Your guide to Kentucky
Top destinations in Kentucky
Lexington
It’s not all horse racing and whiskey tasting in Kentucky’s second-largest city. Lexington also boasts tranquil gardens, backcountry hikes and a heavy dose of Southern charm.
Louisville
Home to the most famous horse race in the world, Kentucky’s largest city also boasts world-class restaurants, family-friendly museums and warm Southern hospitality. Say hello to Louisville.
Paducah
An up-and-coming creative hub with classic Kentucky flair, Paducah is where colourful murals and art galleries meet old-school barbecue and bourbon joints.
Kentucky: fast facts
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Currency | United States dollar ($) |
| Time zone | Louisville - UTC−5 (EST) and UTC−4 (EDT) |
| High season | April – October |
| Low season | December – February |
Kentucky highlights
Tour bourbon country
A trip along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a must, even if you’re not a big whiskey drinker. The historic distilleries are beautiful destinations, clustered in the central part of the state and surrounded by clear limestone streams that help produce the famous spirit. Join a tour for a fascinating history that stretches from 18th-century settlers to the Prohibition era and beyond.
See the horse farms
Gleaming paddocks and white picket fences — the region’s horse farms line almost every highway. Kentucky is the leading producer of thoroughbreds in the US, and you can see these well-groomed animals at farm tours, horse parks and legendary racecourses. In May, Churchill Downs hosts the Kentucky Derby. The race only takes two minutes, but the festival atmosphere lasts all week.
Listen to bluegrass music
With live performances daily and festivals throughout the summer, hearing bluegrass music is one of the best things to do in Kentucky. Get your bearings at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, or visit the birthplace of Bill Monroe, who invented the genre. You’ll find folk fiddle contests in the mountains and barnstorming bar gigs and arena concerts in the cities.
Things to do in Kentucky
Top attractions
Delve into the ancient Appalachian Mountains and spot an elusive moonbow over Cumberland Falls, a 38-metre-wide waterfall deep in the forest. Head northeast to Natural Bridge, a tall sandstone arch spanning the Red River Gorge. Or cheer on the thoroughbreds at Churchill Downs racetrack, home to the Kentucky Derby since 1875.
Beaches
Kentucky has no coastline, but it does boast some amazing lakes. Laze on sandy beaches at many of its state parks, surrounded by lush green woods and spectacular views. Swim, sunbathe or take a boat out on the far-reaching waters of Lake Cumberland. You can even indulge in a local favourite pastime — fishing for bass, catfish and walleye.
Nature
Kentucky’s bluegrass fields are surprisingly green, but there’s plenty more to inspire awe. Black bears roam the rugged, forested mountains. And you’ll meet bats and salamanders in the 675 kilometres of subterranean tunnels at Mammoth Cave. Climb epic rock faces at Red River Gorge, or head for the wild waters, including crashing falls dubbed the ‘Niagara of the South’.
Cuisine
Some of the best restaurants in Kentucky are in Lexington, where award-winning chefs reinvent Southern comfort food, from cornbread to bread pudding. Louisville’s historic Restaurant Row is another culinary hotspot, or head west to the ‘barbecue belt’ for hickory-smoked mutton. Don’t miss the Hot Brown, the famous local turkey and bacon sandwich. And see the cafe where Colonel Sanders invented Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Culture and museums
Many museums in Kentucky have made their mark on the landscape. Visit the bright yellow Skydome, which houses a collection of classic Corvettes. Or check out the 36-metre-tall baseball bat looming over the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. Punch up your afternoon at the interactive Muhammad Ali Center, or marvel at the nearly 1,400 works at the Kentucky Folk Art Center.
Nightlife
From gaming lounges and ‘barcades’ to its many pubs and live music venues, Louisville offers some of the liveliest nightlife in Kentucky. Head to Lexington for sophisticated cocktail bars and craft breweries. And you’ll never have to look far for an authentic bourbon bar — try Newport and Covington for some of the newest.
Find the best time to visit Kentucky
Weather in Kentucky through the year
March – May: Spring starts cool, but temperatures rise to 24°C by May. Explore pretty towns like Frankfort and Bardstown as the dogwood and rhododendrons bloom. But be prepared for showers.
June – August: Summer in the South is warm and humid with highs averaging 31°C and afternoon thunderstorms breaking the heat. Cool off at Laurel River Lake, and wear plenty of sun cream.
September – November: September stays dry, while autumn colour peaks in October. Head to the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum for prime leaf peeping.
December – February: Winter temperatures hit lows of 5°C in the Appalachians. Drive the Southern Lights trail at the Kentucky Horse Park or just cosy up with a whiskey.
Events in Kentucky
Keeneland Spring Meet (April): It’s not all about the Derby in these parts. Keeneland’s smaller but equally historic track has been hosting this 15-day racing festival since 1936.
ROMP Fest (June): You’ll hear banjos everywhere in Kentucky. But this Owensboro festival lives up to its name with a huge range of acts, from old-timey acoustic acts to jam bands.
Kentucky State Fair (August): Celebrating the best of the ‘Bluegrass State’, this family-friendly 10-day event has everything from livestock shows to late-night gigs.
World Chicken Festival (September): Laurel County’s finger-lickin’ tribute to Colonel Sanders features skillet-fried chicken, quirky contests and Southern fun. With music, parades and the world’s largest frying pan, it’s Kentucky flavour at its most festive.
Know before you go
Budget
Horserace betting aside, it’s quite possible to visit Kentucky on a budget. You can buy a beer for around five US dollars ($) and an inexpensive meal for under $20. Prices are at their highest in the more touristy areas. But you’ll come across great value food and entertainment the further you travel into the country.
Health and safety
Kentucky’s tap water is considered some of the best in the US, but you might want to stick to the bottled stuff in off-the-grid, rural areas. Watch out for insect bites — ticks can carry Lyme disease, and mosquitoes are known to transmit West Nile virus. Wearing long clothing and insect repellent is a good preventative measure.
Free things to do
Fort Knox may guard the nation’s gold, but its General George Patton Museum of Leadership welcomes visitors with free exhibits on military history. In Munfordville, a roadside Stonehenge replica offers a fun photo op, while the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park delivers sweeping Appalachian views and trails once walked on by pioneers.
Family friendly
Step into the past at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, an open-air museum with heritage buildings, farm animals and wagon rides. In Danville, the Great American Dollhouse Museum features over 200 intricately crafted homes and scenes. At Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory, kid-friendly shows light up a 12-metre dome deep in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
Getting around Kentucky
Public transport
Buses: Louisville’s TARC network covers most of the city with 24 routes and over 200 buses. Lexington and Covington also have good bus services, and their downtowns are small enough to walk.
Trains: A couple of daily Amtrak services run through Kentucky, though coverage is limited. The Cardinal runs along the northern state line with Ohio, stopping in Ashland, South Shore and Maysville en route to Cincinnati. The City of New Orleans makes a single stop in Fulton on its way between Tennessee and Illinois.
Domestic flights
Kentucky’s main airports are in Louisville, Lexington and just across the river from Cincinnati, offering frequent domestic flights to major US hubs. There are smaller airports in places like Paducah, but service is limited. With short distances and good highways, most travellers skip flying within the state and drive instead.
Driving and car hire
This is a region well suited to road trips, especially in the warmer months. Be aware that electronic tolls operate on the bridges over the Ohio River and cost double if you haven’t registered your vehicle beforehand. Conditions can be hazardous in winter in the mountain regions, which get the most snow and ice.
