I Highly Recommend a Vacation in Eastern Kentucky [PICS]

I have a goal of visiting all 50 states before I'm gone, and I'm up to 45. The Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Hawaii await. While I can't wait to finish the job, on a smaller scale, my work is cut out for me.

One of my oldest friends in the world has visited all 120 counties in Kentucky. I'm nowhere near that number, but I got a lot closer this year when we decided to do what we've long wanted to do and visit parts of the Commonwealth we've never been before. So off we went to Appalachia.

If you don't live near breathtaking eastern Kentucky, you should find time to go and soak in all that extraordinary mountainous landscape. We began by driving up to the top of Pine Mountain which overlooks Pineville--population 1,732 at last count. But it looks even smaller from way up here.

Then it was down the road to Middlesboro KY, Cumberland Gap, and the Pinnacle Overlook from which you can see three different states from the same point--Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. You can even stand in two of them at the same time.

Cumberland Falls was next. Unfortunately, we were too early for the moonbow.

As we headed north, we realized a very important landmark was in our path, so we had to stop. I think it would be hard to visit Corbin KY without visiting the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Yes, the Sanders Cafe and Museum is a must. Lots of cool history and nostalgic swag.

Finally, before effectively wrapping up the trip, we paid a visit to the Kentucky Reptile Zoo in Slade. If you want to see more exotic and highly venomous serpents than you've ever seen before, this is a stop for you. At the top from left to right then bottom: the black mamba of western Africa; east African green mamba; and the Taylor's cantil, a relative of the copperhead, which is found in northeastern Mexico.

I'll have to go through a list of Kentucky counties and check off all the ones I've visited. Then I'll hopefully be able to check off the rest, one by one. We have a beautiful Commonwealth on our hands, and it's worth our attention.