Kentucky - Bluegrass State
Credit: Kentucky Department of Tourism
The 2010 World Equestrian Games will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, from September 25th to October 10th. It is the first time that the games will be held outside of Europe.
What’s New
• Portal 31 in Lynch: Discover the importance of coal in eastern Kentucky’s history. Lynch.
• MEGA Cavern in Louisville: A massive limestone quarry for adventure tourism. Louisville.
• The Hatfield McCoy River Rats: Outdoor facility offers guided and unguided tours for kayaking, canoeing and tubing. Pikeville.
• Airlines: This spring, Air Canada started twice weekly non-stop service from Toronto to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Attractions
Credit: Kentucky Department of Tourism
Visit Mammoth Cave National Park, the worldâs longest known cave system, with more than 587 Kilometres explored.
• The National Corvette Museum: Relive the heydays of the true American sports car. Bowling Green.
• Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory: Newly remodelled, interactive attraction includes a four-storey baseball bat, and bats used by Joe DiMaggio and Babe Ruth. Louisville.
• Kentucky Horse Park: Features daily horse shows and two museums. Arabian Horse Galleries added in 2010. Lexington.
• Dinosaur World: Visitors can unearth a life size dinosaur in the Boneyard. Cave City.
• Kentucky Bourbon Experience: Eight distilleries offer tours that tell the story of bourbon-making process.
• Lower Town Fine Arts District: Home to the nationally recognized Artist Relocation Program, this 26-block area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Paducah.
• The Great American Doll House Museum: Features a playroom with a hands-on dollhouse village.
• Newport Gangster Tour - 8 Blocks of Villainy: Formerly referred to as Sin City, notorious for numerous vices including gambling and mob connections. Newport.
• Cooperage Tours in Lebanon: “All Fired Up About Bourbon” is the Independent Stave Company’s theme for cooperage tours. Tours are free. Lebanon.
Events
• Eagle Watches at State Parks (Jan/Feb).
• Derby Festival & Running of the Kentucky Derby (April, May), Louisville.
• Glasgow Highland Games (May), Glasgow.
• Great American Brass Band Festival (June), Danville.
• Kentucky State Fair (August), Louisville.
• Bourbon Festival (September), Bardstown.
• St. James Court Art Fair (October), Louisville.
• Elk Viewing at State Parks (fall) Jenny Wiley SRP, Buckhorn Lake SRP.
Places
• Land Between the Lakes: Between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, 320 kilometres of scenic woodland trails.
• Cumberland Gap National Historic Park: Largest National Historic Park in the U.S. Scenic view overlooks three states. Middlesboro.
• Newport On The Levee: Newport entertainment complex featuring an aquarium, theatres, restaurants, shopping and live entertainment. Newport.
• Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park: Walk the grounds where the 16th U.S. President was born. Hodgenville.
Hidden Gems
• Prestonsburg: Live performances at the Mountain Arts Center and home to the Kentucky Opry.
• Loretta Lynn’s Birthplace: Take a tour of the family home with the singer’s brother. Butcher Hollow.
• John James Audubon Museum: Home to the world’s largest collection of Audubon’s artifacts and exhibits on the artist’s life. Henderson.
• International Bluegrass Museum: Preserves the history of the music Bill Monroe created. Owensboro.
• Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum: Museum exhibits minerals, equipment, documents and photographs. Marion.
Did You Know?
State Motto: United We Stand, Divided We Fall
State Flower: Goldenrod
State Bird: Cardinal
Fast Facts
Region: THE SOUTH
America’s Byways: Country Music Highway, Red River Gorge Scenic Byway, Wilderness Road Heritage Highway.
Direct Flights: Air Canada
Sales Tools: website: “Tour Operators,” downloadable images, “About Kentucky-Maps & Brochures”, E-Guide (Official Visitor’s Guide).
Info: Kentucky Department of Travel
1-800-225-TRIP (8747) / (502) 564-4930
www.kentuckytourism.com
