Choose a time for your visit. If you plan to swim, fish or boat, summer is the logical choice for your vacation. Be aware that cottage rentals are quite popular in the summer and it is important to make your reservation as soon as your plans are finalized. If you plan to visit Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park or Carter Caves State Resort Park, you can be more flexible with the time of year you choose to visit, as warm weather won’t be such a factor in your decision.
Decide which park you would like to visit. Cottages are offered at Barren River Lake, Blue Licks Battlefield, Buckhorn Lake, Carter Caves, Cumberland Falls, General Butler, Jenny Wiley, John James Audubon, Kenlake, Kentucky Dam Village, Lake Barkley, Lake Cumberland, Natural Bridge, Pennyrile Forest, Pine Mountain and Rough River State Resort Parks.Cottage sizes vary depending on the park, but two or three bedroom units are most commonly offered. There are also one bedroom cottages at Pine Mountain State Resort Park. Most cottages feature a full kitchen, bathrooms, living/dining area, coffee maker, microwave oven, hair dryers, telephone, ironing board, iron, outdoor grill, TV, heating/air-conditioning system and balconies or porches. Some cottages also have fireplaces. Some cottages have sleeper sofas in the living areas. Amenities vary from park to park.
Make your reservation by calling the park you plan to visit or by using the online reservation system. If you call, you can make a reservation up to three years in advance. Online reservations are usually accepted one to two years in advance, depending on how far in advance room rates have been determined. You must be 18 years old or older to make a reservation.
Start planning your visit. Take a look at the park’s Web site and decide how you will spend your days when your vacation is finally here. Perhaps you’ll dine in a restaurant, play a few rounds of golf, or take in a Revolutionary War battlefield at Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park. Kentucky State Resort Parks offer activities not usually found in state parks. John James Audubon State Resort Park houses the largest collection of artwork by John James Audubon in the world, while Pine Mountain State Resort Park showcases the work of Ray Harm, a well-known wildlife artist. Visitors to Cumberland Falls State Resort Park can take a guided rafting trip on the Cumberland River. Horseback riding enthusiasts will find ample riding trails at both Kentucky Dam Village and Lake Cumberland State Resort Parks.Fishing and boating are popular activities at many of the parks. Carter Caves State Park, in addition to offering cave tours, also features Kentucky's only trophy bass lake. For those vacationers who don't want to fall behind in their exercise regime, Lake Barkley State Resort Park even offers a fitness center with trainers available for consultation.
Try your hand at golfing. Golf is a popular activity at many resort parks, with 13 parks offering 18-hole courses and 6 parks offering 9-hole courses. Signature courses, such as the ones at Dale Hollow and Pine Mountain, offer championship level play. If you aren't quite an expert at golf, miniature golf may be more your style. Many of the parks that offer golf courses also offer miniature golf courses. The Kentucky State Parks Web site contains a listing of all of the parks that offer golf courses.
