Day Trips in Kentucky

1. Bowling Green

Bowling Green, Kentucky, is the place where the Chevrolet Corvette is made, and a lot of attractions surround the American muscle car. Tours are available at the GM Assembly Plant during normal business hours. Visitors learn the car’s history at the National Corvette Museum and can even drive or ride in one for a few laps in NCM Motorsports Park. Other motorsports can be seen at Beech Bend Raceway.

For outdoor adventure, the Lost River Caves is an underground labyrinth to explore by boat or diving, and tours are available for the whole family.

Other fun places are the Beech Bend Amusement Park and Splash Lagoon, rock climbing locations, and the Riverview at Hobson Grove.

The history of Bowling Green can be seen at the Historic Railpark and Train Museum, Civil War historical sites throughout the city, aviation museums, and at the Downtown Fountain Square.

2. Lexington

The horse capital of the world is located in Lexington where Southern hospitality is still the norm, and the vibrant city offers attractions for everyone to enjoy. The city’s history with horses’ dates to the 19th century and some of the horses, including Man o’ War, who had over 1.3 million visitors in the early twentieth century.

Visitors to Lexington can take guided tours of horse farms or visit the Kentucky Horse Park, visit historic homes, including the largest Shaker Village on earth that spans 3,000 acres. There are also plenty of retail shops, boutiques, restaurants, breweries, and distilleries.

The Keeneland Racecourse is also open for touring, betting, and catching a race.

3. Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Historical Park

While Abraham Lincoln spent most of his years in Illinois before his presidency, he was actually born in Kentucky and spent some time growing up there. The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Historical Park is a place that has gathered all the history of Abraham Lincoln’s early years to preserve and to educate anyone who wishes to learn more about his amazing life.

Tours are provided by historians and begin with a short movie about Mr. Lincoln’s life in Kentucky and beyond. People discover little known facts during the tour around about cabin living in the 1800s before, during, and after the American Civil War.

Visitors will see the Sinking Springs, which gives the property its water, the Exhibit Hall featuring artifacts, and a trail with 56 granite steps that represent every year of Mr. Lincoln’s life before it tragically ended within his presidency. Gift shops and self-guided tours are available.

4. Bardstown

Bardstown, Kentucky is famous for its bourbon and is a large part of that culture industry. The Lux Row, Willett, Maker’s Mark, Barton 1792, and Preservation Distilleries are popular attractions to visit.

To view the Kentucky countryside, visitors take a ride on the My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, which travels along the hills and hollows that make Kentucky so unique, while passengers enjoy country-style dining and drinks of their choice.

Other unique attractions include the Abbey of Gethsemani: a Trappist Monastery, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Old Talbott Tavern, Jim Beam American Stillhouse, My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History, Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral, Kentucky Railway Museum, and so much more. Unique shopping and dining are abundant in most parts of the town.

5. Big South Fork Scenic Railway

Big South Fork Scenic Railway runs through the beautiful Appalachian Mountains in Eastern Kentucky. The station is located in Stearns, Kentucky, at the foot of the large mountain range.

The K&T Railway Track runs for seven miles up into the mountains, passing whitewater rapids and cliff sides that provide a view of miles of Kentucky countryside.

The excursion begins at Stearn’s Depot, which has a gift shop, concessions, and picnic tables.

The halfway point marks the Barthell Coal Camp and Stearn’s Company Mines, where thousands of people worked during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Blue Heron Mining Camp is at the end of the track, which has another gift shop and concessions available.

6. Cave City

Cave City is filled with adventures that are both above ground and below ground, and the main attraction is the Mammoth Cave, State Park. There are a ton of fun activities at Mammoth Cave, including ziplines, hiking and biking trails, cave tours, playgrounds, and open areas for picnics. There are dozens of other places to visit within the city, like Big Mike’s Mystery House, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at Mammoth Cave, Froggett’s Guntown Mountain, three golf courses, two archery and gun ranges, J.B. Haunted Mansion and Raven’s Cross Haunted Village, Treasure Trove Park, and unique shopping, antique shops, and dining of all kinds.

7. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park

This large state park has a large number of various activities that are fun and entertaining for the whole family. One main attraction is the Du Pont Lodge, which is a 51-room log resort lodge that offers room and board, special events, a gift shop, a big observation deck, and rental spaces.

The Cumberland River flows right through the park, and visitors often go fishing and kayaking on the river. The Riverview Restaurant has country-style dining and a family-friendly atmosphere, the community pool is open during the warmer months, and the Cumberland Falls is the main attraction of the park. The waterfall is a massive 125 ft. wide and falls down 69 ft into the rocks below. Hiking and biking trails run along the Cumberland River as well.

Horseback riding and hunting expeditions are available from some of the private businesses.

8. Elizabethtown

This small city is unique. Adults often go to the Bourbon Barrel Tavern and the Axe Play to enjoy fine beers and throw axes both for fun and in contests. Special events and daily shows can be seen at the Historic State Theater and the Hardin County Playhouse, which are both located in the same building in downtown Elizabethtown. This city has many parks, including the American Legion Park, which has a huge playground for kids and picnic areas. Elizabethtown Nature Park also has play areas, hiking trails, and creeks.

Freeman Lake Park is a large area with hiking and biking trails and a beautiful lake for fishing and boating. Other notable places include the Elizabethtown Aquatic Center, Greenbelt Parks and Trails, Hardin County Veteran’s Tribute, Lincoln Heritage House, The Brown Pusey House, and the Hardin County History Museum, among many others within the city.

9. Frankfort

Frankfort is the home of the State Capitol Building and many other amazing government buildings and historical sites. There is plenty of history in Frankfort, and it can be seen at the Berry Hill Mansion, the Capital City Museum, Chuck Bogart’s Free Railroad Tours, Historic District Walking Tour, Daniel Boone’s Grave at Frankfort Cemetery, and the Governor’s Mansion.

Kentucky is famous for its breweries and distilleries. Visitors can find Goodwood Brewing, Sig Luscher Brewery, West Sixth Brewery Farm, Buffalo Trace, Castle and Key, Glenn’s Creek, and Three Boys Farm Distilleries all within Frankfort.

The Prodigy Vineyard and Winery are there for wine-lovers as well.

Visitors can also find parks, playgrounds, art centers, unique shops and restaurants, and theaters to visit during a day trip.

10. Grand Rivers

Grand Rivers is a very small town with a population of less than 500 but is part of the Paducah micropolitan area.

The entire area of Grand Rivers covers just less than two miles, but there is no shortage of great things to do outdoors and around town. Grand Rivers is known for its annual Arts & Crafts Festival, Fish Fry Festival, and Hunter’s Moon Festival.

Shopping brings many visitors to the area for The Home Place, specialty shops such as Patti’s 1880’s Settlement, and The Chandlery Ship Store, which is inspired by the surrounding lakes.

Visitors who want to spend time on the lakes can access marinas, boat rentals, go fishing, or swimming.