Explore Kentucky's Rivers and Lakes for Relaxation and Adventure

By Ben Mackin

Published: May 25, 2024

If you are looking for a way to beat the heat this summer, visit Kentucky and cool off on the water, in the water, or both. Whether you are looking to relax for a few days, or find some adventure exploring, Kentucky has everything you could want for aquatic adventures.

Spend a few days relaxing at Lake Cumberland floating on the placid waters of one of Kentucky's most beautiful bodies of water. Better yet, rent a houseboat and enjoy the full experience of lake life.

Houseboats are available to rent from numerous marinas on lakes across the state, but Lake Cumberland is known as the "Houseboating Capital of the World" and has the country's largest fleet of rental houseboats. Discover the perfect vessel, from a tiny houseboat for two to 90-foot boats that can fit your entire extended family. Many come with amenities like air conditioning, full kitchens, TVs, private staterooms and even hot tubs and water slides.

Interested in a little more excitement? Try the flat waters at Grayson Lake State Park for standup paddleboards, or canoe the rapids at Breaks Interstate Park, from relatively easy Class II and III rapids, to the high adventure Class VI.

Like fishing? Whether you want to cast from the river bank, johnboat, or stand waist-deep in the water, you could spend years fishing all around the commonwealth and still not hit all the amazing fishing spots in Kentucky's creeks, dams and lakes.

For those looking for a sailing adventure, check out the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. With Kentucky Lake on one side and Lake Barkley on the other, there is more than 300 miles' worth of open water to explore.

Kentucky has plenty of options for those who want to take their aquatic adventures below the surface. Pennyroyal Scuba Center Blue Springs Resort in Hopkinsville is a one-stop shop for all things scuba. Offering certification classes, and selling just about any piece of scuba equipment you might need, this diver's paradise features a 22-acre, 120-foot deep spring-fed quarry with dozens of diver-interest objects placed at various underwater depths. All of them are easy to find and easy to photograph with a waterproofed smartphone.

The options for aquatic adventures in Kentucky do not stop here. To learn more and to plan your trip, visit kentuckytourism.com.

Whether you are going north, south, east, west, on top of the water, below the water or just standing near the water; Kentucky has the perfect water-themed vacation for you.