Drive through a herd of buffalo, take a ferry ride across the Ohio River to a huge cave in a rock or see a long chain once used to stop Union boats going down the Mississippi during the Civil War are some of the many activities you can do in the Paducah area.
Land Between the Lakes Region
Patti’s 1880’s Settlement
This frequented tourist stop includes a wide variety of activities besides food, mini-golf, gold panning, landscaped gardens and a playground.
Grist Mill Café
Chicken, pork chops and strawberry butter are some of the homemade dishes here.
Hours: 11 am- 7 pm Tuesday through Sundays, Closed Mondays.
Address: 1793 J H O’Bryan Ave, Grand Rivers, KY 42045
Settlement Shops, Mini-Golf, and Patti’s Mining Co.
Hours: 11 am -7 pm Wednesday through Sundays, Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Address: 1793 J H O’Bryan Ave, Grand Rivers, KY 42045 (Same Address as above)
T. Lawson’s Grill
American, Southern along with sandwiches and desserts.
Hours: 11 am – 9 pm Thursday through Monday, Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Address: 1804 J H O’Bryan Ave, Grand Rivers, KY 42045
Kentucky Dam Visitors Center
Learn about the dam, a Tennessee Valley Authority and hydroelectric power at this center.
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm
Address: 640 Kentucky Dam Rd, Grand Rivers, KY 42045
Woodlands Nature Station
Learn about wildlife and see animals in a small zoo. The station also conducts wildlife demonstrations and walks. Check the website for more information.
Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily.
Address: 3146 Silver Trail Rd, Cadiz, KY 42211
Elk and Bison Prairie
The Elk & Bison Prairie offers a native grassland habitat common in Kentucky more than a century ago. Elk and bison roam free within this 700-acre enclosure. Visitors travel in their enclosed vehicle via a 3.5-mile paved loop road.
Hours: Dawn until Dusk
Admission: $5 per automobile
Address: Elk & Bison Prairie Rd, Golden Pond, KY 42211
Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory
Programs presented with a Konica Minolta Mediaglobe II digital projection system, which displays exciting images on the 40-foot dome of the theater.
Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Daily
Admission: 13 and up $6, ages 5-12 $3.50 and 4 and under free. Laser shows all seats $8.
Address: 238 Visitor Center Dr, Golden Pond, KY 42211
The Homeplace 1850’s Living History Farm
Homeplace 1850s Working Farm and Living History Museum represents a two-generation farm. . When you visit the Homeplace, you will see interpreters in period clothing going about their daily chores.
Hours: March – Nov., 10 am – 5 pm, Wednesday; April – Oct. 10 am – 5 pm Daily.
Admission: Ages 13 and Up $5, ages 5-12 $3 and ages 4 and under free.
Address: 4512 The Trace, Dover, TN 37058
Fort Donelson Battlefield
It was the campaign and battle that made Ulysses S. Grant a household name. The battle led to the Union capture of Nashville, the first Confederate capital to fall into Union hands. The Civil War site includes an old fort and artillery, a soldier cemetery and riverside battlegrounds.
Hours: 8 am – 6 pm Daily
Admission: Free
Address: 120 Lock D Rd, Dover, TN 37058
North of Paducah
Mantle Rock
The Mantle Rock Nature Preserve is a 30-foot high natural sandstone bridge spanning 188 feet embellished by bluffs, shelters, honeycomb formations, fluorite deposits, and a rock-lined stream.
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Admission: Free
Address: Mantle Rock Rd, Smithland, KY 42081
Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum
The collection is composed of thousands of fluorite crystal specimens, ranging in weight from a fraction of an ounce to hundreds of pounds.
Hours: Winter months — Wednesday – Saturday, 10 am – 3 pm. Summer months – Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 3 pm. Check the website for more information.
Admission: $8 ages 12 and older, $7 Senior Citizens, $5 Children 5-12 and free for Children 5 and under
Address: 205 N Walker St, Marion, KY 42064
Cave-in-The-Rock Ferry
Ferry service across the Ohio River, The Cave-in-Rock ferry crosses the Ohio River between Illinois Route 1 and Kentucky Route 91, near Cave-in-Rock.
Hours: Seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Admission: Free
Address: Canal Street, Marion, KY 42064
Cave-in-The-Rock State Park
An ancient 55-foot-wide cave is the attraction at this wooded park overlooking the Ohio River. The park also has camping, concessions, a lodge and a marina on the Ohio River.
Hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily
Admission: Free
Address: 1 New State Park Rd, Cave-In-Rock, IL 62919
East of Paducah
Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site
History museum and archaeology area on the site of a Native American village & ceremonial mounds.
Hours: Memorial Day to Labor Day 9 am – 5 pm daily. Rest of the year Wednesday – Sunday – 9 am – 5 pm. Museum, Welcome Center and Gift Shop close at 4:30 pm.
Admission: Adults $5, Seniors $4, Kids (age 5-15) $4 and Active Duty Military $4.
Address: 94 Green St, Wickliffe, KY 42087
Fort Defiance Park
It is a former American Civil War fortification found at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The site is the southernmost and lowest point in Illinois 279 feet in elevation. There are a few signs with information on the former fort. Mostly it is a good spot to see riverboats going down the river and letting the kid around a bit.
Hours: 9 am – 8 pm daily
Admission: Free
Address: US60 & US-62, Cairo, IL 62914
Columbus Belmont State Park
The park has man Civil War connections you can see historic fortifications from the Civil War and a huge chain that was once strung across the Mississippi to block Union forces from going south. The park also has miniature golf, camping, museum and gift shop.
Hours and Admission: Park and campground are open year-round. The museum, gift shop, snack bar, and mini-golf are open daily May 1 – Labor Day, and weekends through September. Closed October 1 – April 30. (available by appointment only). Admission is $4.00 for adults (16 & over), $3.00 for seniors and children.
Address: 350 Park Road, Columbus, KY 42032
Lunch Option in Missouri on The Drive To Paducah
Lambert’s Café
We might stop by this tourist mecca on our way to Paducah. It is home of the “throwed rolls.” They throw warm rolls at you to catch. This might be fun for Andrew and a place to have a fun lunch. The sides are also served family-style and passed around by servers. We’ve done this before, but not since before Andrew was born.
Hours: 10:30 am – 9 pm
Address: 2305 E Malone Ave, Sikeston, MO 63801
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