Candles are getting blown out all over the Bluegrass as Kentucky State Parks celebrates its 95th anniversary in 2019. Summer is the perfect time to plan a getaway to one of the 46 scenic, forested parks, which include 17 full-service resorts; 21 recreational parks with outdoor fun aplenty - boating, hiking, fishing, swimming, disc and miniature golf, picnicking, playgrounds; and eight historic sites, like Big Bone Lick, with live bison and a museum with exhibits on ice age mammals, Native American history and paleontology.

Each park shows off unique topographical assets - acres of sun-warmed lakes, miles of shoreline, sandy beaches, rugged mountains, mysterious caves, hushed woodlands - as well as distinctive features like free weekend live concerts, marinas, historic houses or museums and more. Resort parks have swimming pools, gift shops filled with Kentucky-made crafts, cookbooks and foodstuffs and restaurants emphasizing local ingredients and offering a kids menu.

Nine parks are on the second annual State Parks Culinary Trail, tempting foodies with regional meals that showcase traditional Kentuckian dishes. The trail is open through October 31, 2019.

Here are four geographically diverse state resort parks, each on the State Parks Culinary Trail.

PINE MOUNTAIN STATE RESORT PARK

The Herndon J. Evans Lodge at Kentucky's first state park, Pine Mountain Resort in the southeastern part of the state, has panoramic mountain views and an atmosphere of peacefulness. Golfers love the championship Wasioto Winds 18-hole golf course and bird watches revel in finding species not found elsewhere in the state.

- What's fun: Pine Mountain is hiker haven: 12 miles of self-guided, picturesquely named trails: Chained Rock, Hemlock Garden, Honeymoon Falls, Timber Ridge.

- What's comfy: Snuggle before a gas fireplace in a one-bedroom mountain-view log cabin.

- What's unique: The park is a short drive to Cumberland Gap National Historic Site. Follow the wilderness route of those who entered this gateway to the west: buffalo, Native Americans, longhunters, pioneers.

- What's delish: At the Mountain View Restaurant, dine on chow-chow and pickled beets, soup beans, fried potatoes, cornbread and green onions before digging into apple stack cake accompanied by moonshine.

ROUGH RIVER DAM STATE RESORT PARK

When you see an illuminated American flag flapping away on a bluff high above Rough River Lake, you'll know you're close to Rough River Dam, located about 90 miles south of Louisville. The 1,500-square-foot flag flies day and night and may be seen for miles. The marina has open, covered and houseboat slips and rental pontoon boats.

- What's fun: Rumble over Rough, the park's annual carnival and fireworks show, this year held on Saturday, June 29.

- What's comfy: A lodge room with private patio or balcony overlooking the lake.

- What's unique: The "Concert in the Park" series (late May through Labor Day) features a different band every Friday for patio concerts. Additionally, free-admission Bluegrass Friday Night is held year-round on the second Friday of the month.

- What's delish: Kentucky Bibb salad with Benedictine dressing, Kentucky Hot Brown, succotash and bourbon biscuit pudding topped off with an Old Fashioned, served at Grayson's Landing Restaurant. For the uninitiated, Benedictine is a cucumber and cream cheese concoction and the Hot Brown - roasted turkey on toast points and topped with juicy tomatoes and crispy bacon in a cheese bath - is practically a religious experience.

KENTUCKY DAM VILLAGE STATE RESORT PARK

Located in western Kentucky, Kentucky Dam Village has a lodge with a nautical theme, 18-hole golf course, guided horseback riding, tennis courts and a marina with a variety of boat rentals. Three eagle watching weekends by yacht excursion are scheduled annually.

For a fun daytrip, make the short drive to Paducah, aka Quilt City USA and home of the National Quilt Museum. This UNESCO Creative City has scads of art galleries, collectives and cooperative spaces showing and selling original works in a variety of media.

- What's fun: Independence Celebration and Fireworks Show, June 29, features live wildlife programs at the Woodlands Nature Station, free rock concert and free fireworks show.

- What's comfy: Listening to crickets from the screened-in porch of a deluxe two-bedroom cottage with fully furnished kitchen and two bathrooms.

- What's unique: The park sits along the 170,000-acre playground, Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. Safari through the Elk and Bison Prairie; explore the night sky at the Golden Pond Planetarium; tour iron industry ruins that date back to the mid-1850s.

- What's delish: Harbor Lights Restaurant dishes up white beans with ham hock, local surf and turf, Silver Queen sweet corn, Kentucky Wonder green beans and banana pudding washed down with a local craft bourbon cocktail.

BLUE LICKS BATTLEFIELD STATE RESORT PARK

In the northern part of the state, Blue Licks Battlefield is located on the site of what was possibly the "Last Battle of the American Revolution," which took place Aug. 19, 1782. The park offers free boat access to the Licking River and guided canoe trips Memorial Day through Labor Day.

- What's fun: Exploring the onsite Pioneer Museum, with its eighteenth century clothing, clay pipes, mastodon bones and Native American artifacts.

- What's comfy: A king suite with flat screen TV, Wi-Fi, large bath, spacious patio and refrigerator with sink area, plus full-size pull-out couch.

- What's unique: Each August, the park hosts a reenactment of the Battle of Blue Licks. Held Aug. 17-18 in 2019, the event includes a pioneer encampment, hands-on demos, live music, children's crafts - and Native Americans, pioneers and British Butler Rangers strolling about.

- What's delish: Hidden Waters Restaurant serves the kind of German-influenced goodies that Northern Kentuckians love: goetta (a ground beef/pork/steel-cut oat culinary delicacy spiced up with onion and spices) and potato cakes. The meal is rounded out with tomato pie and, for dessert, transparent pie. To sip? A Kentucky Rain cocktail featuring Casamigos tequila.

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PLAN YOUR TRAVELS

For information and reservations for Kentucky State Parks, visit https://parks.ky.gov. Pets are now welcome; see the pet policy on the website. Pick up a Culinary Passport at any one of the nine participating parks for the State Parks Culinary Trail. Visit www.betterinthebluegrass.com or www.kentuckytourism.com for details. Fully stamped passports net a free gift.

(Author and travel and lifestyle writer Kathy Witt feels you should never get to the end of your bucket list; there's just too much to see and do in the world. Contact her at KathyWitt24@gmail.com, @KathyWitt.)

(c)2019 Kathy Witt

Visit Kathy Witt at www.kathywitt.com

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