Adair County, Kentucky, is a lake lover’s paradise and a charming stop for some local shopping and down home eats.

Adair County in South-Central Kentucky is nestled among some of Kentucky’s most well-known bodies of water, making it a hub for lake lovers. Bask in the sun or cast a line at the 8,210-acre Green River Lake, highly regarded by outdoor recreationists as an ideal spot for fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, paddling, and birding. You may even spot a bald eagle, which have been observed during all months of the year but are more readily viewable during the winter months (with peaks in January and February). Visitors or residents of Adair County also enjoy easy access to Lake Cumberland, Dale Hollow Lake, and Barren River Lake, all just a short drive away.

The great outdoors not your thing? That’s okay! The county seat, Columbia, has loads of small-town charm to show off.  Every Saturday morning from May through October, hit the town square for a farmers market featuring loads of local farm fresh meats, fruits, vegetables, and more. Enjoy some southern hospitality at Betty’s Country Cooking, a favorite stop for friendly service, comfort food favorites like biscuits and gravy, and their wildly popular dessert pies, or enjoy a delicious meal at Anderson’s Pizzeria, where live music is on the menu most every weekend.  Walk the historic downtown and pop into local shops, like the Nanwood Market, a family-owned boutique that has home goods, gifts, and even serves coffee and tea! See historical gems like the Adair County Courthouse, which is wonderfully preserved and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Trabue Russell House, which was built in the 1820s and has a medicinal garden maintained by Adair County Extension Master Gardeners.

Adair County is also home to Lindsey Wilson College, a vibrant liberal arts college founded in 1903. A central point of the beautiful, pastoral campus is the John B. Begley Chapel, designed by the late world-renowned architect E. Fay Jones, a disciple of the legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

And while you are in the area, be sure to visit one of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Certified Farm Markets in Adair County: Holiday Farm Market and Penn Country Hams.

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For your convenience, Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance has multiple offices located in Adair County. Click here for more information.

The 120 is a blog produced by Kentucky Farm Bureau highlighting each of Kentucky's 120 counties—because we're well-known for knowing Kentucky well.