West Paducah is a rural community of McCracken county that’s comprised of beautiful countryside that includes farmlands and pastures, woods and many nice neighborhoods that are all just a couple of minutes away from Paducah and Lone Oak. The Barkley-Regional Airport is located in West Paducah, and a big draw to this community is the recently built McCracken County High School. Once the high schools consolidated, many families found it beneficial to live in close proximity to it.
The majority of Paducah’s retail shopping, restaurants, and entertainment is on the west side of the city, so it’s easy to make your way to see the latest film at Cinemark movie theater or shop your favorite stores. The shopper will absolutely love Paducah with it’s vast selection of the most popular chain retailers along Hinkleville Road and in The Kentucky Oaks Mall! The local small shops are just as popular, such as The Dirt Road and The Rustic Thread Boutique which carry the latest clothing fashions. Find that beautiful piece of unique home décor at Frenchtown Station, a converted 1930’s filling station, and don’t forget to walk over to their sister store, Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile. Charlton & Park carries high-end pieces, and they also have an interior design service if you want to make decorating even easier. If you need a “pick-me-up” while you’re out shopping, visit one of Paducah’s cozy coffee shops like Pipers Tea & Coffee in the historic Coke Plant Building where they roast their own coffee beans. Visit Etcetera Coffee House in Lowertown and sip your cuppa on their lovely shaded patio or catch a Friday Night “Open Mic Night”! The downtown Farmer’s Market is a fantastic place to shop in the summer, as they have the freshest selections of local farm fresh meat, produce, & plants, along with bakery items and more. This is a good place to not only support local farmers, but meet fellow Paducah residents, as it draws the community together each week. If the Farmers Market isn’t open, Midtown Market gourmet grocery carries local, organic, produce and meat along with top brand pantry staples, and locally roasted coffee. They also have a deli counter serving lunch with their fresh ingredients.
Paducah has some fantastic food. For delicious freshly cooked Asian food, go to Blue Ginger or Jasmines Thai and Sushi, located in The Kentucky Oaks Mall area, and for the eclectic palate, visit Flamingo Row! This tropical themed restaurant has been a staple in the food scene around Paducah for many years. They have an array of amazing food with names as fun as the atmosphere! Their “Fillymingo” stuffed bread sandwiches are a long-standing hit. They have juicy hamburgers served with hand cut fries, fresh tacos, and huge fresh salads like the “Coconut Cay” topped with coconut breaded chicken tenders & tropical fruit then finished with a piña colada yogurt dressing. Maybe you want to choose from their variety of “Flamwiches” which include their version of Kentucky Hot Brown to their chicken salad on a buttery croissant. In a restaurant featuring bright colors and palm trees, to the little umbrellas on the drinks, how can you not leave here happier than you arrive!? Many more delicious local eats can be found at Paducah’s historic riverfront. Visit the idyllic bakery, Kirchoff’s, where you’ll catch a whiff of all things delicious the second you walk in the door. You’ll be greeted with a huge case full of delectable desserts and cozy wooden shelves original to 19th century building it occupies, chocked full with freshly baked artisanal breads. Their café makes some fantastic lunches such as sandwiches, salad and their daily special. They put heart into all the food they create, and it’s evident in the delicious flavors! Cynthia’s Ristorante is an elegant dining experiencelocated on the cobblestone Market Street. Serving fresh seafood flown-in daily from the coast, house-made pastas, USDA prime grade A steaks with a white table cloth and candlelight atmosphere, this romantic restaurant is one of Paducah’s finest. A couple blocks away, the Freight House serves modern Southern cuisine in a restored old freight building. Freight house is home to Chef Sara Bradley, who is the nationally televised 2019 Bravo Top Chef runner up, and her food is just as highly acclaimed as she keeps a fresh, seasonal menu sourcing local Kentucky ingredients. For a mouth-watering steak in an unpretentious environment, head to Doe’s Eat Place, located on the corner of Broadway and Markethouse Street, which is famous for their large hand-cut steaks that serve two people, and homemade tamales. This Southern franchise started in Greenville, MS has a great atmosphere with live music on the weekends and amazing food all the time.
Let’s talk about all the great outdoor spaces around Paducah! There are many lovely ways to spend a beautiful day in the great outdoors. The furry friends in your life will love running free with other pups at The Paducah Dog Park! This safely fenced-in area is a great way to give your dog some exercise and social time in a safe environment. It’s located near Noble Park, and the Greenway Trail which are both beautiful places for fun and recreation. Noble Park is Paducah’s largest park that is centered around a serene lake perfect for some leisurely fishing. It also has picnic tables and pavilions with a few playground areas and a large city pool. This park has a great walking trail around it making it one of many nice places to go for a walk or run in town. For an even longer excursion, Paducah’s Greenway Trail is wonderful trail spanning 5 miles long, with plans to add on in the future! This trail is nice for walking and exceptional for bicycles since it goes through town and country, along the Ohio Riverfront, and through 3 different city parks. The riverfront is a relaxing place to go fishing or just relax and watch the boats, when the weather is nice.
In a city known for it’s appreciation of art and history, you won’t find a better place to observe these than downtown near Paducah’s riverfront. The Ohio riverfront’s flood wall murals are a exemplary piece of history in art form. The flood walls, built after the Great Flood of 1937 that devastated Paducah, are intricately painted by local artisans to tell the story of Paducah from it’s origin to modern times. While locals hold these murals close to their heart, the incoming tourists admire them as well. The Quilt Museum, in the Art District of Lowertown near the riverfront, houses intricately hand-stitched quilts. Paducah holds an annual National Quilt Week for the American Quilters Society which is a festival that draws thousands of quilters from all the world! With horse-drawn carriage rides on its cobblestone streets, café tables lining the sidewalks, and festivals every season, Paducah holds amenities that draw locals and visitors alike to partake. The “Lowertown” art district is located in the oldest historic community, and is specifically dedicated to artists and their work. Paducah draws new artists to the area through tax incentive programs, which have aided in establishing this thriving arts community over the last several years. The streets are lined with historic homes and apartment buildings, some of which house art studios. Each spring, Lowertown hosts an Art Festival in the streets that’s fun for the whole family to enjoy. For more historical enrichment, travel west to Wickliffe, and discover ancient Indian Mounds from natives who occupied this area overlooking the river during 1100-1350 AD at the Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site. The site is such an interesting place to explore actual Native American mounds that have remained for almost one thousand years! This park has a museum where you can view other artifacts that have been excavated from the area, and a gift shop. There’s a picnic area, a large pavilion, and a walking trail for more outside exploration. They host educational tours and programs for an additional fee if you want to dive more in-depth about this culture.
The thriving city of Paducah is constantly growing, from its thriving retail area, to the historic downtown, to the vibrant culinary scene and the nice subdivisions that lie on the outskirts. The interstate running through Paducah and the airport in West Paducah make this community an easy place to commute and travel. West Paducah is a wonderful place to live with its welcoming folks who encourage ingenuity and support small business and local farms—all of this is at your fingertips while you can live the peaceful life you’ve always wanted.
The Jeter Group