Rural beauty is what you’ll find along the Great River Road as it passes through Kentucky. Here are three places you should visit on your next trip along this scenic stretch of the byway.

Traveling north along the Great River Road in Kentucky, your first stop should be Columbus-Belmont State Park. The park located on the banks of the Mississippi River and is home to an interesting Civil War Museum housed in a farmhouse that was once a Confederate hospital. During the Civil War, a fort was built at Columbus and armed with 143 canons. The park includes a snack bar, gift shop, mini golf, a picnic area and campground.

Further north, you’ll find Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site. From A.D. 1100 to 1350, a Native American village occupied the site at Wickliffe Mounds. The settlement included earthen mounds and homes overlooking the Mississippi River. Today, the area is an archeological site. A museum includes exhibits displaying Mississippian-era pottery, stone tools, artifacts and artwork. Climb atop the Ceremonial Mound for great views of the area.

A short drive east from the Great River Road, you’ll find Paducah. This charming community was recently named a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts & Folk Art. Stop by the National Quilt Museum and explore the city’s many shops and galleries.