Travel Planning Made Simple. Create Your Own Itinerary.
Sunset in Kentucky
Written by Janani on August 13, 2020 Share on

Top 8 places to visit in Kentucky, USA

Kentucky is located on the Southeastern side of the United States. It is also known as the Bluegrass state. It has a diverse geography and cultural history. Kentucky offers a wide variety of attractions not just for couples, but for families and everyone else. Widely known as the home of the Kentucky Derby, the US state is famous for its caves, waterways and most importantly Kentucky Fried Chicken. In this article let’s discover some of the best places to visit in Kentucky. 

Also Read: Experience some of the best cities to visit in the USA

Top 8 places to visit in Kentucky

Here’s a list of top 8 places to visit in Kentucky which you must add to your bucket list.

  1. Kentucky Derby
  2. Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
  3. Daniel Boone National Forest
  4. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
  5. Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park
  6. Mammoth Cave National Park
  7. Kentucky Horse Park
  8. Lost River Cave

1. Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby is the most famous horse racing event that happens in Kentucky. It is a must-visit event when you are here in Kentucky. This event is held at Churchill Downs outside of Louisville, It takes place in the month of May. This event draws in a huge crowd to the city and it is always house full. Kentucky Derby Museum houses a variety of exhibits that explains the history of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs since the first race in 1875. Do you wanna get a glimpse of this horse race? Ensure that you book prior.

Kentucky horse race
Source: Google Images

Visitor Information

Address: 700 Central Ave, Louisville, Kentucky

Official website: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/

2. Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory

The Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory is a great opportunity to see and understand how a slugger is made. Watching simple wood turn to an epic slugger is an experience you shouldn’t miss. At the entrance of the Museum and factory is a 120-foot tall replica of the Babe Ruth’s Louisville Slugger. This is probably the first thing every visitor will see as they approach the factory and museum. The museum also has batting cages, a 17-ton limestone baseball glove and a pitching simulator to entertain kids and adults.

a tall slugger
Source: Google Images

Visitor Information

Address: 800 West Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky

Official site: www.sluggermuseum.com

3. Daniel Boone National Forest

The Daniel Boone National Forest is hailed as the National Forest of Kentucky. It covers more than 708,000 acres in area. The varied terrain is the most important and distinguishing feature of this park. It includes more than 3,400 miles of sandstone cliffs, gorges, ravines cut by rivers and streams. It also comprises of a Natural Bridge that is 65 feet high and 75 feet wide.  

Daniel Boone National Forest
Source: Google Images

Visitor Information

Address: 1700 Bypass Rd, London, KY 40744, United States

Official site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/dbnf

4. Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Cumberland Gap is the most important passage through the hills, located at Southeastern Kentucky. This passage is 760 foot deep. The National Park is located at the border of Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. It is a land of pure natural beauty covering an area of 9000 acres.

View from the Pinnacle Overlook
Source: Google Images

The Visitor Centre in Middlesboro offers a small interactive museum. When you are here, take a shuttle and take a tour to the Hensley Settlement (a well-preserved old town). Apart from these, the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park also offers hiking to Gap Caves. This hike is very popular amongst the locals. It is known for the magnificent views of the hills and Gap from an altitude of 2460 feet.

Visitor Information

Address: 91 Bartlett Park Road, Middlesboro, KY 40965, United States

Official site: http://www.nps.gov/cuga/index.htm 

5. Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park is a memorial building that houses a symbolic birth cabin, a replica of the room where Lincoln was born in 1809. This Neoclassical Building has 56 steps which represent his age at the time of his death. It is well-known for its Sinking spring. Wondering what is it? The Sinking spring is a natural water source where the water disappears back into the earth below. 

Visitor Information

Address: 2995 Lincoln Farm Road, Hodgenville, Kentucky

Official site: www.nps.gov/abli

Also Read: #Friendship Day: Time for an All-friends Summer Vacation to the United States!

6. Mammoth Cave National Park

The Mammoth Cave is located in the Caveland Corridor, which is located in Kentucky. It is also called the Land of 10,000 Sinks. These caves are one of the largest known cave systems in the world. Apart from exploring the caves yourself, you can choose a more informative guided tour. Things to do in Mammoth Cave National Park include camping, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, bicycling, hiking, horseback riding, etc.

Mammoth Cave National Park
Source: Google Images

Visitor Information

Address: 1 Mammoth Cave Parkway, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

7. Kentucky Horse Park

The Kentucky Horse Park is located in the north of Lexington. It gives the visitors a chance to see a working horse farm, and also learn about them. The park houses a number of attractions and also offers an opportunity to ride a horse or pony. This park houses a variety of themed barns, including Kids Barn, the Mounted Police Barn, the breeds barn, the Big Barn, the Hall of Champions etc. The hall of Champions in the Kentucky Horse Park is home to all the retired Champion racehorses.

Kentucky Horse Park
Source: Google Images

Visitor Information

Address: 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, Kentucky

Official site: http://kyhorsepark.com/

8. Lost River Cave

Lost River Cave is one of the best places to visit in Kentucky. You can take a boat tour inside the cave. This tour is one of its kind in the entire state. The Nature Center located here offers a wide range of activities and programs for kids. You can also enjoy bird bingo, geocaching, and sifting for gems. 

Lost River Caverns in Kentucky
Source: Google Images

Visitors are also free to simply explore the cave; to discover the natural spring, limestone bluffs, and the remnants of old mining buildings. For those seeking a little more excitement, there is also a zipline tour available.

Visitor Information

Address: 2818 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Official site: https://lostrivercave.org

Kentucky is truly a beautiful state in the United States of America. It is a state full of adventures. Now that you know the Top 8 places to visit in Kentucky, what are you waiting for? Book an amazing trip to the United States with Pickyourtrail. Looking for more vacation ideas? Check out some of our best selling US packages. Drop us a Whatsapp query if you need more help on your holiday planning.

Related Itineraries

Note: The images that are being published here are the author's choice, and the organisation takes no responsibility for their usability.