Princeton (Kentucky)

Princeton has the typical sort of Kentucky town history: Revolutionary war figure is granted lands in return for his military service, figure in turn sells/gives lots of land to create town, town is squabbled over by Civil War forces while locals are divided over their allegiances, town grows up to its modern day counterpart. This one also had some tobacco crop turf battles too, but that is sort of the story in a nutshell.

It's right off of I-69, and less than an hour east of Paducah by car.

With only 6,000 or so people, Princeton is pretty cohesive and can be walked, but there is stuff outside the town limits.

• 🌍 Big Springs, E Washington St. A natural spring in the center of town where Cherokees encamped in 1838-1839 during their Trail of Tears. It's not terribly commercialized, but there's a plaque. (updated Oct 2021)
• 🌍 Adsmore Museum, 304 N Jefferson St, ☏ +1 270 365-3114. A living history museum that recreates life from the later 1800s/early 1900s. (updated Oct 2021)
• 🌍 Capitol Cinemas, 203 W Main St, ☏ +1 270 365-7900. A historic art-deco cinema from 1939 where you can watch releases in 3 different theaters. (updated Oct 2021)

• Eddie Pennington Festival, a popular summer music festival featuring folk music and thumbpicking in particular, a la Merle Travis or Chet Atkins.
• 🌍 Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, 20781 Pennyrile Forest State Park Rd, ☏ +1 270 797-3421. A fun state park centered on a lake with hiking trails, golf course, non-motorized paddleboats, lodge, and camping. (updated Oct 2021)

• Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park, see above, is a super place to stay with all the nature and recreation at hand. Plus it has an enticing swimming pool.