What to Do and See

America's Only Freshwater Pearl Farm
A real working freshwater pearl farm located on the scenic Tennessee River's beautiful Kentucky Lake near Camden, West Tennessee.  Enjoy a pontoon boat ride to the Pearl Farm, Nathan Bedford Forest State Park's River Folklife Museum and Old Johnsonville.  The mussel Industry Historical Guided Tour includes Pearl, Mussel, River Folklife Center and underwater diver surfacing with mussel shells. For more information, contact Birdsong Resort, 255 Marina Road, Camden, TN 38320 or call 731-584-7880. 

Paris Landing State Park & Convention Center
Paris Landing State Park, located on the western shore of Kentucky Lake, is only 16 miles from Paris on Hwy 79.  Included in this beautiful state park is a 100-plus room inn, a restaurant overlooking Kentucky Lake, five meeting rooms, day-use boat dock, tennis courts, marina and service dock with covered slips, lakeside rental cabins, 18-hole Golf Course and Pro Shop, forty-five campsites and an 18,000square foot Conference Center.
Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park.

The World's Biggest Fish Fry in Paris, Tennessee
Start with 1,325 pounds of cornmeal, 212 pounds of salt and 10,000 pounds of fresh Kentucky Lake catfish.  Add all of this with the annual Fish Fry Rodeo, the grand parade, street dances, sporting events, arts and craft shows and square dances, and you will have the world's biggest Fish Fry!  For more information, contact the World's Biggest Fish Fry, P.O. Box 444, Paris, TN 38242 or call 731-644-1143.

"The Highest Point in West Tennessee" - Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park
When T.J. Whitfield retired from a career of musseling on the Tennessee River, he never dreamed his boat, "Old Betsy," would come to rest on the highest point in West Tennessee.  The time-worn, wooden boat is now the centerpiece exhibit of the Tennessee River Folk Life Center.  It is located atop Pilot Knob, an ancient landmark for fishermen and pilots on the Tennessee River.  It is a fitting location for an interpretive center honoring the people who, like Whitfield, make their living on its waters.  The folklife center is located within the Nathan Bedford Forrest State Historic Area, nine miles east of Camden on Hwy. 191.  For more information on the area, contact the Benton County Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 270, Camden, TN 38320 or call 731-584-8395.