Burnside, KY

Burnside sits right along the shores of Lake Cumberland in Pulaski County, and it has one of the most interesting backstories in Kentucky. The original town stood in the river valley below, but when the Wolf Creek Dam was built in the early 1950s to create the lake, the entire community packed up and moved uphill. When water levels drop in the winter, you can still catch glimpses of the old roads and foundations underwater, but modern Burnside has made itself right at home on the bluffs above.

ATTRNyttend / Public domain

Life here naturally revolves around the water. Residents have easy access to boating and fishing at Burnside Marina, along with hiking, camping, and an 18-hole golf course out on General Burnside Island State Park. You get a laid-back, small-town atmosphere with convenient local spots for daily errands, while the bigger shopping centers, restaurants, and hospitals in Somerset are only about ten minutes up Highway 27. It makes Burnside an appealing fit for anyone wanting a quiet lake routine within quick reach of everyday conveniences.