Paducah, Kentucky could not prime many bucket lists, until you’re a hard-core quilter, however for people who get pleasure from charming small cities, this Western Kentucky river city makes for an important weekend getaway. There are numerous issues to do in Paducah for all pursuits, whether or not you like buying and cocktails or studying about U.S. historical past.
Given its location on the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, it’s attainable to pair a highway journey to Paducah with a go to to Nashville, Louisville, Memphis, and even St. Louis. Or, for many who need a mixture of lake life and small-city residing, you may also spend a day or two exploring the Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park or the Land Between the Lakes Nationwide Recreation Space, each of that are simply 30-45 minutes away by automobile.
I used to be very shocked to study that Paducah, Kentucky, is definitely designated as a UNESCO Artistic Metropolis. I’d heard of UNESCO World Heritage Websites, however Artistic Cities have been new to me.
The UNESCO Artistic Cities Community (UCCN) was created to advertise cities which have recognized creativity as a strategic issue for sustainable city growth. Altogether, there are 246 UNESCO Artistic Cities and solely 9 of these are in america. Also called “Quilt Metropolis”, Paducah is acknowledged for its Crafts and People Artwork.
To gas the inventive endeavors in Paducah town provides an Artist Relocation Program, which has introduced collectively painters, bookbinders, leather-based crafters, fiber artists, and jewellery makers from across the globe to the LowerTown Arts District, which can also be dwelling to the Paducah Faculty of Artwork and Design.
Issues to do in Paducah, Kentucky
Notice: My journey was hosted by Journey Kentucky as a part of a social media marketing campaign with Shady Rays sun shades. All opinions are my very own.
Stroll the Wall to Wall Murals
Your first cease in Paducah ought to be on the Wall to Wall Murals which might be painted by the river flood partitions. Louisiana resident Robert Dafford is the first muralist, together with help from Herb Roe, Benny Graeff, Douglas Dafford, Miriam Dafford, Mike Doherty, Justin Montovan, John Norris, Chris Condon, Robert Baxter, Sandy Lewis, Jeff Moss, Jason Brake, Brett Chigoy, and Chase Innis.
A stroll alongside the murals will let you know the historical past of Paducah, from its founding by William Clark, of Lewis & Clark fame, to its management because the “Strawberry Capital of the World” and “Atomic Metropolis” due to the uranium enrichment plant constructed within the Nineteen Fifties. Take the time to learn every plaque and you’ll quickly get a way of Paducah’s historical past and tradition.
You may also discover public mural paintings throughout Paducah in a extra modern type.
The Wall to Wall Murals are situated alongside 200-298 S Water St, Paducah, KY 42003.
VISIT THE NATIONAL QUILT MUSEUM
One of many essential sources of tourism to Paducah is the Nationwide Quilt Museum, which attracts quilters from around the globe, particularly throughout the AQS QuiltWeek, which takes place in late April annually. The Nationwide Quilt Museum is the most important museum of its variety on the planet and encompasses a 320-piece assortment of up to date quilts and altering thematic exhibitions.
Even for this non-quilter, the workmanship of the quilts on show is kind of beautiful. I hoped for some reveals concerning the historical past of quilting or the cultural significance of quilt patterns and designs, however that isn’t the mission of the museum. Nevertheless, if you wish to see the most recent methods, study to understand quilting as an artwork kind, or participate in one of many workshops taught by world-class instructors, the Nationwide Quilt Museum is a must-do factor to do in Paducah.
The Nationwide Quilt Museum is situated at 215 Jefferson, Paducah, KY 42001.
VISIT THE Inland Waterways Museum
Whether or not you might be visiting Paducah with youngsters otherwise you simply get pleasure from getting hands-on with historical past and native tradition, don’t miss a cease on the Inland Waterways Museum (previously the River Discovery Heart.) The Inlands Waterways Museum celebrates Paducah’s maritime historical past with interactive water-filled reveals, together with a working mannequin of a lock and dam.
Guests can use the boat simulator to pilot a towboat, Coast Guard buoy tender, or different watercraft to expertise the river visitors on the Port of Paducah. There are additionally seven music stations situated all through the exhibit space that pay homage to a few historic steamboats: Glendy Burke, Shawneetown, and John Gilbert.
The museum additionally teaches concerning the function of the rivers throughout the Civil Warfare, when the rivers have been used to move and provide troops. That is additionally the place Junior Rangers can discover the Lewis & Clark program packet.
Simply steps away, the Paducah Railroad Museum showcases gear and memorabilia from the previous of America’s railroads. The railroad simulator offers the feeling of driving a locomotive cab.
The Inland Waterways Museum situated at 117 S. Water St., Paducah, KY 42001. The Paducah Railroad Museum is situated at 200 Washington Road, Paducah, KY 42001.
BROWSE ART GALLERIES
The Yeiser Artwork Heart is situated in Historic Downtown Paducah within the 1905 Market Home, together with Market Home Theatre and the William Clark Market Home Museum. The Yeiser Artwork Heart options rotating exhibitions that highlight a various vary of artwork types, kinds, and methods by works by regional and worldwide artists. Once I visited the reveals centered on fiber artwork that includes the work of some actually inventive and proficient artists.
The Yeiser Artwork Heart is situated at 200 Broadway, Paducah, Kentucky.
Additionally, you will discover artwork galleries, collectives, and cooperative areas all through downtown Paducah. Be sure that to cease into the Artwork Guild of Paducah, Bricolage Artwork Collective, Gallery 5, and Ephemera Paducah.
SHOP LOCAL BOUTIQUES
I like boutique buying when touring to small cities like Bentonville and Wichita as a result of I at all times uncover new manufacturers and designers, plus it’s good to assist native companies, lots of that are women-owned. Paducah was truly voted one in all USA At this time’s 10Best Small Cities for Buying, and I can see why.
You’ll find a mixture of vintage retailers, reward retailers, dwelling items shops, and trend boutiques nestled in amongst the artwork galleries and stylish eating places. I cherished the type and costs that didn’t break the financial institution at McClaran Manor and Selcouth Store for ladies’s trend.
Quilters will need to browse the designs at a few of the many native quilt and material retailers, together with Hancock’s of Paducah, English’s Sew & Vac, Tuscan Rose, and Artist Endeavors. These retailers present the inspiration, instruments, material, and books to convey your creations to fruition.
For a enjoyable exercise, you may guide a session to make customized tub scrubs or lotion at Without end Pampered.
TASTE CRAFT BEER & BOURBON
Paducah is a part of the Western Kentucky Brewery Hop, with two craft breweries, Paducah Beer Werks and Dry Floor Brewing Firm. On my go to, I ended in to attempt a flight at Dry Floor Brewing Firm, which is situated in an outdated Coca-Cola Bottling plant, together with a Mellow Mushroom restaurant.
The uncovered brick partitions and spacious setting, together with a pleasant out of doors space, make Dry Floor an ideal cease whether or not you might be by yourself or with a gaggle of associates. The beers ranged from ales to porters, and all have been fairly tasty.
Non-beer drinkers are additionally in luck, as you may try the Purple Toad Vineyard, which is Kentucky’s largest vineyard and provides a variety of candy and semi-sweet wines. And, after all, you may’t go away Kentucky with out attempting some bourbon and Paducah is dwelling to the Silent Brigade Distillery.
There are additionally a handful of fantastic cocktail bars in Paducah, together with Barrel & Bond, Freight Home, The Johnson Bar, and Fox Briar Cocktail Bar.
ENJOY LOCAL RESTAURANTS
Paducah’s meals scene is surprisingly inventive and numerous. You’ll find an area favourite, Freight Home, from High Chef finalist Sara Bradley, that includes midsouth delicacies. Backwoods BBQ is ideal for carnivores searching for some native taste. Though some locals swear that Doe’s Eat Place has higher steaks than Ruth’s Chris.
I had a terrific informal lunch at Kirchhoff’s Bakery & Deli with a fried inexperienced tomato BLT, and for dinner, I sampled a wide range of small plates (and wonderful dessert) at Freight Home. Locals additionally extremely really helpful Cynthia’s California Tuscan Ristorante for nice eating.
For one thing extra enjoyable and informal, Flamingo Row provides a style of the Caribbean in Kentucky, whereas Parker’s Drive-in and 50’s Diner provides a retro expertise with nice barbecue, burgers, milkshakes, and treats.
SEE A SHOW
The Yeiser Artwork Centre, Maiden Alley Cinema, Market Home Theatre, Clemens Effective Arts Centre, and the Carson Centre all contribute to Paducah’s vibrant cultural choices together with dwell theatre, visible artwork exhibitions, impartial movies, and classical performances by the Paducah Symphony Orchestra.
The Carson Heart is a beautiful trendy venue in downtown Paducah, inside simple strolling distance of fantastic eating places and boutique motels. The Carson Heart hosts Broadway Collection and a variety of musical performances.
LEARN ABOUT THE LEWIS & CLARK TRAIL
Paducah was based in 1827 by William Clark of Lewis & Clark fame and Paducah’s heritage and Native American roots might be traced to town’s strategic location on the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. Simply throughout from the floodwall murals close to the Nationwide Quilt Museum, you may see a sculpture commemorating the city’s founding.
Historical past buffs get pleasure from visiting Paducah because it is a vital web site on the Lewis & Clark Nationwide Historic Path. This path travels 4,900 miles throughout 16 states and follows the historic outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, in addition to the preparatory part from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Wooden River, Illinois.
EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS
You don’t have to drive far to flee city and benefit from the nice open air. About 45 miles away close to Grand Rivers, KY is the Land Between the Lakes Nationwide Recreation Space. This space covers 170,000 acres and 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline in Kentucky and Tennessee, between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake.
Land Between the Lakes provides 500 miles of trails to go mountain biking, mountaineering, horseback driving, and off-roading. Points of interest embrace the 700-acre Elk & Bison Prairie, Golden Pond Planetarium, Nature Station, and The Homeplace, a Nineteenth-century working farm.
Thirty minutes southeast of Paducah in Benton you can find the Clarks River Nationwide Wildlife Refuge. Well-liked with birders, this Nationwide Wildlife Refuge consists of 8,500 acres together with a fishing pond and about three miles of seasonal mountaineering trails.
When you don’t need to drive, the Greenway Path is ideal for strolling, operating, or biking and stretches greater than 5 miles and connects Historic Downtown to Bob Noble Park and Stuart Nelson Park’s disc golf course and canine park.
WHERE TO STAY IN PADUCAH
In case you are planning a weekend getaway to Paducah, be sure you guide one of many 10 rooms on the 1857 Resort. This boutique lodge provides vaulted ceilings and uncovered brick, with a mix of contemporary decor and facilities with the commercial design of the unique constructing, which dates again to the 1800s.
The placement is ideal, inside simple strolling distance to downtown eating places, retailers, bars, and leisure venues together with the Performing Arts Heart. For friends that require extra space, additionally they provide condos throughout the road from the lodge that may accommodate households or teams.
I completely cherished the type, decor, and placement of the 1857 Resort. However remember the fact that with all of the eating places and bars close by, you’ll seemingly expertise some road noise, particularly if in case you have a front-facing room. In case you are a lightweight sleeper, be sure you pack your earplugs.
Downtown Paducah is embarking on a growth venture, which is able to convey a boutique lodge, condos, and extra retailers and eating places to the downtown space. Whereas some residents object to the loss of a giant downtown car parking zone, I used to be happy to see that there was plentiful free public parking all through downtown, making getting round and visiting simple and inexpensive.
The underside line is that Paducah, Kentucky makes an important weekend getaway for {couples}, associates, or households and it is just going to get higher.
Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Writer of We3Travel. A former advertising and marketing govt and journey advisor, Tamara is an award-winning journey author and acknowledged skilled in household journey. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Journey Journey Commerce Affiliation, and serves on the Board of the Household Journey Affiliation. She can also be the writer of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Trip Experts journey podcast.