Identified for its bourbon, bluegrass music, and acres of attractive farmland, Kentucky is a state with each character and soul! Bordered by seven states, together with Indiana and Ohio, it’s not at all times a significant vacation spot for vacationers, however its stuffed with gorgeous countryside good for scenic highway journeys, limestone hills, unspoiled parks and thick forests. Listed here are my private favourite spots to discover within the state…
1. Cumberland Falls
Referred to as the Niagara of the South, these falls embody a 125-foot-wide space of water that’s nothing wanting spectacular.
Positioned within the southeastern a part of the state, Cumberland Falls is attractive and has one different distinction – it’s one in every of solely two locations on the planet that experiences moonbows.
Moonbows are rainbows created by the moon’s gentle. One is in Zambia on the continent of Africa. If you wish to take full benefit of the falls, I extremely suggest renting a raft and visiting them when there’s a full moon exterior!
- Customer’s Heart Handle: Cumberland Falls Rd, Williamsburg, KY 40769
- Finest time to go to: Throughout the full moon to catch the magical moonbow!
My favourite highlights…
- Going birdwatching and recognizing attractive woodpeckers!
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2. Bourbon Distilleries
Dwelling to just about 70 completely different distilleries, this state is effectively know for is bourbon.
This contains Buffalo Hint, the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from a tour of your entire course of, from cooking to distilling; Maker’s Mark, the place you’ll be able to hand-dip your bottle with their well-known crimson wax; and the Bardstown Bourbon Firm, the place you’ll be able to style bourbon straight from the barrel!
Should you love bourbon or are simply curious how they make this superb drink, this state permits you to study extra about it daily of the week!
- Customer’s Heart Handle: 829 W Foremost St, Louisville, KY 40202
- Finest instances to go to: From March to Might
3. Appalachian Mountains
Should you love the mountains, I like to recommend visiting the Jap a part of the state and seeing the Appalachian Mountains.
You possibly can hike, go to overlooks, and see a few of the most stunning surroundings you’ve seemingly seen in a very long time! I might additionally suggest mountain climbing or boating on the gorgeous forest trails, which provide severely scenic views!
The Appalachian Mountains cowl an in depth part of Jap Kentucky, and it’s one sight it is best to plan on seeing in your subsequent go to.
- Finest instances to go to: fall
4. Louisville
That is the most important and busiest metropolis within the state, and I personally assume one of the crucial underrated cities within the USA. It’s an easy-on-the-eye place with a formidable skyline, a booming arts scene, and a long-established bluegrass music scene.
Add glorious eating places, full of life bars, and a superb handful of distilleries, and you’ve got a severely cool metropolis!
My favourite highlights embody the 21C Museum Resort, the Kentucky Museum of Artwork and Craft, the Muhammad Ali Heart, the Louisville Mega Cavern, and the Kentucky Science Heart.
- Customer’s Heart Handle: 301 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202
- Finest instances to go to: March to November
5. Kentucky Lake
Positioned within the southwestern a part of the state, Kentucky Lake covers 184 miles and has greater than 2,000 miles of shoreline. However this lake doesn’t simply provide your traditional boating and fishing alternatives.
It additionally provides poker runs, open regattas, drag boat races, and cabins you’ll be able to hire for a soothing and fun-filled trip!
You too can ski, swim, and take your favorite ski jet out on the water, and when you’re an lively sort, I might extremely suggest attempting all of them!
- Customer’s Heart Handle: 93 Carroll Rd. Benton KY 42025
- Peak instances to go to: From September to December
6. Frankfort
A captivating city fantastically positioned on the Kentucky River, this place appears to embody all the things nice about this state in a compact kind!
It’s recognized for having one of the crucial stunning Capitol buildings within the nation. Nonetheless, my different favourite highlights embody its bourbon distilleries, wine, and new and previous governor mansions.
- Customer’s Heart Handle: 300 St Clair St #102, Frankfort, KY 40601
- Peak instances to go to: March to Might
7. Dixie Belle Paddle Wheels
Suppose you’re interested in old style Southern paddlewheel boats. In that case, I recommend heading to the Shaker Village of Nice Hill and cruising by means of the Kentucky River Palisades on one in every of these boats.
After you’re finished cruising, come again ashore and go to the village itself. You possibly can get pleasure from nature preserves, natural gardens, and greater than 40 miles of trails right here.
That is an unique Shaker village that also has 34 of its unique buildings. Whether or not you’re on the location having fun with all the things it provides or on a paddlewheel boat cruise, I’d extremely suggest including this to your Kentucky itinerary!
8. Crimson River Gorge and Pure Bridge
With a 65-foot-high pure bridge made mainly of sandstone, the gorgeous Crimson River Gorge is spectacular.
Close by, you’ll be able to hire some cute cabins for the evening, go tenting at one of many many campgrounds within the space, hike some nice scenic nature trails, go zip lining when you really feel additional adventurous, and even rock-climbing when the need hits you.
This superb vacationer spot provides stunning views and the chance to fulfil your dream of being an explorer within the 1800s.
- Customer’s Heart Handle: 3451 Sky Bridge Rd Hwy 715, Stanton, KY 40380
- Finest instances to go to: March to Might and September to December
9. Daniel Boone Nationwide Forest
This gorgeous space has been a nationwide park since 1937. It sprawls throughout an enormous 708,000 acres in essentially the most rugged space west of the Appalachian Mountains, residence to forested slopes, sandstone cliffs, and slender ravines.
This can be a nature lover’s dream. Right here, you’ll be able to hike, camp, picnic, rock climb, or go boating, though I like to recommend stress-free and having fun with the incredible surroundings!
- Customer’s Heart Handle: 1700 Bypass Street, Winchester, KY 40391
- Peak instances to go to: fall
10. Dale Hole Lake
Lovely Dale Hole Lake provides mountain climbing and boating actions, bird-watching alternatives, mountain bike trails, and rather more.
It’s positioned in south-central Kentucky and has over 27,000 acres of land. Erected in 1943, Dale Hole Lake is a good place to go to when you love being on the water or merely standing on the sidelines and having fun with a few of the most stunning surroundings you’ll ever discover.
Due to its magnificence, this can be a must-see location everytime you’re visiting the Bluegrass State.
- Customer’s Heart Handle: 1005 Livingston Hwy, Byrdstown, TN 38549
- Finest instances to go to: Might to September
11. John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge
This previous bridge, accomplished within the 1860s, sits on the Ohio River between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky. It’s a spectacular website with majestic-looking spires and an nearly Artwork Deco look.
Should you see the bridge and assume you’ve seen it earlier than, you don’t should get spooked as a result of this bridge was the inspiration behind the Brooklyn Bridge in New York Metropolis.
Should you stay in northern Kentucky and are thinking about attending a sporting occasion in Cincinnati, this is among the greatest methods to get there.
- Customer’s Heart Handle: John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, Covington, KY 41011
- Finest instances to go to: all yr spherical
12. Land Between the Lakes Recreation Space
Consisting of greater than 170,000 acres, the Land Between the Lakes Leisure Space is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve run by the Forest Service. My favourite highlights embody the fascinating wildlife and the fascinating historical past.
You additionally get to get pleasure from greater than 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline that’s nothing wanting spectacular, and thru all of it, you get to get pleasure from animals similar to bison, elk, buffalo, and wild turkeys.
- Customer’s Heart Handle: 238 Customer Heart Dr, Golden Pond, KY 42211
- Finest instances to go to March to Might
13. Bardstown
Completely positioned on the Kentucky Bourbon Path, this charming and engaging city provides a Napa Valley-style expertise—swap the wine for whiskey!
It’s a really easy-on-the-eye place, which USA As we speak referred to as the “Most Lovely Small City in America.” It has additionally been named America’s Most Lovely City Sq..
- Customer’s Heart Handle: 1 Courtroom Sq. # 102, Bardstown, KY 40004
- Peak instances to go to: From March to Might
14. Mammoth Cave Nationwide Park
A pure setting with greater than 400 miles of passageways, Mammoth Cave is spectacular and has a few of the longest-known caves in your entire world.
These subterranean passageways are residence to stalagmites, stalactites, helictites, and travertine dams, which you’ll be able to view up shut with none issues. You possibly can discover the cave by yourself or go on one of many ranger-led excursions in order that nothing vital is neglected.
Positioned in central Kentucky, this nationwide park is the place to be when you love the final word magnificence that Mom Nature can solely provide.
- Customer’s Heart Handle: 1 Mammoth Cave Pkwy, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259
- Finest instances to go to: March to November
15. Bluegrass Music Corridor of Fame and Museum
Positioned in Owensboro, the Bluegrass Music Corridor of Fame is only a few miles from the birthplace of the Father of Bluegrass, Invoice Monroe.
Interactive displays, jam periods, live shows, classes, and particular occasions are included, together with the three-day ROMP Fest, which is normally held in June annually.
The Corridor of Fame at the moment has 60 inductees and homes the Worldwide Bluegrass Music Corridor of Fame. Should you love bluegrass music, I like to recommend visiting this place!
- Customer’s Heart Handle: 2590 Richmond St, Mt Vernon, KY 40456
- Finest instances to go to: Anytime aside from Mondays, because it’s closed
16. Western Kentucky Botanical Backyard
Positioned in Owensboro, the Western Kentucky Botanical Backyard is the right place to go to when you adore it when nature decides to point out off a bit.
A few of its points of interest embody plenty of flowers and crops to get pleasure from, they usually specialise in occasions that train you all the things you’ll want to learn about your favourite flower to new methods to get pleasure from all the things rising indoors and outside on this spectacular backyard.
They provide particular actions for youths, occasions for particular holidays similar to Christmas, and rather more.
- Customer’s Heart Handle: 2731 W 2nd St, Owensboro, KY 42301
- Finest instances to go to: March to Might
17. Nolin Lake
This gorgeous 5,795-acre park was opened to the general public in 1996. Should you want time to reconnect with nature, Nolin Lake provides actions similar to boating, swimming, and stress-free on the sandy seaside!
The park has 32 campsites, nice amenities for all, and is open year-round. It additionally has a personal seaside and loads of house for a soothing trip.
- Finest instances to go to: fall
My favourite highlights…
- Going tenting close to an attractive sandy seaside.
- Going mountain climbing on the Waterfall Loop on Brier Creek Path.
