Kentucky has a lot to offer. Kentucky offers fun and family-friendly educational activities for people of all ages. So if you’re looking for things to do in Kentucky, you’ve come to the right place as we’re going to explore the 32 best places to visit in Kentucky.
Kentucky is a state located in the central part of the United States. Kentucky is called the “Bluegrass State” because bluegrass is present in many lawns and meadows throughout the state. In 1792, Virginia’s counties beyond the Appalachian Mountains became known as Kentucky County, named after the Kentucky River.
Kentucky has everything from great entertainment and shopping to great outdoors. Known for its great horse racing, bourbon distilleries, and small town atmosphere. Although Louisville boasts its historic charm and culture, Lexington offers a taste of Southern hospitality.
Vacationing in Kentucky is all about the fun of these attractions
If you’re on a Kentucky family vacation, be sure to check out something new! With so much to see and do in Kentucky, even if you’ve visited before, chances are you’ll find new entertainment attractions and stunning sights for your family.
Kentucky is a beautiful state filled with many natural wonders and man-made delights. Caves are a good example, natural cave formations in Kentucky have been explored for centuries, and we have a man-made cave in Louisville to visit.
Explore these adventurous spots in Kentucky and learn something new.
Kentucky’s expansive landscapes, majestic mountains, and rolling hills aren’t the only thing this charming state has to offer. We’ve rounded up five great places to visit in Kentucky, known as the “Bluegrass State.”
Here are 32 ideas and places to get your vacation planning started. But, of course, once you start listing all the sights you want to visit on your trip, you’re sure to find even more reasons to return to Kentucky time and time again.
1. Mammoth Cave National Park Mammoth Cave
Did you know that Kentucky has the longest cave system in the world? See this wonder and enjoy the great outdoors beyond. First, there is canoeing, horseback riding, and hiking through the park. Then, enjoy a guided tour filled with area history as you enter the cave. Have you ever seen a mammoth? Well, there are plenty of other caves to explore!
Check out this article on the top 8 natural caves in Kentucky. It’s also worth visiting Wigwam Village Motel No. 2 if you’re looking at the natural terrain in Cave City. It’s not any fancy motel, but it’s a roadside attraction on Route 66. Fun fact for the kids: The Wigwam Village motel chain was the inspiration for the cozy conical motel featured in the Pixar movie Cars.
2. Louisville Mega Cavern
If you want to stay within the confines of Louisville but still want to explore the underground, check out the huge man-made cave under the Louisville Zoo. That’s right, the former Louisville gravel mine is now known as the Louisville Giant Cavern, and it’s located in the city! Historical tours take visitors through the caves by tram, and guides explain the history and current use of the large caves. This is a fascinating tour filled with interesting Louisville facts. Are you feeling more adventurous? There is also a zip line. In the vaulted area, participants will find 90′ high ceilings. Again, zip lines are installed, and the course is lit for added drama.
3. Cumberland Falls
Note: This state park is full of natural beauty and has 50 campsites. Go gem mining, bird watching, fishing, horseback riding, rafting, and hiking in one place. Plus, you can see the Niagara River to the south, a 125-foot-wide curtain of water, and a moon.
4. Churchill Downs
The Kentucky Derby is massive in Louisville, Kentucky, and worldwide. Access everything that happens in it. If you’re the gambling type, there are plenty of games to bet on. Want to avoid playing horses? Don’t worry; Churchill Downs is also home to the Kentucky Derby Museum, Derby Shop, and more. If you’re traveling with young kids, check out Family Fun Days, filled with age-appropriate activities for younger kids.
If you’re on vacation, be sure to see something new! Kentucky has a lot to do. It is a beautiful country filled with many natural and man-made attractions. Here’s the TK on where to start. But, of course, once you start planning your trip, you’re bound to find more reasons to return to Kentucky time and time again.
5. Red River Canyon
This natural treasure is located in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Stone arches, sandstone cliffs, and rock formations attract tourists from all over the world. A popular spot for holidaymakers and rock climbers. It’s in our top 10 list of top 10 weekend getaways in Louisville. Hunting and trapping in the canyon are permitted as long as Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations. There are plenty of hiking trails, picnic spots, and launching canoes.
6. Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay
When it’s hot outside, there are few things better than going to a water park. And, if you’re a family who loves visiting theme parks, Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay is not to be missed. With extreme rides like FearFall, which can be approached 130 feet from the air, a 5D movie theater, a water park featuring Plummet Summit, Tornado Ride, and a lazy river for adventure-seeking foragers, there is something for everyone in the Kentucky Kingdom.
7. Louisville Zoo
We’re going to the zoo, the zoo, the zoo… What about you, what about you, what about you? Sound familiar? Many families head to their local zoo while on vacation, and the Louisville Zoo is no exception. This is a popular spot! Glacier Run is home to polar and grizzly bears and Gorilla Forest. In addition, there are opportunities to learn about nature conservation and a host of seasonal themes. For example, the world’s largest Halloween party, the Louisville Zoo Halloween Party, is an annual event for children who want a less scary Halloween experience. Kids trick or treat and meet characters from their favorite books and movies.
8. Kentucky Horse Park
Horse lovers don’t have to go to the track; there are plenty of places to see these majestic creatures in Kentucky. One of the best in the Kentucky Derby. There are riding opportunities and shows of the world of horses and informative displays full of lights and sounds. An added bonus is if you’re a camping family, you can stay in the park! The KHP camp has electricity access and many modern conveniences, including a shop, two bathrooms, and tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts.
Additionally, there is an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Finally, enjoy family walks on the Legacy Trail, a 12-mile paved walking and biking trail. The trail takes visitors from the Kentucky Horse Park campground to downtown Lexington.
9. Keeneland
As racing fans know, Churchill Downs is one of many important tracks in Kentucky. In the center of Kentucky’s famous bluegrass region is Keeneland. Keeneland is a National Historic Landmark that continues to play an essential role in thoroughbred racing and breeding. Established in 1936, Keeneland was designated a National Historic Landmark fifty years later in 1986. The track hosted the Breeders Cup in 2015; a race won by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah! The Triple Crown means a horse has won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. For American Pharoah to win all three of these events, the Breeders Cup is the reason horse racers call it the Grand Slam of Horse Racing.
10. Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum
If you’re a fan of KFC fried chicken, it’s worth the drive to Corbin, Kentucky, to check out Chicken Mecca places. This is the website for Colonel Harland Sanders’ first restaurant. Of course, it’s a KFC, so that you can order lunch, but the location looks different than other KFC restaurants. There’s a replica of Sanders’ 1940s kitchen and café and information on how the café became a household name. Sanders Court and Cafe was the first restaurant to serve what we now know as KFC fried chicken.
11. Pleasant Hill Shaker Village
History buffs will enjoy Shaker Village, home to the third-largest Shaker community in the United States from 1805 to 1910. Come and learn about the Shaker community’s farming and gardening techniques. If you enjoy hiking, the land has trails 30 miles long. Feel free to walk these trials, either partially or in full. For a weekend, stay at The Inn, where guest rooms, suites, and private cottages are housed in 13 restored Shaker buildings. Enjoy shaker reproduction furniture, original hardwood floors, and country views. Finally, visit historic Locust Grove if you enjoy good old fresh air adventures and have some history knowledge.
12. Newport Aquarium
The Newport Aquarium is your go-to destination to interact with marine life just across the Cincinnati River. There are many exhibits to admire and interact personally with sharks, stingrays, and penguins. Travel through five seamless tunnels and feel like you are swimming with fish and marine life.
The attraction is open to the public daily. Visit the website for information on special exhibits and to see if strollers are allowed on a daily basis (due to crowd issues, the aquarium sometimes restricts stroller use).
13. Gallatin County
A small county, Gallatin, is located on the Ohio River. While it’s a country of great rural beauty, with waterways, country roads, and tight-knit communities, Gallatin County is also known as the racing capital of Kentucky. Why? Because of Kentucky Speedway, of course! It’s a quiet, charming place, rich in history, racing, and water sports. Campers may enjoy one of the campsites, which also has fishing opportunities.
14. Dinosaur World in Kentucky
Located in Cave City, Kentucky, Dinosaur World is a fun-filled place to take the kids to see life-sized dinosaurs, interactive exhibits, a dinosaur-themed playground, and even dig for fossils. Learn about dinosaurs and see what they looked like millions of years ago when they roamed the earth. Browse the huge gift shop, where you can choose from a large collection of authentic works of art. For some extra family fun, visit Dinosaur World during your stay.
15. Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory
This 1,486-square-meter museum in Louisville, Kentucky, is the factory where Louisville Slugger baseball bats were made. Take a guided tour inside the factory and witness the spectacular sight of hundreds of baseball bats being produced on the production line. You can’t miss the world’s largest baseball bat, modeled after the 86cm Louisville Slugger bat once used by Babe Ruth, soaring 37 meters into the air. Stop by the Signature Wall to get your hands on the autographs of your favorite baseball legends and see what famous players like Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, and Hank Aaron have done. A used baseball bat. There’s even a batting cage inside the museum to try out your swing with an authentic Louisville Slugger bat.
16. Mussel & Burger Bar
With two locations in Louisville, Mussel & Burger Bar is a unique and creative neighborhood bar and grill. The restaurant serves a variety of delicious 100% certified Black Angus beef patty sandwiches, as well as other premium meats. They use only the freshest ingredients.
The menu features unexpected pairings such as seafood burgers, patties made with crab, shrimp, lobster, peppers, onions, and leeks, Gruyère cheese, truffle aioli, C.E.O. Burger with mayonnaise, caramelized onions, arugula, and oven-roasted tomatoes. The appetizers here can even rival the mains, such as mussels in curried cream or lamb balls, delicately prepared with lemongrass, curry, shallots, lemon zest, and chili oil.
17. National Corvette Museum
The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green displays more than 80 Corvettes, including classic cast models and one-of-a-kind prototypes. First, visit the Skydome with gusto, home to every generation of Corvette. Then, in the main hall, three exhibits offer hands-on activities and educational displays. Next, visit the Motorsports Park, about three kilometers from the museum, to see it for yourself in a Corvette and learn about one of the many events held there.
18. National Quilt Museum
Located in Paducah’s thriving fiber arts community, the National Quilt Museum is nationally acclaimed and has three huge galleries displaying quilt and fiber arts. This is the destination of choice for quilting and fiber art lovers from around the world. More than 50 quilt pieces from the 500 Patchwork Collection are on display in the main exhibition hall; they are some of the most breathtaking quilt creations ever created. Most of the quilts have won awards, and many have historical ties. Quietly admire these intricate patchwork creations, and suddenly you will feel that what you see is not a patchwork but a hand-painted artwork.
19. Bardstown
Voted one of “America’s Most Beautiful Small Towns” by the U.S., Rand McNally’s picturesque Bardstown is located in the heart of Kentucky’s bluegrass region. Bardstown has been called the “Bourbon Capital of the World” for its art of distilling alcohol into beautiful works of art. Some local distilleries date back to 1776 and host the annual Kentucky Bourbon Day celebration every September. In addition, Bardstown is home to my old Kentucky State Park, which hosts The Stephen Foster Story, a Broadway-style musical about the “Father of American Music” and composer of the Kentucky state anthem. The downtown area is a mix of historic buildings, eclectic boutiques, and great restaurants.
20. Berea
A few miles south of Lexington, Berea is home to a vibrant community of painters, musicians, weavers, and other artisans, as well as many arts events, including the Berea Craft Festival and the Berea Celtic Festival. In addition, beautiful downtown Berea is home to several historically significant sites, such as Berea College, a liberal arts college founded in 1855 and the South’s first interdisciplinary and coeducational college. Another site, Boone Tavern, a hotel that opened in 1909, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and named for American pioneer and explorer Daniel Boone.
21. Harrodsburg
Dating back to 1774, Harrodsburg is the oldest city in the state and has plenty of exciting attractions related to its rich history. These include the largest restored Shaker settlement in the United States, Pleasant Hill’s Shaker Village, and the Dedman Drugstore, which first opened in 1865 and is today home to its original soda fountain and Kentucky’s Fudge Company.
Travel aboard an authentic Dixie Belle paddle steamer for a unique perspective on the scenic Kentucky River Palisades. You could also explore downtown Harrodsburg for its charming and colorful storefronts, unique local crafts and antiques, and a restaurant serving delicious old Southern cuisine Dining room.
22. Paducah
Named a UNESCO City of Craft and Folk Art in 2013, Paducah is also known as America’s Quilt City and is a popular spot for quilt and fiber artists. It’s also home to the National Quilt Museum and the annual QuiltWeek festival. Paducah is rich in history and located on the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers on the Illinois border, with 20 blocks of its picturesque downtown area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Here you’ll find stunning 19th-century architecture and downtown, an arts district and Paducah’s oldest neighborhood, as well as boutiques, antique stores, and local independent art galleries.
23. Danville
Danville is a certified Kentucky Cultural District, rich in historic landmarks, numerous art galleries, museums, and great restaurants. Danville’s Constitution Square was the site of multiple firsts, with the first post office west of the Alleghany Mountains. The town was also the pioneer of American surgeon Ephraim McDowell, the first doctor to perform abdominal surgery successfully. Danville’s beautiful Main Street was awarded the 2001 Main Street America Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is home to locally-owned bars and shops as well as the annual American Brass Band Festival.
24. Greenville
Founded in 1799, Greenville is an idyllic American town nestled among western Kentucky’s beautiful forests and rolling hills, known for its warm Southern hospitality. Greenville’s picturesque and historic town square is a beautiful Beaux-Arts-style courthouse dating back to 1907 that boasts the state’s second-largest bell tower dome and the nation’s largest prefabricated cupola. Greenville’s quaint downtown is known for its festival events, including the Plaza on Saturdays, a slew of summertime events, the outdoor arts festival Squash & Gobble Arts Bazaar, and the Fall Festival.
25. Augusta
Renowned historian Thomas D. Clark lists August as one of 11 Kentucky treasures that have helped shape the state’s history and culture. The Ohio River town in northeastern Kentucky, where NUS is located, has excavations showing skeletal remains as an early Native American settlement. Now home to 1,797 people, Augusta is small in size but brimming with small-town charm, its crowning glory undoubtedly being Riverside Drive, a scenic drive with picturesque views of the river valley and beautiful 1000th and 18th-century buildings. It is also the site of Augusta’s annual Garden Arts Festival.
26. Glasgow
South Central Kentucky Town Glasgow One of the 15 Best Places to Live in Kentucky, the town of Glasgow in south central Kentucky was founded in 1799 and named for the birthplace of one of the early settlers of Scotland. The city is home to the Glasgow Highland Games, an annual celebration of Scottish heritage held over the past 30 years. Glasgow is located in a region of caves, lakes, and Corvettes and is close to Mammoth Cave National Park, making the town the perfect starting point for exploring the state’s natural wonders.
27. Murray
Voted America’s Friendliest Small Town by Rand McNally-USA TODAY’s Best Road Series, Murray is a charming Southern town. The hotel’s idyllic location, just a short drive from stunning Kentucky Lakes and Lake Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, is an ideal base for visiting nature lovers. In addition, Murray’s picture-perfect downtown is home to several cultural institutions. These include Murray State University’s Clara M. Eagle Art Gallery and Park’s Playhouse, a community theater housed in a former train station, and the town’s annual Independence Day celebrates Freedom Day.
28. Morehead
Located just north of the beautiful Daniel Boone National Forest in northeastern Kentucky, Morehead is a laid-back town backed by the scenic foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It has a lot of small-town charm and history (including the beautiful Morehead State University founded in 1887) to cosmopolitan (with antique shops and nearby CCC Trail vineyards and wineries) and culture (with the town’s ) of many attractions. For example, the annual Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival). In addition, Morehead is close to the beautiful Cave Run Lakes, making it an ideal base for nature lovers.
29. Kentucky Historic Landmarks
Kentucky is filled with historical attractions, including museums and tours that allow visitors to discover some of America’s most important history. For example, learn about the Civil War at the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, visit Fort Boonsborough State Park or tour one of Kentucky’s many other Civil War Historic Sites.
Explore Kentucky’s bourbon heritage on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and see Louisville’s civil rights landmarks. Then, take a historical walking tour of downtown Frankfort and learn about the city’s past at the Old State House.
30. Whitehaven Welcome Center
If you come to Paducah sightseeing, it is a spot you want to visit first. Here you can get maps and tourist information for Paducah. It is housed in a restored 1860s Southern mansion, and the building showcases the furniture and memorabilia of Paducah resident Olben Berkley, who served as vice president under President Truman.
First of all, its gorgeous appearance will take your breath away! The interior details, such as the carvings on the ceiling, are also cute, and I never get tired of looking at them. It is beautiful, and there are short tours here to learn some history.
Whitehaven is a rare reproduction home in Kentucky and the only historic home to serve as a welcome center. The surrounding area is well-maintained, and you can enjoy walking and picnics. You can tell how warmly the town of Paducah is trying to welcome tourists; even the restrooms are decorated with flowers.
31. Moonshine Company
KentPaducah tourist facilities are where you can learn about whiskey. The Moonshine Company manufactures and sells severely. Here, you can take a tour and learn about its recipes and manufacturing process. No matter what you say, the tour guides are very friendly and funny, and people want to visit again to see them.
After your tour, enjoy a whiskey tasting in an antique building reminiscent of Paducah’s good old days. You will be lost in the abundance of its flavors. Recommendations are quilt special, lemonade, and strawberry.
Sightseeing that tastes whiskey in a western atmosphere may be unique to Paducah.
32. Overview
The tourism industry in this state is very well developed due to the high potential of tourists. The state is also home to many celebrities, including Abraham Lincoln, George Clooney, and Muhammad Ali. So when you visit Kentucky, there’s plenty.
If you’re looking for family-friendly fun, Kentucky is the destination. Bluegrass State offers fun for kids and relaxing hobbies for adults. Admire stunning architecture, explore the world’s most comprehensive cave system, and enjoy a variety of outdoor adventures in the great outdoors.
Kentucky is home to some of America’s most famous racetracks. Lexington’s Keeneland Racecourse has been named one of the world’s most beautiful racetracks by Horse and Hound Magazine.
Churchill Downs in Louisville hosts the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday of May each year. Both tracks offer tours of the facility, but coming during a live race will give you the authentic feeling of walking down the road on race day. Target!
Ready? See you at the airport!
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