Look at What All Kentucky’s Biggest County Has to Offer

During 16 years of education, I only ever studied Kentucky in depth on two occasions--in the fourth grade and in the seventh grade. There was a Kentucky history elective in college, but I didn't have time to take it.

In my primary grade studies, I learned as much about Kentucky as a 10-year-old brain could absorb, and I've been fascinated by little Commonwealth tidbits ever since. For example, Kentucky has two "largest" counties. I population, it's Jefferson County, and in size, it's Pike County.

Of course, their populations are light years apart--Jefferson County's is just north of 772 thousand while Pike County has a population just shy of 56,000.

There's So Much to Do in Pike County KY

I've only ever visited Pike County one time and learned, among other things, that locals IMMEDIATELY know someone who ISN'T local. A friend of mine and I stopped into a Hardee's to ask directions to a radio station--she was going to be interviewed--and everyone stopped and stared at us. But that doesn't mean they weren't friendly; they were. And that radio station sits atop a mountain in the middle of Pikeville, the county seat.

The Country Music Highway

But there's far more of interest in Pike County than geography. It sits on U.S. Highway 23, also known as the Country Music Highway.

Luminaries like Loretta Lynn, Chris Stapleton, Keith Whitley, Ricky Skaggs, Tyler Childers, Tom T. Hall, the Judds, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dwight Yoakam, and Patty Loveless were all born and/or born and raised along this apparently musically fertile stretch of road. Yoakam and Loveless are actually natives of Pike County.

The Hatfields and the McCoys

Pike County is also where historians can sink their teeth into the legendary Hatfield/McCoy feud by taking a self-guided driving tour of sights pertinent to the centuries-old legend. That would include the cabin where the feud allegedly began. A replica of that cabin where the Hog Trial took place is located in eastern Pike County.

By the way, the hostility between the two families has come to an end, but there are still a few things about which they disagree. Hey, it wouldn't be any fun if there weren't.

The Grand Canyon of the South

If you've never been to the Grand Canyon, I highly recommend you get there before you are done with this planet. It is literally breathtaking. Until you can, though, check out what's known as the "Grand Canyon of the South." It's actually in Virginia but right across the state line from Pike County. And it is very nearly AS breathtaking and well worth your time.

Here's the thing, once you're in Pike County, you're in the heart of Appalachia, and I can never recommend spending time in the mountains enough. Find a cabin and a porch and veg out.

We all need that from time to time.