Bourbon and horses: Welcome to the state of Kentucky
By Brian Miller
![The Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, Hodgensville, Kentucky', circa 1930s. One-room Lincoln Farm log cabin in Hodgenville, Kentucky. From "Tour of the World". [Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa., New York, Chicago, London]. Artist Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F772885474074ebeaedcb488bdcbffb39ea9fcb2898f56957b76706b1dfbf5eb7.jpg "The Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, Hodgensville, Kentucky', circa 1930s. One-room Lincoln Farm log cabin in Hodgenville, Kentucky. From \"Tour of the World\". [Keystone View Company, Meadville, Pa., New York, Chicago, London]. Artist Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)")
Kentucky is known for its bourbon and its horse racing but the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln offers so much more.
Any visit to the state should include the list of attractions below but don’t get saddled or pigeoned with just our list. Kentucky is one of the most beautiful states to visit and there are endless options for just about everyone’s taste.
Kentucky offers caves and dinners down the Ohio River and boasts some of the best basketball in the nation, although North Carolina may have something to say about that. From Lexington to Bowling Green, here are some things that should pique your interest in the great state of Ken-Tuck-E.
Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace: It may seem as though this is a touristy stop but the reality is you really shouldn’t miss the memorial to our 16th president. Walk the grounds of where he was born and even visit the water hole that his family used. Located east of Elizabethtown in two locations off the Abraham Lincoln Parkway, visit the childhood home and birthplace as well as the first Lincoln Memorial.
Mammoth Cave NP: Located southwest of the Lincoln memorial Park, Mammoth Cave National Park is one of many caverns and caves you can visit in the state of Kentucky. See first hand the stalactites and stalagmites as you wind down tight stairwells into the depths of our Earth.
Even if cave spelunking isn’t your thing, there is a wildlife museum, Cave City, and a Dinosaur World to take in.
Corvette Museum: Fast cars your thing? You can’t pass up the Corvette Museum but more importantly if you like Vettes you will want to check out the Bowling Green home to the American classic. You can even take a test drive at the NCM Motorsports Park.
Bowling Green is the home of the Corvette and while tours of the factory are typically open, currently, they are closed due to COVID so check ahead if you are wanting to visit.
Next. Visting the Hawkeye State. dark
Run for the Roses: From the home of the Kentucky Derby, visiting Churchill Downs in Louisville is one of the three races in the U.S. Triple Crown. Kentucky is known for its horse breeding and it won’t take you long to find places of interest if horses are your thing. For more on what you can do, check out this link.
Bourbon tours: If you are going to Kentucky, you have to check out the distilleries that pop up around the state. Bourbon is only distilled in Kentucky and the history of the drink is incredibly interesting. TripAdvisor alone has several locations listed including Buffalo Trace, Makers Mark, Wild Turkey, and more!