Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville is Eastern Kentucky’s premiere performance and event venue. This multi-level facility in the heart of downtown Pikeville can host a range of events, from small meetings to local sporting events to concerts seating 7,000. A full service food and beverage department boasts menus that satisfy quick snacks, as well as full gourmet dinners.

The Country Music Highway Museum celebrates the many country music stars who call Eastern Kentucky their home. Fourteen exhibits display memorabilia of Loretta Lynn, Chris Stapleton, Dwight Yoakam, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tom T. Hall, Keith Whitley, Larry Cordle, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Gary Stewart, Hylo Brown, Crystal Gayle, Ricky Skaggs, Patty Loveless, and The Judds. The museum also keeps the tradition of front porch pickin’ alive by featuring live bluegrass music and dancing every Thursday at 7pm. For more information, visit http://paintsvilletourism.com/

Open April through October, The Mountain HomePlace in Staffordsville, Kentucky, invites guests to discover the early history of Eastern Kentucky. This 1850's working farm sits on 27 acres and features several original buildings, including the McKenzie double-pen cabin, one-room schoolhouse, the old Fish Trap United Baptist Church, a blacksmith shop and a barn with farm animals. Interpreters dressed in period costumes perform daily chores, give demonstrations and discuss early farming life against the scenic backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains. A gift shop offers Appalachian crafted items, seasonal produce, hand-painted gourds and hand-sewn dolls and toys replicated from the 1850-1875 time period. The “In the Pines Amphitheater” seats 700 for various shows and concerts. The 150-seat auditorium is available year round for wedding receptions, reunions, workshops and other private events.

Known as the Grand Canyon of the South, the Breaks Interstate Park boasts some of the deepest gorges in the United States. Guests can enjoy hiking and biking trails, horseback riding, geocaching, birding, pedal boats, canoes, fishing, rock climbing, whitewater rafting and the Canyon Rim Zipline.

The Hatfield and McCoy Driving Tour is a self-guided tour of the famous feud that includes all historic sites, both in Kentucky and West Virginia. Notable stops include the gravesites of the feudists, as well as historical sites like Randolph McCoy Homeplace & Well, Hog Trial Cabin, Aunt Betty’s House, PawPaw Trees Site, Historic Pike County Courthouse and more. Feud monuments and artifacts can be seen as well, such as the bullets fired in the New Year's Eve attack.

Home to the Lawrence County Maple Festival, family-run Savage Farms is the largest producer of maple syrup in Eastern Kentucky. Their country store offers farm fresh products that include: soaps, honey, sorghum and much more. The farm has also recently begun to make fruit wines and sangria!

All levels of paddlers are welcome at Russell Fork whitewater, which has rapids from class II-V. The lower section is an ideal training ground for beginners, while the class V Breaks Canyon of the Russell Fork river draws in experienced paddlers from around the globe. Be sure to visit and enjoy the spectacular fall colors during the weekends in October.

Appalshop has been making art and media in the mountains since 1969. They are dedicated to telling stories from the perspective of people who call Appalachia home, challenging the narrative scripted for the area during the War on Poverty. The nonprofit serves as an art and culture hub, giving artists a voice and preserving Appalachian history. For more information on Appalshop’s programs and initiatives, visit appalshop.org.

East Kentucky's premiere professional theatre is located in the heart of downtown Pikeville. Visitors can enjoy a variety of shows and events from local musicians and performing artists. To view the full list of upcoming shows and events, visit theapparts.org.

Appalachian Artisan Center hosts various art exhibitions, workshops, community meetings, and classes. Workshops are offered in blacksmithing and metalworking, ceramics, luthiery, and more. The center also has conference rooms, artist studios and rooftop event spaces available to rent. These state of the art spaces are perfect for small gatherings to larger wedding receptions. Visit artisancenter.net for more information.

The Wayland High School gym is currently being restored to become the Mountain Sports Hall of Fame. This museum will honor athletes from the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th regions. The exhibit was a featured in the Smithsonian’s “Hometown Teams” series. “King” Kelly Coleman, most-heralded Kentucky High School basketball player, once played in this gym.

The Paramount Arts Center is a historic theater located in Ashland, Kentucky, with a mission to inspire, educate and entertain with outstanding performing arts and diverse cultural experiences while preserving a unique historic landmark. For a full list of events and shows, as well as rental information visit paramountartscenter.com.

Van Lear, Kentucky, an original coal-camp community, was named for Van Lear Black, a director of Consolidation Coal Company. The Coal Miners' Museum is located in the former headquarters of the Miller's Creek Division of the Consolidation Coal Company. The exhibits include a collection of mining tools, a replica of a doctor’s office, where Loretta came to see Dr Turner, with original equipment belonging to Dr. Turner, a collection of Van Lear School related memorabilia, a model of the town as it appeared during its “boom years”, a 1950’s store and more. For more information, call 606-789-8540.

Mine Made Adventure Park and Campground is a family-oriented campground located in Knott County, Kentucky. They offer miles of horse and ATV trails, RV sites, cabins and tent sites. For more information, visit minemadepark.com.

World class climbing and hiking meets unforgettable adventures like zip-lines, underground kayak tours, mountain biking, bird watching, guided activities and more. Make unforgettable memories and book a cabin or treehouse today. (Psst-- Don’t forget to stop for a slice of Miguel’s Pizza!) Visit redrivergorge.com for more information.