Written by Lindsey Harlan and Sara Rashid, this article originally appeared on Explore Kentucky Lake's Explorations in October 2010.

In small towns, stories spread like wildfire, and when those stories carry a wicked or spooky twist, it is not shocking that those creepy tales become legends. Our corner of the world is no different. While we like to think of our area as a little slice of paradise, with all the Native American and Civil War history in this region, not to mention the unpopular relocation of many residents during the creation of Land Between The Lakes, it is no surprise that a few eye-brow raising stories have been spun over the years. If you add to these historical events the legend of the Beast of LBL, the Phantom Trucker, the "Vampire Hotel" and the countless cemeteries tucked within these hills, LBL can become a haven for the creepy and weird.

My husband and I had the opportunity to get away for the afternoon without our small children.  We set out for an exciting exploration of an area we had not had many opportunities to investigate:  Camden, Tenn.  We had heard that there was a wonderful place to view Kentucky Lake at an overlook called Pilot Knob.  Obviously, this was right up our alley.  What we didn’t know was that the Tennessee River Folklife Center was located nearby.

It's always interesting to see local historical photos of Kentucky Lake before its creation.  These are no exception. Some of these are from the Kentucky Dam Visitor's Center while others have unknown origins.

Visitors to Land Between The Lakes can take a step back in time to an era before virtually any modern amenity.  The Homeplace 1850s Working Farm and Living History Museum features an active farm with period buildings, tools, animals, and interpreters dressed in attire of the 1850s.

Traveling down US 68/KY 80 from Bowling Green to Hopkinsville, first-timers may rub their eyes a bit when a giant obelisk that looks like the Washington Monument peaks over the trees in the horizon.  Double-takes are certain for those who have never been through this part of southern Kentucky and have not seen the Jefferson Davis Monument.

It’s not every day one gets to see the inner-workings of a large hydroelectric plant inside a huge dam. The opportunity presented itself to us not too long ago - we got to partake in a private tour of the powerhouse at Kentucky Dam.

The United States Geological Survey has a great online mapping feature that is quite addicting and can suck you in for a while.

A monument of Paducah’s extensive railroad history is located downtown at the riverfront wall.  This locomotive, a 1923 Mikado, along with a baggage-mail car and a caboose, is a reminder of our country’s dependence on railroads throughout history.

Geocaching is an activity where you locate a geocache using Global Positioning System or GPS.  A geocache is typically a small container hidden on public grounds that contain small trinkets and a log book.  Handheld GPS units or your smartphone can guide you to geocaches.

Maplewood Cemetery in Mayfield, Ky. has many unusually large and ornate burial tombs.  The most prominent memorial display in the cemetery is the Wooldridge Monuments.  The curious set of 18 statues are known as “the strange procession which never moves.”

We can't get enough of historical photos, especially those that show such drastic change.  Recently we found these photos on the US Army Corps of Engineers' Flickr album.  We selected three of our favorites, but you can see the entire album on their Flickr.

If you are looking for a great day-trip to make with kids, look no further than the Discovery Park of America.  Located on 50 acres in Union City, Tenn., this state-of-the-art facility can easily entertain children and adults alike.

There is literally something for everyone!  The main building hosts ten exciting educational exhibits.  There is a hands-on area for small children to explore as well as a 48-foot human sculpture with a slide inside.

History buffs in the family will love the military exhibits that feature airplanes and ground vehicles from military history as well as the regional and national history exhibits in the museum.

Prior to the 1920s highway bridges crossing large rivers were almost non-existent in rural America.  The reason for this is most highways, as we know them, simply didn’t exist.  And the reason for that is not many people in rural America had cars.

Jackson Purchase

You've heard of far western Kentucky.  It is the section of the state between the Mississippi River and the Tennessee River.  However, this part of the state did not become under definitive US control in 1792 when formed.  In 1818, Andrew Jackson officially purchased the disputed land from the Chickasaw Indians.  The Kentucky part of the sale became known as the Jackson Purchase.

Members of the media were invited out today to see a significant archaeological dig at the site of the new Lake Barkley Bridge in Canton. Having an interest in archaeology and history myself, I made a special point to attend this question and answer session with local and state archaeologists.