Travel Kentucky

Introduction

Kentucky is a beautiful state full of natural wonders, historical sites, and world-class restaurants. If you're traveling with kids or just want to enjoy the outdoors without getting too far from home, Kentucky's got great options for everyone. From horse farms to national parks to bourbon trails and beyond, these are our favorite things to do in Kentucky:

Red River Gorge

• Red River Gorge Geology Trail

• Natural Attractions

• Camping

• Hiking & Biking Trails

• Fishing

Mammoth Cave National Park

Mammoth Cave National Park is one of the most famous caves in the world, with over 400 miles of passages on public land. That makes it larger than all but four countries! The cave was formed from an underground river that carved through limestone rock for millions of years. Today, the cave has been sealed off from its surface source and is kept at a constant temperature and humidity by air conditioning systems throughout.

There are tours that take visitors through the more accessible parts of Mammoth Cave—but if you want to go deeper into the darkness, there are plenty of opportunities to do that here too. Many people who visit take advantage of their access to explore as much of the cave as possible—that means going deeper than any other human being has ever been able to reach before! Human beings have only been able to explore about half as far into this underground world as they could theoretically go... but even so... it's still pretty impressive!

Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Bourbon, one of the most popular spirits in the world, originated in Bourbon County, Kentucky. The region's first distillery was established there in 1789 and is still operating today as Buffalo Trace Distillery.

The rest of the state has become an epicenter for bourbon production and tourism; several distilleries are located along a stretch of U.S. Highway 80 called the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour route which connects to other major cities such as Louisville and Lexington. Visitors can travel between each distillery on their own schedule while gaining insight into how this legendary spirit is made—from grain to barrel to bottle!

Kentucky Horse Park

One of the most popular destinations in Kentucky is the Kentucky Horse Park. Located in Lexington, it was established as a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and preserving the state's proud heritage of horsemanship and breeding. The Kentucky Horse Park features more than 1,200 acres spread out among its various exhibits, including an International Museum of the Horse, where you can learn about everything from racing history to training techniques used by today's top riders.

Another major attraction here is the International Center for Jefferson County History & Genealogy Research Library, which has one of the largest collections of documents related to horses anywhere in North America—and that includes an entire wing devoted to just one breed: Thoroughbreds! You can also see many other historical artifacts including saddles made from tree bark or leather straps used during cavalry drills during World War I (they're called McClellan Saddles).

Kentucky Derby Museum

You could easily spend a few hours at the Kentucky Derby Museum, which offers something for everyone. You can explore its interactive exhibits, see artifacts from past races and even get your picture taken in the winner's circle.

While you're there, be sure to check out their gift shop for exclusive souvenirs that you won't find anywhere else.

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

• Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Location: Cumberland Gap, TN/KY

What to see: The historical significance of this park is so great that it has been named as one of the most important historical places in America. It's also home to several hiking trails and beautiful views of the surrounding area. If you plan on visiting, make sure you stop by Natural Arch Scenic Trail, which leads through Fivemile Creek Gorge and gives you an incredible view from above! You can get there by taking I-75 or I-64 into Virginia then driving about 4 hours north before turning left at exit #44 onto US 25/70 W towards Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Location: Gatlinburg, TN/NC

Louisville Zoo

The Louisville Zoo has been open since 1964. It showcases over 1,000 animals on display, including many endangered species. Each year, the zoo draws over 100,000 visitors and is one of the oldest zoos in the US.

The zoo is free to visit and open daily from 9:30am-5:00pm (last entry at 4:30pm).

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is a national recreation area located on the Kentucky-Tennessee border. It has more than 1,000 miles of trails, including those that connect to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park and Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky; the Obed Wild & Scenic River in Tennessee; and other nearby attractions. Land Between the Lakes offers opportunities to hike, bike and fish (with a valid license). The recreation area also provides access to places like the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge and Kentucky National Fish Hatchery.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

• The birthplace of Abraham Lincoln.

• The site of the Lincoln family's Indiana cabin.

• The site of the Lincoln-Herndon law office, where young Abe read his way through law school and hung out with clients like local farmers and rivermen who would become his lifelong friends.

• The location of the Lincoln family's final home in Indiana, built by Thomas Lincoln after they moved back to Illinois following a stint as pioneers in Spencer County, Kentucky (see #10 on this list).

• The first home constructed by Thomas and Nancy Hanks Lincoln when they settled here on a small plot purchased from Joshua Farr in 1816—a log cabin that you can still visit today!

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

• The Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is a living history village, museum, and working farm that preserves the history of the United States' Shaker communities.

• The site was established in 1783 and is currently one of only three remaining Shaker villages that are open to the public.

• It's also the oldest surviving Shaker community in the world.

Start your travel plans for KY now!

Start your travel plans for Kentucky now! The number of attractions, events and things to do will help you plan the perfect trip.

Visit the Kentucky Tourism Development Office website. You can find out more about Kentucky's attractions, get ideas on where to stay and eat, and find out about special offers available when booking a hotel or vacation rental.

Visit the Kentucky Traveler website. The site has all kinds of information from lists of places to see (like Mammoth Cave National Park) and top things to do (like visit an underground city in Berea) to sites dedicated to helping you plan your trip (like how much gas costs). Find out who's hosting what event so you won't miss anything while visiting this beautiful state!

Conclusion

Well, there you have it: some of the best things to do in Kentucky. We hope that this article has given you some inspiration for your next vacation and we would love to hear all about it if you get a chance! If you need any help planning your trip or finding places on our list, let us know in the comments below.