Kentucky Department of TourismWhat’s New
• Portal 31 in Lynch: Discover the importance of coal in eastern Kentucky’s history. Lynch.
• MEGA Cavern in Louisville: A massive limestone quarry for adventure tourism. Louisville.
• The Hatfield McCoy River Rats: Outdoor facility offers guided and unguided tours for kayaking, canoeing and tubing. Pikeville.
• Airlines: This spring, Air Canada started twice weekly non-stop service from Toronto to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Attractions
Kentucky Department of Tourism• Mammoth Cave National Park: Enter the world's longest known cave system. Designated an International Biosphere Reserve in 1990.• The National Corvette Museum: Relive the heydays of the true American sports car. Bowling Green.
• Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory: Newly remodelled, interactive attraction includes a four-storey baseball bat, and bats used by Joe DiMaggio and Babe Ruth. Louisville.
• Kentucky Horse Park: Features daily horse shows and two museums. Arabian Horse Galleries added in 2010. Lexington.
• Dinosaur World: Visitors can unearth a life size dinosaur in the Boneyard. Cave City.
• Kentucky Bourbon Experience: Eight distilleries offer tours that tell the story of bourbon-making process.
• Lower Town Fine Arts District: Home to the nationally recognized Artist Relocation Program, this 26-block area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Paducah.
• The Great American Doll House Museum: Features a playroom with a hands-on dollhouse village.
• Newport Gangster Tour - 8 Blocks of Villainy: Formerly referred to as Sin City, notorious for numerous vices including gambling and mob connections. Newport.
• Cooperage Tours in Lebanon: “All Fired Up About Bourbon” is the Independent Stave Company’s theme for cooperage tours. Tours are free. Lebanon.
Events
• Eagle Watches at State Parks (Jan/Feb).
• Derby Festival & Running of the Kentucky Derby (April, May), Louisville.
• Glasgow Highland Games (May), Glasgow.
• Great American Brass Band Festival (June), Danville.
• Kentucky State Fair (August), Louisville.
• Bourbon Festival (September), Bardstown.
• St. James Court Art Fair (October), Louisville.
• Elk Viewing at State Parks (fall) Jenny Wiley SRP, Buckhorn Lake SRP.
Places
• Land Between the Lakes: Between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, 320 kilometres of scenic woodland trails.
• Cumberland Gap National Historic Park: Largest National Historic Park in the U.S. Scenic view overlooks three states. Middlesboro.
• Newport On The Levee: Newport entertainment complex featuring an aquarium, theatres, restaurants, shopping and live entertainment. Newport.
• Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park: Walk the grounds where the 16th U.S. President was born. Hodgenville.
Hidden Gems
• Prestonsburg: Live performances at the Mountain Arts Center and home to the Kentucky Opry.
• Loretta Lynn’s Birthplace: Take a tour of the family home with the singer’s brother. Butcher Hollow.
• John James Audubon Museum: Home to the world’s largest collection of Audubon’s artifacts and exhibits on the artist’s life. Henderson.
• International Bluegrass Museum: Preserves the history of the music Bill Monroe created. Owensboro.
• Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum: Museum exhibits minerals, equipment, documents and photographs. Marion.
Did You Know?
State Motto: United We Stand, Divided We Fall
State Flower: Goldenrod
State Bird: Cardinal
Fast Facts
Region: THE SOUTH
America’s Byways: Country Music Highway, Red River Gorge Scenic Byway, Wilderness Road Heritage Highway.
Direct Flights: Air Canada
Sales Tools: website: “Tour Operators,” downloadable images, “About Kentucky-Maps & Brochures”, E-Guide (Official Visitor’s Guide).
Info: Kentucky Department of Travel
1-800-225-TRIP (8747) / (502) 564-4930
www.kentuckytourism.com