The rolling hills of Crittenden County are home to Kentucky's largest
Amish Community with a population of over five hundred. Cabinetry,
furniture, baked goods and bulk foods as well as seasonal items such as
plants, vegetables, pumpkins and gourds can be purchased from individual
Amish families.
While visiting the
Amish Community take your car on a boat ride across the Ohio River on the
Cave in Rock Ferry.
A free ferry runs continuous from the Kentucky side of the Ohio River
to the southern Illinois town of Cave in Rock. Hours of operation are
from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
Marion is a bustling town with
quaint shops that sell many beautiful handmade items, antique malls,
delightful restaurants
and coffee shops. The friendly people are always willing to visit and
extend the Southern hospitality for which they are famous.
Marion is home to the
Clement Mineral Collection (
check out the Mineral Show here),
a "World Class" Collection of Kentucky and Illinois Flourite. The
crystal specimens range in weight from a fraction of an ounce to
hundreds of pounds. Each was a rare accidental find among regular ore
bodies, and was brought from deep underground and preserved. The museum
host several mineral digs through out the year and the Annual Gem &
Mineral Show the first weekend of June each year.
A variety of
lodging
is offered through out the area, you may chose from a delightful Bed
& Breakfast, a quaint cottage, campground or a lodge big enough to
accommodate large groups. Be assured you will find an accommodation to
fit your needs.
The area is home to the second largest whitetail deer population in Kentucky. Hunters enjoy the safety of
hunting
on private lands leased for hunting opportunities. Wild Turkeys are
also in abundance, but challenge even the best hunter during the spring
hunting season.
The community is host to several
events through out the year which attract world wide visitors. The most notable is the
Backroads Tour and Festival
held each April in conjunction with the American Quilters Society
National Quilt Show held in Paducah the third week of April each year.
Visitors take the self guided tour of the Amish Community, visit craft
vendors at Marion Commons and view quilts display by local quilters and
collectors. The Highway 60 Yard sale brings yard sellers to hunt for
bargains along the 200 mile yard sale held the first weekend of October
each year. Christmas in Marion is a pre season craft show held annually
at Historic Fohs Hall the third Saturday in October. Early Christmas
shoppers find hand craft ranging from baskets, jewelry, decorating items
and candles at Christmas in Marion.
