Family Fun in the Bluegrass, Horses, Bourbon & Boone Region

Day 1: Giddy Up!

Kick off your exploration of the “Horse Capital of the World,” Lexington, at Kentucky Horse Park, an expansive equine theme park with more than 40 horse breeds on display. In addition to the majestic horses, the park features multiple museums, trail rides and special events throughout the year.

Your next family destination is the Explorium of Lexington, offering adventures in both fun and learning. With nine discovery zones filled with interactive exhibits designed to spark imagination and curiosity, kids of all ages will enjoy experiences that last a lifetime.

To close out your day, pay a visit to the Aviation Museum of Kentucky at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport. This fascinating facility displays vintage aircraft and memorabilia, as well as air-worthy flyable planes for the public to view.

Day 2: Explore Forts & Dollhouses

Today begins with an early breakfast at beautiful Keeneland race course. Here you can watch early workouts at the rail and dine with jockeys and owners of some of the most prized thoroughbreds in the world at the Track Kitchen. Keeneland is open year-round, with live racing in April and October.

An easy one-hour drive south takes you to the city of Danville and the Great American Dollhouse Museum. Your family will be intrigued by the historical detail in hundreds of miniature buildings and vivid characters that fill the museum’s streets, backyards and parks. Elsewhere in Danville, explore pretty Constitution Square and enjoy lunch before departing for Old Fort Harrod State Park in neighboring Harrodsburg. Tour the full-scale replica of the fort, which was built by James Harrod in 1775 and became Kentucky's first permanent settlement. The cabins and blockhouses here are furnished with handmade utensils, furniture, crude tools and other items used by the pioneers.

Continue exploring Kentucky's heritage at nearby Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, the country's largest restored Shaker community.  Cap off your day with a garden-to-table dining experience at The Trustee's Table restaurant and then settle in for the night at Shaker Village or other accommodations in Harrodsburg.

Day 3: Tours & Candy

Enjoy Kentucky's scenic beauty during the hour's drive to Frankfort, the state’s capital city. Go “wild “at the Salato Wildlife Education Center, where you’ll have the chance to view bison, bears, eagles and other animals in their natural habitats. Next, head downtown to Rebecca Ruth Candy & Tours to see where “bourbon balls” were born and watch candy being made. Since you are within blocks of the Kentucky State Capitol, take advantage of a great photo-op to capture this architectural treasure and take a self-guided tour.