What a trip! ​ Our Executive Director shares her fun on the road in Paducah

I have the wonderful blessing to be able to travel around this beautiful Bluegrass Commonwealth and one of my favorite city's to visit is Paducah.  If you don't know, Paducah is located in the Southwestern section of the state.  In the KTG terms, we call it Western Waterlands, and it's situated right along the Ohio River.  It's a beautiful place full of rich history, engaging attractions and a haven for creative thinkers and doers.  It's one of nine Creative Cities in the United States, designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

​Once there, you can walk along the Wall to Wall Mural that borders the Ohio River at the edge of town. It was named Trip Advisor's Most Popular Tourist Attraction in Kentucky in 2014. I love visiting it each time I'm there and the best thing is its FREE!  There are several unique museums to visit, most within walking distance of each other. 

 I visited 3 while I was there - the River Discovery Center, where I was able to see an actual replica of the Belle of Louisville; The William Clark Market House Museum, where I was greeted by a wonderful host Ms. Penny Fields, who made me feel like a rock star and loaded me up with cookbooks and other fabulous historical items to read.  Go see her and tell her that Pamela from Kentucky Travel Guide sent you.  She will take excellent care of you and you will see the most amazing things!  I never leave Paducah without a stop in the National Quilt Museum. They have rotating exhibits and this time I fell absolutely, head over heals in love with the work of Danny Amazonas.  I could spend half the day there with my mind blown by the talent of the quilters.  Simply amazing!

Are you a Top Chef Fan? Foodie? Just love good food in a great atmosphere? If so, make sure you plan to enjoy a fabulous meal the Freight House, where Chef Sara Bradley, (runner-up on season 16 of Bravo's Top Chef) can be seen expediting the line, running food, interacting with the guests and doing a lot of smiling!  This farm to table gem served up the absolute best Shrimp and Grits this S&G aficionado has ever tasted. ​Chef Sara came by to tell me it was all in the spicy pork shank broth.  In any case, it wasn't only a winner in the creative plating, but the taste would keep me driving 3 and a half hours from Louisville to find things to do in Paducah around my meal - oh and my drink.  I enjoyed an Out with the Old Fashioned.  I'm a big buttermilk pie fan and this one hit a home run!  

​Just a hop down the road a little and you can visit Purple Toad Winery.  Steve Dossey and his crew are as friendly as can be and they have a wine for every palate.  In fact, they've won tons of awards and proudly display them behind the tasting counter.  There is plenty of room for a crowd and they offer live music and events on weekends.  Check them out and grab some of the goodies they have for sale in the tasting room. I seem to bring something new home each time I'm there.  

To make it short, plan to visit Paducah in your near future!  Upcoming events for September are Epic Fall AQS Quiltweek held in September 11-14th, the Antique Tractor & Gas Engine Show during September 19-21st, the ever popular and unique Dragon Boat Festival on September 21st and the not to miss Barbecue on the River held September 26-28th.  Check out the tourism website here for more information.  for a list of all of the fabulous things to see, do and experience when you plan your next adventure in a new Kentucky hometown! 

Wherever you go - tag us on FB KYTravelGuide, Tweet us on Twitter @KYTravelGuide and #kytravel  on Instagram.  We love to share in your window to the world as you Discover Your Next Adventure! 

Looking for a great way to give yourself a digital detox?  National Day of Unplugging (NDU) is an annual 24-hour period, running from sundown to sundown, of observing a communal digital detox.  Based on the long tradition of observing the Sabbath, or a day of rest, it's a great way to turn off the devices and spend that time in the present.  

A project of Reboot, this National Day of Unplugging is an outgrowth of the Sabbath Manifesto, an adaption of the Jewish ancestor's ritual of carving out one day per week to unwind, relax, reflect, get outdoors and connect with loved ones.  This day provides a great opportunity for all of us to join a common thread of disconnecting from our devices and connect with those things that are truly important in our lives.

While the official NDU is from sundown, March 1 to sundown, March 2, you can have your unplugged day anytime.  It doesn't have to be a whole day, you could set aside a digital free period any day you choose - think electronic free Friday nights or take time on Saturday or Sunday to stow your phones and laptops, iPads and tablets and find other ways to spend the time being present.

While I can personally remember times when I pulled the "cord" (phone was attached to the kitchen wall) into the hall closet to talk privately to friends, we have a whole generation that have lived in a time when phones and electronic devices were always available.  Instead of families talking across the table we witness kids and adults, plugged in to phones and tablets instead of interacting with each other. 

Join me in taking the pledge to UNPLUG for a while!  How will you spend that time?  Here are a few suggestions:

• Have a party - How about an old fashioned cook-out or pot-luck? Let guests know when you send or personally extend the invitation that your intention is for this to be an "Unplugged Party" and that your intention is to have a time free from phones.  When they arrive, place phones in sleeping bags or a basket that can be picked up on their way out!  You can make your own phone sleeping bags out of paper bags and put name badges on them for each guest or for next year, you can get more information on how to order them from DNU by emailing parnters@rebooters.net. 
• Get outside - Hike, bike ride, get a group together for a game of tennis or hoops!  You could even do this in conjunction with your party above.  Find outdoor games at a local store or make your own!  If you live in Kentucky, there are 49 state parks and a plethora of local parks and trails that don't cost a penny to enjoy.  Pack a picnic, make your own scavenger hunt and have fun seeing whom can complete their list first.  If you have kids, include them in the process of making your list.  Or do a little prep work and print out before hand: click here for ideas.   
• Give Back - Spending your unplug time to volunteer is the gift that keeps on giving.  Check out Volunteer Match or Just Serve to find opportunities in your area. Taking advantage of that hike?  Carry used shopping bags and pick up trash along the way! 
• Play - Take it outside for a round of golf or miniature golf.  Need something closer to home? How about a backyard game of badminton or croquet?  Looking for free options? An old fashioned game of hide and seek or tag fits the bill!  I used to love flashlight tag!  Don't let rain derail your digital detox, play indoors, putting together jig saw puzzles or pull out the board games.  You can purchase a deck of cards at the dollar store for...$1! 
• Cook - Make a meal using a new recipe from a cookbook, bake cookies with the kids and share them with neighbors and send them along in lunches for the week to remind everyone of the great time you had unplugging!
• Have a conversation - Talk with loved ones or kids and take turns sharing favorites (color, movie, food, animal, day, etc.).  Tell stories of how your life was way back when, or what you remember before cell phones went everywhere with us.  Use this time to connect with others and practice active listening.  Share what you love about the other people you are with and offering positive thoughts about them.  Stay away from dark subjects or negativity, this isn't the time to have "that talk", it's a time to be present and connect! 
• Learn - Visit the library, a museum or theatre.  Pick up books and bring them home and set a time to UNPLUG every night after dinner for reading time.  Find out what's happening at the local museums in your city or nearby and use this time to check them out.  Go see a movie with the kids at a local theater or take in a live performance.  Saturday and Sunday afternoons are a great time to snag matinee tickets and family specials. 

Whatever you chose to do - be in the moment,  Enjoy your time and make it a recurring practice.  I know you will be so glad you did!  You can download a National Day of Unplugging Kit and get more ideas and background on the history of this day by visiting their website at https://www.nationaldayofunplugging.com/ or clicking here.  

February is Cherry Month - all month long!  I love cherries and can remember when I was a young girl, climbing tall ladders in my grandmother's neighbor's yard to pick the beautiful, red and sweet fruit with my mama on warm summer days.  I can't think of a single cherry treat I don't adore, and since we are in Kentucky, I thought I'd share my recipe for Bourbon Soaked Cherries, or "Drunken Cherries" as my mama used to call them.  Here's my recipe - always use a higher proof bourbon such as Four Roses Single Barrel (100 proof).  
2 Cups of fresh cherries - washed and pitted with stems on (use a cherry pitter for this, makes things easier)
1 Cup high proof, good quality Kentucky Bourbon
2/3 Cup of dark brown sugar
Optional - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 or 2 glass mason jars with lids, cleaned with hot soapy water and rinsed well.

1. Pack pitted cherries with stems in the jar(s)
2. Heat the bourbon until hot on the stove or in the microwave and stir in brown sugar until it is completely dissolved. 
3. Add the vanilla (if using) and stir. 
4. Pour the bourbon/brown sugar mixture over the hot packed cherries.
5. Place lids on the jars and seal.
6. Refrigerate for at least one week, up to 1 month and enjoy! 

If you make the recipe, take a photo of your process, finished product or even how you use them (Can you say - Old Fashioned?") and tag us on social media and your post will show up in our gallery!  Let us know what bourbon you used! #kytravel #kytravelguide #bourboncherries #drunkencherries #oldfashionedfromscratch #betterinthebluegrass #chicgourmet #kytravelgal #gotolouisville #fourrosesbourbon