Known as the 'Bluegrass State', Kentucky is a southeastern state bounded by the Ohio River in the north and the Appalachian Mountains in the east, with Frankfort the state capital. With so much to see and do in this fabulous state, we have narrowed it down to our TOP 5:
1. Embark on a bourbon distillery trail
No trip to Kentucky is complete without getting taste of what the state is known for, bourbon. Choose to take a Hard Hat Tour at Buffalo Trace to see everything from cooking to fermentation to distilling up close. Perhaps hand-dip your own bottle of Maker’s Mark in the distillery's famous red wax, or take a curated cocktail class and taste bourbon straight from the barrel at Bardstown Bourbon Company. The choices are endless.
2. Explore Mammoth Cave National Park
As the largest cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave National Park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, earning it the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. It is the perfect place for the outdoor adventurer, from hiking, biking, horseback riding and canoeing to camping on over 52,000 acres in south central Kentucky.
3. Visit, Lexington - the Horse Capital of the World
Find legendary horse racing tracks, a wide variety of equestrian activities, and picture-perfect farms where the most magnificent horses in the world graze on their famed bluegrass. Visit Kentucky Horse Park, go horseback riding or even be lucky to attend the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs which takes place in May each year and is famously known as 'The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports'.
4. Trace the footsteps of Daniel Boone
The founding father of Kentucky, and the legendary frontiersman first marked an early trail for others to follow west into America’s heartland during the spring of 1775, through a vast expanse of wilderness that eventually became Kentucky. That path he took is now known as Boone Trace. Follow in Daniel Boone's footsteps and visit some of Eastern and Central Kentucky's more historic and scenic places, including Cumberland Gap National Historic Park and Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park.
5. Catch a live gig
As the birthplace of Bluegrass, Kentucky's music scene now extends to Blues, Country and more. As a thriving music scene, there are fantastic range of venues to catch live music. Renfro Valley Entertainment Center and the Madison Theater in Covington are great places to catch Kentucky bands like Cage the Elephant as well as other national touring acts and up-and-comers.
Find out more about Kentucky and be inspired by our latest itineraries here.
