Known for its bourbon, bluegrass music, and acres of gorgeous farmland, Kentucky is a state with both character and soul! Bordered by seven states, including Indiana and Ohio, it’s not always a major destination for tourists, but its filled with stunning countryside perfect for scenic road trips, limestone hills, unspoiled parks and thick forests. Here are my personal favorite spots to explore in the state…
1. Cumberland Falls
Known as the Niagara of the South, these falls include a 125-foot-wide area of water that is nothing short of spectacular.
Located in the southeastern part of the state, Cumberland Falls is gorgeous and has one other distinction – it is one of only two places on the planet that experiences moonbows.
Moonbows are rainbows created by the moon’s light. One is in Zambia on the continent of Africa. If you want to take full advantage of the falls, I highly recommend renting a raft and visiting them when there is a full moon outside!
- Visitor’s Center Address: Cumberland Falls Rd, Williamsburg, KY 40769
- Best time to visit: During the full moon to catch the magical moonbow!
My favorite highlights…
- Going birdwatching and spotting gorgeous woodpeckers!
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2. Bourbon Distilleries
Home to nearly 70 different distilleries, this state is well know for is bourbon.
This includes Buffalo Trace, where you can enjoy a tour of the entire process, from cooking to distilling; Maker’s Mark, where you can hand-dip your bottle with their famous red wax; and the Bardstown Bourbon Company, where you can taste bourbon straight from the barrel!
If you love bourbon or are just curious how they make this amazing drink, this state allows you to learn more about it every day of the week!
- Visitor’s Center Address: 829 W Main St, Louisville, KY 40202
- Best times to visit: From March to May
3. Appalachian Mountains
If you love the mountains, I recommend visiting the Eastern part of the state and seeing the Appalachian Mountains.
You can hike, visit overlooks, and see some of the most beautiful scenery you’ve likely seen in a long time! I would also recommend hiking or boating on the stunning forest trails, which offer seriously scenic views!
The Appalachian Mountains cover an extensive section of Eastern Kentucky, and it is one sight you should plan on seeing on your next visit.
- Best times to visit: fall
4. Louisville
This is the largest and busiest city in the state, and I personally think one of the most underrated cities in the USA. It’s an easy-on-the-eye place with an impressive skyline, a booming arts scene, and a long-established bluegrass music scene.
Add excellent restaurants, lively bars, and a good handful of distilleries, and you have a seriously cool city!
My favorite highlights include the 21C Museum Hotel, the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, the Muhammad Ali Center, the Louisville Mega Cavern, and the Kentucky Science Center.
- Visitor’s Center Address: 301 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202
- Best times to visit: March to November
5. Kentucky Lake
Located in the southwestern part of the state, Kentucky Lake covers 184 miles and has more than 2,000 miles of shoreline. But this lake doesn’t just offer your usual boating and fishing opportunities.
It also offers poker runs, open regattas, drag boat races, and cabins you can rent for a relaxing and fun-filled vacation!
You can also ski, swim, and take your favourite ski jet out on the water, and if you’re an active type, I would highly recommend trying them all!
- Visitor’s Center Address: 93 Carroll Rd. Benton KY 42025
- Peak times to visit: From September to December
6. Frankfort
A charming town beautifully located on the Kentucky River, this place seems to embody everything great about this state in a compact form!
It’s known for having one of the most beautiful Capitol buildings in the country. Still, my other favorite highlights include its bourbon distilleries, wine, and new and old governor mansions.
- Visitor’s Center Address: 300 St Clair St #102, Frankfort, KY 40601
- Peak times to visit: March to May
7. Dixie Belle Paddle Wheels
Suppose you’re curious about old-fashioned Southern paddlewheel boats. In that case, I suggest heading to the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and cruising through the Kentucky River Palisades on one of these boats.
After you’re done cruising, come back ashore and visit the village itself. You can enjoy nature preserves, organic gardens, and more than 40 miles of trails here.
This is an original Shaker village that still has 34 of its original buildings. Whether you’re on the site enjoying everything it offers or on a paddlewheel boat cruise, I’d highly recommend adding this to your Kentucky itinerary!
8. Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge
With a 65-foot-high natural bridge made chiefly of sandstone, the beautiful Red River Gorge is spectacular.
Nearby, you can rent some cute cabins for the night, go camping at one of the many campgrounds in the area, hike some great scenic nature trails, go zip lining if you feel extra adventurous, and even rock-climbing when the desire hits you.
This amazing tourist spot offers beautiful views and the opportunity to fulfil your dream of being an explorer in the 1800s.
- Visitor’s Center Address: 3451 Sky Bridge Rd Hwy 715, Stanton, KY 40380
- Best times to visit: March to May and September to December
9. Daniel Boone National Forest
This stunning area has been a national park since 1937. It sprawls across a vast 708,000 acres in the most rugged area west of the Appalachian Mountains, home to forested slopes, sandstone cliffs, and narrow ravines.
This is a nature lover’s dream. Here, you can hike, camp, picnic, rock climb, or go boating, although I recommend relaxing and enjoying the fantastic scenery!
- Visitor’s Center Address: 1700 Bypass Road, Winchester, KY 40391
- Peak times to visit: fall
10. Dale Hollow Lake
Beautiful Dale Hollow Lake offers hiking and boating activities, bird-watching opportunities, mountain bike trails, and much more.
It is located in south-central Kentucky and has over 27,000 acres of land. Erected in 1943, Dale Hollow Lake is a great place to visit if you love being on the water or merely standing on the sidelines and enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll ever find.
Because of its beauty, this is a must-see location whenever you’re visiting the Bluegrass State.
- Visitor’s Center Address: 1005 Livingston Hwy, Byrdstown, TN 38549
- Best times to visit: May to September
11. John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge
This old bridge, completed in the 1860s, sits on the Ohio River between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Covington, Kentucky. It is a spectacular site with majestic-looking spires and an almost Art Deco look.
If you see the bridge and think you’ve seen it before, you don’t have to get spooked because this bridge was the inspiration behind the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.
If you live in northern Kentucky and are interested in attending a sporting event in Cincinnati, this is one of the best ways to get there.
- Visitor’s Center Address: John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, Covington, KY 41011
- Best times to visit: all year round
12. Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area
Consisting of more than 170,000 acres, the Land Between the Lakes Recreational Area is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve run by the Forest Service. My favorite highlights include the fascinating wildlife and the fascinating history.
You also get to enjoy more than 300 miles of undeveloped shoreline that is nothing short of spectacular, and through it all, you get to enjoy animals such as bison, elk, buffalo, and wild turkeys.
- Visitor’s Center Address: 238 Visitor Center Dr, Golden Pond, KY 42211
- Best times to visit March to May
13. Bardstown
Perfectly positioned on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, this charming and attractive town offers a Napa Valley-style experience—swap the wine for whiskey!
It’s a very easy-on-the-eye place, which USA Today called the “Most Beautiful Small Town in America.” It has also been named America’s Most Beautiful Town Square.
- Visitor’s Center Address: 1 Court Square # 102, Bardstown, KY 40004
- Peak times to visit: From March to May
14. Mammoth Cave National Park
A natural setting with more than 400 miles of passageways, Mammoth Cave is spectacular and has some of the longest-known caves in the entire world.
These subterranean passageways are home to stalagmites, stalactites, helictites, and travertine dams, which you can view up close without any problems. You can explore the cave on your own or go on one of the ranger-led tours so that nothing important is overlooked.
Located in central Kentucky, this national park is the place to be if you love the ultimate beauty that Mother Nature can only supply.
- Visitor’s Center Address: 1 Mammoth Cave Pkwy, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259
- Best times to visit: March to November
15. Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Located in Owensboro, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame is just a few miles from the birthplace of the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe.
Interactive exhibits, jam sessions, concerts, lessons, and special events are included, including the three-day ROMP Fest, which is usually held in June each year.
The Hall of Fame currently has 60 inductees and houses the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. If you love bluegrass music, I recommend visiting this place!
- Visitor’s Center Address: 2590 Richmond St, Mt Vernon, KY 40456
- Best times to visit: Anytime apart from Mondays, as it’s closed
16. Western Kentucky Botanical Garden
Located in Owensboro, the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden is the perfect place to visit if you love it when nature decides to show off a bit.
Some of its attractions include lots of flowers and plants to enjoy, and they specialize in events that teach you everything you need to know about your favorite flower to new ways to enjoy everything growing indoors and outdoors in this spectacular garden.
They offer special activities for kids, events for special holidays such as Christmas, and much more.
- Visitor’s Center Address: 2731 W 2nd St, Owensboro, KY 42301
- Best times to visit: March to May
17. Nolin Lake
This stunning 5,795-acre park was opened to the public in 1996. If you need time to reconnect with nature, Nolin Lake offers activities such as boating, swimming, and relaxing on the sandy beach!
The park has 32 campsites, great facilities for all, and is open year-round. It also has a private beach and plenty of space for a relaxing vacation.
- Best times to visit: fall
My favorite highlights…
- Going camping near a beautiful sandy beach.
- Going hiking on the Waterfall Loop on Brier Creek Trail.
