Discover the Spirit of Kentucky

Sip world-renowned bourbon from legendary distilleries. Visit retirement horse farms to meet former champion thoroughbreds. Tour wide-ranging museums covering Kentucky’s rich culture, from sports and music to art and iconic Kentucky figures. Get out and explore the Bluegrass State’s natural wonders, from the world’s longest-known cave system to “the Niagara of the South.” Kentucky is chock-full of one-of-a-kind attractions and new experiences. Satisfy your curiosity in the Bluegrass.

Bourbon Trails

Kentucky is the birthplace of bourbon. In fact, 95% of the world’s supply is crafted in the Bluegrass. You’re invited to raise a glass at more than 50 distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, from James B. Beam Distilling Co. to Woodford Reserve Distillery. Tours, tastings, cocktail classes, bottle-your-own experiences, barrel-thieving and more await you on this spirited adventure.

If you’re in Northern Kentucky, check out The B-Line®.  Featuring distilleries, bourbon bars and bourbon-centric eateries, this 28-stop bourbon trail stretches across seven cities, from Covington to Maysville. Pick up the B-Line Passport and check in at two bars, two distilleries and two restaurants to win a prize.

Horse Culture

Immerse yourself in the “Horse Capital of the World’s” rich equine culture with Horse Country Tours. Meet former champion racehorses, learn about equine-care practices at a veterinary clinic, spend a day with mares and foals at a nursery farm or watch a training session at a historical track.

Natural Wonders

Plunge into the depths of Kentucky cave country on a one-of-a-kind cave tour. Venture into the world’s longest-known cave system at Mammoth Cave National Park. True to its name, the cave features over 400 miles of charted passageways, with hundreds of miles more still undiscovered. Tailor your caving outing with one of 15 tour options, including the Accessible Tour, suitable for wheelchairs and mobility devices, and the extreme 6-hour Wild Cave Tour, filled with tight crawl spaces and challenging climbs and hurdles.  

In Olive Hill, Carter Caves State Resort Park is home to 20 caves, with four open to guided tours and two open for self exploration (with a permit). See the stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, draperies and other dramatic dripstone formations, like the Great Chandelier and the Pipe Organ, in the crisscrossing passages of X Cave. Venture into Cascade Cave, which gets its name from the 30-foot waterfall found within its depths. Strap on your kneepads, helmets and headlamps for a muddy adventure tour through Saltpetre Cave, which operated as a saltpeter mine during the War of 1812, and Bat Cave, named for the colony of mouse-eared bats that hibernates in the cave each winter. For a self-guided tour, check out the undeveloped Laurel and Horn Hollow Caves. (Just remember, you must be in a group of at least two, carry flashlights and pick up a permit to explore.) Plus, above ground, the park is popular for birding, fishing and hiking. See if you can spot all five natural bridges along the park’s 33 miles of nature trails.

If above ground adventures are more your style, the Bluegrass has no shortage of picturesque scenery, from winding trails and natural bridges to mountain landscapes and large lakes. Nothing will stop you in your tracks quite like Kentucky’s waterfalls. There are hundreds of mesmerizing falls across the state. To narrow it down a bit, the Kentucky Wildlands Waterfall Trail showcases 17 of the state’s most stunning waterfalls, including “the Niagara of the South,” Cumberland Falls.

Museums

In Louisville, discover Muhammad Ali’s lasting legacy at the Muhammad Ali Center. Wander three floors of interactive exhibits, displays, films and artifacts overviewing “the Greatest’s” historic boxing career, personal life and humanitarian work. Watch Ali’s famous bouts in “All Ali, All the Time.” Follow his rise to becoming a champion in “’The Greatest’ Timeline.” Learn about the values that inspired his greatness in and out of the ring in “Six Core Principles.”

Then, take a quick walk over to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory to learn all about the bat of the Big Leagues. Snap a selfie with “The Big Bat,” a 120-foot replica of Babe Ruth’s bat outside the museum. Enter the Bat Vault, a time capsule of baseball history holding thousands of bats of the game’s best, including Ted Williams, Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr. and Ruth. Take a factory tour to see how the iconic baseball bats are made. You’ll even take home a free souvenir mini bat after your tour.

Calling all bluegrass fans! Owensboro’s Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum invites you on a deep dive of the genre. Watch video interviews with more than 200 bluegrass artists. Browse the different instruments and luthiers that brought the music to life. Stop into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Fame room to see the iconic inductees. Enhance your visit with an audio tour of the museum narrated by SiriusXM’s Kyle Cantrell.

See Kentucky artisans at work, from blacksmiths and luthiers to photographers and fiber artists, at the Appalachian Artisan Center in Hindman. Tour the center’s studios for demonstrations and interactive workshops. Then, shop handcrafted goods, including ceramics, jewelry, quilts, paintings, prints and furniture, from the gallery and store.