Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Hopkinsville offers visitors and residents the best of both worlds—the familiarity of a small town, where people care about their neighbors—and big city features, such as progressive health care, technically advanced industries and a variety of shopping and recreational opportunities. It's also a place where rush hour and bumper-to-bumper traffic are almost non-existent and, as the locals say, "You're ten minutes from anywhere." The cost of living is below the national average and housing is affordable and attractive. For more information, call the Hopkinsville Christian County Chamber of Commerce at (270) 885-9096 or visit http://www.commercecenter.org/chamber/.

Location
Hopkinsville is located approximately 20 miles north of Fort Campbell. National Strategy Group listed Hopkinsville as one of the best places to live in the United States and Reader's Digest ranked the city in its top 50 best places to raise a family. Hopkinsville-Christian County is also located within one hour of a variety of recreation, shopping, entertainment and family opportunities, such as Nashville, Tenn., Paducah, Ky., Evansville, Ky., Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and Pennyrile Forest State Park.

Education
Christian County public schools strive to meet the individual needs of each student. To accomplish this mission, the student-teacher ratio is kept at a minimum and multiple school districts are available. In addition to 11 elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools, the Christian County educational system also includes three parochial and private schools and one non-denominational school.
When the school day is over, a variety of sports and clubs are available to keep kids involved and active. For more information, visit www.christian.k12.ky.us. The city also offers higher educational opportunities. Hopkinsville Community College is a comprehensive two-year college offering a wide range of degrees. For more information, visit www.hopcc.kctcs.edu. Furthermore, Murray State University allows students to obtain a four year degree without leaving Hopkinsville.

Health Care
Supported by state-of-the-art facilities at Jennie Stuart Medical Center and Trover Clinic, the Christian County Health Department is charged with healthcare protection and improvement for all Christian County residents. The medical community also includes Cumberland Hall Hospital, a 56-bed psychiatric facility that provides services for residents with emotional and substance abuse problems.

Recreation
The Hopkinsville-Christian County Recreation Department operates and maintains a variety of public use facilities such as parks, playgrounds, tennis courts, gymnasiums, golf courses, soccer fields, picnic pavilions, fishing lakes, horseshoe courts, shuffleboard courts, softball fields, baseball fields and community centers. The city is also the home of the new 5,000-seat multi-purpose sports complex, a country club, a recently expanded Family YMCA and a Boys and Girls Club. In addition to facilities, the recreation department also sponsors supervised playgrounds, junior pro-basketball, a Babe Ruth league, little league, girls' softball, adult softball, basketball and volleyball.

Arts and Attractions
The Pennyroyal Arts Council offers a year round program of performing arts. Among the yearly offerings is a series of concerts featuring internationally known artists. Other points of interest include Pennyroyal Area Museum, Trail of Tears Commemorative Park, Fort Campbell Memorial Park, Jefferson Davis Monument State Historic Site and Round Table Park.

Annual Events
Hopkinsville hosts many events with a family emphasis throughout the year, such as the April Dogwood Trail and May Little River Days. Both residents and visitors enjoy the annual June Jazz/Blues Festival and the September Indian Pow Wow. Held at the Trail of Tears Park, the Pow Wow features authentic Indian dances, traders, crafts, audience participation and ethnic foods. For more information regarding any of these events, contact the Hopkinsville-Christian County Tourism Commission (270) 885-9096.

Military Affairs Committee
The Hopkinsville-Christian County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee works year-round to build better relationships between the Soldiers and military families of Fort Campbell and the local Hopkinsville community. The highlight of their year is "Hopkinsville Salutes Fort Campbell." The week-long celebration is held in September each year and includes a chili cook-off, children's activities, home tours and more. The committee also sponsors activities and events throughout the year such as the Sounds of Friendship and Freedom Concert, monthly military spouses' luncheons, Hopkinsville tours and the Spring Fling. For more information, visit www.fortcampbellinfo.com.

Organizations
For a complete listing of more than 100 clubs and organizations, contact the Hopkinsville- Christian County Chamber of Commerce, (270) 885-9096 or visit www.commercecenter.org.

Clarksville, Tennessee
Situated in the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee, Clarksville is one of the fastest growing cities in the Southeast. With a heritage spanning more than 200 years, Clarksville-Montgomery County continues to grow and adapt, becoming the state's fifth largest city. Both visitors and residents enjoy the shops and eateries of downtown Clarksville and with its brick sidewalks, tree lined streets, decorative lighting and park benches, the historic area is drawing new attention.

Also emerging is Clarksville's revitalized and thriving riverfront district. Area leaders are continuously working to build on the community's strengths with the vision of a vibrant, prosperous future. From history and heritage to majestic waterways and fun-filled attractions, visitors have plenty of options in Clarksville- Montgomery County. For a complete listing of activities, call (800) 530-2487 or visit www.clarksville.tn.us.

Location and Climate
Clarksville, Tenn. is nestled on the banks of the Cumberland and Red Rivers, 45 miles northwest of Nashville, Tenn. Located just off Interstate 24, Clarksville is the first city south of the Mason-Dixon Line, and with a population of more than 100,000, Clarksville is the Gateway to the New South. Clarksville enjoys a mild southern climate with four distinct seasons. The average annual temperature is 57.4 degrees with an average annual of 50.75 inches of rain and occasional snowfall.

Economy
Over the past ten years, Clarksville employment has surged with strong growth in services, construction, government, agriculture and retail. In 2005, Clarksville was ranked 20th in the Milken Institute "Best Performing Cities 2005: Where America's Jobs Are Created and Sustained." Overall, Clarksville-Montgomery County maintains a very healthy economy and plans for steady future growth.

Education The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System was recognized in the top 10 percent of the nation's schools meeting parental goals. They also received the Governor's "A+ Award for Excellence in Education," in recognition of strong curriculum and teaching, low drop-out rates, active adult education, parental involvement programs and school-towork initiatives. For parents seeking an alternative to the traditional school system, Clarksville offers several private, religious and secular schools. Clarksville business and technical schools offer students the opportunity to seek positions in the service industry or they can provide additional training to those already established in their careers. For upper education in Clarksville, students can live at home while attending Austin Peay State University. What initially began as a teaching school with only 158 students is now the educational and cultural hub of Clarksville, with a current enrollment of more than 8,800 students.

Healthcare
Gateway Health System offers programs, services and facilities to residents of northern Tennessee and southern Kentucky. Employing more than 1,200 professionals and 150 physicians on its medical staff, Gateway is a fullyaccredited 206-bed medical center. The facility provides numerous state-of-the art services including cancer care, cardiac care, magnetic resonance imagining, respiratory care, surgery, critical care, sub-acute care, rehabilitation and emergency services. Gateway Health System is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Recreation
Both the City of Clarksville and Montgomery County each operate a Parks and Recreation Department, providing and maintaining more than 500 acres in 23 community parks. Facility amenities include playgrounds, picnic areas, walking trails and pavilions. Several of the parks also feature restrooms, open play areas, basketball courts and ball fields. With the Cumberland and Red Rivers lining the city, activities such as boating, water skiing, jet skiing and fishing are enjoyed by both visitors and residents. Clarksville is also a golfer's paradise. Clarksville's four public courses—Eastland Green, Swan Lake, Mason Rudolph and Cole Park—each offer beautiful greens at affordable prices. It's no wonder Clarksville was ranked by Golf Digest as the 11th "Best City in the U.S. for Public Golf."

Arts and Attractions
Beachaven Vineyards and Winery
1100 Dunlop Lane
Enjoy free tours and tasting at one of Tennessee's foremost commercial wineries. Known for producing award-winning wines and champagnes, Beachaven provides a glimpse into the centuries-old art of wine making. A picturesque Tudor-style building, on-site vineyards, distinctive gift items and a shaded picnic area make Beachaven a delightful and memorable destination. During the summer months, Beachhaven hosts "Jazz on the Lawn," a series of free concerts on alternating Saturday nights. For more information, call (931) 645-8867 or visit www.beachavenwinery.com.

Customs House Museum and Cultural Center
200 S. 2nd St.
Built in 1898 as a U.S. Post Office and Customs House for the flourishing tobacco trade, this architecturally fascinating structure is among the most photographed buildings in Tennessee.

The state's second largest general history museum, the museum features rotating shows, fine art galleries, and a sculpture garden, along with permanent exhibits, and the Explorer's Floor—a special area for the entire family to solve puzzles and play games. For more information, call (931) 648-5780.

Cumberland RiverWalk
McGregor Park, Riverside Drive
Stroll the meandering Cumberland RiverWalk, the city's signature riverfront promenade. The internationally acclaimed RiverWalk is the centerpiece of the River District and includes an amphitheater, overlook plazas, a playground, picnic facilities, wharf, boat ramp, pedestrian overpass and performance stages. For more information, call (931) 645-7476.

Historic Collinsville
4711 Weakley Road
A living-history museum featuring 15 restored log homes and outbuildings, historic Collinsville is situated on 40 rolling acres with picnic areas and walking trails. Structures date from 1830 to 1870 and all include authentic furnishings. For more information, call (931) 648-9141.

Dunbar Cave State Natural Area
401 Old Dunbar Cave Road
Dunbar Cave State Natural Area is open every day, 8 a.m. until sunset. Periodic programs are conducted by the park staff, along with guided tours of the cave and slide shows. The park also offers picnic tables, hiking trails and fishing. For more information, call (931) 648-5526.

Roxy Regional Theatre
100 Franklin St.
The Roxy Regional Theatre, Clarksville's oldest professional theatre, offers patrons a combination of professional company shows and community offerings. Housed in a 1947 modern-art theatre, the Roxy produces ten mainstage events annually. The Roxy's "Other Space" produces four new scripts a year in its 40-seat black-box theatre.

Shopping
Clarksville provides residents and visitors with a variety of shopping options. For those seeking a traditional shopping experience, Governor's Square Mall features department stores as well as smaller specialty shops. Shoppers looking for more unique items will enjoy historic downtown Franklin Street.

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
Land Between the Lakes is the largest inland peninsula in the United States. It is the second largest contiguous block of forested public land east of the Mississippi. Located in Western Kentucky and Tennessee, the area draws approximately 2 million visitors annually. Visitors come from all 50 states and over 30 foreign countries. LBL and the surrounding lakes are the focal point of a $600 million tourism industry. There are 22 lake access areas with boat ramps, five courtesy docks, four fishing piers and six beaches. LBL contains 420 miles of roads, more than 90 bridges and five dams. During the day, visitors can enjoy LBL facilities including a nature center, living history farm, planetarium and observatory, horseback riding campground, public horse stable, off-highway vehicle area, Elk and Bison Prairie, interpretive site (iron industry), five gift shops and three visitor information centers.

Outdoor Recreation
There are more than 200 miles of hiking and biking trails and approximately 100 miles of horse and wagon trails. Campers can choose from 985 campsites in four developed campgrounds, five lake access areas with primitive camping and virtually unlimited backcountry camping.

History
LBL has three sites on the National Register of Historic Places: Fort Henry, site of a major Civil War battle; the Center Furnace; and the Great Western Iron Furnace. The region was primarily an iron production center during the mid- 19th century. Seventeen iron furnaces operated within what is now LBL. The ruins of two of these are accessible to visitors.

Wildlife and Plants
LBL has the largest publicly owned bison herd east of the Mississippi River. LBL has more than 1,300 plant species, over 240 bird species and 53 different mammal species. LBL is an active participant in the nation's efforts to re-establish the eagle population in Western Kentucky and Tennessee A hacking program was designed in 1980.

Hacking is a traditional falconers' term meaning the gradual return of raptors to the wild without human imprinting. Between 1980 and 1988, 44 Bald Eagles were reintroduced to the shorelines of LBL. Currently, LBL is home to a wintering eagle population of more than 100 birds and there are between 12 to 16 active nesting sites.

In February 1996, after a 150-year absence in the region, LBL reintroduced elk into a 700- acre Elk and Bison Prairie. In February 2001, 25 elk from LBL's Elk and Bison Prairie were transported to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park in an experimental reintroduction program. Since 1991, LBL has maintained a captive breeding pair of Red Wolves as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Red Wolf Recovery effort.

Attractions at LBL include The Homeplace living history farm, Woodlands Nature Station, Elk and Bison Prairie and the Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory.

The Homeplace, located in the southern portion of LBL, allows visitors to experience life much as it was in mid-19th century rural America. Through a blending of artifacts, historic structures and the re-creation of farm activities, The Homeplace gives visitors a glimpse of the traditions and lifestyles of this era in American history.

The Nature Station offers special events throughout the year, in addition to the regular calendar of programs and demonstrations. Among the most popular events are guided bald eagle excursions. These van and boat tours take visitors into the field to see the migratory bald eagle population wintering in LBL each year. The Elk and Bison Prairie is another fascinating LBL facility. Opened in June 1996, this 700-acre area is a restoration of the native prairie habitat that thrived in Western Kentucky and upper Middle Tennessee over 200 years ago. Native wildlife such as elk and bison inhabit the prairie. Visitors can take a self-guided driving tour of the site along a 3.5-mile paved loop featuring three interpretive stops.

The Golden Pond Planetarium is located inside the Golden Pond Visitor Center. The planetarium features an 81-seat theater and offers state-of-the-art planetarium shows several times daily during the LBL operating season. It's also home to the Western Kentucky Amateur Astronomers (WKAA), which hold monthly meetings and stargazing sessions. For more information, call (270) 924-2000 or visit www.lbl.org.

Grand Rivers, Kentucky
Grand Rivers is located between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Nestled in a small valley at the widest points of each lake, Grand Rivers bills itself as Kentucky's Premier Resort Village. With two of the region's finest resorts and marinas, Grand Rivers provides unlimited water recreation. The village also lies at the northern entrance to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. This proximity gives active folks the opportunity for outdoor recreation of all kinds—boating, hiking, biking, swimming, hunting, fishing, camping and wildlife encounters. In addition, visitors will find a variety of comfortable lodgings, shopping from antiques to boutiques and a great selection of restaurants. For more information, call (888) 493-0152 or visit www.grandrivers.com.

Attractions
Grand Rivers is a water-oriented community with two top ranked marinas—Lighthouse Landing and Green Turtle Bay Resort. Boats of almost any size can be rented here. Grand Rivers is also the home of Patti's 1880 Settlement. Here you will find fine dining, unique shopping, miniature golf and a petting zoo.

Badgett Playhouse
The playhouse is a state-of-the-art theater featuring the Branson Show, Variety! Music, Memories and More. The show, which includes singers and musicians from Nashville, Tenn., and Branson, Mo., features music from the 1940s to present. It also includes a tribute to our Soldiers.

Annual Events
Each fall, the Grand Rivers community celebrates the Hunter's Moon Festival. Named for the first full moon after the harvest moon, Grand Rivers hosts the annual four-day event the second weekend in October. Activities include arts and crafts, a parade, music, food and contests. With spring comes the annual Spring Festival and Quilt Show, which is becoming more popular every year. This event occurs concurrently with the national quilt show in Paducah, Ky., and is held during the last full week in April.

Cadiz, Kentucky
Cadiz is the east gateway to Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. Several marinas and resorts are located on the shoreline of Lake Barkley, offering unlimited recreational facilities. The city is located 30 miles west of Fort Campbell. For more information, call (270) 522-3892.

Trigg County Country Ham Festival
Celebrated during the second weekend in October, the country ham festival is a celebration of the county's world-famous country hams. The ham festival is a week long event for residents of Cadiz and Trigg County, as well as thousands of visitors from all across the country. The festival is a celebration of the art and science of curing country ham. Activities include a greased pig contest, baking the world's largest ham and biscuit, hog-tough races, arts and crafts, food and much more. For more information, call (270) 522-3892 or visit www.hamfestival.com.

The Cadiz Antique Market
The Cadiz Antique Market consists of five antique malls in downtown Cadiz. It includes a wide variety of antiques and collectibles for both advanced and novice collectors. Featured items include furniture, glassware, textiles, pottery, lamps and lamp parts, stamps, coins, jewelry, toys and sporting goods. For more information, call (270) 522-3316.

Prizer Point Marina and Resort
Surrounded by water on three sides and 72 wooded acres on the fourth, Prizer Point allows visitors to experience 57 acres of Western Kentucky beauty. Family owned and operated, Prizer Point has been named Kentucky's highest rated campground four years in a row. In the June 2005 edition of Highways Magazine, Prizer Point was named 40th in their "Best of the Best" rankings. For more information, call (270) 522-3762 or visit www.prizerpoint.com.