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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

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Lottie Davies

Horses thunder around race tracks, bourbon pours from distilleries and banjos twang in Kentucky, a geographical and cultural crossroads that's part North, part South, part genteel and part country cousin. Every corner is easy on the eye, but there are few sights more beautiful than the rolling limestone hills around Lexington, where long-legged steeds nibble under poplar trees on multi-million dollar farms that you can visit. Bourbon distilleries also speckle the countryside, prime for scenic road tripping to swirl and sniff a dram at the source. It's like an offbeat version of California's Napa Valley, but with fewer crowds and headier alcohol. Caving, rock climbing and hiking prevail in the unspoiled parks and forests. And while big cities Louisville and Lexington have farm-to-table restaurants, cocktail bars and all of the other hipster requirements, most of Kentucky is made up of small towns with quiet scenes.

Best Things to Do

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Muhammad Ali Center

This must-see museum tells the tale of the city's most famous native: a local boxer nicknamed the Louisville Lip or, simply, The Greatest. Highlights…

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

See how baseball's most famous bat is made. Hillerich & Bradsby Co have been manufacturing the Louisville Slugger here since 1884. Admission includes a…

Woodford Reserve

Bluegrass Country

Restored to its 1800s glory, Woodford is perhaps the prettiest distillery in Kentucky. The company still uses old-fashioned copper pots to triple distill…

Mammoth Cave National Park

With the longest cave system on earth, this national park has some 400 miles of surveyed passageways. Mammoth is at least three times longer than any…

Speed Art Museum

Built in 1927 and revamped to the tune of $60 million in recent years, Kentucky's most important art museum – unaffiliated but on the University of…

Maker's Mark

Touring Maker's is like visiting a historic theme park, in a good way. You'll see the old gristmill, the 1840s master distiller's house and the old…

Kentucky Derby Museum

On the Churchill Downs racetrack grounds, the museum has exhibits on derby history, including a peek into the life of jockeys and a roundup of the most…

Castle & Key

Castle & Key looks like something out of a fairy tale. Colonel EH Taylor built it as a distillery in 1887, complete with a turreted stone castle, lush…

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Kentucky and beyond

• 3 Other destinations
• 4.1 Tourist information
• 5.2 By plane
• 5.4 By train
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• 8.7 Boating
• 8.9 Horseriding
• 8.10 Distillery tours
• 12 Stay safe

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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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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I hope you enjoyed reading the post, The Ultimate Kentucky Travel Guide, and I hope it will help you plan your trip to Kentucky. You can find other US attractions and destinations in my  USA Travel Guide .

Happy feeding your soul! Shreyashi

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40 Incredible Places to Visit in Kentucky

10/19/2021 by Emily Becker 2 Comments

To be honest, Kentucky wasn’t always on my travel radar. Like many people unfamiliar with the Bluegrass State, I previously had a lot of assumptions about it. However, the state is much more than meets the eye, and it is home to some incredible destinations. This list breaks down the best, including wonderful cities, neat towns, beautiful parks, unique stops, and more:

Table of Contents

Cities & Towns

40. louisville.

As Kentucky’s largest city, Louisville is a hub for nearly everything that makes this state special. You’ll find countless venues to see live bluegrass shows, race tracks with the country’s most impressive horses, and some amazing Southern cooking. Not only that, but Louisville is bursting with culture and has a thriving art community.

Here are a few must-visit spots in this vibrant city:

39. Frankfort Avenue

As far as places to go in Louisville , this is one of the best to check out as soon as you get into town. Frankfort Avenue, aka “The Avenue,” is a long corridor that connects the city’s most hip and happening neighborhoods. Along it, you’ll see local businesses galore, from boutiques to galleries to mom ‘n’ pop restaurants.

38. Fairmount Falls Park

On the outskirts of Louisville is Fairmount Falls, one of the city’s hidden natural gems. Visiting feels like discovering a Louisville secret that not many other tourists get to experience. The waterfall is tucked away in the forest, about a mile’s hike from the trail entrance.

To get to this gorgeous waterfall, you can make a reservation to access the park at Jefferson Memorial Forest Welcome Center . Since only three cars are allowed in the park per day, a reservation nearly guarantees you’ll have the falls almost all to yourself.

37. Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs is as famous as it gets when it comes to Louisville institutions. The two longest continuously running sporting events in the US are held at Churchill Downs: the Kentucky Derby and the all-female Kentucky Oaks races. Even if you aren’t in town during one of those, check the events calendar  to see what else is going on at the race track during your visit.

36. Muhammad Ali Center

The famous boxer-turned-philanthropist Muhammad Ali is a Louisville native and certainly engenders a generous amount of hometown pride. Opened in 2005, the Muhammad Ali Center is a nonprofit museum that serves to demonstrate Ali’s six core principles: confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect, and spirituality. It’s one of the most inspirational museums in Kentucky. Find more information here .

35. Louisville Mega Cavern

Adventure seekers will not want to miss out on a visit to the Louisville Mega Cavern, the world’s only fully  underground aerial ropes course . This former 1930s mine site has 100 acres (part of a citywide 17 mile array of underground corridors) that you can explore via Historic Tram Tour or  walking tour , on which you can learn about the history and geology of the caverns. This is one of the top places to see in all of Kentucky, let alone Louisville!

34. Cherokee Park

Did you know that Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed NYC’s Central Park, also designed Cherokee Park in Louisville? It’s true! His eye for design is evident in the Park, which features quaint woodlands, open meadows, rolling hills, and trickling streams. That’s right, you can enjoy all of that natural beauty without having to leave Louisville’s city limits.

33. Lexington

Lexington is Kentucky’s second largest city and is spilling over with history, Southern charm, and unique places to visit. As the country’s horse capital, you’ll find loads of opportunities to learn about the city’s horse racing and breeding legacy. Not only that but Lexington is in the heart of bluegrass country and packs a big punch with its rich bourbon culture.

Here are some of the best places to visit in or near Lexington:

32. Keeneland Race Track

Keeneland is an internationally renowned racecourse committed to preserving the tradition of thoroughbred horse racing. The track is open to the public, so you don’t have to attend an actual race to take in its beautifully landscaped gardens and pristine grandstand. The place captures the essence of horse racing culture and prestige. This tour includes a stop at Keeneland with an expert guide.

31. Ashland: Henry Clay Estate

As far as historic places in Kentucky, this is easily one of the most famous. Henry Clay was one of Kentucky’s most well-known statesmen, and Ashland was his home during the height of his career. The Henry Clay Memorial Foundation has an interesting way of telling the stories of people who lived, worked, and were enslaved at the Ashland estate.  This guided tour  is a great way to get the most out of your visit.

30. Kentucky Horse Park

If you can’t get enough of horse-related attractions, Kentucky Horse Park is the ultimate destination. Not only does the park have a fully operational horse farm, but it also houses the Smithsonian International Museum of the Horse. You could easily spend a day visiting this equine treasure in Lexington.

29. Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

This pristinely preserved nature sanctuary in Lexington is the ultimate nature lover’s paradise. Across 734 acres, there are over 10 miles of trails to enjoy. Spend a warm summer afternoon hiking, biking, or picnicking here. Visiting in fall? The autumn colors in Raven Run Nature Sanctuary are gorgeous!

28. Jacobson Park

On 216 acres of land,  Jacobson Park includes a large reservoir perfect for kayaking, paddleboarding, or just hanging out on the grass near the shore. The park also has volleyball courts, a disc golf course, and more. Of all the green spaces in Lexington, this one is one of the best for a quiet afternoon in nature.

27. Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

Just 45 minutes outside of Lexington is Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. Travelers from all over the world visit Shaker Village each year to get a glimpse into the past of a society that was able to thrive off the land.The Shakers were a religious community that was active in Pleasant Hill from 1805 to 1910.

This 3,000-acre landmark is one of the most well-preserved sites of Shaker history. The nonprofit organization Shaker Village has worked hard to maintain the 34 original historic structures, a nature preserve, and conserved farmland on the site. You can even stay in Shaker Village’s inn !

26. Bardstown

As the home of nine famous bourbon distilleries, Bardstown is one of Kentucky’s most notable bourbon destinations. Not only that, but the town also has the Bardstown Civil War Museum , the fourth-largest such museum in the country. It is also home to Kentucky’s “official outdoor drama” (“The Stephen Foster Story”) and even has an entire exhibit dedicated to women’s roles in the war.

Bardstown has a picturesque town square and is overall a beautiful little town to visit. You can book an entire weekend getaway there, complete with plenty of bourbon-filled experiences, here .

25. Frankfort

Known to have one of the most beautiful capitol buildings in the country, this small capital city deserves a spot on your Kentucky bucket list. Located along the Kentucky River between Louisville and Lexington, Frankfort is perfectly tucked into the green hills and is surrounded by nature. Here you’ll find outdoor adventure , historical relics, and, of course, plenty of bourbon.

24. Bowling Green

As one of Kentucky’s many bustling college towns, Bowling Green has a unique mix of new and old, historic and innovative. You’ll find venerable neighborhoods complete with colonial architecture and manicured lawns, as well as some of Kentucky’s best museums. One of them is the National Corvette Museum , which takes visitors on a journey through the iconic history of America’s sports car.

Bowling Green is also the perfect launching point for Mammoth Cave National Park (more on that later!), so consider staying here a night or two during your Kentucky adventure to make the most of this attraction-filled area.

23. Newport

If you are an American history enthusiast, you won’t want to miss out on a visit to Newport. This quaint riverside community was once set to become what is now Las Vegas . In fact, the town was once home to many casinos and was frequented by none other than Frank Sinatra, who performed there. Even Las Vegas’s nickname, “Sin City,” was first applied to Newport before it was given to Las Vegas.

Since Newport is so close to Cincinnati, Ohio, you can take a sunset cruise to see the Cincinnati skyline from Newport.

This one is for all the cyclists out there! London is one of Kentucky’s designated “trail towns,” because of its access to road cycling, mountain biking, and hiking trails. It’s next to Daniel Boone National Forest, so nature lovers find London the perfect place to stay while they explore nearby parks, trails, and forests.

21. Paducah

Known as “The Quilt City,” Paducah is America’s quilt-making capital. In fact, UNESCO dubbed Paducah a City of Crafts and Folk Art in 2013. You can learn about this legacy at the National Quilt Museum .

As soon as you arrive in Paducah, you’ll realize that this small town is anything but ordinary. The visitor’s center is housed in a restored 1860s mansion, which truly sets the stage for a historic adventure. Enjoy the town’s peace and quiet with a walk along the river and a stroll through town to see the historic buildings.

20. Owensboro

Owensboro is a small city packed full of all the things that make Kentucky great. It has some of the state’s best barbecue joints, bluegrass music venues, and art museums.

Check out the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, where you’ll find a sculpture park and folk art dating back to the 15th century.

Owensboro is famous for its mutton barbeque, so if you’re a meat eater you shouldn’t leave town without trying it at either Old Hickory Bar-B-Que or Ole South Bar-B-Q.

19. International Bluegrass Music Museum

No trip to Owensboro is complete without a stop at the International Bluegrass Music Museum. We are listing this place all on its own because it’s easily one of the top attractions in the state. Even if you’re new to bluegrass music, this museum is sure to keep you entertained all day long with its interactive exhibits and nuggets of history throughout. You’ll see a variety of neat vintage instruments, learn about the genre’s most influential musicians, and see the evolution of the genre over the years.

Get your tickets here .

18. Stanton

This is the ultimate destination for adventure seekers in Kentucky. Stanton is the perfect launching point for hiking and biking trails, with direct access to the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway. The Red River Gorge has over a hundred stone arches and several waterfalls, along with the picturesque Nada Tunnel. It also has a unique landscape that is waiting to be explored.

National Parks, State Parks, and More

17. mammoth cave national park.

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Mammoth Cave National Park is one of the most beloved places in Kentucky. This amazing natural wonder is home to the longest recorded cave system in the world, at over 400 miles explored and mapped. Cave tours are an excellent way to get familiar with some of the park’s most notable caves.

Not only is the park adored for its natural beauty, but it also holds many stories from the people who used to reside there, from the original settlements of Native Americans to colonial settlers to the African Americans who were the most important guides and explorers of the caves in the 19th and 20th centuries.

16. Daniel Boone National Forest

You may recognize the name Daniel Boone if you’re into outdoorsman history. This massive forest spans more than two million acres and offers over 600 miles of trails to explore. Sandstone cliffs are perfect for rock climbing, and the abundance of rivers and lakes creates the perfect environment for those who enjoy getting out on the water. Although many of the trails were originally intended only for hiking, mountain biking is possible in many locations. Backpackers and other campers will enjoy the many forest campgrounds .

15. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

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The mountainous scenery at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is just one of the many reasons to pay a visit. Beyond the stunning views from hidden overlooks, you’ll find epic sandstone formations, abundant underground caverns, and plenty of plant and animal life everywhere.

There’s a wealth of history to uncover here. This amazing national historical park is home to the Hensley Settlement, which gives visitors a time-warping look at a 20th century mountain community settlement. The Wilderness Road Trail will take you on an equally exciting journey in the footsteps of Native Americans, early settlers, and Civil War soldiers.

14. Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

As one of the largest areas of undeveloped forest in the United States, the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is about as rugged as it gets. Stretching over 170,000 acres of forests and wetlands, there’s plenty of nature to admire here. There are 300 miles of natural shoreline, offering opportunities to camp, picnic, hike, and bike.

In addition to over 500 miles of trails throughout the park to enjoy, you can visit the Woodlands Nature Station, Elk & Bison Prairie, Homeplace 1850s Working Farm, or Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory for authentic educational experiences.

Land Between the Lakes is also the ideal place for a road trip, with incredible scenic drives and walks.

13. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park

If you want to see something nearly as majestic as Niagara Falls without leaving the South, make sure to add Cumberland Falls State Park to your Kentucky itinerary. It gets its nickname, “the Niagara of the South,” due to the 68-foot tall and 125-foot wide waterfall. One of the coolest things about this waterfall, besides its immense size, is that it’s one of the few places in the world where you can see a moonbow, aka a lunar rainbow. If the sky is clear on the night of a full moon, you might be able to see one in all of its magnificent glory.

In addition to the obvious visit to the falls, Cumberland Falls State Resort Park is overflowing with adventurous things to do (see what I did there?). Go birding in the park, rafting on the Cumberland River, camping at one of the 50 campsites, or hiking on 17 miles of trails. You can even try your hand at gem mining.

12. Breaks Interstate Park

Located right on the Kentucky-Virginia state border is the severely underrated Breaks Interstate Park. Spanning 4,500 acres of greenwood lands full of mountainous scenery, this is one of only two interstate parks in the country where park rangers of both states have authority in the park no matter what side of the border. This gorgeous natural area has the largest canyon east of the Mississippi River, which spans five miles and is 1,650 feet deep, earning its nickname “the Grand Canyon of the South.”

Breaks Interstate Park is a haven for rock climbers, campers, and hikers alike. No matter how you choose to enjoy the park, you’re certainly in for a treat.

11. Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area is often referred to as a giant outdoor playground, and for good reason. This 125,000-acre recreation area features rugged gorges and pristine forests, along with numerous streams and, of course, the thunderous Big South Fork of the Cumberland River.

Outdoor activities at the Big South Fork National River include hiking through forests and gorges, horseback riding, rock climbing sandstone cliffs, and paddling and swimming in crystal-clear waters. This recreation area is also an ideal place to camp and backpack.

10. The Pinnacles of Berea

In 2019, Outside Magazine named the Pinnacles of Berea hike the #1 hike in Kentucky. If that isn’t enough to spark your curiosity, visitors who enjoy peace and quiet love this hike because of its sparse crowds and incredible views of the Daniel Boone National Forest.

This stellar hike is easy to get to from Berea, Kentucky, and is even a great spot to stay while you visit Red River Gorge and other big nearby attractions. Having such an awesome hike like the Pinnacles Hike is just the cherry on top.

9. My Old Kentucky Home State Park

This is a state park unlike any other. You probably associate state parks with hiking trails and the great outdoors, but some of this park’s best features are actually indoors. It’s home to the estate of US Sen. John Rowan, which holds two hundred years of stories, from duels to horse racing to family fortunes and everything in between. You can tour the mansion and hear guides sing a special song on every tour.

Horse Farms

8. sun valley horse farm.

This classic horse farm’s slogan is “At the Crossroad of Bourbon & Horses.” It makes a neat connection between horses and bourbon through its ties to bourbon pioneer Elijah Pepper. The best way to experience Sun Valley is on a guided tour , which leads guests through the farm to witness the inner workings of an award-winning thoroughbred horse farm nursery.

7. Hermitage Farm

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Hermitage Farm is more than just a horse farm and nursery. Beyond running a renowned thoroughbred operation, the farm also prides itself on its sustainable and organic agriculture. You can even get a taste of Heritage Farm’s farm-fresh produce at its Barn8 Farm Restaurant.

In the mood for some bourbon? You can do a bourbon tasting featuring products from any of the distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon trail.

This farm offers a truly well-rounded view of Kentucky’s rich agricultural culture and history. Choose from a number of tours and tastings at Hermitage Farm to get the most out of your visit.

6. Claiborne Farm

This one is for the history buffs out there. Claiborne Farm is one of the most iconic thoroughbred horse farms in Kentucky, best known for being the final resting place of one of the most famous horses in history, Secretariat.

Claiborne Farm offers historic tours of the on-site facilities, taking guests on a journey through the farm’s origin story up until present day with a look at how the working farm takes care of the stunning beauties that live there.

Unique Stops

5. the pete treehouse.

This completely off-grid treehouse was part of Animal Planet’s  Treehouse Masters and is now one of the coolest Airbnbs you’ll find in Kentucky. Pete Nelson is the mastermind behind the construction of the treehouse, which is tucked away in nature about 1.5 hours from Lexington. The place is full of thoughtful touches, including a fire pit and balcony.

After watching Kristin’s treehouse adventure , you’re probably getting excited about staying in a treehouse, so don’t miss out on this one when you visit Kentucky!

4. Harland Sanders Café and Museum

Nowadays, you can find a KFC in just about any country in the world. Have you wondered about how it all started, though? At the Harland Sanders Café and Museum in Corbin, you’ll be able to see the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken at Colonel Sanders’ original restaurant.

Not only can you actually dine at the Harland Sanders Café and Museum, but you can then tour the building and see all kinds of artifacts and memorabilia from the famous restaurateur’s legacy.

3. Vent Haven Museum

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In the small town of Fort Mitchell is the world’s only museum dedicated to ventriloquism: the Vent Haven Museum . This is by far one of the strangest places I’ve ever seen while researching a destination, and now it has been bumped up pretty high on my bucket list.

The museum has over 900 dummies, featuring some that have been on TV and in movies, all from the personal collection of William Shakespeare Berger. If you’re a fan of weird museums and happen to be driving through Fort Mitchell, you’ll definitely want to make a pit stop here.

2. Historic Diamond Caverns

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Located right next to Mammoth Cave National Park, this unique attraction is a must-visit while you’re in the area. Its cathedral-like caverns feature cascades of naturally colorful calcite and other mind-blowing formations. Guided tours are available and are the perfect way to see the gorgeous caverns and learn about their interesting history.

1. Kentucky Kingdom

I’m a big fan of roller coasters, so I can’t skip out on adding Kentucky Kingdom to this list. This theme park may be small compared to megaparks like Six Flags and Disney World, but it’s a charming homegrown spot that locals adore. There are five roller coasters, a 5-D cinema, and plenty of other fun attractions to enjoy .

As you can see, Kentucky is full of quirky surprises and abundant natural beauty. There are plenty of amazing places just waiting to be discovered by travelers who are new to the state and also by locals looking to learn more about what there is to do near them!

Are you a Kentucky native? Which places did we miss this time? Let us know where your secret spots are!

About Emily Becker

Emily Becker is a digital nomad based in Costa Rica. She's been traveling on and off since 2014 and has visited 15 countries—planning to tick many more off her bucket list. In addition to writing for BMTM, she works as a copywriter and project manager.

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Mary Ann Strehle says

10/27/2021 at 10:02 am

Need to visit Camp Breckinridge Museum and Art Center in Morganfield, Ky. There are 30 Bavarian murals painted by the German POW’s during WW11 and other historic memorabilia housed in a restored Officers Club from the base. The base was a training center for US troops and a German prison camp. Very beautiful place to visit.

11/05/2021 at 9:41 am

As a Louisville native, Bardstown Road in the Highlands really is the heart of Louisville. The restaurants, bars, shops, etc. make for a perfect street to walk down. Great place to take pics too!

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HORSE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

Lexington, Kentucky

There’s always room for one more.

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.

Horse Capital of the World

Unforgettable Equine Experiences

Tour hundreds of stunning  Thoroughbred farms . Meet horse racing’s legends and future superstars. Experience the historic beauty and pulse-pounding thrill of  Keeneland . For  all things equine , there’s no better destination than Lexington.

Learn more about Lexington’s Thoroughbred culture, book a horse farm tour, and more.

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Experience Bourbonland

Nobody and no place does America’s native spirit like Lexington.

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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Diverse Dining

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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Fun, unforgettable experiences are always on the horizon in the Horse Capital of the World. Take a look at what’s coming up.

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Plan your visit now with our FREE digital visitors guide. Just fill out the email sign up form for instant access to helpful travel tips like where to stay, eat and play during your trip to Lexington.

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Your Trip to Lexington: The Complete Guide

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The largest city in Kentucky by land, and second-largest by population, Lexington has a long fascinating history that gives it a uniquely American personality. Foodies, sports fans, history buffs, and liquor enthusiasts alike will be impressed with Lexington's offerings. The hometown of Mary Todd Lincoln, Lexington played an important role during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.  The city also boasts a long history of bourbon making that started before it was even a settlement.

Horses are another major part of Lexington's history and economy, bringing in $4 billion to the state each year. Called the "horse capital of the world," spring and fall bring the animals to center stage with races at Keeneland while true horse enthusiasts can visit one of the many year-round horse farms. That's in addition to a thriving music scene, a robust collection of parks and hikes, and plenty of innovating restaurants reimagining traditional Southern cuisine. Use this guide to plan your perfect Lexington vacation.

Planning Your Trip

• Best Time To Visit : The best time to visit Lexington is in the fall. Starting in September the heat and humidity start to fade and you’ll be able to enjoy the crisp fresh air. October brings peak fall foliage as well as some of Lexington’s greatest events like Keeneland’s Fall Meet and Lexington’s Oktoberfest. While fall is the best time weatherwise, there are several big events that bring travelers during the rest of the year like the spring meet at Keeneland and a slate of summer festivals.
• Language: English.
• Currency: U.S. dollars.
• Getting Around: While buses are available in Lexington they are mostly used in the downtown and university area. Ride-hailing apps are also popular but wait times can be long during rush hours or popular events. To really experience all Lexington has to offer it’s best to rent a car and parking is easier compared to other major cities. 
• Travel Tip: Lexington has seen some major development in the past few years and the city layout hasn’t had a ton of time to keep up. The main roads like Nicholasville Road and Man O' War Boulevard get extremely congested during rush hours. Try to plan any travel before or after usual commuting hours. 

TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre

Things to Do

Lexington is famous for two things: horses and bourbon. And the city takes both very seriously! Make sure to experience the bourbon trail that is rich with Kentucky history. And no trip to Lexington would be complete without visiting Keeneland, where you can watch some of the best-trained horses in the world and maybe make some money! (Or lose, depending on your luck).

• Explore the Bourbon Trail: It’s nearly impossible to visit Lexington without sampling some of the local liquor. There are several tour operators that will take care of the planning and let you enjoy the bourbon trail with ease or you can stay in town and try some hometown favorites like James E. Pepper.  
• Explore Horse Country: Lexington holds the title of Horse Capital of the World and earned it for a reason. Boasting over 400 horse farms, visitors can get up close and personal with horses and learn about every step of the breeding and training process. You can also try your luck at Keeneland during their fall and spring sessions.
• Dive into American History: Lexington is home to dozens of museums and historic sites. History buffs can experience pioneer days at Old Fort Harrod State Park or explore Mary Todd Lincoln’s childhood home. The Lexington Cemetery is also nationally recognized as one of the most beautiful arboretums in the country as well as paying respects to famous former Kentucky residents like Henry Clay and General John Hunt Morgan.

To learn about all the options Lexington has to offer explore our other articles that cover the best things to do in Lexington , the Kentucky Bourbon Trail , and the best museums in Lexington .

What to Eat and Drink

Kentucky in general is known for bourbon, and visitors will quickly see that Lexington lives up to the reputation. In Lexington alone, you can find 15 distilleries! There are historic brands like Woodford Reserve as well as new distillers like Castle and Key , Lexington’s first female-led distillery, giving a fresh take on this American classic.

If whiskey isn’t your thing, you’ll still be able to enjoy yourself with new breweries popping up all around Lexington. The once-abandoned distillery district has attracted many newcomers including Ethereal Brewing and Wise Bird Cider . There’s also Town Branch that makes whiskey and 13 different beers.

When it comes to food the city is filled with traditional Southern options that will fill you up and make you feel at home. Indulge in the heart of Appalachian-style comfort food like cornbread and soup beans, or try Kentucky staples like Kentucky beer cheese or a Kentucky hot brown sandwich. But don’t let your taste buds stop at the Southern fare. Lexington has a growing farm-to-table movement that will impress even the pickiest of eaters. Coles 735 Main grows all their vegetables on-site, sources meat from local farms, and even makes their own cocktail bitters in house. You can’t go wrong with any of the entrees but the panko fried avocado starter is a customer favorite. 

For more tasty options explore our articles on the best distilleries in Lexington , the best foods to try in Lexington, and Lexington’s best restaurants .

Where to Stay

The best area to stay in Lexington often depends on the reason for your visit. Downtown is a great starting point for nightlife or exploring the nearby University of Kentucky. It's walkable and offers a wide variety of hotels from the design-focused 21C to more budget-friendly options. Keeneland fans may want to look for accommodation closer to the track. Origin Hotel Lexington offers a horse racing-themed atmosphere just 15 minutes away from the track and is surrounded by several shopping and dining options.

Getting There

There are several ways to get to Lexington. By far the easiest option is flying into the Blue Grass airport that services four major airlines with direct flights from 15 different major cities. The airport sits only 15 minutes from downtown so you’ll be in the middle of the action in no time. There is no Amtrak station in Lexington but there is a Greyhound station that has direct routes to all the surrounding major cities. Lexington also sits at the intersection of several major highways so driving is also a viable option.

Money Saving Tips

• Lexington is home to more than 100 parks around the city . You can enjoy the natural beauty of Bluegrass country by exploring Raven Run Nature Sanctuary or taking a stroll through the famous Thoroughbred park for free.
• Lexington has many historical and cultural attractions that offer free tours including The Art Museum at The University of Kentucky and The Loudoun House. Keeneland also offers free hours for visitors who want to watch the morning workouts.
• You might be tempted to spend money in the gift shop but Buffalo Trace has free tours to learn about the bourbon-making process.
• Consider biking the Bourbon Trail to save some money on gas, tour costs, or ride-hailing charges.

Kentucky Historical Society. " Explore KY's Abraham Lincoln ." Accessed March 25, 2022.

Lexington Visitors Center. " 61 Reasons Lexington is the Horse Capital of the World ." July 2, 2020.

Lexington Visitors Center. " You Call It a Drink. We Call It a Legacy ." Accessed March 25, 2022

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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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SpringHill Suites Lexington Fritz Farm

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Welcome to SpringHill Suites Lexington Fritz Farm

Newest all-suite hotel in south lexington, ky.

Travel in style at the all-suite SpringHill Suites Lexington South hotel, located off Nicholasville Rd. Designed in partnership with west elm, for your convenience our modern suites feature extra room, plush bedding, mini-fridge, microwave, and dedicated workspaces. Our convenient location offers something for everyone. Experience a variety of shopping and dining between The Summit at Fritz Farm and Fayette Mall, the largest mall in Kentucky. Stay connected with our free WiFi. Workout anytime with our 24-hour fitness center and relax after a long day in our indoor pool. Quite simply, from business trips to leisurely journeys, our pet-friendly hotel is a breath of fresh air.

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Check-in: 4:00 pm

Check-out: 11:00 am

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Pets Welcome

75USD (1-4 nights),100USD (5+ nights) non refundable fee per room per stay.

Maximum Pet Weight: 50.0lbs

Maximum Number of Pets in Room: 2

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Located on 1st floor of hotel. Available to registered hotel guests only.

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4019 Finn Way, Lexington, Kentucky, USA, 40517

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Accepts: Credit Cards

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For more information about the physical features of our accessible rooms, common areas or special services relating to a specific disability please call +1 859-3090515

Accessible on-site parking

Self Operating lift or a sloped entry in hotel swimming pools

Service Animals are Welcome

Van Accessible on-site parking

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The check-in time at SpringHill Suites Lexington Fritz Farm is 4:00 pm and the check-out time is 11:00 am.

The pet policy at SpringHill Suites Lexington Fritz Farm is:

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Yes, SpringHill Suites Lexington Fritz Farm has free Wi-Fi available to hotel guests.

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