A Modern Guide to Traditional Native American Herbalism to Embrace a New Way of Living. 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. The first tour is at 10am (1pm Sunday), and the last is at 3pm. With the longest cave system on earth, this national park has some 400 miles of surveyed passageways. Lacking means to get the corn to market in bulk, they distilled it into whiskey.

Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates. Although traditional, It's an oft-cited fact that Kentucky is home to more barrels of bourbon than people, and this little bit of trivia is emblematic of the symbiotic, Want to soar through aviation history on a World War I-era plane? Here you can find information about guided tours, horse camps, museums, farms and stables near you. It's like an offbeat version of California's Napa Valley, but with fewer crowds and headier alcohol. US 27 runs from Covington south to Somerset. Vegetarians may find it tough going in smaller towns; even things like greens are often cooked with bacon or salt pork.

Attractions include horse racing and beautiful lakes. The Privacy Policy for VisitLEX is availablehere. Purchase the gift of exciting adventures, relaxing getaways, Kentucky crafted gifts, food, education and fun for the whole family. Especially in the Lexington area, the term, Caves and Lakes Traditionally considered part of the, Daniel Boone Country and Kentucky Appalachians Together, they largely coincide with the area locally known as, Kentucky Derby Region Metropolitan Louisville is generally seen as its own region, locally called, Northern Ohio River Region The counties that are part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area are more often called. Rye whiskeys tend to have a subtly different flavor from bourbon; less sweet and more earthy. Search Courses, Kentucky's I-69 is a relatively small part of a major extension of that highway, which originally ran only from Indianapolis to the Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan, but in the coming years will stretch all the way to the Mexican border in Texas. Whether you just started planning or have all of your trips mapped out, here's how to make the most of the season. With more than 300 private and public golf courses to choose from, Kentucky is the perfect golf vacation destination. Kentucky offers 17 state resort parks, more than any other state. Give us a call. Each park features a full-service lodge and dining room. View the top bourbon-related events to plan your trip around. Come watch the top 20 horses in the world race for the roses. Kentucky State Parks. The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife helps to maintian over 110 different public access location for fishing and boating. Videos of his famous fights and street poetry captivate, but its the way theyre put in context with the Vietnam War and civil rights issues that Ali fought for that give the place its power. It's highlighted by Spencer Finch's (of National September 11 Memorial Museum fame) Grand Atrium walled with fretted glass and Thai architect Kulapat Yantrasast's striking stacked concrete exterior. Wherever you travel in Kentucky, you are never far from one of 52 Kentucky State Parks. Eastern Kentucky is part of the Appalachians, including the beautiful and very sparsely populated Daniel Boone National Forest.

Watch oatmeal-esque sour mash ferment in huge cypress vats, see whiskey being double-distilled in copper pots and peek at bourbon barrels aging in wooden warehouses. 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 Louisville campus is a beautiful juxtaposition of classic and contemporary. countryside to vibrant downtown cities. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter forwhile you're here. Kingdom Come - majestic Appalachian Mountain views and rock arches. At the gift shop you can stamp your own bottle with the iconic red-wax seal. People who are not fully vaccinated are recommended to postpone non-essential travel. Famous for Bourbon Country and horse farms, civil war battlefields and beautiful natural parks, Kentucky offers a delightful mix of experiences. Tours go on the hour; last one is at 4pm. Derby Day itself is the first Saturday in May, at the end of the two-week Kentucky Derby Festival. The signed route passes by Madisonville and Princeton before reaching Calvert City, at which point I-69 follows the Purchase Parkway to Fulton. Louisville is similar, where renowned Churchill Downs hosts the annual Kentucky Derby and the Belle of Louisville, the nations oldest steam-driven river paddlewheeler, hosts enchanting lunch and dinner cruises along the beautiful Ohio River. Many distilleries are in fairly scenic parts of Kentucky, with a large number (but by no means all) being clustered around Bardstown. Kentucky's calcium-rich water and abundant forage contributed to its other famous industry, raising thoroughbred racehorses. 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. 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. No parts of this Find Discounts & Packages. A short distance past Glasgow, the road takes a sharp turn to the northeast toward. All rights reserved. Golf is a large part of Kentucky's recreational reputation, with 19 State Park golf courses. Sleep at a historic church, authentic wigwams, horse farms, vineyards, and even a jail. An additional license is required for trout fishing, and while you may keep brown trout, rainbow trout are catch and release only. Deer, dove, and turkey are all commonly hunted in Kentucky. Bordered by the Ohio River, Northern Kentucky bears the influence of its northern neighbors, but retains a distinct Southern sensibility. Lexington Visitors Center Kentucky has invented several dishes; most notably the Kentucky Hot Brown and beer cheese. Kentuckys spirit comes to life in this central section of the state. Barbecue is popular throughout Kentucky, but unlike some other parts of the country, Kentucky doesn't lay claim to any particular style. Mammoth Caves vs Lost River Cave Tour.. or something else? US 23 (Country Music Highway) connects Ashland with Virginia south of Pikeville. By using our site, you agree to our updated Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. It only makes sense, you may get lost, or break something. And many parks have canoes and paddle boats as well. Copyright 2022 Bourbon Country. Paducah, Berea, Bowling Green so many places to explore and enjoy!

Hillerich & Bradsby Co have been manufacturing the Louisville Slugger here since 1884. Reservations strongly advised. 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. Cell phones may not work in these areas. Beneath the rolling green hills of central Kentucky is the longest cave system on earth. Next, head south to visit Mammoth Cave National Park for a day of touring the cave (the worlds longest known cave), hiking and canoeing on the Green River. 401 West Main Street, Suite 2300 Kentucky's major urban areas are the Louisville Metro, the Northern Kentucky suburbs of Cincinnati, and to a lesser extent, the city of Lexington. Highways. Dispensatory, the Spiritual History and Treatments for Kids, Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. 2022 Lonely Planet. You'll see the old gristmill, the 1840s master distiller's house and the old-fashioned firehouse.

Perhaps the most iconic area of the state is the Bluegrass Downs, home to bluegrass, bourbon and thoroughbred horses. Use this handy tool to save places of interest to your own personal Bourbon Country trip planner. The Hot Brown was developed at the Brown Hotel in Louisville. Some areas may require a permit. Examples of "moist" counties in this sense include Warren County, in which Bowling Green is wet, and Hardin County, where three cities, including. Kentucky offers 100's of public locations for Hunting and Fishing. Grab your friends and grab your gear, discover state parks in a new way and at your own pace throughout the year! The university adds exciting sports, impressive art and a vibrant student/professor population to the city. For the most part, these regions are used only by the state for tourism promotionthey do not necessarily reflect the regions recognized by Kentuckians themselves. The dish is usually layered in this order: toasted bread, turkey, bacon, tomatoes and topped with mornay sauce. KY 80 crosses the southern part of the state, linking Mayfield, Hopkinsville, Bowling Green, Somerset, London, Hazard and Pikeville. The company has been recognized by the state as the first African-Americans who were not enslaved to make Kentucky bourbon. more. 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. 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. Notable ones for traversing the state include: Information on transit can be found here. Unvaccinated people are discouraged from non-essential travel until fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Highlights among the interactive exhibits include a ring where you shadowbox with Ali, and a punching bag to practice your rhythm. A take-home mini-slugger bat is included with the entrance fee. Western Waterlands The region west of the Tennessee River is universally known as the, In addition, the locally defined Bluegrass is surrounded by a chain of conical hills known as. Read our Privacy Policy. Privacy Policy. Western Coal Fields This is the only region that corresponds in both area and naming to local usage. Each park has its own unique attributes, from shorelines to majestic mountains, from winding caves to enchanting woodlands. We support you to make the most of your time on earth. Kentucky is also culturally part of the American South. In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice. The displays will blow the minds of diehard fans. 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). These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Kentucky. These free, printable travel maps of Kentucky are divided into seven regions: Explore Kentucky with these helpful travel maps from Moon. Planning to travel here? US 45 runs through the Purchase area from Paducah to Mayfield, and then parallels the Purchase Parkway/I-69 to Fulton. The only thing more Kentucky than the thundering hooves of the Derby is the swirl of ice in a julep. Owensboro, where theres a festival nearly every weekend, is the home of Kentucky-style barbecue, which is built around burgoo and mutton. 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 official Team Kentucky source for information concerning COVID-19. General questions about Boating can be answered by In addition, Kentucky has the largest number of elk found east of the Mississippi. It is also a good access point to the bourbon country around Bardstown. Homewood Suites by Hilton Louisville Downtown, Comfort Suites Florence - Cincinnati South, Hampton Inn & Suites Newport / Cincinnati. Hotels with Military Discounts in Kentucky. There are several indoor and outdoor firing ranges at which arms and ammunition may be rented, along with some time at a firing lane. Kentuckys rugged beauty is at its most appealing in the mountainous east, which suffers from acute rural poverty but boasts the fine scenery of the Natural Bridge and Cumberland Gap regions. The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports is Only the Start of What Kentucky Has to Offer. Lexington, KY 40507 100 public boating access locations around the state. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2022, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Local: (502)584-2121 Well, theres no denying that fun things to do in Kentucky start with these storied attractions. On gentle fields enclosed by fences, thoroughbreds are bred into champion racehorses. US 68 begins just east of Paducah, running as largely an east-west route through Hopkinsville, Bowling Green and Glasgow. Castle & Key looks like something out of a fairy tale. Find the perfect lodging for your visit to Kentucky! 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 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 Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is responsible for regulating horse racing laws, increasing the safety of the sport, and creating higher standards for animal welfare. See how baseball's most famous bat is made.

Book Online and The food served is the usual KFC, but its an atmospheric little spot. And no wonder the Bluegrass State proudly produces 95 percent of, The Quilt Capital of the World and one of just six Unesco Creative Cities in the USA, Paducah celebrates its folk arts heritage in delightful ways. Browse our full list of You can enjoy campground activities such as entertainment, arts and crafts, mini golf, cook outs and nature programs. Most medium to large whiskey distilleries offer guided tours and/or tastings, and this is a popular tourist activity. Or you can do a tasting only for $8.

Visitors from more urbanized areas sometimes find it striking how quickly you're "out in the country" when driving outside of a major city. Explore Kentuckys culinary traditions, events and recipes! 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. Quintessentially Kentucky, Lexington and Horse Country almost seem like a stereotype.

US 127, also from Covington, runs through Frankfort, Danville and the Lake Cumberland area. We'd love to keep in touch! Find your way around Lexington, Kentucky and all it has to offer with these helpful resources. 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. Kentucky is famed for bluegrass, bourbon, beautiful mountains and thoroughbreds. Have a specific question? Western Kentucky is a celebration of Americana. 2,600 improved sites. 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. Kentucky maintains 9 parkways to supplement the Interstate and U.S. Adventure lovers are drawn to south-central Kentucky, where many of the states best lakes are concentrated. Make sure you call or visit on the way out. A spur from I-69 running to Hopkinsville, also routed along part of a previously existing parkway, is now numbered as I-169.

State parks offer hiking, golfing, and wildlife-watching opportunities. Book ahead if possible (at www.recreation.gov). Moon Virginia & Maryland: Including Washington DC (Travel Guide), A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City: Murder, Secrets, and Scandal in Old Louisville, Kentucky Bourbon Trail, The: A Revised Edition (Images of America), THE UNOFFICIAL DOWNTON ABBEY WORD SEARCH PUZZLE BOOK: RELIVE THE DRAMA (British TV Word Search Puzzles), Hope Triumphs Over Chaos: The La Plata Tornado of April 28, 2002, Birds of Kentucky Field Guide (Bird Identification Guides), 100 Things to Do in Lexington Before You Die (100 Things to Do Before You Die), Kentucky Word Searches: 200 Puzzles about the Bluegrass State (Large Print United States), The Southern Vegetarian Cookbook: 100 Down-Home Recipes for the Modern Table, The Southern Foodie: 100 Places to Eat in the South Before You Die (and the Recipes That Made Them Famous), Lexington, Blue Ridge Mts [George Washington and Jefferson National Forests] (National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map, 789), National Geographic Maps - Trails Illustrated, Kentucky Horse Country: Images of the Bluegrass, A History Lover's Guide to Louisville (History & Guide), Secret Louisville: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure, Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways, Louisville'S Former Restaurants: A Slice Of Louisville History, Lexington MA / Concord / Framingham Street Map, Trees of Kentucky Identification Record Book: A Simple Take Along Book to Identify and Track Tree Sightings, Mushrooms of Kentucky Identification Record Book: A Simple Take Along Book to Identify and Track Mushrooms in the Southeast, A History Lover's Guide to Lexington and Central Kentucky (History & Guide), Native American Herbalist's Bible: 6 BOOKS. 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. Mammoth is at least three times longer than any other known cave, with vast interior cathedrals, bottomless pits and strange, undulating rock formations. The Kentucky Derby is one of the worlds premier horse races; its also, as Hunter S. Thompson put it, decadent and depraved. Pizza may be your best bet. There are many other smaller, general aviation airports throughout the state. Fish & Wildlife. Find events at All rights reserved. Alcohol laws in Kentucky are (pun not intended) a mixed bag. Highlights include a 360-degree HD film about the race that lets you feel the horses thundering by, the 30-minute walking tour of the grandstands (which includes some engaging yarns), the eye-popping derby hat collection and sipping mint juleps in the museum cafe. Fans of the showcan shop for Kentucky Afield merchandise, including shirts, hats, and shows,at theDepartment of Fish and Wildlife Resources' online store. Kentucky is generally very safe, however certain parts of Downtown Louisville can be dangerous. Enjoy the best of Bourbon Country in all our diverse regions. The marinas also provide a variety of services including fuel, fishing licenses, ice and slip rentals. There are three airport gateways inLexington,LouisvilleandNorthern Kentucky. Hipper Louisville, however, home of the Kentucky Derby, lies eighty miles west and offers more reasons to linger. It runs hourly on the hour on weekdays, more frequently on weekends. Reservations are now available for the campgrounds. Here's everything you need to know to plan a perfect trip to Mammoth Cave National Park. A mix of the charming, modern, and tried and true. 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. Choice from over 30 different locations. Our most popular products based on sales. Kentucky is bordered by seven other states. 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. A Kentucky hotel has unveiled a Queen's Gambit-inspired hotel room with a chess-piece ceiling where guests can hone their skills. Getting to Bourbon Country is easy. You can follow your own tour of the distilleries or take a guided tour. Bourbon distilleries also speckle the countryside, prime for scenic road tripping to swirl and sniff a dram at the source. transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and indoors at U.S. transportation Looking to explore some new surroundings with your favorite equine companion? Kentucky marinas and start planning your next Kentucky adventure on the water! In 1940, Colonel Harland Sanders, so titled as a member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, opened a small clapboard diner, the Sanders Caf, alongside his motel and petrol station in tiny Corbin, ninety miles south of Lexington on I-75. Kentucky has over It is also increasingly seen today as part of South Central Kentucky. The company still uses old-fashioned copper pots to triple distill its bourbon (for a cleaner taste).