Kentucky, the “Bluegrass State,” is a compelling destination for travelers who love bourbon, horses, diverse landscapes, history, culture, music, and friendly hospitality. Here are our 7 favorite things to do during your trip.
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Caves & Caverns
National Park fans and spelunkers alike enjoy visiting Mammoth National Park. Known as the world’s longest known cave system, it has more than 400 miles of passageways. A variety of tours cater to various interests and ability levels. You will be amazed at the cave system’s unique features like the Frozen Niagra, a formation resembling a frozen waterfall. View Echo River, an underground river. And marvel at the Rotunda, a large chamber with amazing ceiling formations.
Outside the cave, enjoy hiking opportunities through diverse flora and fauna. You can participate in canoeing, kayaking, boating and fishing in the park. And the lack of light pollution in the area makes it a terrific place for stargazing. You can even visit historic churches and cemeteries on-site. There’s truly something for everyone!
Lodging and camping is available in the park, and there are many great places to stay nearby. And there are other fun things to see and do while in the area.
For a completing different take on a cave, don’t miss Louisville Mega Cavern. Billed as a place for “funderground” adventures, this cavern operates as an underground adventure park. Adventure lovers can zip through the cavern through an underground zip-line, participate in the Mega Quest aerial ropes challenge course, and take a tram tour.
There are many great places to stay in Louisville. And there are plenty of other things to do nearby!
Horse Country & the Kentucky Derby
If you love thoroughbred horse racing, Kentucky is THE state you must visit! You will be in heaven as you visit the area around Lexington known as the Horse Capital of the World. Fayette County over 150 farms, many of which you can visit through a group tour or independently.
You can visit Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Billed as a “equine theme park,” there’s plenty to keep you busy! Visit the International Museum of the Horse and the American Saddlebred Museum for exhibits on the history of horses and their impact on culture. The park hosts horse shows and events you can attend, and you can also take a guided tour of the park on a horse-drawn trolley. Visit retired champion Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses in the Hall of Champions, then interact with horses in Stall-Side Chats.
If you time your visit right, you must make plans to visit the Kentucky Derby. Known as the most prestigious and iconic horse racing event in the world, the Kentucky Derby is held the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville. And even if your visit doesn’t coincide with the derby, you might be able to catch another horse race at Churchill Downs. You can also take a guided track visit with your admission to the Kentucky Derby Museum.
There are many great places to stay in Lexington and Louisville. You can also check out other fun things to see and do while in the area (Lexington/Louisville).
Bourbon Trail
Kentucky is renowned for its bourbon, a type of whiskey aged in oak barrels. You can visit many famous distilleries along Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail like Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, and Buffalo Trace. Start your journey at the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center in the Frazier Museum in Louisville. Here you can learn about the history and craft of Kentucky Bourbon. You can even participate in tastings and learn to make your own bourbon cocktails. After visiting the museum, you can simply walk to four different distilleries located within one mile along Main Street,
Want to visit a more famous distillery? The James B. Beam Distilling Co. is located just 40 minutes away from Louisville. And if you want even more bourbon experiences, opt for a guided half-day tour and leave the driving to someone who won’t be participating in tasting!
There are many great places to stay in Louisville. And there are plenty of other things to do nearby!
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Harrodsburg is a preserved Shaker community dating from 1805-1910. Shakers were a religious group who believed in the imminent return of Jesus Christ. They are known for their communal living, celibacy, pacifism, belief in equality, and simplicity. Shaker Village has over 30 historic structures including houses, meeting spaces, and workshops where you can get a glimpse of the life they lived.
Take a guided tour to learn about Shaker history and daily life. You can also see live demonstrations of traditional Shaker crafts like weaving, woodworking, and furniture making. Take time to tour the farm and gardens to learn more about the Shaker’s agricultural practices, sustainable farming methods, and the Shaker tradition of living in harmony with the land. You can venture out on the Kentucky River Palisades on a boat or kayak. Or ride through 29 miles of trails on horseback or by horse-drawn carriage. Best of all, there’s a terrific gift shop where you can buy handmade Shaker crafts and furniture.
You can stay onsite at the Shaker VIllage of Pleasant Hill Inn. Or there are many great places to stay nearby. And there are also several other fun things to see and do while in the area.
Creation Museum
The Creation Museum explores the literal interpretation of the Bible’s creation story and adheres to the belief that the Earth is only about 6,000 years old. This challenges the mainstream view that Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old. The museum features exhibits on the origin of life, the great flood, the Earth’s age, and the coexistence of humans and dinosaurs using animatronics, dioramas, and multimedia presentations, No matter your belief system, visiting this museum can provide an interesting look at the intersection of science and religion.
There are many great places to stay in Petersburg. And there are other fun things to see and do while in the area.
Bluegrass Music
Kentucky is known for its contributions to American music, particularly bluegrass and country. If you are a music fan, you must make time in your trip to Kentucky to visit Owensboro, known as the Birthplace of Bluegrass. Start your sojourn at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Here you will learn about the history of this style of music and about the people and instruments that create it. Live music is hosted several days a week, so make sure to time your visit accordingly!
Just 45 minutes away from Owensboro is the childhood home of Bill Monroe, known as the Father of Bluegrass. You can visit the home to learn more about his life and family and pay respects at his grave in the family cemetery. Pickin on the Porch live music sessions are held in the evenings of the second Saturday of each month from June through October and aren’t to be missed.
There are many great places to stay in Owensboro And there are other fun things to see and do while in the area.
National Corvette Museum & Sinkhole
If you love classic cars, a visit to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green is a must. The museum features an extensive collection of rare and classic Corvettes spanning through the decades. Exhibits not only provide a look back at the evolution of the Corvette through the years, but also provide insight into the future with innovative prototypes and concept cars. You can also tour the nearby General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant to see the production of current Corvettes.
But even if you don’t care about cars, it’s probably worth stopping by to see the massive sinkhole that swallowed several rare and classic Corvettes in 2014. Eight Corvettes sunk into a 40 foot wide and 30 foot deep sinkhole. Some were able to be restored to their original condition. Others remain in the sinkhole which has become a museum exhibit. In the exhibit, you can see exhibits on the day of the event, the crazy media coverage it garnered, the cars it impacted, the recovery efforts, and information about sinkholes in general. You can even experience a virtual simulation of a collapse and climb into a manhole for a view of the actual sinkhole itself!
There are many great places to stay in Bowling Green. And there are also several other fun things to see and do while in the area.
What’s on your Kentucky trip itinerary?
These are just 7 of the sensational sites to see in Kentucky. But the state is full of many more incredible destinations that are worth exploring. Tell us below where you plan to visit!
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