Lifestyle in Eastern Kentucky

Discover the Beauty and Charm of Pikeville, Kentucky: A Guide to Top Tourist Activities

Pikeville, Kentucky is a beautiful destination for travelers seeking a combination of outdoor adventure, history, and small-town charm. Located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, Pikeville is known for its scenic beauty, cultural heritage, and warm hospitality. If you are planning a trip to Pikeville, here are some popular tourist activities that you can engage in to make the most of your visit.

Visit the Pikeville Cut-Through Project

One of the most impressive engineering feats in the region, the Pikeville Cut-Through Project is a man-made channel that spans nearly a mile long and 523 feet deep. It was constructed in the 1970s-1980s to reroute the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River and prevent flooding in downtown Pikeville. Visitors can take a guided tour of the project to learn about the engineering process, the history of the region, and the impact of the project on the local community.

Explore the Breaks Interstate Park

Located just a short drive from Pikeville, the Breaks Interstate Park is a beautiful park that spans over 4,500 acres of rugged mountains, deep gorges, and rolling hills. The park offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, and mountain biking. Visitors can also enjoy scenic drives, wildlife viewing, and interpretive programs that highlight the natural and cultural history of the park.

Discover the Hatfield and McCoy Feud

The Hatfield and McCoy Feud is one of the most infamous family feuds in American history, and Pikeville is located at the heart of the feud. Visitors can explore the Hatfield and McCoy Historic Sites, which include the McCoy Homeplace, the Hatfield Cemetery, and the "Preacher Anse" Cabin, where the infamous hog trial between Randolph McCoy and Floyd Hatfield took place. A self-guided tour is available, and visitors can learn about the causes and consequences of the feud, as well as the lasting impact on the region.

Experience Appalachian Culture

Pikeville is located in the heart of Appalachia, and visitors can experience the rich culture and heritage of the region through a variety of activities. The Appalachian Center for the Arts offers live theater performances, music concerts, and art exhibits that showcase the creativity and talent of local artists. The Eastern Kentucky Exposition Center hosts a variety of events, including rodeos, concerts, and sporting events. Visitors can also explore local museums and galleries, attend cultural festivals and fairs, and sample the regional cuisine at local restaurants and cafes.

Enjoy the Scenic Beauty of the Region

Pikeville and the surrounding region are known for their breathtaking natural beauty, and visitors can enjoy the scenery through a variety of activities. The Russell Fork River offers some of the best whitewater rafting and kayaking in the region, and the nearby Jenny Wiley State Resort Park offers hiking trails, fishing, boating, and camping. Visitors can also take scenic drives through the mountains, explore local parks and nature preserves, and take in the views from scenic overlooks and observation points.

In conclusion, Pikeville, Kentucky offers visitors a unique blend of outdoor adventure, history, and culture that is sure to appeal to a wide range of interests. Whether you are seeking a relaxing getaway or an action-packed adventure, Pikeville has something to offer for everyone. So pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready to discover the beauty and charm of this hidden gem in the heart of Appalachia.

I grew up in Dallas and have lived in lots of big cities. Heck I've even lived in Hawaii. But when my husband and I stepped out of our car the first time we visited Pikeville, KY, we knew eastern Kentucky was where we wanted to live for the rest of our lives. We've lived in the area for 5 years now and couldn't be happier. I started my own business and the internet where I live is great so I get to work from home and spend time with my family. On the weekends we go exploring all the beautiful places in Appalachia from streams, to hiking trails. And my husband loves to fish and hunt so it's his dream place to live. Plus there's a great music scene with lots of local talent. And my favorite part is the people. They are kind and genuine. My neighbors feel like family. I love getting to live a country-style life in a small town where I can do anything I want and be anyone I want and not have to worry about a bunch of big city traffic and politics. There is no better place to raise my family. I love it here and always will.

My husband and I had been looking for a change from Colorado for years, however we were having a hard time figuring out where we wanted to relocate to. We knew that we wanted to get away from the city and into a more peaceful, rural setting, we just were not finding any locations that really called to us.

In early 2025 I spent months in southern Indiana taking care of my father and happened across the Make My Move website. I was brought in by "Move to the Mountain Towns of Eastern KY". In all honestly, I had never stopped to think that KY would have Mountains, I just always imaged the horses and plains. I reached out to Make My Move and was put in contact with the Eastern Kentucky guide, Latasha, to receive more information about the area.

Having the personal contact and conversation with Latasha, a real live human who spent her life in the area, was so refreshing! I was not speaking to someone on the other side of the country who was reading from a script, I was speaking with someone who truly lives in and loves the area we were starting to look into.

My husband flew out to Indiana to meet me at my father's, and with Latasha's help, we planned a road trip through Eastern Kentucky so we could see the area ourselves. We fell in love and knew we had finally found a place we wanted to relocate to to find the peace we had been seeking outside of the city.

Relocation from another state is a very daunting task, and Make My Move in conjunction with Latasha with SOAR, provided a friendly face and voices to help us navigate the logistics. Once we made the decision of where we wanted to move, the program provided us with excellent referrals for cross-country movers, storage options, KY local rentals, realtors, utility assistance, etc. Pretty much anything that we needed for the move, Make My Move and Latasha had an answer, referral and/or guidance on.

Latasha provided a list of vetted realtors and we chose Paul McCoy with EXP Realty out of Pikeville, KY, and he was absolutely amazing! He helped us find our dream home here in Knott County, KY. Latasha was there every step of the way in our home search with providing local recommendations around the different areas/counties we were looking at, as well as checking internet WAH capabilities on property addresses before we'd tour a home (we were looking in some very rural areas).

The previous owner asked if we would like their goats since their new place did not have roam for them. We were going to get goats at some point anyways, so we agreed. It is so much fun getting to know their personalities and gaining their trust! One of the females was pregnant so we have a new edition to the family as well! We are loving every minute of this as we learn and grow into this new chapter of our life. :)

The whole Make My Move experience was absolutely wonderful! With the resources the program provided, my husband and I truly have found our peace with our new home. A huge thank you to everyone involved with making our dream come true! Thank you all so much for helping us make our dream come true!

Advice for new movers - if you are able to, come visit/stay in the area(s) you are looking to move in to for an extended amount of time. We are so thankful that we were able to find a month to month rental that allowed us to be in Eastern KY while we searched for homes. Being able to start integrating ourselves in to the local communities and seeing and experiencing things firsthand made our home search much easier, and really allowed us to narrow in on what we truly wanted in our home.

What was your motivation for moving?

A simpler life in the country, and to be closer to my kids.

What do you like about Eastern KY?

Everything! The scenery, less traffic, and just the hospitality of everyone! We have seen so much wildlife, so beautiful!

Was our program helpful during the process? How so?

So helpful, it helped with the move and also to complete some renovations on our new home. We were given great suggestions for local sights and places to check out.

What advice would you give to someone looking to relocate to Eastern KY?

If you are looking to get out of the rat race and congestion, then this is where you want to be! It has been so refreshing and relaxing being here.

#testimonial

EKY Remote is a program of Shaping Our Appalachian Region in partnership with MakeMyMove.

This video takes you on an adventure through Eastern Kentucky’s breathtaking natural attractions — from soaring down zip lines over forest canopies to exploring the legendary Country Music Highway (U.S. 23), home to some of America’s greatest musical talent. You’ll also see the mountains, rivers, lakes, and hidden gems that make this region one of the best places to live and work remotely.

If you’re a remote worker looking for your next chapter, Eastern Kentucky could be the perfect fit.

Learn more and apply to the EKY Remote program HERE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJm_SHvC_G0