Looking for one of the best family-friendly vacations in Kentucky? Kentucky Lake is a favorite destination for families with young children thanks to its calm waters, sandy beaches, boat rentals, wildlife experiences, family-friendly restaurants, and endless opportunities to play outside.
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway with toddlers, preschoolers, or elementary-aged kids, Kentucky Lake offers the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Families can spend the day swimming, taking a pontoon ride, exploring nature trails, spotting wildlife at Land Between the Lakes, and enjoying ice cream and waterfront dining together.
This family-friendly Kentucky Lake weekend itinerary is designed specifically for families with small children and includes where to stay, what to do, kid-friendly dining recommendations, and tips for making the most of your time on Kentucky Lake.
Day 1
Afternoon: Arrive at Kentucky Dam Village, an amazing place for families with small children to stay. Kentucky Dam Village has lodging accommodations for families and groups of any size. Their lodge offers smaller rooms, perfect for families of four or less to enjoy. The lodge rooms have excellent views of Kentucky Lake, and plenty of room for several suitcases. If you are traveling with a larger family or group, check out KDV’s cottage options. There are cottages that hold up to 12 people! Each cottage comes with a full kitchen, a living room, multiple bedrooms, and bathrooms to accommodate the number of guests. In addition, there are multiple playgrounds, a pool, access to walking trails, and a marina on-site.
Dinner: In a less-than-ten-minute drive, arrive at an excellent BBQ restaurant at Kentucky Lake, J-Mack BBQ! J-Mack’s has multiple Kid’s Menu options: The Little J-Mack (hot dog + chips) and The Little Porker (pork sandwich + chips). Both options come with a fun kids drink and a treat! Parents will get to enjoy a wide variety of BBQ options while their picky kids will get to enjoy their meal as well!
Evening Activity: After dinner, enjoy a round of putt-putt golf at Maggie’s Jungle Golf. Maggie’s is the perfect place to take the kids after a long day of travel. Relax and enjoy the mini golf game, and after rent a golf cart at their Jungle Run and see a variety of animals you don’t see every day! Before you leave, grab one of Maggie’s delicious snowcones! They come in a variety of flavors, and the local favorite is the Peacock!
Day 2
Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast on-site at Kentucky Dam Village at their Harbor Lights Restaurant. They serve classic breakfast with outstanding views, and makes for a perfect, easy breakfast with kids!
Day Activity: Grab your towels, swimsuit, sunscreen, and pack a lunch because the public beach at Kentucky Dam Village is your daytime activity on Day 2! Enjoy the spacious beach area as the kids play in the sand and water, and the parents get the opportunity to relax on the beach! To top it all off, everyone will enjoy a picnic–nothing beats a sandwich after swimming in the lake!
Evening & Dinner: Take a trip back in time with a night at The Calvert Drive-In! Not only does the drive-in show amazing movies, they also have great food, and a brand new arcade! The arcade has games for children of most ages, and has prizes that can’t be beat. The kitchen and arcades both open at 4PM, and the movies begin at 9PM. When you arrive and pay for your carload, both movies are included in the ticket price!
Day 3
Breakfast: Keep the nostalgic vibes going, and take another less-than-ten-minute drive to 50s Cafe! They have several breakfast options for kids and adults, making this another great breakfast spot for families at Kentucky Lake!
Morning Activity: Cool off after a long weekend of fun at Calvert City’s Memorial Park Splash Pad. There are benches with shade for parents to keep a close eye on their children playing in the many fountains at the splash pad. The splash pad is usually not very crowded, which makes it the perfect final activity for your weekend at Kentucky Lake.
Lunch & Departure: On your way out of Kentucky Lake, stop by Parcell’s Deli & Grille, Popi’s, or Habanero Mexican Grill. All of these restaurants are less than a mile from the I-24/I-69 Entrance.
Kentucky Lake is one of the best family-friendly vacation destinations in Kentucky, offering swimming, family-friendly resorts, easy hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and kid-friendly activities. Many families visit Kentucky Lake for weekend getaways because it provides outdoor adventure, waterfront fun, and activities suitable for children of all ages. We hope you enjoy your family-friendly weekend getaway to Kentucky Lake!
