General Butler State Resort Park is a must-visit destination in Northern Kentucky.

General Butler State Resort Park is located in Carrollton, Kentucky, about halfway between Louisville and Cincinnati, off of I-71. It is situated amongst some wooded river hills near the confluence of the Ohio and Kentucky rivers.

General Butler features a lodge with a restaurant, cottages, a campground, a 9-hole golf course, fishing, paddleboats, and, topping it all off, MINI-GOLF! We've stayed at "Butler" a few times over the years, both in the lodge and also in the cabins.

The lodge is nice with a large outdoor swimming pool and an incredible view of the Ohio River valley. It also has a gift shop with locally produced nicks and nacks. Our lodge rooms were always clean and roomy with a decent number of cable channels.

The cottages, whilst a bit dated from a decor standpoint(at least the ones we stayed in), also are clean and roomy and feature a smallish, but fully-equipped kitchen. Some of the multi-roomed cottages appeared to be newer, so maybe their decor is a bit more modern. Still, our one-bedroom cottage had a great and peaceful view of General Butler's lake.

The Two Rivers Restaurant is a highlight of the lodge, with its recently changed menu to go with the new name (in fact I don't think the restaurant previously had a name). Two Rivers features local Kentucky cuisine (think Fried Chicken and Hot Browns, but no Bourbon), and their quality has improved greatly with the addition of the new chef, new menu and other changes.

Pets are only allowed at the campground, which has RV hookups, showers and the standard campground amenities. There are a few hiking trails at General Butler; they can be moderately strenuous considering the hilly nature of the park.

Of special note, is a scenic overlook featuring a stunning view of Carrollton and the Ohio River valley looking west. The Butler-Turpin Historic House is an 1859 structure which contains a small museum about the Butler family whose members fought in American wars from the Revolutionary to the Civil. The Turpin "side" of the house has nothing to do with former UK and Cleveland Cavaliers basketball player, Mel "Dinner Bell" Turpin.

Comfortable rooms and cottages along with the tasty food at the lodge combine with the quiet and peaceful surrounding area to make for a memorable visit. General Butler State Resort Park is definitely recommended for a midwestern weekend getaway. I reckon it would be a nice place to have a wedding and reception as well.