Visiting Kentucky: Fun from Bourbon to Bluegrass and Beyond
July 21, 2014
Kentucky … the 15th state. When you hear the word what comes to mind? Horse racing? Bluegrass? Perhaps even bourbon? Kentucky is all of these and so much more. And it’s a great state to explore if you are looking for fun for the entire family.
Go Spelunking
Caves are exciting for the young and old alike. Did you know that Kentucky is home of the world’s longest cave system? That’s right, Mammoth Cave National Park is located in central Kentucky.
Mammoth Cave National Park is 52,830 acres, centered around the Green River. It has a whopping 400 miles of surveyed passageways. The National Park Service offers visitors to the park cave tours, and the length of time you spend enjoying the caves can vary from one to six hours. Your tour can be as tame as you like – there are lighted tours or ones that are non-electric. You can stay clean or get dirty. There are also “wild” tours that let you explore less developed parts of the cave system, and you’ll end up crawling through mud and dusty tunnels.
Hit the Trails
If caves aren’t your thing, perhaps the 1.500 miles of hiking, backpacking and ATV trails will be more to your liking. Rent an ATV and explore areas with terrain as varied as flat land to bogs to steep mountainsides.
Hop in the Saddle
Horses are a major attraction in Kentucky – and no visit would be complete with stopping at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Horses of dozens of various breeds are featured in the park, as well as the 2 museums: The International Museum of the Horse and The American Saddlebred Museum. The RV park has 260 paved campsites for those interested in staying on the property. There are horse and pony rides, farm tours and horse-drawn trolleys to enjoy.
Enjoy an Adult-Only Vacation
If your plans are geared for adult fun, Kentucky can provide that too. Many of the Parks in Kentucky offer cabin and cottage rentals, providing the perfect romantic getaway. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, seclusion, and wildlife as you get away from it all. You can also enjoy a visit to one of the bourbon distilleries. Bourbon is the only alcohol that is a distinctive product of the United States. 95% of Bourbon is distilled, aged and bottled in right in Kentucky.
Kentucky is a state full of things to see and do for all ages. City life, rural settings – you name it, Kentucky has it. Whether you are planning your entire vacation in one place, or driving through and just want to enjoy a stop or too, Kentucky is sure to please.
Image Source: NPS Photo