Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2019 - 66

KENTUCKY
FIVE THINGS NOT
TO MISS:

* Pine Mountain Overlooks,
lining U.S. 119 up the
second tallest mountain
in Kentucky including
Cliffside, Hemlock, Hogg,
Falcon and the Sanders
Andrew Collins Lodge.
* Letcher County Tourismguided hiking and
driving tours to sites like
Bad Branch Falls, Skylight
View Rock, Blueberry Cliff
and Eagle Arch Rock.
* Raven Rock Golf Course
one of Kentucky's most
breathtaking 18-hole
golf courses, first opened
in 1995, as part of a
remarkable strip mine
reclamation project.

TIM D. HUDSON

* Kentucky Mist Moonshine
Distillery, a craft operation
at Whitesburg.
* Fishpond Lake, located
one mile west of Payne
Gap off U.S. 119 in
Jenkins, this was once
the site of a mining camp
and is now the shining
centerpiece of the 895acre Little Laurel Park.

1. Letcher County (Whitesburg,
Payne Gap)
Experience an unforgettable getaway by
enjoying hiking, ATV trails, horseback
riding, fishing, kayaking, great music,
square-dancing, golfing, moonshine tasting and delicious homemade cookin'.
"We are honored to have been given
this distinction, and to those who live
here, it is no secret why our area was
named one of Kentucky's top trending
destinations for 2019," says Letcher County Tourism Director Jessica Howard. "It's
the feeling you get when you visit that
turns an ordinary getaway into a memorable experience. Along every turn, Letcher
County is definitely becoming the place
for adventure seekers of all ages."

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BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

2. Harlan County (Harlan, Evarts,
Cumberland)
Harlan County offers thrilling adventures
with ATV trails; Kentucky's highest peak;
and hiking trails. Harlan is also a place
bursting full of history, culture and hospitality. The county offers Kentucky's only
underground mine tour, a coal museum,
friendly downtowns and fun restaurants.
"We are currently in a state of transition in Harlan County," says Brandon
Pennington of the City of Harlan's Tourist
and Convention Commission. "We have
had to define ourselves on the industry
that dominated our county for the longest time: coal. However, we are at a point
in our trajectory where we are. With that
comes a lot more freedom to inspire small
businesses, attractions, art, culture and
much more. It's part of the puzzle, and I
think we are on the right track."

FIVE THINGS NOT TO MISS:

* Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Area.

* Black Mountain Thunder Zipline, Kentucky's
highest, longest, and fastest zipline.
* Take a tour of Portal 31, an underground
animatronic mine tour.
* Eat at The Portal, a pizza restaurant in Harlan.
* Shop at Sassy TRASH, which boasts over 34 local
artisan's wares and crafts, in Harlan.

TOP: At an elevation of 2,377 feet, the
Hemlock Overlook gives guests a180-degree
view of Letcher County's mountains.
ABOVE: The Black Mountain Off-Road
Adventure Area is a lure in Harlan County.
http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2019
