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Take a leisurely drive in your Ford Explorer, EcoSport, or Edge, and discover the beauty of Kentucky on day trips from West Liberty, KY, to fantastic destinations. Head to Jenny Wiley State Resort Park to appreciate nature, drive down the Kentucky Country Music Highway, and cruise down the Ohio River on the country’s oldest steamboat, the Belle of Louisville.
1. Jenny Wiley State Resort Park
Pack your outdoor gear in the car and head out to Prestonsburg for a day of peaceful tranquility in the beautiful Jenny Wiley State Resort Park. Spend the day hiking between towering pines or paddling on the picturesque Dewey Lake. The pine forest is alive with birds, and you will spot bald eagles, American Redstarts, and Eastern Bluebirds along the way and add numerous warblers to your bird list.
Rent a canoe or kayak from the marina and explore the lake, fish for largemouth and hybrid striped bass, crappie, catfish, or bluegill from the pier, and play a challenging game of disc golf. Before heading home, enjoy a picnic at one of the scenic picnic spots scattered throughout the park. Stop by the interpretive Nature Center filled with natural, cultural, and historical displays and learn more about the animals that call the park their home.
2. Kentucky Country Music Museum
Take the road to Louisa and visit the Kentucky Country Music Museum, marked by two ten-foot-high painted guitars. From a distance, it doesn’t look like much, tucked away between the McDonald’s and Wendy’s, but hidden inside the gas station on the outskirts of Louisa on Highway 23, known as the Country Music Highway, is a unique gem filled with country music memorabilia not to be missed.
The walls are covered with interesting keepsakes, including a lock of Elvis’s hair. Look out for the signed Loretta Lynn guitar, the glimmering Tammy Wynette dress, and the signed Judd memorabilia. A massive map on one wall discloses the nearby birthplaces of country music stars, including Lorretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle, Loretta’s sister, Billy Ray Cyrus, Chris Stapleton, and Patty Loveless, take you further down the road of country music discovery.
3. The Belle of Louisville
It’s well worth the two and a half hours drive to Louisville to cruise on the country’s oldest and most authentic operating Mississippi River-style steamboat. The Belle of Louisville is moored on her own pier on the Ohio River in Riverfront Park Belvedere and will transport you to 1914 when she first set sail.
She was initially called Idlewild and ferried passengers between Memphis, Tennessee, and West Memphis, Arkansas, and used on routes from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada and Pennsylvania. Book your tickets in advance and drive to the pier at 129 River Road in Louisville for an unforgettable old-style river cruise.
The roads from West Liberty lead to surprising places filled with amazing things to experience and see. Before heading out, drop by Hutch Ford today, and our qualified Ford technicians will ensure your vehicle is ready for the trip of a lifetime.
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