The Parklands

It’s National Picnic Month!

Nothing says summer quite like a picnic, so it makes perfect sense that August is National Picnic Month! It is a great opportunity to break out the picnic basket and head out to the parks for a little side of sunshine with your meal. Throughout the parks, there are a variety of picnic areas, including tables, comfortable pavilions, and even towering trees that create the perfect shady spot to stop and enjoy the fresh air and some of your favorite tasty treats. Here are a few of our favorite spots across The Parklands to stop and enjoy this delightful summer tradition: 

Beckley Creek Park

 

Humana Grand Allee: After a stroll down the boardwalk in the Allee, recharge with a picnic at the Festival Promenade or near the fountain in Humana Legacy Commons. If you’d like to provide a picnic for some of the local wildlife, you can even bring seed to feed the ducks that like to swim in the Allee wetlands! (Please don’t feed them any bread or picnic leftovers, they prefer treats like birdseed or cracked corn which keeps them feeling healthy and happy!) Nearby is the Oak Picnic Grove, where you can relax under the shade surrounded by large oak trees and old agricultural barns. 

Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP Pavilion: Enjoy the outdoors in the comfort of this picnic pavilion located in Creekside Center at Beckley Creek Park. Centrally located near the PNC Achievement Center, the Egg Lawn, and Floyds Fork, this pavilion is a great place to grab a picnic table and enjoy a break in the shade when it’s not reserved.

Lake Overlook: Want a picnic with a view? The Lake Overlook pavilion is located between Green Heron and Snapping Turtle Lakes, and provides a grand view of Angler Lake from the covered picnic tables.

Pope Lick Park

 

Pope Lick Trailhead: Near this trailhead, you will find a small, quiet picnic area that is perfect for a pre-hike pit stop. From many of the picnic spots in Pope Lick, you might see butterflies fluttering above the wildflowers. 

Turkey Run Park

 

Silo Center Lawn: A bit smaller than Beckley Creek’s Egg Lawn, the lawn at Brown-Forman Silo Center is a great place to put out a blanket and break into your picnic basket. Surrounded with views of the Hockensmith Barn and the towering yellow silo, this lawn offers a (usually) less-crowded place to lay back and enjoy the summer weather. Nearby, you can also find the Farmer’s Table and Pignic Barn, which offer shaded picnic tables and are available first-come-first-served to park visitors when not reserved. 

Boone Bottoms/Wild Hyacinth Trail: Enjoy a picnic at the tables near Ben Stout House or bring a blanket to picnic along the creek at Mussel Shoals. This spot is usually quiet, serene, and perfect for a relaxing picnic. 

Broad Run Park

 

Limestone Gorge: This spot in the Highland Crossing area offers a few picnic tables and quick access to the Louisville Loop. After your picnic, you can hike a short distance on the Louisville Loop to a beautiful pedestrian bridge with views of a large gorge that sometimes doubles as a rushing waterfall!

Big Vista Overlook: At approximately 650 feet above sea level, Big Vista Overlook is the highest point in Broad Run Park and boasts beautiful views of the valley below. One of my personal favorite places to picnic in The Parklands, the parking lot near the overlook offers access to picnic tables where you can enjoy your picnic with a great view of the park.

Moss Gibbs Woodland Garden: One of the favorite picnic spots in The Parklands, the Moss Gibbs Woodland Garden has so many great places to settle in for an enjoyable pit stop. The rondel near the trailhead has several comfortable benches that are perfect for a quick bite, and you can also find a quiet spot on one of the benches along the Woodland Garden trail. Another spot to enjoy a meal is under the Woodland Pavilion, which is a great spot to stop before or after a hike on the nearby trails. It might be reserved, but there is plenty of green space around to lay out a blanket.

Picnics are one of life’s simple pleasures: just pack up a couple of your favorite snacks and find a place to soak up the sun or lay in the cool grass while you spend time with the people you love. No fancy tablecloths or silverware necessary. In the end, it doesn’t really matter WHERE you go for a picnic, just be sure you go. 

While many picnic spots in The Parklands are first-come-first-served, our picnic shelters and pavilions can be rented for special occasions. For availability and pricing information, please contact our events team by phone at (502) 815-0277 or by email at events@21cparks.org

 

About the Author: 

Cassie Bays

 

Cassie joined The Parklands in February 2020 as a Graphic Design Intern for the Communications & Marketing team. She graduated with an Associate of Science in Visual Communications from Ivy Tech Community College and is continuing her education in graphic design at University of Louisville. She loves her job as graphic design intern because she gets to see unique and exciting projects come to life around the parks that she has visited for years. When she’s not at The Parklands, you might find her helping out as Assistant Gallery Manager at the Pat Harrison Art + Design Gallery, paddling on Floyds Fork, or growing her collection of houseplants. An avid traveler and hiker, Cassie also enjoys photography, painting, and baking homemade sourdough bread.