The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide - The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide 2023
Caves, Lakes & Corvettes
2022-12-22 12:33:39
The world’s longest cave, historic sites and the home of America’s Sports Car all combine to create an irresistible, action-packed region – both underground and above – that never puts on the brakes.
Journey by lantern light back to prehistoric times in Mammoth Cave National Park, one of numerous guided tour options at the world’s longest-known cave system. While exploring Kentucky’s Cave Country, see unique formations at Crystal Onyx, Diamond Caverns, Hidden River, Lost River, Mammoth Onyx, Onyx or Outlaw caves.
In Horse Cave, take a hay wagon trek to see wildebeests, camels and alpacas at Dutch Country Safari Park. You can feed and pet a kangaroo at Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo.
Boat, fish, golf, hike and swim at Barren River Lake State Park in Lucas. Looking for more relaxation? Downshift to watch a setting sun melt into the lake from your balcony, patio, the beach or Highlands Pub.
Thoroughbreds pound over the Europeanstyle racecourse at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, and the thoroughbred of sports cars – the Corvette – zooms around the track at NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green near the National Corvette Museum.
Please DO touch the railcars at Bowling Green’s Historic Rail Park and Train Museum. At Russellville’s SEEK Museum, follow a story of enslavement through three generations and a half-dozen heritage sites, where the struggle for equality played out over two centuries. Slip into the history of the Shakers in the place where it happened: South Union Shaker Village.
REGIONAL ART HIGHLIGHTS
A spaceship in the field, with an alien lurking within. A giant fork and butter knife cutting into the skyline. These stop-you-in-yourtracks sculptures are part of Simpson County’s quirky and colorful public arts landscape, including Blackjack Sculpture Park.
It’s easy to “Rise and Shine, Y’all” on the streets of Bowling Green, where a cheerful and playful collection of artist murals prove too irresistible to walk by without stopping to snap a selfie.
The original Stonehenge in England dates to the Neolithic Period.
Munfordville’s Kentucky Stonehenge is of a more recent vintage, a circle-ofrocks masterpiece built at the turn of the 21st century. Make a pilgrimage to this “ancient society” and the Garden of Gethsemane.
See the gleam and artistry of yesteryear vehicles lined up, one after another, during Franklin’s Festival on the Square in September. Find treasures like handmade jewelry, quilts, toys and other crafts items, then picnic beneath the trees in this historic setting.
REGIONAL ITINERARY
DAY 1
1 Dinosaur World, Cave City
Brake for down-home deliciousness at Bucky Bees BBQ and its famous Bucky’s Pie – skillet-fried cornbread topped with pulled pork, beans and house-made coleslaw – before entering Kentucky’s version of Jurassic Park, where 150 replica life-size dinosaurs prowl through the forest.
2 Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum, Horse Cave
Feeling bold? Grab the handrails and brave the world’s longest underground swinging bridge, suspended 50 feet above the canyon floor. Soak up the mysteries and history of a cavern beneath a town at the country’s only museum devoted solely to caves.
3 Blue Water Trail/Mammoth Cave National Park, Horse Cave
In waters teeming with fish, enjoy a relaxing float through the heart of this geologic marvel, from Dennison Ferry to Green River Ferry, paddling along a bluff-lined gorge with streamside caves and past the entrance of Crystal Cave, where the tragic story of cave explorer Floyd Collins played out.
DAY 2
4 Double J Stables and Campground, Mammoth Cave
Gallop along horse trails unfurling through the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park with the only stable operating in the park. Campers get immersed in a ranch experience, grooming and tacking up horses, and taking guided trail rides.
5 Beech Bend Park & Splash Lagoon, Bowling Green Moby
Dick and Sea Dragon are on the loose at this family-fun amusement park that levels up the zany, from a lazy river and wave pool to thunderous coasters and rollicking entertainment, including a Wild West Show featuring Wild Bill Hiccup.
6 Dueling Grounds Distillery, Franklin
A land once known for dueling men defending their honor is now famous for crafting premium, small-batch bourbon aged to mellow sweetness in charred white oak. Book an unhurried tour and tasting to hear the history of both.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Bowling Green 270-782-0800, visitbgky.com
Cave City 270-773-8833, cavecity.com
Edmonson County 270-597-2222, cavesandlakes.com
Edmonton/Metcalfe County 270-432-3222, metcalfechamber.com
Franklin/Simpson County 270-586-3040, franklinky.com
Glasgow/Barren County 270-429-7259 betterinthebarrens.com
Horse Cave/Hart County 270-218-0386, kygetaway.com
Logan County 270-726-1678, visitlogancounty.org
Monroe County 270-487-1314 monroecountykytourism.com
Morgantown/Butler County 270-526-6827, morgantowncoc.com
Munfordville 270-524-4752 visitmunfordville.com
Park City 270-537-1213 visitparkcityky.com
Scottsville/Allen County 270-237-4782, scottsvilleky.info
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