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29 Top Things to Do in Kentucky

Kentucky is synonymous with bourbon, country music and horse racing, but visitors to the Bluegrass State might not expect its quirky museums or impressive natural wonders.

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From wandering museums in the city to exploring unique attractions in the countryside, Kentucky offers something for everyone.

Kentucky is generally associated with derbies, whiskey and fried chicken, but there is much more to the Bluegrass State. A sprawling underground cave system, a plunging river gorge, and a stunning waterfall all call the state home, as do Corvettes, an unlikely castle and a museum dedicated to creationism. And while there is certainly a quirky roadside attraction for every taste, many museums and attractions close down for the winter, so travelers should plan their itineraries accordingly.

There is plenty to occupy families and road trippers within Kentucky's state lines, but it's also helpful to know that Cincinnati is just a John A. Roebling suspension bridge away — 83 miles from Lexington, Kentucky, or 100 miles from Louisville, Kentucky .

Whether you're on the hunt for the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail or ready to forge your own path, read on for 29 of the best things to do in Kentucky.

(Note: Some of the following activities, attractions and locations may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. New policies may be in place, including capacity restrictions, reservation requirements or mask mandates. Check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of State and local tourism boards before traveling.)

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

Courtesy of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

The prolific Louisville slugger baseball bat began production in Louisville in 1884, and it's still being produced at the site's active factory today. Baseball fans from across the country pilgrimage to this factory tour and museum dedicated to the love of the game. Galleries of memorabilia — including a Babe Ruth bat — await, as well as rotating exhibits, like "The Best Black Baseball Team You've Never Heard Of," to keep things fresh.

General admission is less than $20 (and kids under 5 are free) and includes a factory tour and a mini bat keepsake. Meanwhile, $299 will buy you an exclusive All-Star Experience pass to restricted areas of the factory floor, the bat vault, the archive room with the museum's most prized artifacts and a personalized bat. Take a picture with it outside next to Louisville's iconic Big Bat — at 120 feet tall, it's the world's largest.

Address: 800 W. Main St., Louisville, KY 40202

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, located in Corbin, Kentucky, is one of the state's most picturesque natural preserves. The park's highlight is Cumberland Falls. On clear nights around a full moon (about five days each month), Cumberland Falls creates a moonbow: a natural phenomenon that refracts light in its water droplets. Roughly 17 miles of hiking trails wind through the park, with many connecting to Daniel Boone National Forest. Both parks are of particular interest to birders, who come seeking species like the Carolina wren or tufted titmouse. Horseback riding is offered daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day and on select weekends in September and October. Families will also enjoy organized gem mining, located just past the gift shop. The park permits fishing with a license and welcomes campers from mid-March through October.

Address: 7351 Highway 90, Corbin, KY 40701

Channel history on an Old Louisville Ghost Tour

Courtesy of Louisville Historic Tours

Kentucky was established as the 15th U.S. state in 1792, and it has developed a lot of history during the last 230-plus years. Louisville was the center of Kentucky society during the 1800s, and sordid reminders of booze and tobacco industries pockmark the city and lend the Gothic architecture its spooky stories. Local author David Domine specializes in true crime and the paranormal, and he crafted a 100-minute ghost tour of "America's most haunted neighborhood " to share its fascinating narratives. Recommended by the New York Times, David's ghost stories inform and entertain with the added benefit of getting your steps in. Tours run from March through November.

Address: 1300 S. Fourth St., Louisville, KY 40208

Churchill Downs

If you're in Kentucky on the first Saturday in May — even if you're nowhere near Louisville — there will be no avoiding the frenzy that surrounds the Kentucky Derby. Mint juleps, extravagant hats and seersucker suits characterize the iconic horse race, but Churchill Downs is also worth visiting year-round. Where the derby is held, Churchill Downs racetrack provides unparalleled insight into the world of horse racing. Kentucky Derby Museum offers two floors of related exhibits and various tours of the grounds, including experiences that range from meeting jockeys and working with the horses to tasting bourbon.

Tickets to the museum cost less than $20, and children younger than 5 are free; all tour rates include access to the museum. Race day tours make a full-day experience of the nation's most famous horse racetrack. Also, consider a visit to Keeneland, another of Kentucky's finest thoroughbred racecourses and one of the best attractions in Lexington .

Address: 704 Central Ave., Louisville, KY 40208

The Galt House Hotel

Courtesy of The Galt House Hotel

Even if you're not booking a stay, it's worth visiting Kentucky's largest hotel, which traces its roots back to the early 19th century. The Galt House , a Trademark Collection Hotel, located in downtown Louisville, was originally a private home owned by Dr. W.C. Galt. The Galt House Hotel opened in 1835, and the original home was absorbed as the hotel's East Tower in 1984. The Galt House Hotel's primary draw is its central location, near Museum Row, the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, the Muhammad Ali Center and more. There are two bourbon bars on-site, plus a spa with bourbon-infused treatments.

Anyone looking for an offbeat and free thing to do can find a hidden installation on the hotel's grounds; near the main entrance, Gallop to Glory is the "Walk of Fame" of jockeys, featuring the handprints and signatures of the winning riders of the Kentucky Derby.

Address: 140 N. Fourth St., Louisville, KY 40202

Tour a modern castle

Courtesy of The Kentucky Castle

Appropriately located in the town of Versailles (not to be confused with the French palace ), The Kentucky Castle is a stunning boutique hotel just 10 miles outside Lexington. As you might expect, the castle's origins are a bit strange. The castle began construction in 1969 by a wealthy couple but was not completed due to the couple's divorce six years into the castle's construction. The castle was eventually purchased, though a fire in 2004 delayed renovations. The Kentucky Castle finally opened to the public in 2008 as a bed-and-breakfast called the Castle Post, just shy of 40 years in the making.

Today, curious tourists not staying at the B&B can book a 45-minute tour of the grounds for $25. Events, like murder mystery dinners, are also occasionally held here.

Address: 230 Pisgah Pike, Versailles, KY 40383

National Corvette Museum

Courtesy of National Corvette Museum

Head to Bowling Green, Kentucky, the self-proclaimed " Home of America's Sports Car ," to drool over all things Corvette. There will be more cars than you can manage between the exhibits of 'Vettes old and new, which span Chevrolet's automotive achievement since they introduced the Corvette in 1953. A more unexpected installation features heavily damaged Corvettes; in 2014, a massive sinkhole took eight cars about 30 feet down. They say to make lemonade from lemons, and the museum made a permanent exhibit of the cave-in called the Skydome Sinkhole Experience to document the event. An interactive driving game and a massive gift shop are just some of the museum's other added features.

If you're looking to bring home a serious souvenir, you can custom-build your own Corvette — Bowling Green is the only plant in the world that builds them.

Address: 350 Corvette Drive, Bowling Green, KY 42101

Harriet Beecher Stowe, Slavery to Freedom Museum

Courtesy of Maysville-Mason County Tourism

In 1833, Harriet Beecher Stowe visited one of her students in Maysville, Kentucky. During the visit, she witnessed a slave auction at a local courthouse, and it was this distressing event that, in part, inspired her to write her classic novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Her former student's family home, the Marshall Key House, now also houses the Harriet Beecher Stowe, Slavery to Freedom Museum. The small house is more than 215 years old and decorated in the style it would have been when Stowe visited. Patrons can also observe artifacts related to the American Civil War and slavery.

Anyone interested in a tour can book one through the Old Washington Visitor Center on Main Street in Maysville. While in Maysville, visitors may want to explore the National Underground Railroad Museum and the Kentucky Gateway Museum for historical collections and temporary exhibits.

Harriet Beecher Stowe, Slavery to Freedom Museum was closed for renovations at the time of publication. It is scheduled to reopen in 2023.

Address: 1001 Forest Ave., Maysville, KY 41056

Mammoth Cave National Park

Did you know the longest recorded cave system in the world is in Kentucky? Mammoth Cave National Park and its more than 400 miles of recorded caves, located about 40 miles northeast of Bowling Green, is free to visit (cave tours incur an additional fee). Aboveground, the park offers hiking, biking, camping, scenic drives, horseback riding and more.

Still, the park's cave tours showcase the area's interesting history and serve as its primary draw. Enslaved Black Americans mined the caves for saltpeter in the 18th century, and enslaved men and women also developed cave tour routes as Mammoth Cave transitioned into a tourist destination. Following the Civil War, generations of now-free Black guides continued to lead tours.

Today, tours are remarkably accessible, including versions for various levels of mobility and hearing. Routes range from a quarter-mile with a dozen stairs to more than 2 miles with 600 stairs.

Address: One Mammoth Cave Parkway, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259

Vent Haven Museum                                                          

Courtesy of Vent Haven Museum

Don't be a dummy — if you're in Fort Mitchell, come check out the world's only museum dedicated to ventriloquism. Vent Haven is the result of a decades-long personal collection of ventriloquist dummies and paraphernalia by W.S. Berger. In operation since 1973, the museum now houses more than a thousand dummies spanning three centuries of use. Special exhibits have included the characters used by Darci Lynne, the 2017 winner of "America's Got Talent."

Tours are by appointment only, customized to visitors' interests and range from 45 minutes to an hour. The museum operates seven days a week, seasonally. Vent Haven Museum is in Kentucky but located just 7 miles from downtown Cincinnati .

Vent Haven Museum was closed for renovations at the time of publication. It is scheduled to reopen in August 2022.

Address: 33 W. Maple Ave., Fort Mitchell, KY 41011

Muhammad Ali Center

Courtesy of the Kentucky Department of Tourism

Born Cassius Clay in Louisville in 1942, Muhammad Ali went on to have an iconic career in boxing that eventually earned him the nickname "The Greatest." Most people know him as a charismatic athlete, but Ali donated his time and money to charitable causes throughout his life. In 2005, Ali cofounded Kentucky's Muhammad Ali Center, a multicultural gathering space and nonprofit museum dedicated to the "Six Core Principles" that he lived his life by: confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect and spirituality. The exhibits inspire greatness with artifacts, historical footage, multimedia presentations and more.

The Muhammad Ali Center is located along Louisville's renowned Museum Row. Admission ranges from $9 to $14; children under 5 are free.

Address: 144 N. Sixth St., Louisville, KY 40202

Take five at the Big Four Bridge

Linking Kentucky and Indiana, the Big Four Bridge straddles the Ohio River with its Kentucky entrance located along the 85-acre Louisville Waterfront Park. The 53-foot-high bridge, originally built in 1895, allowed railroad cars to enter Louisville through 1968, when train traffic was diverted. In 2014, an access ramp was constructed to convert the previously decommissioned train bridge into a mile-long pedestrian space. The reimagined bridge provides walkers and bikers a panoramic view over the Ohio River, and recent travelers say it is especially stunning at sunset. From twilight to 1 a.m., a rainbow of LED lights illuminate the bridge. About 1.5 million visitors are estimated to cross the bridge every year.

Address: 1101 River Road, Louisville, KY 40202

U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum

Part roadside attraction, part homage to country music royalty, this museum sits along a gas station exit ramp off U.S. Highway 23, also known as "the country music highway." Highlighting talent from the eastern part of Kentucky, the U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum features 14 exhibits spanning country artists who have called the Bluegrass State home, including artists like Loretta Lynn and Chris Stapleton. Keeping the tradition alive, a bluegrass musician takes to the porch steps to play every Thursday night.

The museum costs $4 to enter and is located in Paintsville, Kentucky, more than 100 miles east of Lexington and not very far from the border of West Virginia. If you're traveling toward Louisa, the Kentucky Country Music Museum is yet another collection of local legend paraphernalia — and this time, it's inside of an actual gas station.

Address: 120 Stave Branch, Staffordsville, KY 41256

Harland Sanders Café and Museum

Sure, KFCs are found everywhere — even in Egypt with a view of the pyramids . However, the world-famous chain started in Corbin with Colonel Harland Sanders (an honorary title, not a military colonel). The Sanders Café opened in 1937, but the structure was rebuilt after a fire in 1939 and reopened on Independence Day in 1940. Colonel Sanders' "secret" fried chicken recipe was developed on-site, and in 1956 he began to franchise restaurants across the nation. The original cafe remains, now a museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can walk through a model of the motel room, view KFC memorabilia including a Green Lantern and Colonel Sanders crossover comic book and, of course, try some chicken and biscuits in a distinct dining room.

Parts of Harland Sanders Café and Museum were closed for renovations at the time of publication. It is scheduled to reopen in 2022.

Address: 688 U.S. Highway 25 W, Corbin, KY 40701

Creation Museum

Courtesy of the Creation Museum

From curators not sold on the Big Bang Theory — the astronomical event, not the comedy series — the Creation Museum is dedicated to "creation science," an explanation of human existence drawn straight from the pages of the Bible. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly half of Kentucky's adult population identifies as evangelical Protestant. In a survey by the same group, 67% of respondents believed humans have always existed in our present form or evolved due to God's design. Regardless of what you think, the Creation Museum offers a unique perspective on the origin of life with more than 140 exhibits.

Admission costs about $45 for adults and $25 for kids ages 11 to 17, while children under 10 are free. A companion exhibit features a life-sized replica of Noah's Ark about 40 miles south.

Address: 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg, KY 41080

Conrad-Caldwell House Museum

Timothy Miller | Courtesy of the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum

This house museum with an alliterative name and design — Richardsonian Romanesque — particularly delights fans of HBO's "Gilded Age." The Conrad-Caldwell house, originally constructed in 1895, is a prime example of Louisville's elaborate Victorian architecture. Louisville holds the distinction of having the highest concentration of Victorian homes in the country. Surround yourself with beautiful objects on a tour of the home, which was purchased by William Caldwell in 1908.

Caldwell's firm was responsible for the creation of the giant bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum and the Mickey Mouse ears at Walt Disney World . Self-guided and docent-led tours of the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum cost from $8 to $12 and can be reserved online.

Address: 1402 Saint James Court, Louisville, KY 40208

Dinosaur World

With a name like Cave City, Kentucky, maybe it's not all that surprising that visitors will find hundreds of life-size dinosaur figures in the town. While it might seem a little cheesy initially, past travelers to Dinosaur World rave that the colorful statues and interactive "fossil digs" were a huge hit with their kids and more fun than they originally expected. Walking trails and an indoor museum encourage visitors to learn about their ancient ancestors.

Admission costs $15.75 for adults, with discounted rates for children and seniors. For about $6 more, visitors can purchase an Excavation Pass, which allows them to "excavate" shiny rocks, minerals and bones to take home. Unlike prehistoric times, Dinosaur World is a dog-friendly attraction for leash-trained pups. A 5,000-square-foot gift shop might add to the bill, but Dinosaur World encourages families to bring their own food and drink.

Address: 711 Mammoth Cave Road, Cave City, KY 42127

Newport Aquarium

Courtesy of Newport Aquarium

Do the words "shark rope bridge" instill fear or excitement? If it's the latter, you're in for a treat at Kentucky's Newport Aquarium. Considered one of the best aquariums in the country, Newport Aquarium is known for its sharks above all else. Walk through a glass tunnel while these sea predators swim above and around you. Or, if you're extra daring, attempt to cross the Shark Bridge, a suspended rope bridge where thrill-seekers can walk inches above the 385,000-gallon shark and fish tank (free with admission). Of course, there's more on display at this lively aquarium, including penguins, crocodiles, stingrays and an exhibit featuring eels that dwell in an old shipwreck.

The museum is located in Newport, Kentucky, and tickets start at $59.99, with discounts available for children and seniors.

Address: 1 Aquarium Way, Newport, KY 41071

Pleasant Hill Shaker Village

Shaker is a sect of the Quaker religion, and Pleasant Hill, Kentucky, has the largest restored Shaker community in the United States. Most people might know of them from their sought-after furniture designs, but the Shakers have a fascinating history. The Pleasant Hill Shaker Village began in 1805 and lasted until 1910. Now, just 34 of the original 250 pre-Civil War buildings have been restored, but visitors can immerse themselves in 3,000 acres of craft demonstrations, history exhibits and 40 miles of hiking trails that cross organic gardens and cow pastures.

Pleasant Hill's Shaker Village, about 25 miles southwest of Lexington, Kentucky, is free to visit; however, a $10 donation is suggested for hikers, and admission for tours and exhibits starts at $14.

Address: 3501 Lexington Road, Harrodsburg, KY 40330

Take a gander at the Mother Goose House

Is there anything more amusing than a house with a goose on top? We're not talking about Canadian geese — the Mother Goose house in Hazard, Kentucky, features a 15-foot goose structure resting on a round stone home with egg-shaped windows. The avian idea was that of George Stacy, who built the home for him and his wife between 1935 and 1940. Its origins are slightly more grim than its whimsical appearance suggests, with Stacy killing an actual goose to use its bones as a blueprint. The fantastical structure continues to stand today, despite a temporary goose decapitation due to high winds in March 2021. Though its creator has passed on, the home is still occupied 80 years later. Driving along Interstate 476, it's hard to miss.

Address: 2906 N. Main St., Hazard, KY 41701

Cozy up at The National Quilt Museum

Courtesy of The National Quilt Museum

Past travelers, who visit from all 50 states and more than 40 countries, generally agree that this textile museum is one of the top attractions in Paducah, Kentucky. The National Quilt Museum describes itself as displaying "the finest quilting and fiber art in the world." With 600 quilts in its collection, the museum offers rotating displays, with thousands more submissions for consideration sent in each year. World-class quilters decide on new additions to the museum based on quality and diversity, and the museum prides itself on a well-rounded contemporary collection.

Visitors note that the museum is artistic and not kitschy, defying expectations of what a quilt museum can be. Tickets to the museum start at $12, with discounts available for seniors and students, while children under 12 are free.

Address: 215 Jefferson St., Paducah, KY 42001

Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Ponies and chicken aside, the most famous Kentucky offering is its American-style whiskey, known as bourbon. Dozens of working bourbon distilleries are operating in Kentucky today; the state produces 95 percent of the world's bourbon, with more than two aging barrels for every resident, at any given time. It's a $9 billion industry, and travelers can experience it firsthand with a distillery tour — or two, or three. Locations for favorites like Jim Beam and Maker's Mark are sprinkled between Louisville, Lexington and Frankfort, the Kentucky state capital, with one outlier — Green River Distilling — out west in Owensboro, Kentucky. Of course, you can pick and choose your favorite brands to visit, or you can go whole hog by following Kentucky's official Bourbon Trail, a liquid adventure across 18 distilleries lasting an estimated four days.

Sip sweet wine at Purple Toad Winery

Courtesy of Purple Toad Winery

If you don't drink the brown stuff, head to Purple Toad Winery, Kentucky's largest winery and a traveler-favorite attraction in Paducah. Visitors to the 25,000-square-foot facility will find a staggering more than 40 types of wine, including seasonal and test varietals in addition to best-selling bottles. Tastings are free and include up to eight wines for oenophiles to enjoy. Sweet wines are Purple Toad Winery's specialty, with inventive combinations like a mango chardonnay and a strawberry jalapeno wine. Wine-tasting is one of the best things to do in Kentucky in November, or throughout the fall, due to cool temperatures and ripe grapes.

Nonalcoholic fruit punch slushies are available for purchase, and pets on a leash are welcome on the grounds.

Address: 4275 Old U.S. Highway 45 S, Paducah, KY 42003

Mary Todd Lincoln House

Courtesy of Mary Todd Lincoln House

Head to Lexington to connect with the life of former First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln in her childhood home. The Federal-style house was built in 1806 and designated as a museum in 1977, making it the first historic site dedicated to a first lady. Mary's life was not without complexities, including the assassination of her husband, President Abraham Lincoln. The museum strives to shed light on her whole life, including her years outside the White House. On the museum's website, a 1-mile walking tour guide is available for download, which allows visitors to experience Lexington as the Lincolns might have.

Admission to the museum costs $15 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 through 17, and children 5 and younger are free. The Mary Todd Lincoln House is only open seasonally, mid-March through November, and closed on Sundays.

Address: 578 W. Main St., Lexington, KY 40507

Journey to Germany via MainStrasse Village

Courtesy of John Lair

The address might say Covington, Kentucky, but Deutschland inspired this tourist town. MainStrasse (Main Street) Village is a National Historic District and includes examples of 19 th -century homes, businesses and restaurants. The shopping and dining district blends wheat beer with bourbon and polka with Dixieland music for a unique convergence of the American South and Western Europe. MainStrasse is the place to be year-round for festivals and events like Mardi Gras, Oktoberfest (of course) and more offbeat gatherings, like the "World's Longest Yard Sale" in August.

Address: 406 W. 6th St., Convington, KY 41014

Red River Gorge: The Grand Canyon of Kentucky

Explorer Daniel Boone first took in the scenery of the Red River Gorge in the 1700s, and tourists today can explore the aptly named Daniel Boone National Forest in several ways. The Red River Gorge is an acclaimed climbing and rappelling destination, but more risk-averse visitors can also hike, kayak or drive along the scenic byway. Hourlong kayak tours take travelers through the Gorge Underground, an unground portion of the canyon system that's easily navigated with a gentle paddle and a headlamp.

Red River Gorge is about 70 miles southeast of Lexington, and those looking to spend the night can reserve a campsite at the nearby Natural Bridge State Resort Park.

Address: 3451 Sky Bridge Road, Stanton, KY 40380

Stretch your legs at the Paducah Riverwalk

Courtesy of Paducah CVB

Architectural Digest recognizes historic downtown Paducah, Kentucky, as one of the most beautiful main streets in America. See what the fuss is about as you familiarize yourself with this town by foot; it boasts more historical markers per capita than anywhere else in the state. Paducah sits in the southwestern corner of Kentucky and is separated from Illinois by the Ohio River. Along the Paducah waterfront, pedestrians can enjoy views of the river and (occasionally) the paddle wheel boats that still navigate it.

Past travelers praise the lively floodwall murals and the peaceful waterfront views. If you do get tired of walking, a free trolley regularly runs through historic downtown.

Address: Riverfront at Broadway & Kentucky Ave., Paducah, KY 42001

Catch a Wildcats or Cardinals game

Sports are always in season in Kentucky, with college baseball games held February through May and college basketball games October to March. The state's two most prominent sports programs are the University of Kentucky's Wildcats and the University of Louisville's Cardinals. The Wildcats play baseball games at the Joe Craft Center in Lexington, and the Cardinals shoot hoops at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville.

College sports are a big deal in these parts, and both colleges are known to sell out games. Buy tickets early or opt for a less popular sport when you know you want to catch a game. If you're rooting for the Wildcats, go blue; otherwise, be sure to dress in your best reds for the Cardinals.

Address: 338 Lexington Ave., Lexington, KY 40506 (Joe Craft Center); 1 Arena Plaza, Louisville, KY 40202 (KFC Yum! Center)

Frazier History Museum

Courtesy of Frazier History Museum

From the explorations of Lewis and Clark to the largest public collection of toys soldiers in the world, the Frazier History Museum in Louisville provides patrons with an eclectic mix of historical curiosities. Visitors have commented that they particularly enjoy being able to take in the unusual artifacts, like President Theodore Roosevelt's "big stick," while sipping bourbon — for educational purposes only, of course. Temporary exhibits buffer the museum's permanent collection, like "West of Ninth," a photography exhibition that comments on race, and "Border State," which delves into Kentucky's role in the American Civil War.

General admission is $14, with discounted rates available for students, seniors, children and military members.

Address: 829 W. Main St., Louisville, KY 40202

You may also be interested in:

• The Best Hotels in Kentucky
• The Best Weekend Getaways in the South
• The Top Weekend Getaways From Chicago
• The Top Restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky

Tags: Travel , US Vacations , Southeast Vacations

World's Best Places To Visit

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The Ultimate Kentucky Travel Guide

Kentucky: The “horse country” offers a unique blend of southern charm, rich history, and natural beauty through its several world-renowned museums, historic sites, awe-inspiring panoramic mountain vistas, several complex cave systems, wildlife, and obviously some of the World’s best racecourses & bourbon! Kentucky, a land of pure amazement with spell-bounding spectacles both above and under the ground, is unquestionably one of the top destinations in the US! Here is my Kentucky travel guide featuring all of the top Kentucky attractions, trip planning information, and a Kentucky attractions map.

To make it easy for you to navigate the content, I have organized my Kentucky travel guide into two sections. (1) A brief introduction to Kentucky, a little history, some geography, commute, and weather. (2) Major Kentucky attractions, if you wish, you can skip the introduction and move on to the next section, Kentucky Attractions .

History: On June 1, 1792, Kentucky officially became a US State becoming the first US state situated west of the Appalachian Mountains. The name Kentucky originated from the Wyandot Indian name for “plain,” referring to the central plains of the state. The state’s nickname, the Bluegrass State, is because of the vast expanses of Bluegrass, a grass species found across the state. Kentucky is famous for breeding horses, tobacco farms, and, of course, the Kentucky Derby.

Geography: Located in the southeastern region of the US, Kentucky is bordered by seven other states, including Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio in the north, Tennessee in the south, West Virginia and Virginia in the east, and Missouri in the west. Interestingly, Kentucky Bend is an area surrounded by Missouri and Tennessee but is still considered a part of Kentucky. Kentucky’s geography is incredibly diverse, primarily characterized by its vast expanses of rolling hills dotted with small towns and farms, but also home to several large lakes, including Lake Cumberland and Kentucky Lake, many complex cave systems, wetlands, and forestland, including the Daniel Boone National Forest in eastern Kentucky and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in western Kentucky.

Getting There

Flight: Louisville International Airport (SDF), Lexington Blue Grass Airport (LEX), and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Intl (CVG) are the major airports in Kentucky.

Drive: If you live in any of the neighboring states, you could drive to Kentucky. However, if you’re coming from far, it’s better to fly into Kentucky since the attractions in Kentucky are scattered all around the state and entail a significant amount of driving.

Train: Amtrak offers two rail services (1) City of New Orleans connecting Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans, stopping at Fulton, KY (FTN), and (2) Cardinal connecting New York, Washington, DC, Charlottesville, Charleston, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Chicago, stopping at Ashland, KY (AKY), South Shore, KY and Maysville, KY (MAY)

Climate: Kentucky experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures frequently exceeding 95°F. Winters are cold and bitter, with nightly temperatures dipping below 23°F. Spring is pleasant, and Autumn is primarily sunny and enjoyable. To make the most out of your trip to Kentucky, it’s recommended you plan your trip between April and October, considering that summers can be too hot in the Bluegrass State.

Time zone: It’s worth noting that Kentucky has a peculiar characteristic of being split into two distinct time zones. The Eastern part of the state falls under Eastern Time, whereas the Western part follows Central Time. This is particularly imperative to keep in mind when planning or traveling within the state of Kentucky.

Getting around: I highly recommend renting a car in Kentucky, as public transportation is sparse and found only in a few major cities, including Lextran in Lexington, TARC in Louisville, and TANK in a few parts of northern Kentucky.

Things To Do in Kentucky

Kentucky Attractions Map

Kentucky, known over the globe for its horse racing and bourbon, is home to a plethora of spell bounding attractions, including some of the Nation’s best museums, historic sites, wildlife viewing opportunities, waterfalls, unmatched scenic mountain vistas, several complex cave systems, and obviously, some of the World’s best racecourses!

To simplify and make it easy to follow, I have grouped and arranged the attractions in Kentucky into four primary regions – Northern, Western, Southern, and Eastern Kentucky!

Northern Kentucky, where the major cities and the state’s capital are located, features several internationally acclaimed museums, including the Ark Encounter, Creation Museum, Kentucky Dery Museum, Kentucky Horse Park, Muhammad Ali Center, and many others.

Western Kentucky is home to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, 170,000 acres of picturesque forest & wetland, offering great outdoor experiences, including camping, hiking, and wildlife viewing!

Southern Kentucky, also called the Mississippi Plateau, is the “Cave Capital of the Nation,” featuring several caves, including Mammoth Cave National Park, the World’s longest cave system, Lost River Cave, and Diamond Caverns. The Southern region of Kentucky also features a few incredible museums and family-friendly attractions, including the National Corvette Museum, Historic RailPark & Train Museum, Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, and many others, which I have reviewed in detail below in my list of Kentucky attractions.

Eastern Kentucky, home to the Cumberland Plateau and Daniel Boone National Forest, offers unfathomably beautiful nature, including the majestic Cumberland Falls, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Sky Bridge Arch, and much more!

Here are the must-see places in Kentucky, starting in Northern Kentucky, followed by attractions in Western Kentucky, Southern Kentucky, and Eastern Kentucky, traversing the state in an anti-clockwise direction!

Creation Museum

Creation Museum, an Internationally acclaimed museum in Northern Kentucky, offers an incredible opportunity to experience the earth’s history as God has revealed it in the Bible. The museum features stunning life-size exhibits, botanical gardens, a planetarium, a zoo, fossils, captivating shows, and much more!  Read More >

Newport Aquarium

Located in Newport, Northern Kentucky, the Newport Aquarium  is among the top Aquarims in the US, popularly known for its variety of fascinating marine creatures and state-of-the-art exhibits, including Shark Bridge, Hatchling Harbor, many acrylic tunnels, Penguin Palooza, Gator Alley, interactive experiences, and several galleries.

Ark Encounter

The Ark Encounter, located in Williamstown, Northern Kentucky, is renowned the World over for its full-size replica of Noah’s Ark, built according to the dimensions stated in the Bible. The Ark, with three decks filled with spectacular exhibits, is also known to be one of the largest freestanding timber-frame structures on the planet.   Read More >

Kentucky Horse Park

The  Kentucky Horse Park , located in Lexington, is a working horse farm and a theme park celebrating and showcasing Kentuck’s rich history associated with horses and racing through its many museums, shows, horse parades, barns, and horseback trail and pony rides, and is unquestionably a must-visit on a trip to Kentucky! 

No trip to Kentucky is complete without visiting one of the state’s race courses!  Keeneland  is a race course & horse auction company that offers tours of its beautifully landscaped grounds & some of its facilities via its several guided tours, including Morning Works Tour, Backstretch Tour, and Behind-the-scenes Sales & Racing Tour.

Big Four Bridge

Big Four Bridge, a historic landmark in Kentucky built in 1895, served as a railroad bridge for cargo & passenger trains connecting Louisville & Indiana until 1969. The bridge was repurposed as a pedestrian bridge in 2013 with a one-of-a-kind LED lighting system that lights up the bridge every night & since then has become an icon of Louisville!

Frazier History Museum

Located in downtown Louisville,  Frazier History Museum  is a great place to learn about the rich history of Kentucky and the US through its world-class exhibits and collection of firearms, weapons, and artifacts. It’s also the home to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center and the   official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, in downtown Louisville, is famous worldwide for its Slugger baseball bats, named after Kentucky’s legendary baseball player, Pete Browning, who scored several hits using the bats made at the Slugger Factory. The  Museum  offers factory tours and features the “Big Bat,” World’s largest baseball bat! 

Muhammad Ali Center

Muhammad Ali Center – Kentucky

Muhammad Ali Center, also located in downtown Louisville, is a museum and hall of fame dedicated to Louisville’s legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. The  Museum , through its several exhibits, historical videos, interactive displays, artifacts, and galleries, depicts the incredible journey of Muhammad Ali’s life, boxing career, and core principles. 

Speed Art Museum

Established in 1927, the  Speed Art Museum  in Louisville, adjacent to the University of Louisville Belknap campus, is Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museum that showcases a massive collection of artwork from all over the globe through its several galleries, events, talks, and exhibitions and ranks among the top finest art museums of the Nation. 

Kentucky Derby Museum

The Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville preserves & showcases the rich history of the Kentucky Derby, “America’s Greatest Race,” held annually at Churchill Downs since 1875. The  Museum  features two floors of exhibits & memorabilia, a short movie, “The Greatest Race,” in its state-of-the-art theater, and guided tours of Churchill Downs Racetrack. 

Louisville Mega Cavern

Located in Louisville, the Louisville “MEGA” Cavern is a former limestone quarry so large that it’s earned the title of the “Largest building in the State of Kentucky!” The massive 100-acre limestone cavern can now be explored and enjoyed through several  guided tours & activities , including Mega Tram, Mega Zips, Mega Quest, and others.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace

Honoring the 16th President of the US, Abraham Lincoln, the  Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park  preserves two historic sites. The birthplace site, enshrined inside the memorial building, and the boyhood home site, the Knob Creek Farm, where President Lincoln lived with his family in his childhood. 

National Quilt Museum

Located in Paducah, Western Kentucky,  National Quilt Museum  boasts a massive collection of some of the finest fiber art collections from around the globe. Since 1991, the Museum has exhibited the work of many talented quilters and is home to more than six hundred quilts displayed in its several galleries and hosts several exhibitions annually. 

Land Between the Lakes

Kentucky is not just about horses! One of the best places to visit in Western Kentucky,  Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area  features 170,000 acres of scenic forest & wetland, offering great outdoor experiences, including camping, hiking, lake access, and wildlife viewing in its awe-inspiring Elk & Bison Prairie scenic drive! 

South Union Shaker Village

Dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of the rich history of the Shaker community, who lived in the area from 1807 through 1922, the  South Union Shaker Village  in Auburn, Southern Kentucky, offers insight into the lifestyle of the Shaker community, which was centered around principles of simplicity, communal living, and celibacy.

Chaney's Dairy Barn

Chaney’s Dairy Barn

Located in Bowling Green, Chaney’s Dairy Barn is a must-stop on your trip to Kentucky! Chaney’s Dairy Barn not only serves some of the best ice creams ever, but they also offer self-guided farm tours with a robotic milking demonstration, a playground, a gift shop, and their divine Moo-Pie, freshly baked cookie topped with homemade ice cream.

Aviation Heritage Park

Aviation Heritage Park, located on Three Springs Rd, Bowling Green, is a park celebrating the state’s distinguished aviators by displaying the historic aircraft flown by them, including a military helicopter, combat aircraft used by US Navy, a T-Bird jet fighter, the World’s first supersonic trainer, and several others.

Lost River Cave

While caves are not uncommon in Kentucky, the Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Southern Kentucky, is a unique natural wonder where the “Lost River” literally disappears after entering the seven-mile-long cave.  Lost River Cave  offers guided boat tours of the cave and also features a gift shop, a few hiking trails, and a butterfly habitat.

Historic RailPark & Train Museum

Historic RailPark & Train Museum

Historic RailPark & Train Museum , once the Louisville and Nashville (L&N) Train Station in Bowling Green, Southern Kentucky, is now one of the state’s prominent museums featuring the history and heritage of the region’s railroads through its several exhibits accessible via self-guided tours of its two-storied museum building and railcar tours. 

National Corvette Museum

Drawing sports car enthusiasts from all over the globe,  National Corvette Museum , Bowling Green, celebrates and showcases the evolution of the iconic Chevrolet Corvette, “America’s Sports Car,” through its several galleries, annual events, car shows, and a massive collection of Corvettes, and is one of the must-see places in Kentucky!

Diamond Caverns

Diamond Caverns, located in Park City just a few miles south of Mammoth Cave, is often referred to as “Kentucky’s most beautiful cave,” which was discovered in 1859 and named after its several sparkling diamon-like calcite formations. The stunning cave formations at Diamond Caverns can be explored via guided tours offered year-round.

Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park, located in Southern Kentucky, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Kentucky’s most popular tourist attractions that preserves the Planet’s longest cave system. Mammoth Cave is home to over 400 miles of explored caves & stunning cave formations, accessible via guided cave tours.  Read More >

Dinosaur World

Dinosaur World, an outdoor dinosaur theme park with over 150 life-size dinosaur sculptures placed throughout a massive park in a natural setting, is a fun place in Cave City, Southern Kentucky, for kids and grown-ups alike! Dinosaur World is a chain of theme parks that offers similar parks in other locations, including Florida and Texas.

Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo

Located in Horse Cave, Southern Kentucky, Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo is an animal park featuring Australian animals and birds in its various sections, including Outback featuring kangaroos & emus, the Exotic Bird Garden, walk-in Aviary, and guided tours of Kentucky Caverns previously known as Mammoth Onyx Cave.

Natural Arch Scenic Area

One of Kentucky’s most stunning sandstone arches, the Natural Arch in Daniel Boone National Forest, Southeast Kentucky, is a towering natural arch measuring about 100 feet tall. The  Natural Arch Scenic Area  features an easily accessible overlook offering panoramic views of the arch and three other hiking trails for an up-close view of the arch.

Cumberland Falls

Cumberland Falls, located in  Cumberland Falls State Resort Park , is a majestic waterfall measuring 69 feet tall and 125 feet wide, which is the largest waterfall in Kentucky, popularly known as the “Niagara of the South,” and is among the rare places in the Planet to see a moonbow, a lunar rainbow formed during full-moon nights. 

Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum

Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum, located in Corbin, Southeast Kentucky, is the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken, where Harland David Sanders opened his roadside restaurant and motel, which soon became the World’s most famous chicken chain restaurant. The Museum features artifacts & memorabilia from the early days of KFC.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Named after the Cumberland Gap, a mountain pass in the Cumberland Mountains between Kentucky, Tennessee, & Virginia, the  Cumberland Gap National Park  features spectacular natural scenery, including mountain vistas, waterfalls, caves, & wildlife. While there’s a lot to see, the Pinnacle Overlook & Gap Cave are the top attractions in the park.

Gorge Underground

Gorge Underground, a former limestone mine in Daniel Boone National Forest abandoned when a natural spring started flooding the mine, is now open to the public through guided boat & kayak tours. The tours through Gorge Grotto, part of the Gorge Underground, are very well narrated and adventurous, with history & tales about the quarry.

Sky Bridge Arch

Located in the Red River Gorge Geological Area in Daniel Boone National Forest, Sky Bridge Arch is the most popular and easily accessible sandstone arch formation in the region, which boasts over a hundred other arches. The arch is accessible via a 0.6-mile moderately strenuous roundtrip hike, including a flight of 75 stairs, but it’s worth it.

Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge is another massive spectacular sandstone arch in Daniel Boone National Forest, measuring about 75 feet long and 65 feet high. The Natural Bridge arch is located in the Natural Bridge State Resort Park and is accessible via a 1.5-mile roundtrip “Original Trail hike” or the Natural Bridge Skylift, which in itself is an adventure.

Planning Your Trip To Kentucky

Visiting outside the winter & scorching summer months, spending a minimum of two weeks or breaking down your Kentucky trip into multiple visits, and staying close to the attractions is the best way to explore Kentucky!

As you have seen above in my Kentucky attractions list, Kentucky is home to a plethora of breathtaking vistas and amazing experiences spread all over the state. Moreover, each attraction is unique and captivating, making choosing one over the other extremely difficult. If you’re unable to explore all the attractions in Kentucky on a single trip, I recommend splitting your Kentucky trip into multiple visits, focusing on one or two regions of Kentucky at a time.

Best Time To Visit Kentucky : While Kentucky’s diverse attractions can be enjoyed throughout the year, winters are bitterly cold and not the best time for enjoying the outdoors. Summers can also be scorching and humid, making Spring and Fall my favorite time of the year to visit Kentucky. Fall, especially October & November, is the best time to see the peak fall colors in Kentucky. However, if you are a horse racing fan, the Kentucky Derby is held annually in May, making it an exciting time to visit the “Horse Country.”

Time Required In Kentucky : With several remarkable experiences and attractions in Kentucky spread across its Southern, Northern, Western, and Eastern regions, and considering the long drives between these attractions, I highly recommend spending at least two weeks to see all that Kentucky has to offer. Or divide your Kentucky trip into multiple visits, exploring one region of Kentucky at a time. No matter how you plan your trip, I recommend spending a minimum of five days in Northern Kentucky, two days in Western Kentucky, four days in Southern Kentucky, and three days in Eastern Kentucky.

Hotels In Kentucky : While there are several campsites and vacation rentals available in many parts of Kentucky, but if you’re like me and prefer the comfort and convenience of a hotel room, here are my top picks for hotels in the different regions of Kentucky, strategically selected close to the major attractions of the area –

• Hampton Inn by Hilton Richwood Cincinnati South , located midway between Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter. 
• Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Airport , offers easy access to all downtown Louisville attractions.
• Holiday Inn Paducah Riverfront , close to the National Quilt Museum. 
• Hampton Inn Kuttawa/Eddyville , located close to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
• Hilton Garden Inn Bowling Green , located close to the area’s several museums & family-friendly attractions.
• Hampton Inn Cave City , conveniently located near Mammoth Cave National Park.
• Hampton Inn Corbin , located in Southeastern Kentucky, is a great place to stay near Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum, Cumberland Falls, and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
• Natural Bridge State Resort Park  is the best place to stay in the Red River Gorge Geologic Area, offering easy access to Gorge Underground, Sky Bridge Arch, Natural Bridge, and other hiking trails.

Restaurants In Kentucky : While popularly known for its bourbon and fried chicken, Kentucky offers many more exceptional culinary experiences! Here are a few restaurants and Kentucky delicacies you must try on your trip to Kentucky – Bourbon balls, bourbon-flavored candy at Rebecca Ruth Candy Factory, Frankfort, in Northwest Kentucky. Moo-Pie, freshly baked cookie topped with homemade ice cream, at Chaney’s Dairy Barn, Southern Kentucky. BBQ mutton at  Old Hickory Bar-B-Que  or Moonlite Bar-b-q Inn, both in Owensboro, Northern Kentucky. Rich and flavorful Kentucky Derby pie at  Kern’s Kitchen , available at several locations in Kentucky. Mint Julep, the official drink of the Kentucky Derby, is made with bourbon, fresh mint, syrup, and crushed ice, available at all bars in Kentucky. And delicious tart and sweet Shaker Lemon Pie at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.

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Both of the rival presidents during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, were born in KENTUCKY, where acute divisions existed between slave-owning farmers and the merchants who depended on trade with the nearby cities of the industrial North. While the state remained officially neutral, more Kentuckians joined the Union army than the Confederates; after the war, however, Kentucky sided with the South in its hostility to Reconstruction and has tended to follow southern political trends.

The Kentucky Derby

The original fried chicken.

Kentucky’s rugged beauty is at its most appealing in the mountainous east, which suffers from acute rural poverty but boasts the fine scenery of the Natural Bridge and Cumberland Gap regions. Perhaps the most iconic area of the state is the Bluegrass Downs, home to bluegrass, bourbon and thoroughbred horses. The name comes from the unique steel-blue sheen of the buds in the meadows, only visible in early morning during April and May. The area centres on the reserved state capital Lexington, a major horse-breeding market, and holds some of the oldest towns west of the Alleghenies.

Hipper Louisville, however, home of the Kentucky Derby, lies eighty miles west and offers more reasons to linger. It is also a good access point to the bourbon country around Bardstown. Rural western Kentucky, where the Ohio River meets the Mississippi, is flat, heavily forested and generally less attractive. Meanwhile, in the southern hinterland, numerous small towns retain their tree-shaded squares and nineteenth-century townhouses – and their strict Baptist beliefs – while the endless caverns of Mammoth Cave National Park attract spelunkers and hikers in the thousands.

The Kentucky Derby is one of the world’s premier horse races; it’s also, as Hunter S. Thompson put it, “decadent and depraved”. Derby Day itself is the first Saturday in May, at the end of the two-week Kentucky Derby Festival. Since 1875, the leading lights of Southern society have gathered at Churchill Downs, three miles south of downtown Louisville, for an orgy of betting, haute cuisine and mint juleps in the plush grandstand, while tens of thousands of the beer-guzzling proletariat cram into the infield. Apart from the $40 infield tickets available on the day – offering virtually no chance of a decent view – all seats are sold out months in advance. The actual race, traditionally preceded by a mass drunken rendition of My Old Kentucky Home, is run over a distance of one and a quarter miles, lasts barely two minutes and offers around a million dollars in prize money.

In 1940, “Colonel” Harland Sanders, so titled as a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, opened a small clapboard diner, the Sanders Café, alongside his motel and petrol station in tiny Corbin, ninety miles south of Lexington on I-75. His Kentucky Fried Chicken empire has since spread all over the world. The original hundred-seat restaurant, at 688 US-25 W (daily 10am–10pm; 606 528 2163), has been restored with 1940s decor and an immense amount of memorabilia. The food served is the usual KFC, but it’s an atmospheric little spot.

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Kentucky is a southern state of the United States ; its state capital is Frankfort . Attractions include horse racing and beautiful lakes. Kentucky is also culturally part of the American South. It is home to famous food (Kentucky Fried Chicken, Hot Brown, and Burgoo), drink (bourbon whiskey) and music (bluegrass) traditions.

Regions [ edit ]

For the most part, these regions are used only by the state for tourism promotion—they do not necessarily reflect the regions recognized by Kentuckians themselves. The state tourism regions map to locally recognized regions as follows:

• Bluegrass Region — Although there is a locally recognized region called "The Bluegrass", that region covers a considerably larger area than the state tourism region. Especially in the Lexington area, the term Central Kentucky is widely used.
• Caves and Lakes — Traditionally considered part of the Pennyrile (more properly the Pennyroyal Plateau). Nowadays, it is also seen as part of South Central Kentucky .
• Daniel Boone Country and Kentucky Appalachians — Together, they largely coincide with the area locally known as Eastern Kentucky or the Eastern Coalfield . (Ironically, Eastern Kentucky University is not in locally defined Eastern Kentucky; it is instead in the Bluegrass.)
• Kentucky Derby Region — Metropolitan Louisville is generally seen as its own region, locally called Metro Louisville ("Louisville Metro" refers specifically to Louisville and Jefferson County, which have a merged government), just "Louisville", or Kentuckiana . Western portions of the region are seen as part of the Pennyrile, and eastern portions as part of the (Outer) Bluegrass.
• Northern Ohio River Region — The counties that are part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area are more often called Northern Kentucky . The rest of the region is seen as part of the Bluegrass, or sometimes called the Outer Bluegrass.
• Southern Lakes — Most of the region has been traditionally considered part of the Pennyrile, with its eastern fringes overlapping with locally defined Eastern Kentucky. It is also increasingly seen today as part of South Central Kentucky.
• Western Coal Fields — This is the only region that corresponds in both area and naming to local usage.
• Western Waterlands — The region west of the Tennessee River is universally known as the Jackson Purchase , often shortened to just The Purchase . The rest of the region is considered part of the Pennyrile.
• In addition, the locally defined Bluegrass is surrounded by a chain of conical hills known as The Knobs , which also run through the state-recognized Kentucky Derby Region.

Cities [ edit ]

• 38.2 -84.866667 1 Frankfort – state capital
• 36.981667 -86.444444 2 Bowling Green – home of Western Kentucky University and home of the Corvette
• 37.137222 -85.956944 3 Cave City – gateway to Mammoth Cave National Park .
• 39.065 -84.509722 4 Covington – south side of Cincinnati
• 37.883664 -85.965269 5 Fort Knox – home of gold and armor
• 38.029722 -84.494722 6 Lexington – horse capital of the world and home of the University of Kentucky
• 38.225333 -85.741667 7 Louisville – the Kentucky Derby city and Home of the University of Louisville
• 37.773843 -87.111269 8 Owensboro – fourth largest in the state
• 37.072222 -88.6275 9 Paducah – quilt city
• 37.744722 -84.293611 10 Richmond – home of Eastern Kentucky University

Other destinations [ edit ]

• 36.4865 -84.6985 1 Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
• 36.604167 -83.687222 2 Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
• 37.288056 -83.875278 3 Daniel Boone National Forest
• Kentucky Bourbon Trail
• 37.01256 -88.27003 4 Kentucky Lake
• 36.856944 -88.074722 5 Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
• 37.020833 -88.222778 6 Lake Barkley

Understand [ edit ]

Between about 500-300 million years ago much of what is now Kentucky was covered by shallow seas. The fauna of those seas is the source of the vast limestone deposits that lie under much of the state, containing its extensive cave systems, as well as its unusually rich fossil beds. The peat bogs that succeeded the seas eventually petrified into coal, and thus coal mining remains an important economic activity in Kentucky.

Kentucky is the 15th state to join the United States of America, having been carved out of Virginia and allowed to join the Union in 1792. Prior to European settlement, the area that now comprises the state of Kentucky was subject to long periods of contention between various tribes, although it's usually agreed that by the time Europeans arrived it was mainly split between the Shawnee and Cherokee.

Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky, although his family relocated to Indiana when he was fairly young, due to a land ownership dispute. Jefferson Davis, the leader of the Confederacy, was also a Kentuckian, and the state has a complicated history during the US Civil War - despite being a slave state, it never officially seceded from the Union, and thousands of Kentuckians fought on both sides of the conflict.

As early as the 18th century, settlers took advantage of the warm, humid summers to grow large quantities of corn, as had the Native American tribes before them. Lacking means to get the corn to market in bulk, they distilled it into whiskey. Any available casks and barrels then had their interiors singed to sterilize them, and then were filled with whiskey, loaded onto barges, and sent on a slow journey down the Ohio and the Mississippi to New Orleans. The buyers in New Orleans found that aging in oak barrels dramatically improved the flavor of raw corn liquor, and, because many of the barrels were stamped "Bourbon County, Kentucky," Bourbon became the name of Kentucky's most famous export.

Kentucky's calcium-rich water and abundant forage contributed to its other famous industry, raising thoroughbred racehorses. Kentucky's bluegrass area still contains numerous impressive and prosperous horse farms, and Churchill Downs in Louisville hosts the Kentucky Derby, one of the world's most long-running and famous horse races.

Today, Kentucky has a diverse economy that features traditional industries as well as modern manufacturing and high tech. Between its scenic beauty and its Southern hospitality, it has a lot to offer to a visitor.

Kentucky's major urban areas are the Louisville Metro, the Northern Kentucky suburbs of Cincinnati, and the Lexington-Frankfort-Richmond area. The majority of the state is fairly rural, though. Visitors from more urbanized areas sometimes find it striking how quickly you're "out in the country" when driving outside of a major city. Eastern Kentucky is part of the Appalachians, mostly containing part of the rugged Appalachian Plateau including the beautiful and very sparsely populated Daniel Boone National Forest, within which is the famous Red River Gorge with its natural arches.

Tourist information [ edit ]

• Kentucky Tourism website

Get in [ edit ]

By car [ edit ].

Kentucky is accessible by five Interstates:

• I-71 and I-75 both enter the state from the north at Cincinnati . The two roads split in the Kentucky suburbs, with I-71 going to its southern end in Louisville and I-75 to Lexington , continuing past Richmond , Berea , and London .
• I-64 runs from Ashland in the east to Louisville in the west, passing by Lexington and Frankfort on the way.
• I-65 enters the state from Indiana and runs from Louisville to Bowling Green , continuing to the Tennessee state line.
• I-24 from Paducah to Hopkinsville and the Fort Campbell area.

A sixth interstate, I-69 , has segments in Kentucky, but is not yet connected with an interstate-standard highway to any other state. The Kentucky segment starts at Henderson , across the Ohio River from Evansville , taking an indirect southwest course through the state as it follows older parkways (see below ). The signed route passes by Madisonville and Princeton before reaching Calvert City , at which point I-69 follows the Purchase Parkway to Fulton. A spur from I-69 running to Hopkinsville, also routed along part of a previously existing parkway, is now numbered as I-169 . Kentucky's I-69 is a relatively small part of a major extension of that highway, which runs only from Indianapolis to the Canadian border at Port Huron , Michigan, but is proposed to be extended to the Mexican border in Texas.

Kentucky is connected to many U.S. highways:

• US 27 runs from Covington south to Somerset.
• US 119 begins near Pineville; from there, it runs generally northeast through far eastern Kentucky until entering West Virginia to the northeast of Pikeville.
• US 127, also from Covington, runs through Frankfort, Danville and the Lake Cumberland area.
• US 150 offers a connection between Louisville and I-75 between Lexington and Tennessee.
• US 23 (Country Music Highway) connects Ashland with Virginia south of Pikeville.
• US 41 runs from Henderson south to Fort Campbell; it largely parallels I-69 and I-169 (the former Pennyrile Parkway).
• US 421 runs from Milton, at the fringes of the Louisville metropolitan area, through Frankfort, Lexington, and Richmond before continuing southeast through eastern Kentucky, eventually exiting to Virginia.
• US 45 runs through the Purchase area from Paducah to Mayfield, and then parallels the Purchase Parkway/I-69 to Fulton.
• US 60 bisects the state from the Mississippi River to Ashland, passing through Paducah, Henderson, Owensboro and Louisville before following I-64 the rest of its route.
• US 68 begins just east of Paducah, running as largely an east-west route through Hopkinsville, Bowling Green and Glasgow. A short distance past Glasgow, the road takes a sharp turn to the northeast toward Campbellsville , Harrodsburg , Lexington and Maysville.

By plane [ edit ]

There are three large airports in the state. Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is served by several major airlines, including Southwest, Frontier, Delta/Delta Connection, United Express, American Airlines/American Eagle, and Midwest Connect. Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport , which is off of I-275 near Hebron , is a major hub for Delta, and is also served by American Eagle, United Express, Comair, Delta Connection, and USA 3000. Lexington's Blue Grass Field offers direct flights from fourteen cities in the midwestern, southern and eastern parts of the country via American Eagle, US Express, United Express, and Delta Connection. The two smaller commercial airports in Kentucky are Barkley Regional (serving Paducah ), served by Delta Connection, and Owensboro -Daviess County Airport, served by Great Lakes Aviation. The Ashland area is served by Tri-State Airport near Huntington , West Virginia . There are many other smaller, general aviation airports throughout the state.

By bus [ edit ]

Greyhound offers intercity bus service.

By train [ edit ]

Amtrak service is very limited, reaching only Fulton in the far west of the state and Maysville , Ashland , and South Shore in the far north.

Get around [ edit ]

Kentucky maintains 9 parkways to supplement the Interstate and U.S. Highways. These roads were all built as toll roads but have since become freeways. Nine roads make up the parkway system; three of these are now fully incorporated into the Interstate Highway System, with others either partially incorporated or to be incorporated.

• The Audubon Parkway , the shortest road in the system, connects Henderson and Owensboro . It is now signed as a "Future I-69 Spur", and will likely receive "I-69 Spur" as its permanent designation when improvements are completed.
• The Martha Layne Collins Bluegrass Parkway runs from I-65 on the north side of Elizabethtown to Versailles, just west of Lexington.
• The Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway runs through South Central Kentucky from I-65 east of Bowling Green to Somerset , near the Lake Cumberland resort region.
• The Hal Rogers Parkway (often called "the Rogers"; formerly the Daniel Boone Parkway), mainly a two-lane road with frequent passing lanes for heavy trucks, connects London with Hazard in the eastern third of the state.
• The Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway connects I-64 in Winchester to Salyersville in eastern Kentucky. The eastern half of this road, past Campton, is two lanes. Long-term plans call for the reinstatement of tolls to fund expansion of the eastern section to four lanes, plus an extension of about 15 miles to Prestonsburg.
• The William H. Natcher Parkway (often called "the Natcher"; formerly the Green River Parkway) connects Owensboro with Bowling Green . This road has now been fully upgraded to Interstate Highway standards, and is signed exclusively as I-165 between Owensboro and the I-65 interchange in Bowling Green. A short segment of the former Natcher Parkway between I-65 and US 231 in Bowling Green, despite meeting Interstate standards, was excluded from that system and is now signed as Kentucky Route 9007.
• The Edward T. Breathitt Pennyrile Parkway runs from Henderson to Hopkinsville. The section from Henderson to the Western Kentucky Parkway is now signed exclusively as I-69 ; the southern section from the WK to Hopkinsville is now signed as I-169 .
• The Julian M. Carroll Purchase Parkway runs diagonally through the Jackson Purchase (the region west of the Tennessee River), starting at the Tennessee state line in Fulton and ending at I-24 at Calvert City near Kentucky Lake. The entire parkway is now signed as I-69 .
• The Wendell Ford Western Kentucky Parkway (also known as "the WK", from its former signs), is unofficially the longest road in the system, though no longer officially so. The western segment from Eddyville to the former Pennyrile Parkway is now signed exclusively as I-69. The segment between I-169 and I-165 is set to be redesignated as I-569 once upgrades are completed.

Kentucky also has more than 9000 numbered state routes; most are just a dozen miles long or so. Notable ones for traversing the state include:

• KY 9, more often known as the AA Highway (from its originally planned route of Ashland to Alexandria), crosses the northeastern tier of the state, starting just north of I-64 in Grayson and running roughly parallel to the Ohio River, though inland, to I-275 (the Cincinnati bypass) in Northern Kentucky. The only town of any real size along the route, apart from some suburbs at the Northern Kentucky end, is Maysville.
• KY 80 crosses the southern part of the state, linking Mayfield, Hopkinsville, Bowling Green, Somerset, London, Hazard and Pikeville.
• KY 70 runs west to east across the central part of the state. Begins in Smithland, on the Ohio River, and ends at US 150 near Mount Vernon. The section between Morgantown and Cave City is very scenic and passes through Mammoth Cave National Park .

Information on transit can be found here .

See [ edit ]

• Kentucky Horse Park: in Lexington off I-75. The only park of its kind and host of the 2010 World Equestrian Games. 1,200 acres of exhibits, pastures, barns, museums and an art gallery. Open year round.
• General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant: in Bowling Green off of I-65 exit 28 at Louisville Rd. and Corvette Dr. Bowling Green is the only production site for the classic American sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette and the two-seat Cadillac XLR. Every Corvette produced since 1982 was manufactured at the Bowling Green plant. The plant offers a 1-hour guided walking tour of portions of the assembly area.
• National Corvette Museum: in Bowling Green off of I-65 exit 28 across from the GM Assembly Plant. The museum houses more than 75 Corvettes including one of the original 1953 Corvettes, the only 1983 Corvette in existence, the millionth Corvette produced and many other rare 'Vettes. Also displayed are photographs, advertisements, television commercials, and Corvette memorabilia.
• Lost River Cave & Valley: in Bowling Green at jct. US 31W and Dishman Ln. The Lost River Cave & Valley offers a 45-minute underground boat and walking tour of a cave discovered by Indians 10,000 years ago. The cave, which is a constant 56 F, was a shelter for Indians, the site of a 19th-century water-powered mill, a campsite used by both sides during the Civil War, a hiding place for the outlaw Jesse James, and a popular 1930s night club. During the summer a butterfly exhibit can be viewed.
• Crystal Onyx Cave: in Cave City, off of I-65 exit 53 then 2 mi east on SR 90 to 363 Prewitts Knob Rd. This cave contains rare onyx formations, a lake and cave dwelling wildlife. An Indian burial site dated back to 680 BC may also be viewed. Guided 1 hour tours are conducted daily.
• Mammoth Cave National Park: northeast of Bowling Green, Northwest of Park City, and 10 miles west of Cave City. Mammoth Cave National Park occupies 52,830 acres. Within the park is Mammoth Cave, which is the worlds longest known cave system. It contains 365 miles of underground passages charted on five levels. Guided tours that range from 1.25 to 6 hours and vary in degree of difficulty are conducted daily.
• Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum: in Elizabethtown at 1100 N. Dixie Ave. Among the restored vintage automobiles displayed in the museum are such luxury cars from the 1920s and 1930s as Packards, Pierce Arrows, Hupmobiles and a 1939 Rolls Royce. Cars on display from later decades include several 1960s Chevrolet Impalas, a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, and a 1961 Metropolitan. Also this museum is free.
• Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor: on Fort Knox army base the museum is named for World War II General George Patton. include German and Japanese war artifacts, an extensive collection of US and foreign tanks and weapons, and mementos of Patton's military career, including his wartime caravan truck and the sedan in which he was fatally injured in 1945.
• US Bullion Depository: the 1937 treasure house, whose visible structure is a square about 100 feet on each side, is bombproof; its walls and roof are faced with huge granite blocks. At different times the vault has also held one of the copies of the Magna Carta, the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The depository is closed to the public but can be viewed when driving on US 31W.
• Maker's Mark Distillery: in Loretto off of SR 52. The distillery began operations in 1805. The former master distiller's home, built in the 1840s, is now the visitor center and the starting point for the 50-minute guided tour. Highlights of the tour include the still house, the fermenting room, warehouses, and the bottling house.
• Jim Beam's American Outpost: in Clermont about 2 miles east of I-65 on SR 245. A film about the bourbon making process is shown in the tourist center, a replica of an old tobacco barn. The historic Beam family home and rickhouses where the bourbon is aged in oak barrels also can be seen.
• Churchill Downs: in Louisville on 700 Central Ave., is the historic racetrack where the Kentucky Derby is run. Racing seasons are late April through early July and late October to November. A 30-minute guided tour is available through the Kentucky Derby Museum.
• Kentucky Derby Museum: adjacent to Gate 1 of Churchill Downs. The museum showcases the Thoroughbred industry and the Kentucky Derby. Two floors of racing artifacts, interactive exhibits, and fine art relate the tradition of Derby Day. Five Derby winners are buried at the museum, and a sixth (2006 winner Barbaro) is buried just outside Gate 1.
• Louisville Slugger Museum: in downtown Louisville on the corner of 8th and Main Sts. The entrance to the museum is distinguished by the 120-foot, 68,000-pound steel baseball bat. Visitors can view collections of baseball memorabilia before moving on to the guided tour of the manufacturing facility where you can see the bats being made.

State parks [ edit ]

Wherever you travel in Kentucky, you are never far from one of 52 Kentucky State Parks. Each park has its own unique attributes, from shorelines to majestic mountains, from winding caves to enchanting woodlands.

State resort parks

Kentucky offers 17 state resort parks, more than any other state. Each park features a full-service lodge and dining room.

• Barren River Lake
• Blue Licks Battlefield
• Buckhorm Lake
• Carter Caves State Resort Park
• Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
• Dale Hollow Lake
• General Butler
• Greenbo State Resort Park
• Jenny Wiley
• Kenlake - on the mid-west shore of Kentucky Lake
• Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
• Lake Barkley - rests on the shores of one of the world’s largest man-made lakes and provides for an array of outdoor activity
• Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
• Natural Bridge State Park
• Pennyrile Forest
• Pine Mountain State Resort Park
• Rough River
• Breaks Interstate Park

State recreation parks

The Kentucky State Parks operate 22 recreation parks that offer a variety of activities for visitors, including camping, fishing, golf, boating, hiking, picnicking, tennis, mini-golf, horseback riding, and historic sites.

• Big Bone Lick
• Columbus-Belmont - often called the "Gibraltar of the West" by the Confederates, was considered by them the key to their defense of the upper Mississippi River valley.
• E.P. Tom Sawyer , 3000 Freys Hill Rd. Louisville, KY 40241 , ☏ +1 502 429-3280 , [email protected] . A 562-acre oasis on the outskirts of Louisville, the rolling fields that were once farmland are now the site of some of the finest indoor and outdoor recreation facilities in Kentucky. The park is named in honor of Erbon Powers “Tom” Sawyer, a Louisville leader and visionary (whose daughter Diane Sawyer had a long career as an ABC News journalist and anchor).  
• Fish Trap Lake
• General Burnside Island State Park
• Grayson Lake
• Green River Lake
• John James Audubon
• Kincaid Lake
• Kingdom Come - majestic Appalachian Mountain views and rock arches.
• Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park
• Lake Malone
• My Old Kentucky Home - it is believed that Stephen Foster wrote "My Old Kentucky Home" here while visiting in 1852.
• Paintsville Lake
• Taylorsville Lake
• Yatesville Lake

Do [ edit ]

Fish [ edit ].

Kentucky State Parks offer a great variety of species and settings for fishing. Anglers have a choice of largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, trout, bluegill, crappie, catfish and many more kinds of fish at state parks. And for beginners, many parks have fishing equipment to loan to guests. See the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for required licenses, regulations, and suggestions on where to fish. An additional license is required for trout fishing, and while you may keep brown trout, rainbow trout are catch and release only. Kentucky does have some wonderful trout fishing rivers, and fly fishing is popular.

Golf [ edit ]

Kentucky is famed for bluegrass, bourbon, beautiful mountains and thoroughbreds. Golf is a large part of Kentucky's recreational reputation, with 19 State Park golf courses.

Shoot [ edit ]

There are several indoor and outdoor firing ranges at which arms and ammunition may be rented, along with some time at a firing lane. Shotgun enthusiasts will find a large number of clubs offering trap, skeet, and sporting clays, as well as several preserves offering pheasant or dove hunts.

Hunt [ edit ]

Deer, dove, and turkey are all commonly hunted in Kentucky. In addition, Kentucky has the largest number of elk found east of the Mississippi. See the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for seasons and license fees.

Swim [ edit ]

The parks operate more than two dozen swimming pools and 11 beaches at lakes. And during the winter, there are indoor pools at Lake Cumberland and Lake Barkley resort parks.

Camp [ edit ]

2,600 improved sites. Reservations are now available for the campgrounds. You can enjoy campground activities such as entertainment, arts and crafts, mini golf, cook outs and nature programs.

Boating [ edit ]

The state parks oversee 15 marinas that offer pontoon and fishing boat rentals. The marinas also provide a variety of services including fuel, fishing licenses, ice and slip rentals. And many parks have canoes and paddle boats as well.

Hiking [ edit ]

Kentucky State Parks offer nearly 300 miles (480 km) of trails suitable for all levels of enjoyment. From the remote 45 miles (70 km) on the Pine Mountain Trail to the .5-mile self-guided interpretive trail through the Civil War redoubts at Columbus-Belmont State Park, there is an outdoor experience that will satisfy everyone! Along with the state parks, many hiking opportunities can be found on federal lands in the state. The Daniel Boone National forest boasts over 600 miles of trails including the 290-mile Sheltowee Trace. The 58-mile North-South Trail is in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and the Pine Mountain Trail will be integrated into the 1600-mile (2550 km) Great Eastern Trail.

Horseriding [ edit ]

Looking to explore some new surroundings with your favorite equine companion? Visit one of the scenic Kentucky State Parks horse trails and escape for the day. Or, spend the weekend at a “horse campground” for some cowboy time under the stars. You will find several parks are equipped with seasonal riding stables for the whole family to enjoy. Horse back riding is also an option at many private stables, and at the Kentucky Horse Park seasonally.

Distillery tours [ edit ]

Most medium to large whiskey distilleries offer guided tours and/or tastings, and this is a popular tourist activity. Many distilleries are in fairly scenic parts of Kentucky, with a large number (but by no means all) being clustered around Bardstown. Several companies offer group bus tours that hit multiple distilleries in one day.

Buy [ edit ]

Kentucky has a wide variety of shopping malls, such as Mall St. Matthews, Oxmoor Center, and Jefferson Mall in Louisville; Fayette Mall in Lexington; Florence Mall in Northern Kentucky; Greenwood Mall in Bowling Green; and Kentucky Oaks Mall in Paducah. There are also a wide variety of shops with different assortments, and there are unique amenities to buy when you get out of the cities.

Bourbon is of course widely sold throughout the world, but some distilleries have unique whiskeys available only at the distillery; these can be a fun souvenir. Many distilleries offer tours and tastings, and these are a popular tourist activity. Not all Kentucky whiskey is bourbon - many distilleries also produce large amounts of excellent rye whiskey (bourbon is legally required to be distilled from a mash containing at least 51% corn). Rye whiskeys tend to have a subtly different flavor from bourbon; less sweet and more earthy. A few distilleries have experimented with malt whisky, but the hot Kentucky summers are not ideal for aging malts, and "Kentucky Scotch" is generally seen as more of a novelty than something most people would want to drink on a regular basis.

Eat [ edit ]

Kentucky's cuisine is similar to traditional southern cooking, although in some areas of the state it can blend Southern and Midwestern.

Kentucky has invented several dishes; most notably the Kentucky Hot Brown and beer cheese . The Hot Brown was developed at the Brown Hotel in Louisville. The dish is usually layered in this order: toasted bread, turkey, bacon, tomatoes and topped with mornay sauce. Beer cheese is a cheese spread that originated in Central Kentucky near Winchester. While there are conflicting stories on where beer cheese originated, Johnny Allman's, a restaurant on the Kentucky River (present-day site of Hall's on the River) is generally credited with inventing the dip. Colonel Harland Sanders began Kentucky Fried Chicken in Corbin. Today, visitors can see where the restaurant got its start.

Barbecue is popular throughout Kentucky, but unlike some other parts of the country, Kentucky doesn't lay claim to any particular style. Kentucky BBQ is historically derived from North Carolina styles, though it uses many more varieties of meat than traditional Carolina BBQ, and influences from Kansas City, Texas, and Tennessee can be seen. Barbecue in the area around Owensboro and Henderson is especially distinctive for its emphasis on mutton. As is typical in the South, barbecue refers to slow cooked and/or smoked meat; cooking outside on a grill is instead a "cookout" or "grilling out."

Burgoo is a type of stew that you'll often run into. There is no generally agreed way to make it, as it originated with people bringing random ingredients to social gatherings and throwing everything together in a pot. It's typically, but not always, somewhat spicy, and usually includes one or more types of meat, often smoked, plus corn and/or okra, other vegetables, and sometimes beans. It's more fun if you don't ask what's in it and just order it and see what you get.

Vegetarians may find it tough going in smaller towns; even things like greens are often cooked with bacon or salt pork. Pizza may be your best bet. Restaurants in larger cities and college towns will typically make more accommodation to vegetarians, and Louisville at least has several very good Indian, Ethiopian, and Middle Eastern places which naturally have numerous vegetarian and vegan options.

Drink [ edit ]

• Ale-8-One , known colloquially as Ale-8 , is a regional fruity/ginger-flavored, caffeinated soft drink. It is bottled in the Central Kentucky city of Winchester and distributed only within the state and neighboring portions of Indiana and Ohio.
• Bourbon , America's native spirit, is produced in by far the greatest quantities in the state of Kentucky. Many major distilleries are clustered in Central Kentucky in picturesque settings near a natural source of water. The larger distilleries in Kentucky market themselves collectively as the Bourbon Trail with a little "passport" book that each distillery will stamp for you to show you've visited it.

Alcohol laws in Kentucky are (pun not intended) a mixed bag. As you travel through the state, you can find yourself in a "wet", "dry", or "moist" city or county. A guide to these terms:

• Wet – This means that an area allows full retail sales of alcoholic beverages, either packaged for off-premises consumption or by the drink (as in bars or restaurants). All cities in the state with a population of 20,000 or more now allow off-premises sales.
• Dry – An area that does not allow sales of alcoholic beverages at all. Some otherwise dry areas do allow for sales at wineries (about 25 around the state), golf courses (also about 25) and certain historic sites (one).
• The state officially uses "moist" strictly to describe otherwise dry counties in which at least one city has approved full retail sales. Examples of "moist" counties in this sense include Warren County, in which Bowling Green is wet, and Hardin County, where three cities, including Elizabethtown , are wet.
• In popular usage, "moist" more often refers to a location that does not allow package sales but has allowed sales by the drink in larger restaurants. Depending on state and/or local law, establishments with licenses to sell by the drink may or may not have dedicated bars—but all must derive at least 70% of their revenues from food and non-alcoholic drinks.

The laws governing package sales in wet areas also have their own quirks. Supermarkets are allowed to sell beer, but not wine or distilled spirits—at least not in the main grocery section. A supermarket can hold a license to sell wine and spirits, but must do so out of a separate facility with its own entrances, checkout counters, and staffing; if the wine and spirits shop is inside the supermarket, it must be walled off from the grocery section. Supermarkets that have such licenses usually (but not always) place the entrance to the wine and spirits shop either inside the main entrance of the grocery or next door to it. Pharmacies can sell all types of alcoholic beverages if they hold the required licenses, as can dedicated liquor stores.

Stay safe [ edit ]

• During hunting season, wear brightly-colored clothing if you go into the woods. This is even more strongly recommended if you're out during a firearms season, and is advisable even during archery-only seasons. (Hunters must wear hunter orange vests/coats and caps when hunting during any season in which modern firearms or muzzleloaders are legal weapons.)
• If you are backpacking, biking or any off-road adventure, register with the Park Office. Make sure you call or visit on the way out. It only makes sense, you may get lost, or break something. Cell phones may not work in these areas.
• Kentucky is generally very safe, however certain parts of Downtown Louisville can be dangerous. For example, when traveling to the west end of Louisville, be sure to use common sense.

Go next [ edit ]

Kentucky is bordered by seven other states.

• Missouri - To the west of Kentucky, Missouri can boast of having St Louis , home of the Gateway Arch and Union Station.
• Illinois - To the northwest of Kentucky, the home of Chicago and of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield .
• Indiana - Kentucky's northern neighbor, Indiana has several caves to visit and is rich in covered bridges.
• Ohio - Another northern neighbor, an easy day-trip from Kentucky is the city of Cincinnati , home of Kings Island and the Bengals (NFL) and Reds (MLB). Ohio also boasts a long shoreline along Lake Erie, the cities of Columbus and Cleveland , and the Hocking Hills .
• West Virginia - East of Kentucky, mountainous West Virginia has New River Gorge National Park , with the deepest gorge in the eastern US and New River Gorge Bridge, one of the highest in the country. Unique mountain ecosystems in the expansive Monongahela National Forest and charming mountain towns throughout.
• Virginia - To the east of Kentucky (and south of West Virginia), Virginia has the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park ; Civil War history throughout the central and northern parts of the state, and the historic city of Richmond .
• Tennessee - Tennessee shares Kentucky's southern border. Here you'll find the Great Smoky Mountains National Park , the music city of Nashville and Elvis' home in Memphis .

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Kentucky Tourism releases state’s newest visitor’s guide

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WBKO) – Following a record year in Kentucky tourism, the state has released its 2024 Official Kentucky Visitor’s Guide.

The Kentucky Department of Tourism released the guide Jan. 5, calling it the primary tourism advertising and promotional piece.

The state’s booming tourism industry generated $12.9 billion in economic impacts in 2022, according to information released in August 2023 by Governor Andy Beshear.

“Kentucky’s tourism industry is experiencing a historic surge, with record-breaking economic impact in 2023,” Gov. Beshear said. “With so many new travelers visiting the commonwealth, the Official Visitor’s Guide will show them we have a little something for everyone –from horse country and outdoor adventure to history, arts, culture and our world-famous bourbon.”

Resources in the guide include everything needed to plan a trip in Kentucky, whether exploring regionally or by topic of interest, Kentucky Tourism said. Readers can also find regional itineraries, travel tips and a variety of other helpful information when touring the commonwealth.

The state is categorized into various regions, including Caves, Lakes & Corvettes; Bourbon, Horses & History; and Bluegrass, Blues & BBQ.

The guide also celebrates a year of milestones, including the 150th anniversary of the Kentucky Derby, the 100th anniversary of Kentucky State Parks and the 25th anniversary of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

“The 2024 Official Kentucky Visitor’s Guide provides excellent guidance for travelers, whether they are local, out-of-state or international,” said Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier. “2024 will be a banner year for tourism in the commonwealth, and we encourage everyone to pick up a guide to assist with their travel planning.”

A new six-episode video series featuring an out-of-state family on an outdoor adventure in Kentucky was also released alongside the guide. “Fireside Fortune” showcases the family doing several activities in the state. The film is available via a QR code inside the new guide.

“After a record-setting year for Kentucky tourism, we are looking forward to an exciting 2024, filled with adventures and milestone anniversaries,” said Kentucky Department of Tourism Commissioner Mike Mangeot. “Our 2024 Visitor’s Guide is an excellent tool for planning your next trip to Kentucky, and we can’t wait for you to be inspired by the Fireside Fortune video series.”

New Official Visitor Guides are provided at no cost to visitors and are now available at Kentucky visitor centers across the state. Bulk copies may also be ordered online.

An interactive, digital copy of the guide is also available here .

Copyright 2024 WBKO. All rights reserved.

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Lexington is a front porch kind of city. A welcoming place to unwind in comfort and style. A place to gather with friends and family, sip a glass of bourbon, and savor an unforgettable meal. A place where breathtaking natural beauty lives alongside a vibrant creative culture that you’ll want to return to again and again. We’d certainly love to have you.

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Lexington is a bourbon lover’s paradise. There are 18 renowned bourbon distilleries nearby offering a firsthand look at the history and craft of America’s native spirit. Throughout the city, world-class bourbon bars boast rare collections and innovative cocktails.

Take a closer look at all the peerless bourbon experiences that Lexington has to offer.

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The culinary scene in Lexington is a feast for the senses.

Lexington has a flavor all its own. Local farms fuel an expansive culinary scene that’s as imaginative as it is delicious. Here you’ll find an eye-popping number of restaurants , cafés , bakeries , and bistros serving eclectic fare and fresh takes on Southern classics.

See what’s on the menu in Lexington. We’ll save a seat for you at the table.

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Things To Do | Where and how to celebrate 4/20 this year in NYC

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Recreational marijuana is legal in New York state for people 21 and over. If you’re planning to celebrate that fact on April 20 this year and are looking for places to go — besides your nearest (legitimate and licensed) dispensary — this is a guide for you.

What do I need to know about legal weed in the city?

You’re allowed to have 3 ounces of cannabis (frequently called “flower”) or 24 grams of concentrated cannabis (edibles, other forms) at any given time.

What is so special about 4/20 anyway?

No one “really” knows, but there’s a lot of lore. It could be the (likely apocryphal) story that “420” was police code for a pot bust … somewhere. It might have started with The Waldos , a group of students at San Rafael High School in Northern California’s Marin County. The group would meet up every afternoon to blaze their own path. If the legend is true, one of the Waldos told Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh about their not-so-secret code, and it quickly became the go-to shorthand.

Steven Bloom, a reporter for High Times , saw a flyer advertising “420” at a Dead show in 1990 and recreated it for the magazine a year later, ramping into high gear the phrase’s long, strange trip to widespread use.

Where is my nearest (legitimate and licensed) dispensary?

“There are currently 102 adult-use cannabis dispensaries across New York State,” according to the city. But there are many, many more gray market smoke shops .

If a dispensary has a special QR code sticker given out by the city, that’s a good indicator it’s up-to-snuff. More info on that and a running list can be viewed on New York’s Office of Cannabis Management website .

Whether you’re new to the concept or could give Cheech and Chong a run for their money, here are some options to stock up on cannabis, tinctures, and even special drinks in store or online:

Housing Works Cannabis Co — 750 Broadway (open until 9 p.m. most days).

It was the city’s very first legal cannabis dispensary, located right by Astor Place.

Dazed — 33 Union Square West

A few blocks north, “where the cannabis plant intersects with Music, Art, Fashion and Food,” according to the store.

The Cannabis Place — 74-03 Metropolitan Ave.

Situated in Middle Village, but offering delivery to across the city and parts of New Jersey.

Statis Cannabis Co — 817 E. Tremont Ave.

Up in the Bronx, this dispensary “harmonizes the best of cannabis culture and sophisticated, refined urban lifestyle.”

Are there actual organized events happening?

You can only smoke or otherwise consume “cannabis wherever smoking tobacco is allowed under the smoke-free air law,” according to the city. All smoking is prohibited at our fine parks and beaches, though it manages to keep happening.

There are quite a few events going on in and around the city for the momentous day though:

4/20 Comedy Show by Underground Overground Comedy (4/17) — 3 E 3rd St., Bowery

A 4/20-themed night of stand-up comedy on the Bowery, hosted by comedy duo David Levine and Ethan Mansoor at Gotham dispensary . It’s currently sold out but there is a waitlist . The store has also partnered with nearby Upside Pizza for the month, where they are co-hosting a block party on 4/20.

Friends NYC Potluck (4/18) — 56 Bogart St., Brooklyn

This vintage/smoke shop in Bushwick is hosting a free dinner catered by a number of Brooklyn eateries. Shoppers can drink and cure their munchies while looking for their perfect 4/20 fit. Everything in the store’s 20% off from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Bud Drop with Method Man and Redman (4/19) — 610 W. 56th St., Hell’s Kitchen

Get started a day earlier and celebrate with the stars of the canonical 4/20 film “How High” at Terminal 5 in Hell’s Kitchen. Revelers will enjoy a countdown to the Bud Drop when the clock strikes midnight.

The Roll Up NYC featuring The Lox (4/19) — 91-12 144th Pl., Jamaica, NY..

The legendary rap group (Jadakiss, Sheek Louch and Styles P.) will be joined by special guests for “a 4/20 weekend event that you cannot miss,” which will include giveaways, contests and more in at the Amazura Concert Hall Jamaica, Queens.

Citi Bike (4/20) — Citywide

Citi BIke’s offering free, unlimited 30-minute rides on 4/20 (technically to celebrate Earth Day and NYC Open Streets). Warning, it’s unsafe to ride a bike while intoxicated.

The People’s W33D Fest (4/20) — 102 Orchard St., Lower East Side

A rooftop carnival in the Lower East Side will offer “goodie bags” and $1 pre-rolls to the first 500 attendees. Free, but a donation is suggested.

Lifted 420 Festival (4/20) — 17 Meadow St., Brooklyn

“A 12-hour celebration of music, art, food and culture,” with a number of DJs and other performers at Meadows BK in Bushwick.

Pirates vs. Aliens 420 Blastoff (4/20) — 110 Troutman St., Brooklyn

Promises 12 hours of DJs, skateboarding, circus performers a costume contest and more, all while “disco space pirates dance their pants off to defend the planet against groovy aliens” at Bushwick’s 110 Studios .

The Shakedown on Main Street (4/20) — 225 W Main St. , Patchogue, N.Y.

Long Island’s Blue Point Brewery hosts an outdoor music festival/carnival featuring Shaggy, a ferris wheel, mini golf, “surprises, collabs, vendor giveaways and delightful moments in time.”

The 3rd Annual High & Mighty 420 Mega Sesh (4/20) — Remote

Nassau County, Long Island’s number one boy Jon Gabrus hosts this livestream/party/extravaganza from Los Angeles’s Dynasty Typewriter starting at 10:30 p.m. Eastern, but it’ll all be livestreamed. Expect plenty of special guests.

THC NYC Open House (4/17 to 4/20) — 427 Broadway, SoHo

Several days of events are happening at House of Cannabis , an immersive marijuana museum in SoHo, in the lead up to the big day where visitors can expect “a journey into the heart of cannabis culture.” Space is limited, tickets available online .

MARY Fest (4/20) — 99 Scott Ave., Brooklyn

“Fashion, music, cannabis, health & wellness, design, tech and more!” collide at 99 Scott in Bushwick. Discounted tickets are available with promo code ROLLWITHUS.

VIBES ARE HIGH | 420 Grand Adventures Yacht Party (4/20) — 2430 FDR Drive

Hop aboard the Avalon Yacht at Skyport Marina and enjoy a three-hour cruise around enjoy views of the city with two dance areas, an expansive dinner menu, full bar and buffet.

NYC Cannabis Parade (5/4) — Broadway between 32nd and 33rd, Manhattan

If that’s not enough fun and excitement for you, the annual parade (first started by The Yippies in 1973) will head down Broadway to a rally and street fair at Union Square. Speakers and performers to be announced.

Still not what you’re looking for? Try Eventbrite’s list of events .

If you have an upcoming weekend event you’d like to submit for consideration in an upcoming roundup, please email: [email protected] with the details. Consideration does not guarantee inclusion.

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Mother's day gift guide 2024: the finest women's layers for travel.

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Traveling, even to warm-weather destinations, often necessitates layers to keep you warm, dry, and ... [+] protected from the wind.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro who will only travel with carry-on luggage, or you’re a vacation maven who loves to bring plenty of options, layers are undoubtably part of the packing equation. Even if a warm and sunny destination is on the horizon, airplanes are often chilly, which requires a sweater or scarf to keep you comfortable while floating from point A to point B. The key is to think ahead and utilize versatile clothing options that are ideal for fickle ever-changing weather, in the air or on the ground.

Royal Robbins: Headlands Hemp Hoodie

Headlands Hemp Hoodie

Sometimes you just want something comfortable and soft while far away from home. The Headlands Hemp Hoodie from Royal Robbins is like a familiar hug—it’s luxuriously cozy and forgiving and it can be paired with most outfits. Made with a cotton and hemp blend, this lightweight and breathable hoodie is the perfect companion for wherever your travels take you.

Available at royalrobbins.com.

GOREWEAR: Contest 2.0 Long Sleeve Tee

For active moms who love to be outside running, biking, horseback riding, or trekking in the woods, the GOREWEAR Contest 2.0 Long Sleeve Tee is a game changer. Pull over a sports bra or tank top for added warmth on those early morning starts. This garment is lightweight, breathable, and easy to pack in a running vest or backpack when not in use. You’ll love the reflective details, moisture-wicking fabric, and slim fit design. Choose from three different colors: purple, yellow, or black. Whether exploring Mexico’s Xcaret parks on a visit to Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya or reveling on an adventure with MSC Cruises in the Caribbean, packing multipurpose layers for travel is key.

Available at gorewear.com.

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Appalachian Gear Company: All-Paca Blanket

For those chilly flights, where a bit of warmth and comfort is needed, choose an oh-so-soft blanket from Appalachian Gear Company. The All-Paca Blanket, made from 100% alpaca fiber, is lightweight, minimal in design, and easy to pack in your suitcase. Drape over your shoulders while sitting around the campfire, bring with you while strolling the beach in the early morning hours, or take it with you while on a road trip. This versatile layer will suit you well no matter what ecosystem you’re visiting.

Available at appalachiangearcompany.com .

Stio: Skycrest Insulated Snap Shirt

Stio Women's Skycrest Insulated Snap Shirt

Simple to wear with an easy-breezy fit, the Skycrest Insulated Snap Shirt from Stio will quickly become your go-to garment for slight variations in the weather when you need a bit more warmth. Made with Thermore’s premium insulation, this shacket (shirt-jacket) is perfect for three-season adventures in the outdoors or while urban exploring. Wear while walking the dogs around the neighborhood, camping in a state or national park , visiting friends for brunch, or perusing art at a local museum. Adaptable, lightweight, and structured, this layer serves many functions.

Available at stio.com.

Mammut: Stoney HS Thermo Jacket

For heat adverse travelers who seek out chilly destinations for their vacation fun, you’ll need to bring along a protective outer layer that can stand up to the task. Whether you’re searching for polar bears in the Canadian arctic with Natural Habitat Adventures , dog sledding in Swedish Lapland , or skiing at Big Sky resort in Montana, a hard-wearing jacket is key. If you have a cold-weather adventure trip on the calendar, which requires an insulated coat that will keep you toasty, look no further than the Stoney HS Thermo Jacket from Mammut.

Available at mammut.com.

KUIU: Tiburon Hybrid Hoodie

KUIU Tiburon Hybrid Hoodie

Hard-wearing and made to last, the Tiburon Hybrid Hoodie from KUIU is an adaptable layer that will serve an outdoorsy person well. What sets this long-sleeve apart from others on the market is the woven fabric with micro-openings, which keeps the wearer warm and dry. Don while spending long days outside in the sun—this shirt has a UPF 40 rating, or while traveling from one adventure to the next.

Available at kuiu.com.

Zero Restriction: Wanda Vest

Zero Restriction Wanda Vest

Windproof and designed with a slimming fit for women, the Zero Restriction Wanda Vest is a useful performance item for any closet. It’s the subtle details like the ruching at the collar and the reflective details on the pockets that make this well-made vest a standout. Pair with a zipped mock neck long-sleeve shirt or a warmer pullover for those days where the weather requires more bundling up.

Available at zerorestriction.com .

Vineyard Vines: Kentucky Derby Double-Breasted Blazer

Even the outdoorsy gal likes to dress up from time to time. For something truly special, elevated, and eye-catching, the soft pink polka-dot Kentucky Derby Double-Breasted Blazer from Vineyard Vines can be worn with a lightweight tank top underneath or a warm cashmere sweater, depending on the weather. Easy to pack in a carry-on, this blazer will help the women in your life to look sharp while they’re traveling for business or meeting up with friends for a girl’s getaway. Pair the bold photo-worthy blazer with the matching pleated trousers for a completed look. If you happen to be attending the 150 th Kentucky Derby this spring, held at the iconic Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, you’ll be all set with this colorful outfit.

Available at vineyardvines.com.

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