Kentucky is a bit of a hidden gem for those who have never experienced it. Too many assume the state is little more than bourbon, bluegrass, and horses. While these three things do play an important role in shaping the state’s culture—and economy—they are just the tip of the iceberg.
Outdoor and cultural adventures in Kentucky
Kentucky is just rich in cultural opportunities, and outdoor adventures. From great museums to National Parks, there is something in Kentucky for everyone.
Related: Ziplining Red River Gorge
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is best known for hosting the Kentucky Derby every year in the Spring. Around May, the city fills with hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world. Celebrities show up dressed like glitzy Easter eggs. Racebooks like TwinSpires let you learn more about the event and the current odds.
Many millions of dollars are spent, not just on the tickets and wagers, but also in the city itself. Just try getting a last-minute hotel reservation in Louisville during Derby week. Spoilers, it won’t work. And then the people leave, just as quickly as they came.
Louisville after the Derby is quieter. That doesn’t mean you should sleep on it. Love art? Check out the KMAC. Love history? Pay a visit to the Frazier History Museum. Affordable and always interesting, these institutes allow you to experience a different side of the state’s culture.
They are also just a great opportunity for people who like looking at beautiful things.
Louisville also has some cool stuff for sports lovers—even those thinking beyond horses. Many know that it is the home of Louisville Slugger. In fact, the factory in town still makes almost all of the bats that this company produces in-house. While you are there, you can tour the factory, pick up a free sample-sized bat, and explore the small but fascinating museum.
Louisville is also the birthplace of Muhammad Ali. In town, you’ll find a massive museum dedicated to his life and career. And while it certainly helps to go in with an interest in the famous fighter, there is actually tons of interesting historical information about the Olympics, the Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights movement.
And these are just the main Louisville attractions. There are tons of small bookstores and other interesting shops. And yes. If you get thirsty, you can be sure that every bar in town is pouring top-shelf bourbon.
Mammoth Cave
If you love nature, you can’t do better than a National Park.
Mammoth Cave is famous for being the world’s longest-known cave system, with more than 400 miles of surveyed passageways. The cave system is remarkable, and with many different tour options, there are tons of ways to experience it. If you are familiar with National Parks, you’ll know that you pay to get in—usually around $30 for a pass that will allow you in-and-out privileges for the week. You’ll also have to pay for cave tours which are slightly more price-restrictive than other park experiences. Yellowstone, for example, does not charge you once to view Old Faithful. Again to see Grand Prismatic. More yet for Norris and Canyon.
Is Mammoth Cave bringing micro-transactions to the national park? It’s not exactly like that. The National Park system can’t have thousands of people blindly exploring the biggest cave system in North America all alone. We need supervision and supervision, in this context, costs money.
You don’t have to be particularly interested in caves to enjoy Mammoth. There are also tons of great hiking trails. The Cedar Sink Trail offers views of a massive sinkhole surrounded by beautiful forest, while the Echo River Springs Trail leads to where underground rivers emerge into daylight. Then there’s the challenging Big Hollow Loop that winds through dense woodland and offers spectacular ridge-top views of the park’s rolling landscape.
You can stay in the park itself, on a campground, or you can stay in the nearby city of Cave City, which offers numerous lodging options from budget motels to cozy bed and breakfasts. The park also has its own lodge—the Lodge at Mammoth Cave—which provides comfortable rooms just steps away from the visitor center and cave entrances.
Who Should Go To Kentucky?
Anyone? Everyone? Understand that even now we’ve still only touched on what the state has to offer. Louisville is the biggest city in the state, but not so far away, there is Lexington. Slightly smaller, and not home to the biggest racing event in the world, but still deeply entrenched in horse racing culture.
There are several notable stables and tracks. There are museums. And do not forget that there is bourbon. In Kentucky, there is often bourbon.
One of the nice things about Kentucky is that it is clearly branded, but also very accessible for a wide range of people. You can come for what it’s famous for, and stay for days, totally captivated by all of the things you didn’t expect.
