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Fun fact: while we usually write on this blog to focus on our location in West Liberty, we also have another Hutch Ford location in Paintsville, KY! The music capital of eastern Kentucky is nestled between scenic state parks and beautiful lakes in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The region is packed with tons of kid-friendly activities to experience the rich culture, history, and picturesque landscapes. Here are just four of the many great family-friendly activities for you and your children available in Paintsville, KY.
1. Drive Down the Country Music Highway
Pile the kids in the car, drive down the scenic Country Music Highway, and take in the sights and sounds of the region’s music heritage. Stop at the U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum that features artifacts and memorabilia of the region’s country music stars, including Loretta Lynn, The Judds, Tyler Chiders, Patty Loveless, and Billy Ray Cyrus, to name but a few.
After visiting the museum, head out of town down the highway to Van Lear to see Butcher Holler, the birthplace and family home of Loretta Lynn. If you take the trip on a Thursday, drop in at the museum again on your way back for an evening of live bluegrass music at around 7 pm.
2. Enjoy a Family Outdoor Adventure
The beautiful Paintsville Lake State Park is your one-stop destination for all things outdoorsy. Explore the tree-covered hills, steep, rugged cliffs, and wooded coves around the scenic Paintsville Lake hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Fish, boat, and paddle on the lake and enjoy a family picnic at one of the spots overlooking the water.
The lake has a full-service marina that offers watercraft rentals, docks, boat ramps, a fishing pier, a store, and a restaurant. You can even stay in a houseboat or at the scenic campground with primitive and full hookup campsites. The campground has sand volleyball and basketball courts, horseshoes, and restrooms with showers. You can bring the family pets along too.
3. Go on a Historic Farm Outing
Visit Farm Mountain Homeplace, a working outdoor farm museum, and experience farm life in the mid to late 1800s. The museum features clothes and tools from 1850 to 1875 and a film on the settlers in the Appalachian Mountains.
Pop in at the one-room schoolhouse, the Baptist church, the blacksmith shop, and the family cabin, all complete with costumed interpreters doing daily chores. Take the kids to the barn to feed the farm animals and watch a theater production at the 700-seat In the Pines Amphitheater.
4. Visit Beautiful Historic Homes
The Francis M. Stafford House at 102 Broadway is the oldest in Johnson County and the most significant historical home in Paintsville. The owner of the house, John Stafford, established the town in 1843, and after his death in 1869, his son, Francis, built the main part of the house. The holly tree in front of the house was planted in 1861.
The impressive Mayo Mansion at 405 Third Street, with its three stories and 43 rooms, was built for John C.C. Mayo between 1905 and 1912 by over one-hundred Italian stonemasons. Mayo, who was a school teacher, became Kentucky’s wealthiest citizen after realizing the potential in coal and buying mineral rights. Both houses are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Take your family on an outing in and around town they will never forget. Contact Hutch Ford today. Our team of automotive experts provides top-quality maintenance and repair services to ensure that your vehicle is in tip-top condition.
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