection is co-sponsoring the 1st Arts in the Parks Summer Writing Workshop on May 7, 2011 from 1-9 p.m.

Natural Bridge State Resort Park will host Herpetology Weekend, May 6-7, providing an opportunity for guests to see and discover the mysterious world of reptiles and amphibians that reside in eastern Kentucky. This is a great weekend for children, as well as adults who are kids at heart, to visit the park and experience “herping” with biologists, ecologists, and other trained professionals.

Columbus-Belmont State Park will be hosting the first Arts in the Parks summer writing workshop on May 21, 2011. The workshop, sponsored by the Kentucky Young Writers Connection, is open to third graders through adults. It will start at 1 p.m. and last until 9 p.m. The program allows participants to explore their creative side within the natural beauty of the park. Learn how to develop a short story through the writing process from brainstorming to a well-written story. Enjoy dinner overlooking the Mississippi River. Learn the unique history of the area from interpretive guides. Mingle with Kentucky authors who are ready to answer your questions. At the end of the day, we’ll attend a storytelling event overlooking the river where the participant will have the option to present their story to the public.

The Kentucky State Parks will again offer the Family Adventure Quest – a trivia and digital photo contest for families or friends in teams of two to six people. The Family Adventure Quest presents a series of challenges that teams complete by traveling and taking photos at state parks across Kentucky. It’s a great way to explore the outdoors, have fun and learn something -- all at the same time! While some challenges will simply require a little thinking, many will require a visit to different state parks and use of a digital camera to show your team along your journey. The prize for entries that correctly answer all 25 questions is an $85 gift card good at state parks. For correctly answering 20 questions, winners can receive a $50 gift card. There is a $15 registration fee, which will get you an information packet with the questions, a backpack and a surprise gift. Registration forms are available at www.parks.ky.gov (look for the “adventure” tab) as well as photos of past year’s participants. Photos must be submitted in electronic format on a CD. The challenge ends Dec. 1, 2011.