Places to Visit in Kentucky

1. Louisville, Kentucky

Visit Louisville, Kentucky's largest city and one of the oldest cities west of the Appalachian Mountains. Founded in 1778 by a military official named George Rogers Clark, Louisville is attached to some of America's most famous companies and events, including Kentucky Fried Chicken, the Kentucky Derby, and Louisville Slugger baseball bats.

Louisville is also home to a handful of Fortune 500 companies and several water and rail transportation giants. Ideal for tourists, the city is packed with museums, event centers, sports stadiums, historical sites, restaurants, and other attractions. There are more than 120 city parks in the Louisville Metro area.

2. Lexington, Kentucky

Lexington is known as the “Horse Capital of the World.” Situated deep in Kentucky's Bluegrass region, Lexington has several main attractions, including the Kentucky Horse Park, The Red Mile and Keeneland race courses. Outside of the equestrian scene, the city is known for Rupp Arena, Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky.

Lexington has imposed a unique urban growth boundary in order to protect the miles of pastures where horses are kept. This means that large swaths of green fields can be found throughout Lexington. In the heart of the city, visitors will find plenty of intriguing places to explore, including the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, Kentucky Theatre, the Mary-Todd Lincoln House, and Martin Castle.

3. Bowling Green, Kentucky

Steeped in Civil War history, Bowling Green was once the provisional capital of Confederate Kentucky.

The city boasts some famous museums such as the Kentucky Museum and Library, the National Corvette Museum, and the Historic Railpark and Train Museum (L&N). Bowling Green's economy is bolstered by the presence of massive General Motors and Fruit of the Loom production plants. For outdoor recreation, visitors can check out the Civil War Discovery Trail, the Duncan Hines Scenic Byway, and the Low Hollow Bike Trail.

4. Frankfort

Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky, is a scenic city nestled alongside the Kentucky River. In 1792, shortly after Kentucky became a state, a group of five commissioners came together to identify a capital for the new addition to the Union. Several communities vied for the title, but Frankfort was chosen because of its ideal location.

Frankfort primarily serves as the governmental center of the state, but its economy benefits from several large shopping malls and a couple of famous distilleries. Tourists will find plenty to do in the city since there are numerous museums, parks, shopping centers, entertainment venues, and restaurants.

5. Owensboro, Kentucky

Owensboro is the fourth-largest city in the state of Kentucky. The city is well known for its manufacturing industry. Home at one point to the Owensboro Wagon Company, the Kentucky Electrical Lamp Company, Modern Welding Company, and the Texas Gas Transmission Company, Owensboro plays an important role in Kentucky's economy. For tourists, there are all types of unique festivals and celebrations to enjoy throughout the year.

Outdoor concerts, fundraisers, jamborees, and other get-togethers draw visitors from all around the area. Some interesting attractions in the city include Owensboro Bridge, Western Kentucky Botanical Garden, and the International Bluegrass Music Museum.

6. Paducah

Paducah is a beautiful city that sits near the southwestern tip of Kentucky. Twenty blocks of downtown Paducah are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition designed the entire town. The city experienced a major flood in 1937 that damaged many of the buildings and businesses in the area. Since then, Paducah has rebuilt itself into a modern tourist attraction.

It is known for being the birthplace of many famous musicians and sports icons. Some of the most prominent musicians from Paducah include Ray Smith, Terry Mike Jeffrey, Mark Evitts, and Steven Curtis Chapman.

7. Elizabethtown

Home to 30,000 people, Elizabethtown is the 10th largest city in the state of Kentucky. The town was once home to the log cabin where Abraham Lincoln's daughter Sarah was born in 1807.

Elizabethtown was also the site of a dramatic Civil War battle in 1862. Modern Elizabethtown boasts a variety of cultural and natural attractions. There is a cluster of museums and event centers in the downtown area, and for outdoor adventures, visitors can check out the Bourbon Trail, Mammoth Cave, and the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. Another popular attraction in town is Abraham Lincoln's boyhood home, which visitors can see throughout the year.

8. Richmond

Known as the center of commerce for South-Central Kentucky, Richmond is located in the heart of the Bluegrass region. The city has a lengthy Civil War history as the site of the Battle of Richmond. The ferocious battle ended with Confederate soldiers capturing 5,300 men.

Now one of Kentucky's largest cities, Richmond is renowned for its extensive parks system. The Lake Reba Recreational Complex is the most popular of all the parks in town, but visitors also enjoy seeing Paradise Cove and Adventure Falls. Downtown Richmond is home to a collection of Victorian-era houses and hotels.

9. London

London is a quirky town that is best known for hosting the yearly World Chicken Festival. The massive festival was created to honor Colonel Sanders, the icon behind the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. The celebration features the world's largest skillet, a 700-pound behemoth that is used to cook 7,000 pieces of chicken during the weekend-long festival. The World Chicken Festival began in 1989, and it features all kinds of family-friendly fun. Outside of the chicken festival, visitors entertain themselves by checking out the downtown area, the local parks, and entertainment venues. London is home to approximately 6,000 people.

10. Florence, Kentucky

Florence, Kentucky is home to 30,000 people. The city was once known as the Crossroads since several main roads converged in the center of Florence. Renamed in the early 1800s, Florence is known throughout Kentucky for its quirky landmark: a massive water tower that reads “Florence Y'all.”

Florence is on of the fastest-growing cities in Kentucky, and there are plenty of options for entertainment as a tourist. Florence has nature parks, city parks, an extensive trails system, and a lively downtown district with stores, restaurants, museums, theaters, and more. The city also boasts a large aquatic center as well as a popular golf facility.