Picturesque Lake Cumberland ideal site for photographers
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Especially when shooting from luxurious houseboat
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| The houseboat from Burnside Marina features central heating and air conditioning, satellite television and a fully stocked kitchen. |
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After stopping in downtown Burnside for an excellent lunch at Las Pena's Restaurant, we headed to Burnside Marina to begin our houseboating adventure.
The staff patiently provided thorough training until we felt confident in our ability to handle the large vessel.Our accommodations featured central heating and air conditioning, a living room with satellite television, fully stocked kitchen, several bedrooms and an upper deck with wet bar, grill, hot tub and slide.
After stowing our luggage and groceries, we carefully pulled away from the dock.
Lake Cumberland exceeded our expectations. Sheltered by tree-covered mountains and graced with hundreds of coves and waterfalls, its 1,255 miles of shoreline provided excellent scenery at every turn.
From Wolf Creek Dam and Burnside Island State Park at the easternmost part of the lake, to 76 Falls and Party Cove at the westernmost part, we enjoyed viewing tree-covered mountains and exploring hundreds of coves. We photographed mountain goats perched on high rock ledges above
Lake Cumberland was an added bonus.
The houseboat was perfect for our needs. We were able to explore the entire lake in comfort. Watching the sunset from the hot tub on the upper deck was the perfect ending to each day.
Back on dry land, we weren't quite ready to leave Kentucky.
After seeing Wolf Creek Dam from the water, we wanted to drive across the mile-long earthen structure. Repair workers were busy on their seven-year-long project to prevent leakage on the 57-year-old dam.
Water level was lowered while the work progressed, but luckily, Lake Cumberland is a very deep lake. There hasn't been much impact on boating activities. In fact, this is an excellent time to view rock formations that have been underwater for decades.
The overlook area at the dam offered scenic views of the Cumberland River, Lake Cumberland and surrounding bluffs.
Our last stop at the eastern end of the lake was Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, where a million rainbow trout and brown trout are produced annually.
Three large aquariums in the Visitor Center show Cumberland River species before the dam was built, current Lake Cumberland species and trout from below the dam. A 55-seat theater shows videos of the dam, the hatchery and area fishing.
We headed west and couldn't resist stopping at Cumberland Falls. Known as the Niagara of the South, the 125-foot-wide falls plummet 60 feet into a boulder-lined gorge.
Photographers enjoy the beauty of the falls, even in the middle of the night. Cumberland Falls is considered the only predictable place in the Western Hemisphere where conditions can produce a true "moonbow." The interaction between the mist refracting light from just the right angle of the full moon creates the mysterious moonbow.
After opting for photos taken during the daylight hours, we ended our houseboat adventure with a wealth of beautiful photographs.
To reserve a houseboat at Burnside Marina, call (606) 561-4223 or visit www.burnsidemarina.com.
For information on additional Lake Cumberland marinas and attractions, call (877) 868-7735 or visit www.tourseky.com.
Sharyn Kuneman is a resident of Rock Hill.
