As we've been checking out the highlights of Kentucky's state parks over the course of our season here on Kentucky Life, I have been absolutely blown away by what you can do at all of these places besides hiking and the like.

Here at Kincaid Lake State Park, kayaking is a big attraction and it's easy to see why.

Now, there was no way I was going to turn down the chance to come out here and grab a paddle.

Come along as we get out on the water.

Thanks, sir.

All right.

Are we ready?

We're ready.

Okay.

Anchors aweigh.

Wow.

Very nice.

It's a beautiful autumn morning in Pendleton County.

The perfect day to get out on the water.

Okay, I could get used to this really quickly.

This is beautiful out here.

This pristine 183-acre lake is ideal for fishing and kayaking as it's entirely a no-wake zone.

No speedboats allowed.

We're an idle-only lake, so it's perfect for being out.

It's just nice and quiet.

No, but an idle-only lake, you're not going to see the big dog boats and everything out here.

It's very serene that way.

Yes, yes.

You're not going to see the big boats.

You're not going to hear the loud motors.

It's just a very nice lake to get out and to paddle around and just enjoy it and be peaceful.

A couple of weeks ago, we had an impromptu fishing tournament.

Some of our campers and their families had kind of squabbled over who could catch the biggest fish.

And they lined the banks up here that morning and they got some good ones.

That's so cool.

There's trophy largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, bluegill, carp, just everything that you would want to do, you know, fishing-wise.

There is a family of albino deers that you can see in the evenings usually or sometimes in the mornings across the lake here.

They've been around for as long as I've been alive.

And you are really away from civilization out here.

I mean, this is.

you got to work a little bit to get here, but the payoff is this.

It's northern Kentucky.

You can't get here fast.

But again, that's part of the attraction.

That's part of the draw is that we're set away from the cities.

is that we're set away from the cities.

We're set away from the busy pace of life.

And it's just getting back to nature, enjoying the time outdoors, and creating quality time with family and friends.

A place for wildlife and peaceful tranquility is exactly what the locals had in mind when the idea for a new state park here came to light back in the 1950s.

One of the unique things about Kincaid State Park is it was actually created by the people of Pendleton County, northern Kentucky, and the residents of Falmouth.

There was nothing here.

And they saw a need where they wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of civilization.

And so, they went to Frankfort and said, “Hey, we think this would be a great place for a state park.” And lo and behold, they made it happen.

So, that's So, that's really interesting because most all the other state parks, Frankfort decided they wanted to put something there.

The folks here in Pendleton County decided they wanted to do this and went to Frankfort and said, “Hey, let's make this happen.” Yup.

Yeah.

And it was not an easy process.

There was a lot of obstacles along the way, and they were persistent and made it happen.

So, that's the unique history of Kincaid State Park.

[music playing] Today, there's a little something here for everyone.

And if it looks like a scene out of a movie... well, it is.

We had the five-year reunion of the strangers to pray at night.

So, the director, the actors, they all came back, had a reunion.

We had like a guest experience.

And so, it just recreated the movie, had interviews.

It was just a really, really cool experience.

One of the things that we've encountered this season when we've been out on the road, you all are without a doubt some of the nicest people that we've ever gotten to work with.

But you've got a really cool job.

This is your office.

That's pretty remarkable.

And I consider myself blessed beyond measure.

I'm not originally from Kentucky.

I'm from New Jersey.

And, you know, moving away from the East Coast, I was looking for a place where I could enjoy the outdoors.

Lo and behold, I fell in love with Kentucky, fell in love with Kincaid State Park.

And I have considered myself very fortunate to just come out here, enjoy being outdoors, getting to meet some of the best people I've met in my lifetime and just making sure that it will be here for many years to come.

Do you ever have a moment when you're out in all of this and you just kind of look around and think, “I can't believe get Ito do this?” Every day.

Absolutely.

Every day.

Like, to be in Pendleton County, to be in northern Kentucky, to be in the Commonwealth is just an absolute blessing.

And I consider myself very fortunate to be here.

And for visitors, it's another one-of-a-kind Kentucky experience at Kincaid Lake State Park.

[music playing]