32 Best & Fun Things To Do In Kentucky: Find Out

There are many beautiful places to visit in Kentucky, also referred to as the Bluegrass State.

Explore the picturesque horse farms that dot the landscape, getting a glimpse of the majestic creatures that have become synonymous with the state.

Delve into the state’s fascinating history at various museums and historical sites, such as the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and the iconic Fort Knox.

For nature enthusiasts, Kentucky’s natural beauty unfolds through its numerous national parks and recreation areas, offering opportunities for hiking, boating, and wildlife watching.

Treat your taste buds to the flavors of Kentucky’s famous bourbon, touring distilleries along the Bourbon Trail and experiencing the craftsmanship behind this beloved spirit.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant arts and music scene of cities like Louisville and Lexington, where galleries, theaters, and live music venues showcase the talents of local artists and performers.

Whether you’re an adventure seeker, a history buff, a horse lover, or a connoisseur of fine bourbon, Kentucky promises an unforgettable journey filled with authentic experiences and warm Southern hospitality.

If you would love to travel without any experience, this article would help you with things to do in Kentucky as well as lots of places to visit during your trip.

Things To Do In Kentucky

Here is the list, enjoy.

1. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park

The Daniel Boone National Forest contains the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. There are great facilities installed on the 1,657 acres that make up this park.

There are 50 campsites, a campground, a resort, a restaurant, and picturesque views of the river.

You won’t get the slightest bit bored when spending time in this park visiting different locations.

You might choose to ride a horse, go hiking, fishing, mountain biking, white water rafting, or simply take a stroll in the countryside.

There are several distinctive natural elements in Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. The 68-foot-tall Cumberland Falls, the 68-foot-tall Eagle Falls, and a moonbow—which may be viewed on full moon nights—are some of the area’s most thrilling attractions.

2. Vent Haven Museum

A wide variety of ventriloquist relics from William Shakespeare Berger’s collection can be found at this museum.

The International Brotherhood of Ventriloquists President Berger was also a successful businessman.

His collection expanded significantly over more than six decades, and many of the best and rarest artifacts are now housed in this museum.

Visit the 700 or more lined-up dolls with oversized wooden heads. Many of them are probably familiar to you from popular TV programs!

3. The National Quilt Museum

The National Quilt Museum is undoubtedly compiling a list of Kentucky’s entertaining activities.

It is both a museum and a center that emphasizes more than just presenting exceptional quilted works. 

The museum promotes quilting and the significance of teaching this art form to future generations.

Around 100,000 people from all over the world have visited this museum to view the three galleries, which are constantly changing.

There is always a fresh exhibit for you to view whenever you visit these galleries, which provide stunning exhibits.

4. Diamond Caverns

In Kentucky, the Diamond Caverns are a must-see attraction. Since its discovery in 1859, the caverns have been available for public exploration and tours.

Lightning rods run the length of the cave, and beautiful stalactites cover the entire roof.

You will be guided through the winding caves by a paved cement floor.

5. Natural Bridge State Resort Park

The most well-known structure in the park, a sandstone arch bridge, gave it the name Natural Bridge State Resort Park.

This bridge is 65 feet tall and has a 78-foot span. Due to its roots, the bridge has a rich history. 

It is a truly amazing sight to behold and was created over millions of years by natural weathering.

Sandstone rocks have formed on the bridge, with Balanced Rock being one of the most impressive.

6. Red River Gorge

One of the best places to go sightseeing while in Kentucky is the Red River Gorge.

The Daniel Boone National Forest contains this location, which is home to some of the most well-known natural stone arches in the entire world.

These unusual granite and sandstone cliff formations attract both rock climbers and tourists.

The Red River Gorge is not only a breathtaking sight to behold, but it is also a recognized national geological reserve.

7. Muhammad Ali Center

The Muhammad Ali Center is a museum honoring the late, great boxer Muhammad Ali, as you can imagine.

This museum and cultural space are devoted to informing visitors about the legendary boxer, his life, convictions, and core ideas.

You can view exhibitions here that highlight the great accomplishments Ali made during his lifetime. 

These accomplishments include his humanitarian life, the ways he assisted others, and inspiring people all across the world, both inside and outside of the ring.

The museum is housed in a six-story edifice, allowing visitors to examine the many fascinating exhibits. This museum also features a plaza and an amphitheater.

Videos of Ali’s best fights, a variety of boxing memorabilia, and two art galleries with changing exhibits will all be displayed.

Read also: 23 Best And Fun Things To do In Chatham, MA 

8. Breaks Interstate Park

The Mississippi east region’s deepest gorge is tucked within this park.

Daniel Boone, a guy, is the one who made the initial discovery. Now, if you’re a tourist, it’s a fantastic location to go sightseeing.

Go rafting, unwind in one of the lodges, or just enjoy the novelty of being on a state border. For those who love the outdoors, it is a very special location!

9. Creation Museum

In Petersburg, Kentucky, there is a 75,000-square-foot museum called the Creation Museum. 

Visitors are taken on a journey through some fascinating and distinctive exhibits related to biblical history in this one-of-a-kind institution.

In addition to these exhibits, nearby attractions include a planetarium, a zip line adventure, a petting zoo, and the tower of Babel. 

The botanical gardens, which resemble the Garden of Eden, are also worth exploring.

The children will enjoy examining the museum’s dragons and dinosaur exhibits.

They would even relish the chance to handle a genuine dinosaur fossil and dig for their dinosaur bones.

10. Keeneland

After being founded in 1936, Keeneland has grown to become a significant role in the thoroughbred breeding and racing sectors and industries.

In 2015, the Breeders’ Cup was held in Keeneland, where American Pharoah, a triple crown champion, took first place. Horse auctions also occur.

11. Mary Todd Lincoln House

Mary Todd Lincoln lived in the Mary Todd Lincoln House, which is situated in the heart of Lexington’s downtown.

Certainly, this name is recognizable. Mary Todd Lincoln was the wife of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, for those of you who are still thinking about it. 

Throughout the administration of her husband, she held the position of the first lady.

The fourteen-room Mary Todd Lincoln House, which is now a museum, contains the remains of the Todd and Lincoln families’ possessions and way of life.

12. Kentucky State Capitol

One of the top ten most beautiful state capitols in America is arguably the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort.

Frank Mills Andrews was responsible for the architectural design of this structure, which exudes both luxury and grandeur.

Probably its largest marble staircase in the addition to other staircases within is its most adored sumptuous feature.

13. Mammoth Cave Adventures

There are two zipline courses available here: a Tarzan Swing and a Tower Drop. You can pick from any of them because they all guarantee you a fun day out.

Visitors are fastened to a pendulum swing for the breathtaking Tarzan experience. You will have a unique experience thanks to the 80-foot-tall Hickory tree that supports the swing’s 40-foot length.

The two zipline tours feature Kentucky’s first zipline-style canopy tour as well as one that offers breathtaking vistas of Mammoth Cave National Park’s mountains.

14. Harland Sanders Cafe And Museum

The first restaurant that Colonel ever built was the Harland Sanders Cafe and Museum, which is just different from most of these KFC locations in existence today.

This is a very intimate encounter with the kitchen where Sanders worked in the 1940s. It is jam-packed with historical information illustrating the cafe’s slow but gradual ascent to renown.

It is accurate to claim that one of the cool things to do in Kentucky is to visit the location where KFC chicken was first served in all its glory with 11 herbs and spices.

Read also: 16 Best & Fun Things to Do in Mason (Ohio)

15. Conrad-Caldwell House Museum

The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum offers a journey through time. It is a favorite destination for academics, building enthusiasts, and historians. It must be included on a list of entertaining things to do in Kentucky.

Visitors are transported to the late 1800s by this museum. Particularly in 1893, when Theophile Conrad and his wife had this home constructed for them by renowned local architect Arthur Loomis.

Before William E. Caldwell purchased the property and made it his family’s home for an additional 35 years, these two family members resided there for twelve happy years.

16. White Hall State Historic Site

One of the most beautiful parks in the state has The Whitehall as a feature. Without visiting this renowned and beloved park, your trip to Kentucky would undoubtedly fall short.

Richmond, Kentucky’s White Hall State Historic Site is a 14-acre park that welcomes visitors from all over the world. The Whitehall draws tourists’ attention more than other Kentucky sights.

The explanation is that Cassius Marcellus Clay, a 19th-century politician, abolitionist, and member of the Kentucky legislature, lived here.

This 44-room home was constructed in, oh, 1799 in an exquisite Italianate design.

17. Old Friends At Dream Chase Farm

At Dream Chase Farm, there is a lot to learn about the Old Friends. 

Things like a museum that teaches people about horse breeding and racing, a group that is ready to spread the word about equines and how to love and care for them, and a place where thoroughbreds can go to retire.

Visit if you want to see any horses who breed or are retired from the racetrack. Additionally, you can get to know Popcorn Deelites, Kentucky Derby champions, and other celebrities who appear in the Seabiscuit movie.

The farm is accessible to the general public and can be visited whenever you are in Kentucky. 

Guided walking excursions are also organized by the farm and are offered many times daily.

18. Yew Dell Botanical Gardens

Theodore Klein and his family formerly owned the garden, nursery, and house now known as Yew Dell Botanical Gardens. 

It is currently acknowledged on a global scale as a hub for gardening, plants, and everything related to such topics.

The public is welcome to visit the Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, which are included on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors are welcome to take in the unique floral arrangements and gardens. 

You can go on hikes on the trails and participate in many of the events held here.

On the list of incredible programs here are activities like the Holiday Wreath Making Workshop and the Yuletide light display.

19. National Corvette Museum

The Corvette is regarded as America’s sports car and is a highly sought-after automobile. The location of this museum is in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the site of the iconic car manufacturing.

More than 80 different Corvettes, designed and produced in America at various points in her history, are available for viewing by visitors.

Here, visitors can view pristine historic cars, one-of-a-kind prototypes that aren’t seen anywhere else in the world, and a nearby NCM Motorsports Park where guests may participate in a race or simply watch it from the sidelines.

You can participate in the museum’s many exciting events that take place throughout the year. 

The MiM Nascar and the Michelin NCM Bash in the South race are two examples of these occasions.

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20. Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden And Toyland

The historical family, company, and agricultural heritage are what makeup Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden and Toyland.

The orchard area expanded throughout the years to include an auto camp, a barbershop, a small zoo, a petrol station, a convenience store, and a café.

After a few generations, Keith Holt reopened the new museum and displayed a selection of toys for exhibition and works of art made by hillbillies.

21. Newport Aquarium

One of the most intriguing sites to visit in Kentucky is the Newport Aquarium. It is a kid-friendly attraction that is available to both tourists and locals every day of the year. 

If you don’t want your family to have fun, you should not skip Newport Aquarium.

There are more than fourteen fantastic galleries here with seventy items on display. 

The on-display lay exhibitions are jam-packed with engaging activities to provide a fun outing for the entire family, regardless of age.

22. Shaker Village Of Pleasant Hill

One of the largest historic villages of its kind in the nation, this area is listed on the list of National Historic Landmarks. 

Visitors can explore the more than 2,800 acres of farmland at the Shaker Village.

On this property, 34 authentic 19th-century structures represent the history and culture of this neighborhood. 

These structures were constructed utilizing Shaker building techniques and equipment from earlier times.

Historians, naturalists, farmers, and a host of others regularly preserve the village. 

To keep the land flourishing and as close to, if not in its original state, as possible.

23. Big Four Bridge – Louisville Waterfront Park

This bridge, which connects Louisville, Kentucky, with Jefferson, Indiana, was once a railroad truss bridge but is now a bicycle and pedestrian bridge. It is one of Kentucky’s most popular attractions.

Walk down the 2,525-foot span that spans the Ohio River with other guests and enjoy the beautiful views of your surroundings.

You’ll notice that this bridge’s arms contribute to its attractiveness and even have a purpose beyond providing support, such as the way that one arm leads you to Louisville Waterfront Park.

The 85-acre Louisville Waterfront Park is adorned with tree groves, many lawn areas, picnic places, an amphitheater, walking, cycling, and jogging trails, as well as an esplanade by the river.

24. Fort Knox

In Kentucky’s magnificent countryside, Fort Knox is a United States Army outpost that spans 109,000 acres.

This facility is well-known for many things, including housing the Army Human Resources Command, Cadet Command, and the United States Bullion Depository.

You may find historical and informative displays at the Fort Knox museum that will take you on a journey through the various branches of the American military.

25. The Kentucky Kingdom

The Kentucky Kingdom theme park, which first opened in 1987, has gone through several stages of growth and development to get to the point where it is now.

This theme park was initially out of date until Ed Hart bought it in the following year, after which it was renovated in 1990. He added a wide variety of fresh rides and coasters, but sadly, after Six Flags took over in 1998, it was once again changed.

Hart persisted in his resolve. In the end, he bought the theme park again, and in 2004, he managed to reopen it. He constructed and established it to what is currently visible to visitors.

There are currently five roller coasters available, including the Storm Chaser. A standout of the 2016 May season is The Storm Chaser.

26. Louisville Mega Cavern

The Louisville Mega Cavern rekindles history, science, and a cherished underground journey filled with unbridled magic. 

Any vacation to Kentucky is guaranteed to include this as a point of interest.

The Mega Tram conducts this underground adventure in an SUV-pulled tram, while the Mega Zips tour includes the only fully underground zip line course in the world. There are other ways to tour the Cavern.

27. The State Botanical Garden Of Kentucky

Public access to the University of Kentucky Arboretum’s botanical garden is available all year long. 

This arboretum, which also goes by the name Kentucky State Botanical Garden, covers an area of more than 100 acres.

The garden is divided into different sections, including a vegetable garden, a herb garden, a home demonstration garden, a nut garden, and a home fruit garden, which contains Persian walnuts, Chinese chestnuts, and pecans.

You can explore numerous additional locations with other guests, such as the “Walk Across Kentucky.” 

Visitors can fully appreciate the seven regional landscapes, including the Cumberland Mountains, the Appalachian Plateau, and the Bluegrass, by taking the “Walk Across Kentucky.”

28. Louisville Slugger Museum And Factory

One of the uncommon institutions on the list of the top museums in Kentucky is the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory.

As the museum contains a display of interactive displays that chronicle the history of the Louisville Slugger baseball bats, it ranks high on the list of the greatest things to do when in Kentucky.

You will gain knowledge of their significance in both baseball and American history as a whole.

Visitors can view the many displays and even take a factory tour at the Louisville Slugger Museum, which is located inside the building. 

You will learn about the steps that go into creating bats during the trip.

Also read: 33 Best & Fun Things To Do In Flagstaff

29. My Old Kentucky Home State Park

My Old Kentucky Home State Park is one of the top things to do in Kentucky since it has a variety of features that will enhance your visit.

A 39-site campsite, an amphitheater, an 18-hole golf course, wedding and conference facilities, and more can be found here.

Federal Hill, a house in the park, is the most well-known structure there, nevertheless. 

It is a historic mansion that people adore exploring and is also known as “My Old Kentucky Home.” This house was originally owned by former US Senator John Rowan.

30. Kentucky Derby Museum

The Kentucky Derby Museum was founded in 1985 and is a museum devoted to preserving and safeguarding the history of the Kentucky Derby.

Some individuals may have never heard of this Kentucky landmark. So, without making any assumptions, the Kentucky Derby is a well-known sporting event that features thoroughbred horse racing.

Visitors are shown the birthing, breeding, and training of foals. They finally become ready for the winner’s circle of the Kentucky Derby through this method.

31. Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site

An array of locations honoring the 16th American president make up the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site.

Abraham Lincoln’s First Lincoln Memorial is always open to visitors. 

This plaque, created by John Russell Pope, represents Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace symbolically.

Before guiding America during the Civil War, the future President had his life and character molded in this one-room cottage. 

On the property where Lincoln was born, there is still another location known as the Sinking Spring. 

This location was probably Lincoln’s first water source.

32. Ashland Henry Clay Estate

This property, a designated National Historic Landmark, is found in the heart of the Bluegrass region.

Henry Clay, a Kentucky leader of the 19th century, resided at this plantation residence with his family until his passing in 1852. He also owned it.

You will learn about this estate in great detail while exploring it, including the additional Italianate embellishments added during renovations. You can also stroll through the nearby lands.

In addition to the stunning building, you will discover in-depth information on Henry Clay and his famous past. 

There are also several activities held here throughout the year, most notably during the holiday season, such as the Candlelight Tour at Ashland.

FAQ

Conclusion 

Indeed, Kentucky is endowed with a wealth of distinctive attractions.

Explore the list while you can.