WHY VISIT KENTUCKY

Bourbon, bluegrass, and one heck of a horse race: what’s not to like about Kentucky? The beating heart of America’s bourbon industry, visitors can sip (okay, glug) their way through the likes of Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark on tasting tours of the state’s top distilleries.

Much of this corn-based liquor is quaffed during the Kentucky Derby, described by plaudits as ‘the greatest two minutes in sport’. The state goes mad for this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it horse race: fancy hats are dusted off, bets are placed and mint juleps are quaffed at extraordinary speed. Held in Louisville, the Derby is part of a two-week festival, which kicks off with the USA’s biggest fireworks display, followed by a smorgasbord of events, including a marathon and steamboat race.

If you’re inspired to snatch a bit of action yourself, saddle up and canter across the prairies or take a tour of a thoroughbred center to spot future winners.

Aside from riding, you can hike the Appalachian Mountains, rattle along mountain bike trails in the Daniel Boone Forest, or duck underground in Mammoth Cave, the world’s longest cave system. You can canoe gentle rivers, paddle white water rapids, or hook blue catfish in Ohio. Or how about exploring Civil War battlefields and the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln?

The soundtrack for any Kentucky trip is bluegrass, and music aficionados can track the birthplaces of such legends as Billy Ray Cyrus and Loretta Lynn along Route 23, the Country Music Highway. Time it right, and it won’t be long before you’re slurping another bourbon and tapping your toes at a bluegrass festival.

WHAT TO SEE IN KENTUCKY

• Louisville: best known as the host of the Kentucky Derby, Louisville is the state’s biggest city and a fun place to linger for a few days. The 120 parks or seven-mile RiverWalk are ideal to stroll and soak in the skyline, while sports are on display at the Kentucky Derby Museum or Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. Be sure to take a two-hour cruise on the Ohio River’s oldest running steamboat, the Belle of Louisville, which will surely be a highlight.
• Mammoth Cave National Park: the world’s longest cave system, Mammoth Cave is a marvel of subterranean beauty with several different levels of cavern tours led by park rangers. Ranging from a casual stroll above ground to all-day adventures on your hands and knees, the daily tours sell out quickly so plan ahead. There is just as much to do on land with 53,000 acres of the national park to hike, camp, horseback ride, or canoe on the river.
• Kentucky Bourbon Trail: scotch is to Scotland what bourbon is to Kentucky. The Kentucky Bourbon Trail lets you guide yourself through six of the state’s top distilleries including Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve, Wild Turkey, and Jim Beam. Around since the 1700s, this is the only place in the world where you can experience this form of whisky on its home turf. A superb multi-day road trip for any serious whiskey fan, the distilleries themselves are wonderfully charismatic and usually located in quaint historic towns ideal for a layover.
• Lexington: home to bourbon, bluegrass farms, legendary horses, and history, Lexington epitomizes Kentucky. The state’s second-largest city has just the right mix of small-town hospitality and big city charm to warrant a few days touring the six legendary distilleries, meandering around the cool historic downtown streets, and immersing yourself in the rich horse breeding culture. Many champion ponies have come from Lexington, and the Kentucky Horse Park serves as an equestrian museum and attraction for the curious. Horse races are held seasonally at the gorgeous Keeneland track, and though not open to the public, you can also drive by the famous Calumet and Claiborne Farms and spy on the thoroughbreds.
• Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill: the largest Shaker community in America is located 25 scenic miles from Lexington. A National Historic Landmark, the 33 original 19th-century buildings stand on a 3,200-acre property. Like a living museum, there are craft shops, restaurants, and lodging. Visitors can guide themselves around the village and enjoy activities like riverboat cruises and horseback riding. It’s an interesting look into a major religious community’s lifestyle 200 years ago, and also a fun outdoor excursion.
• Daniel Boone National Forest: covering 21 counties in the southeastern highlands, this is Kentucky’s, natural heart and soul. Named after the great American explorer who first traversed the land, the area today looks much like it did 200 years ago. Scenic roads wind through forests and valleys, with the occasional small town providing an amenity or two. Rock climbing, biking, camping, canoeing, and outdoor exploration are unparalleled. Take a ride on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway or hike a portion of the 269-mile epic Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail.
• International Bluegrass Music Museum: Kentucky is the birthplace of bluegrass music and its pioneers such as Bill Monroe and Ricky Skaggs. There are several pilgrimage sites for diehard fans, and this museum in the northwest of the state is one of them. Interactive exhibits, artifacts, and educational workshops showcase this fantastic genre of music. Also worth a look is the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Renfro Valley in the central region. Not exclusive to bluegrass, this museum features every one of note from the great state of Kentucky.

WHEN TO GO TO KENTUCKY

The best period to visit Kentucky is from May to September.

The location of Kentucky places it neatly on the border of the warm south and the cooler north. This creates mild climate conditions throughout most of the year, even in mountainous areas. Kentucky enjoys four distinct seasons, each with its own virtues. The state has an average annual high of 87°F in summer and an average low of 23°F in winter.

Spring and fall are the most pleasant times to visit weather-wise. April and May enjoy temperatures in the upper 60’s °F to mid-70s °F, with a refreshing burst of greenery. Late September through October has the same weather, but amazing changing colors of the leaves. Precipitation in Kentucky falls evenly throughout the year, averaging 46 inches. Most of it is rain though there is the occasional snowfall in the higher elevations.

Summers in Kentucky are warm, but not oppressively hot. The humidity levels are quite high, however, which tends to make pleasant daytime temperatures in the 80’s °F feel like they are in the mid-90s °F. Thunderstorms are common in summer, occasionally turning violent and spawning the rare tornado. Winters are not frigid, but December through February is certainly chilly. Expect daytime highs only in the low 40’s°F until March, when the mercury creeps back into the tolerable 50’s°F.

WHAT TO DO IN KENTUCKY

Play the ponies at Churchill Downs or Keeneland

Yes, the Bourbon Trail is a stunning historic drive-through bluegrass country where you’ll taste some of the best whiskey in the world. But can you hit a trifecta sloshing down brown liquor? No, you cannot. You can, however, on any given afternoon at one of the two most historic horse tracks in America. Horse racing in Kentucky is like barbecue in Texas — the people here eat, sleep and breathe it. Nowhere will you find more passionate and knowledgeable horse players than at Louisville’s Churchill Downs or Keeneland in Lexington. The Kentucky Derby is fun, but it’s amateur hour. To get the full history and feel of the sport, go to these race tracks on a non-derby day when the real horse heads go. Much of the grandeur and pageantry is still there, and, even if you don’t win, it’s easily the most entertaining way to gamble.

Following is a list of typical festivals and celebrations in Kentucky.

• Kentucky Derby Festival: the world’s biggest horse race is held on the first Saturday of May in Louisville, but there is lots of fun happening in the city beforehand. Besides music, food, and games, there are several other quirky contests to enjoy. The Great Steamboat Race on the river, the Great Balloon Race over Louisville, and the Pegasus Parade are just a few of the 70 events planned over the three-week period. Some 1.5 million people attend the Kentucky Derby each year.
• Thunder over Louisville: another reason to visit in late April is America’s largest fireworks show in Louisville in the run-up to the Kentucky Derby. During the day, the Thunder Air Show features 100 planes streaking overhead doing aerobatics, formations, and amazing sky-diving stunts. After dark, the real highlight begins as eight barges anchor on the river and shoot 60 tons of fireworks into the night sky. The pyrotechnics show lasts for a solid 30 minutes and the best spot to watch is near the Second Street Bridge.
• Great Steamboat Race: one of the coolest events in the three-week period preceding May’s Kentucky Derby is this special race on the Ohio River. There are only six authentic river steamboats left running in the US, and they all come to Louisville each April to challenge each other’s speeds. The race lasts for 14 miles down the river as spectators line the banks and cheer. The real fun is to go all out for a ticket to ride on one of the boats and be a part of the action.
• International Barbecue Festival: Kentucky is famous for its barbecue pit roasted slowly over hickory wood. Each May, the town of Owensboro tempts the world’s appetite by bringing some of the state’s top grill masters to compete for the title. Besides gorging on dozens of different foods, the festival has carnival rides, fun competitions, and a huge area of local arts and crafts stalls.
• Blues-n-Jazz Bar BQ Festival: in Kentucky, you just can’t get enough legendary barbecue or music. Every July, Louisville’s Water Tower, a historic landmark on the banks of the Ohio River, plays host to one of the city’s most popular family festivals. Live jazz fills the air and tasty barbecue fills the stomaches for three days along the bank. Spread a blanket on the grass and enjoy this top-flight free event.
• Kentucky Arts and Crafts Fall Fair: this massive festival celebrates the incredible range of talent its residents possess. Each October, Berea’s Indian Fort Theater has hundreds of local artisans set up stalls to show off and sell their wares. There are workshops, demonstrations, storytelling, and a whole section of the fair dedicated to the artistry of Kentucky’s local food. Add a backdrop of beautiful fall weather and you’ve got one seriously special weekend.

HOW TO REACH AND TRAVEL THROUGH KENTUCKY

You can find taxi services in the larger cities of Kentucky like Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green. Taxis use meters and are reasonably priced since most trips around town are rather short.

But in reality, you will want to have your own vehicle, even if you only plan to travel around one particular city. The public bus routes are geared more toward residents than tourists, and most of the state’s attractions lie well outside the scope of buses or the affordability of a taxi. Major US car rental companies like Alamo, Enterprise, Hertz, and many others are on hand in all the large cities, as well as at every airport. Rent by the week to get lower daily rates, even when compared to rental costs in other states.

The Amtrak train runs two lines through Kentucky, offering travelers fun and scenic way to reach the state from several regions of the country. Amtrak makes stops in Louisville, Maysville, Fulton, Ashland, and South Shore. Trains aren’t particularly useful for traveling within Kentucky, but they are a pretty way to get here. Seats are comfortable and fares are reasonable though comparable to regional flights.

The more flexible and practical way to move around Kentucky is by Greyhound bus. The fares are cheap, but the accommodations are only tolerable for a few hours as there are no toilet facilities on board. On the plus side, you can reach virtually any town in Kentucky from anywhere else in America via the network, but still, most people drive when they visit Kentucky to do one of the scenic road trips or the bourbon trail.

Within the main cities, there are local public bus systems that cater to residents commuting between home and work. Lextran covers Lexington, while TARC handles the bus traffic in Louisville. Fares are cheap, but the routes aren’t practical for most tourists, so it’s suggested to rent a car if you plan to do much sightseeing or move around the state.

Main airports are:

• Louisville International Airport
• Blue Grass Airport

GENERAL INFORMATION ON KENTUCKY

health tips & vaccination: none

local currency: US Dollar

local time zone: GMT-6,-5 (-5,-4)

electricity: [su_lightbox type=”image” src=”http://www.traveltv.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/A_plug.png”]type A[/su_lightbox] and [su_lightbox type=”image” src=”http://www.traveltv.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/B_plug.png”]type B[/su_lightbox] (120V – 60 Hz)

WHAT TO DO IN KENTUCKY

Typical food in Kentucky

• Kentucky Fried Chicken.
• Country ham, smoked and salt-cured.
• Burgoo (a meat and vegetable stew).
• Bourbon whiskey.

Souvenirs from Kentucky

• x

Source

http://www.thebesttimetovisit.com/
http://www.roughguides.com/
https://www.iexplore.com/