Quilt ShowsScenic Travel

Restaurants and Camping Grand Rivers KY

Grand Rivers, Kentucky – Restaurants and RV Parks

Our RV campsite at the Canal Park Campground, Grand Rivers, KY

When Jo and I go to the Paducah Quilt Show we usually stay at the Canal Park Campground near Grand Rivers, Kentucky. During Quilt Week I’ll bet at least half the campers at Canal Park are attending the big AQS Show. Located about 25 miles east of Paducah, Grand Rivers is a picturesque little resort village situated between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley and just north of the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

The Canal Park campground is a Corps of Engineers facility and like all Corps facilities we’ve stayed at it is well-designed and properly maintained. Our site (see picture) was typical of Canal Park sites: sturdy picnic table, fire-ring, level parking & tenting area, well-drained, and partially wooded – offering some shade. The main routes through the park are paved as are the dump stations. The sites themselves are graveled with space for both tent pads and vehicle parking (of interest to those w/o motor homes). When we can’t get in Canal Park because it is full or we didn’t make reservations early enough, we’ve camped at the Hillman Ferry Campground which is a National Forest site within the Land Between the Lakes Recreational Area. It is about 5 miles south of Grand Rivers. It is also a nice facility but I’d rate it just a wee bit under the quality of Canal Park. And Canal Park is closer to Grand Rivers (and therefore Paducah as well). Several times to get some exercise we’ve walked to town from Canal Park.

Our favorite breakfast spot in Grand Rivers is the Lite-Side Café and Bakery is a funky little Mom & Pop cafe open 5 days a week for breakfast or lunch. The owners, Irene and Bob, are always on-site and do the baking, cooking and service, sometimes with the help of a niece or nephew. The food has always been top-notch, the service friendly, and the atmosphere bright and colorful. They are open Weds – Sunday, 7 am to 3 pm.

Our favorite Grand Rivers dining spot is Patti’s or Mister Bill’s Restaurant in Patti’s 1880’s Settlement. The Settlement is a collection of shops, restaurants, cafes, springs, and gardens and walkways arranged as a meandering old-time village or settlement. While we always come to Patti’s for the food, we also enjoy taking some time to walk through the the gardens and browse the gift shops. Patti’s and Mr. Bill’s Restaurants are served by the same kitchen and share the same menu. The main difference is the dining atmosphere. Patti’s is a collection of small rooms as if a large house had been converted into restaurant and every room in the house was turned into an intimate dining area. Patti’s is also chocked full of antiques and each dining area has a certain motif to it. There is also a little store and gift shop. Bill’s Restaurant has a large main dining room with two adjacent dining areas around the perimeter. Bill’s theme is floral and little lights. If you go, make sure to get reservations because people drive from many miles to dine here at Patti’s and Bill’s. The service is top-notch and the food is terrific and considering the quality the price decent. Southern cooking and hospitality at its finest.

Links and Information on the Grand Rivers community, Canal Park and Hillman Ferry RV Parks

Our main QuiltingPathways website has a page featuring more on Grand Rivers and Patti’s Settlement. It is an attractive little community with friendly people and lots of interesting things to see and do. Grand Rivers website.  Hikers and nature lovers will also nearby Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area.

Canal Park CampgroundReservations and information

Hillman Ferry Campgroundgeneral information Reservations

Canal Park Campground Map
Hillman Ferry Campground Map

 

 

See a larger map here

More Grand Rivers RV Park Links

Crockett Frontiers Campground

Lighthouse Landing RV Park

Ross

2 thoughts on “Restaurants and Camping Grand Rivers KY

  • Nancy THOMPSON

    there is supposed to be the best quilting store right around where you camped…did you happen to go to it?

    • We don’t recall ever seeing a quilt shop in Grand Rivers. They have a guild and an annual show, but no quilt shop that we’ve come across.

Comments are closed.