You may think you know Kentucky, but you’re in for a surprise as you travel our New Kentucky Home – a world-class destination, full of opportunity and prosperity at every turn. 2024 was the best year ever for tourism in Kentucky, marking three straight years of record growth, along with historic economic investments. Now is the time to come see why people across the world have fallen in love with our Bluegrass State. As a dad, I know planning a getaway that makes everyone happy is no easy task, but it’s possible with a visit to Kentucky. From seeing Horse Country to exploring the outdoors, visiting our thriving cities and enjoying our delicious food or iconic music, our commonwealth has something for everyone. And around every corner is a proud Kentuckian waiting to show our state’s unmatched hospitality to help ensure you have the best visit possible. For the adventure seekers, Kentucky is home to the longest cave system in the world at Mammoth Cave National Park, a climber’s paradise at the Red River Gorge, and thousands of waterways, from east to west, for paddling and boating. And along every route is one of Kentucky’s 44 state parks, where families have been making memories together for more than 100 years. For folks looking to get a taste of our rich culture and traditions, stop by Churchill Downs and Keeneland, or plan to visit the Kentucky Black Trailblazers experience, Muhammad Ali Center, Loretta Lynn’s Homeplace Butcher Holler, the National Corvette Museum, the Louisville Slugger Museum or the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum. And of course, you can always stop at one of our famous distilleries, as Kentucky produces 95% of the world’s bourbon — and 100% of the bourbon worth drinking. And the best part is, you can feel good knowing your visit is supporting great communities and Kentuckians who make our tourism industry so special. Y’all interested? We don’t blame you. We’ll see you soon in our New Kentucky Home. Andy Beshear, Governor New Kentucky Home welCOme tO Our Features Welcome 2 Trip Planning 3 America’s 250th Anniversary: Kentucky’s Cultural Impact 4 Outdoors 8 State Parks 13 Horses 18 Bourbon & Spirits 24 Music 32 Culture & Heritage 38 Festivals & Events 44 Bluegrass, Horses, Bourbon & Boone 72 regions Daniel Boone Country 46 Kentucky Appalachians 56 Northern Kentucky River 64 Bluegrass, Blues & BBQ 94 Western Waterlands 102 Caves, Lakes & Corvettes 112 Southern Kentucky Vacations 120 Bourbon, Horses & History 84 Photo: Natural Arch Scenic Area, Parkers Lake 2 #TravelKY
The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide The Official Kentucky Visitor's Guide 2026: Page 2
