Experience Corvettes, Caves, Arts and more … only in Kentucky!

The Bluegrass State is world-renowned for bourbon and horses, and for good reason. After all, we are home to Lexington’s Keeneland Racecourse, which will be hosting Breeder’s Cup in November of this year and Bardstown(link is external), the “Bourbon Capital of the World®” – both must-sees on your Kentucky bucket list. Did you know that Ruth Hanly Booe, co-founder of the Rebecca Ruth Candy Company(link is external) in Frankfort, invented bourbon balls in the 1930s? Read on – we are highlighting several road trip worthy stops including corvettes, caves and more!

Have a need for speed? Then race down to Bowling Green(link is external) and visit the National Corvette Museum(link is external), home to America’s sports car and showcasing more than 70 prime corvettes from classics to prototypes! Explore the corvette’s history, pose for a picture, “drive” a C6 Corvette in the racing simulator and venture over to the NCM Kartplex for some friendly competition with high-speed go kart racing or experience a hot lap at the nearby adjacent NCM Motorsports Park(link is external). The museum also recently became a certified Sensory Inclusive venue(link is external).

About an hour away in small town Horse Cave(link is external), take the adventure underground at Hidden River Cave and the American Cave Museum(link is external). In the middle of downtown sits a historic, scenic cave. Journey into the depths of the cave, walk across the world’s longest underground swinging bridge and experience sites not seen since 1943 for an epic adventure. There is also Lost River Cave(link is external) and  Carter Caves State Resort Park(link is external) – shall we continue?

Did you know Kentucky has a National Park? The infamous Mammoth Cave National Park(link is external) is the world’s longest cave system(400 + miles)! The park also has 53,000 acres of beautiful forest – 79 miles of nature trails, three campgrounds, 13 backcountry campsites, and over 20 miles of river to explore and enjoy!

Known as the “Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky,” Berea(link is external) is a treasure trove of art, from jewelry, glass works, pottery, sculptures, paintings, carvings, weavings, music, instruments and more. The town has a longstanding tradition of celebrating diversity and community, and is home to Berea College, the first interracial and coeducational college in the South. The Kentucky Artisan Center(link is external) at Berea showcases collections from area artisans and others throughout the state, and is conveniently located just off of I-75.

Did you know the Bluegrass State is home to its own green-bottled citrus beverage? Infused with ginger, Ale-8-One(link is external) has been bottled in Winchester(link is external) since 1926, when G.L. Wainscott developed the original formula. The name is a shortened form of “A Late One,” referring to the latest thing in soft drinks. While the free factory tours are temporarily shut down, this delicious drink is available throughout the state and online.

Ready for one more? Beer cheese is a combination that will delight your taste buds, and it’s a Kentucky thing that started in Winchester. We even have a Beer Cheese Trail(link is external) – come visit to try this tasty treat!

For more information and travel inspiration, visit https://www.kentuckytourism.com/(link is external).

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Angela Blank, Assistant Director of Communications & Media Relations, [email protected](link sends e-mail)
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