Alvy’s Hideaway

Cadiz? I’m in Cadiz, KY? Even though I am Kentucky born and bred, I never thought that I’d write — or say — that sentence. But, it came to pass that I was meeting up with a group of very special people and we needed a large Kentucky venue to house us. After one of my buddies did some expert sleuthing, we came upon Alvy’s Hideaway on scenic Lake Barkely.
I’ve lived in nine different American cities. I’ve been to many different countries. I would put Kentucky’s beauty up against any in the world. It’s a geographically gorgeous state and this house will make you think the same. It backs up to a wooded lot with lake access which makes for spectacular sunrises. It also makes for super short commutes for all of your fishing, boating and tubing needs. With a grill, fire pit and swingset, you’ll find an abundance of opportunities to spend time outside. If wandering the great outdoors is less your speed than looking at it, the house offers screened-​in porches on the main and lower levels.
And, let’s talk about the house. It sleeps 26. That’s not a typo. With eight bedrooms of varying sizes and styles, Alvy’s is perfect for reunions, events and other shin digs which require accommodations for a football team-​sized roster. In addition to the bedrooms, both levels have spacious common areas and three porches, perfect for private chats or morning solitude with coffee. One of my favorite parts of the house is the industrial-​sized tea maker in the kitchen. It’s perfectly Southern and was used throughout my group’s stay.
As much as I like Alvy’s, there are some things to get used to. The bedrooms/​bathrooms are not all made equally. It’s remote. I had to harken back to my Boy Scout days to really get in the groove upon my arrival. While there are other homes around you, the house isn’t easily or readily accessible to the interstate. You have to commit to coming here. There’s no internet. Leave your laptops at home. You won’t be able to use them. Likewise, getting a cell signal in the house was next to impossible. There was a landline at the home but even that was a little touch and go. The lack of viable and accessible communication made me a bit uneasy but I found that if I needed a cell signal, I just needed to walk up the driveway and into the main road (geez, that makes me sound *so* Kentuckian) and the nearby (5 – 10 minute drive) state campgrounds offers wifi. But, if you’re committing to a vacation with friends/​family on a gorgeous lake, do you need to be online? I discovered the answer was ‘no.’