Bourbon, Horses & History

From Louisville to Bardstown, discover multifaceted history, cutting-edge cuisine, exciting attractions, world-famous bourbon distilleries and a little race called the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky’s rich past and vibrant present are on proud display in the Bourbon, Horses & History region. Built on the falls of the Ohio River, Louisville is Kentucky's largest city, but it has all the friendliness of a small town. Churchill Downs is the iconic backdrop of the Kentucky Derby, the first race in the Triple Crown series. Sip the finest bourbon in the world at more than 40 top-shelf bars and distilleries on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail®. Visit world-class attractions such as the Louisville Zoo, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and MEGA Cavern, the world's only fully underground zipline. Kentucky Kingdom has thrill seeking rides and fun for the family. Play in the city’s entertainment districts, humming with live music and nightlife.

Horses, Hats and Bourbon with Claudia Coffey

More Things to Do in the Bourbon, Horses & History Region

Want to explore the lives of two great Americans? Abraham Lincoln hails from this region, and you can learn about his formative years at sites along the Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail. Muhammad Ali was born less than 100 miles away in Louisville, and many of his "greatest" achievements are on display at the Muhammad Ali Center. Throughout Louisville, markers commemorate important Kentucky sites on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail.

Louisville is the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail^®, which rolls on through towns like Clermont (home to the Jim Beam American Stillhouse) and historic Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World. Here you can sample award-winning spirits from nine legendary distilleries, including Willett, Preservation and Four Roses. While you’re in the area, browse antiques in Elizabethtown and discover a different kind of spirit on a Bardstown ghost tour. Cruising through Oldham County, the Farm Tour Capital of Kentucky, an incredible meal at the new farm-to-table restaurant Barn8 & Bourbon Bar is a must. See the stables of Shelbyville, the American Saddlebred Capital of the World, and squeeze in a little retail therapy at the Outlet Shoppes of The Bluegrass.

Bluegrass, History, and Horses

Virtual Attractions

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Featured Cities
Road Trips

Kentucky Bourbon Experiences

If you want to taste Kentucky bourbon and see how distilling is done, there are no wrong turns with Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Experiences.
Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Craft Tour

With stops at 19 superb small-batch distilleries, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Craft Tour is proof that it pays to venture off the beaten path.
Interstate 64

Discover all that is quintessentially Kentucky on this east-west roadway – from Louisville’s buzzing bourbon and culinary scene to the proud musical and cultural heritage of the Appalachian Mountains.
Interstate 65

Make an easy detour to must-see attractions like Mammoth Cave National Park and the National Corvette Museum on this major north-south thoroughfare.
Interstate 71

Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly side trip, horse farm tours, or a unique place to stay the night, there are many Kentucky gems along Interstate 71.
Country Ham Trail

A savory Southern specialty for breakfast, lunch or dinner, country ham is one of Kentucky’s favorite foods.
Fried Chicken Trail

From the original KFC to soul food joints to fine dining, sink your teeth into some of the best fried chicken in America.
Bon Appetit Appalachia Kentucky

Get a taste of Kentucky mountain culture and traditions, from farm to table.
Hot Brown Hop

If you're hungry to try Kentucky's signature sandwich, this is the trail for you!
Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail

Abraham Lincoln lived in Kentucky for the first seven years of his life, and that period left a lifelong impression on the future leader.
Bluegrass Parkway

The Bluegrass Parkway winds through the knobs of central Kentucky where Abraham Lincoln was born, and travels onward through Bourbon Country amid rolling hills of the bluegrass that give the roadway its name.
Western Kentucky Parkway

The Western Kentucky Parkway traverses expansive farmland and several top-notch state parks that offer endless opportunities to fish, play or stay the night.
Urban Bourbon Trail®

The Urban Bourbon Trail® span more than 40 top bars and restaurants around the Derby City, Louisville – a bourbon town if there ever was one.
Civil War Heritage Trail

Kentucky's Civil War Heritage Trail was created to observe the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, and includes 36 historic and interpretive sites around the state – from battlefields and cemeteries to the birthplaces of Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis.

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Featured Episode

Untold to the Unforgettable

Lonnie Ali

Muhammad Ali Center

Hear unique insights into the life of a man known simply as “The Greatest” from the woman who knew him best: Muhammad Ali’s wife, Lonnie Ali. As she peels back the layers to help preserve her late husband’s legacy, listen as a woman of substance, intelligence and compassion in her own right tells her stories of love and perseverance – not just of the boxer, but of the man.

More of Bluegrass, Horses, and History Region

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An overhead shot of a Hot Brown and other foods of the Bourbon, Horses & History Region

A hub of Kentucky food culture, the Bourbon, Horses & History region lays claim to the creation of numerous indelible dishes – among them the Old Fashioned cocktail and the Hot Brown sandwich.

Discover more must-try dishes