The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® stretches across the entire state. This statewide perspective is matched by a wide variety of discoveries: caves, waterfalls and hiking trails, as well as horse culture, history and regional cuisine. When choosing accommodations in Kentucky, it helps to start by asking which of these themes you want to make the focus of your trip.
Cave worlds and natural arches
Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest known cave system; 412 miles have been surveyed so far. Further exploration may increase the surveyed length. Cave tours are offered year-round at Mammoth Cave National Park. Availability may vary seasonally and depending on staffing; reservations are recommended.
Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill offers a different cave experience. The area includes 20 caves: four are used for guided tours, and two can be explored independently with a permit. A permit is required for these independent explorations. Cave access and permit rules may change, so it is worth checking them before your visit. History is also part of the cave story here: Saltpetre Cave was operated as a saltpeter mine during the War of 1812.
Trails and a striking sandstone bridge are the main attractions at Natural Bridge State Resort Park. The natural bridge spans 78 feet and is 65 feet high; the park is near the Red River Gorge Geological Area. Ten hiking trails range from half a mile to seven and a half miles. Visitors can hike to Natural Bridge or take the Skylift, which operates subject to seasonal conditions. You can choose from trails ranging from half a mile to seven and a half miles.
Waterfalls, scenery and hiking trails
Cumberland Falls is a 125-foot waterfall known as the “Niagara of the South.” A moonbow may be visible there at full moon; visibility depends on moonlight, weather and river conditions. No other such phenomenon occurs anywhere in the Western Hemisphere. In Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, 17 miles of trails lead to scenic areas. Since trail conditions can change, it is a good idea to check them before a hike.
You can also explore the scenery on trails in Cumberland Gap National Historical Park: 85 miles of trails and 14,000 acres of wilderness are open for exploration. One hike passes through the historic Cumberland Gap Pass. In eastern Kentucky, the Country Music Highway is a scenic route through seven counties, along the border with West Virginia and past some of Kentucky’s most beautiful state parks. This is on a different scale from a single hiking trail: here, a road route through several counties shapes the view of the region.
At Kingdom Come State Park, Log Rock is a natural sandstone bridge. Natural Bridge is also a natural sandstone bridge; it spans 78 feet and is 65 feet high.
History, horses and crafts
Fort Boonesborough, the site of Kentucky’s second settlement, has been reconstructed as a working fort with cabins, log houses and furnishings. At Fort Boonesborough State Park, resident artisans demonstrate traditional crafts. They give visitors a sense of what pioneer life in Kentucky was like. History comes to life here through the reconstructed spaces and demonstrations of craftsmanship; tours at Waveland State Historic Site focus on something different. They cover the daily lives of the family and the enslaved people who lived and worked there in the 1850s.
The International Museum of the Horse covers more than 64,000 square feet and explores the history of the horse and its special relationship with humans over time. Individual exhibits may be temporarily closed during renovation work. At Kentucky Horse Park, you can meet the residents featured that day at the Hall of Champions; daily programs may change. Horseback rides and pony rides can be reserved at the Visitor Center on the day of your visit. Availability and reservation procedures may also change.
Crafts are also part of the cultural discoveries: galleries and exhibits at the Kentucky Artisan Center showcase work by more than 800 Kentucky artisans. The number of participating artisans may change over time. In Kentucky, you can discover history and culture in different ways—from a reconstructed fort and equine history to works of craft.
Regional cuisine as another thread of discovery
Some of Kentucky’s best-known dishes include Hot Browns, Bourbon Balls, Beer Cheese and West Kentucky barbecue. This selection adds specific dishes to the statewide Bourbon theme and also highlights a regional distinction: the barbecue is specifically associated with West Kentucky. Along with the caves, hiking trails and historic sites, it offers not one must-follow route but a range of interests to help you plan your trip and choose your accommodations.
Discover more destinations: Warren, Laurel, Fayette, Franklin, Jefferson, Kenton, Campbell, Scott, Rowan, Hardin, Pulaski, Nelson, Logan, Letcher, Calloway County, Thomas County, Breckinridge, Ohio County, Christian County, Montgomery County, Bullitt County, Mccracken County, Pike County, Boyd County, Hart County, Marion County, Simpson County, Madison County, Whitley County, Grant County, Daviess County, Boone County, Hopkins County, Lyon County, Clark County, Shelby County, Barren County, Jessamine County, Floyd County, Taylor County, Meade County, Carter County, Cumberland County, Hancock County, Woodford County, Perry County, Harlan, Allen County, Estill County, Bourbon County, Mercer County, Graves County, Martin County, Lawrence County, Bell County, Muhlenberg, Livingston, Marshall, Mason County, Owen County, Breathitt County, Morgan County, Union County, Grayson County, Garrard County, McCreary County, Trigg County, Knox County, Monroe County and Roundhill.
For the broader travel overview: USA.
