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My Old Kentucky Home
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items Here’s your comprehensive list of Places to visit, things to do, good eats & more while in the Bluegrass State!
Map
Sections
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Outdoor Activities
Zoo, Aquarium & other animal centered activities
You’re in Horse Country! 🐎
Dinning
Places to Stay
Coffee Spots
Outdoor Activities
Kentucky is full of natural beauty! Here are some recommendations of places to see & take in the great outdoors.
Non profit preserve located 20 min from Louisville airport. Over 32 miles of hiking trails, children's play area, cafe & gift shop, scenic lakes home to lots of wildlife, and home of the Giants.
Bernheim Forest and Arboretum | Research Forest | Clermont, KY
Hike, bike, paddle, fish, picnic
The Parklands of Floyds Fork | A Visitor Supported Public Park
The forest offers nearly 60 miles of hiking and equestrian trails,including several which offer views of downtown Louisville. . Tom Wallace Lake is stocked with trout and catfish twice a year. A wide variety of animals can be seen, including bobcats...
Jefferson Memorial Forest
The Red River Gorge is a canyon system on the Red River in east-central Kentucky. Geologically, it is part of the Pottsville Escarpment. Much of the Gorge is located inside the Daniel Boone National Forest and has been subsequently reserved as the Re...
Red River Gorge: Camping, Lodging, History & More RRG Fun
Such a peaceful place to wander. Always something in bloom! Hiking trail, fairy garden, and more. If you visit in spring they have a very impressive display of tulips.
Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
Located in downtown Louisville this is a relatively new reclamation project on the site of a former landfill. Offering classes and events for all ages notably the Gardens Aglimmer display around Christmas. Admission is free except during ticketed ev...
Waterfront Botanical Gardens
The Belle of Louisville has been cruising along since 1914. She looks good for her age, doesn’t she? A National Historic Landmark and an icon of the Louisville waterfront, the Belle is the only remaining authentic steamboat from the great American pa...
Belle of Louisville Riverboats
A beautiful, peaceful place where blooms & wildlife abound.
Cave Hill Cemetery & Arboretum
A mysterious limestone cave that has fascinated people for over 4000 years
Mammoth Cave National Park
Take the sky lift up to the great natural sandstone arch with amazing view then hike down.
Explore | Natural Bridge State Resort Park - Kentucky State Parks
A visit to the park should begin at the main Visitor’s Center off of Hwy 25E where informed and friendly park staff can direct you to the Pinnacle Overlook, a high area where the Gap can be viewed along with Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. And visi...
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
The East and West Pinnacle Trails are rated moderate and offer beautiful views, especially in the Fall. A great place to catch the sunrise.
Berea Pinnacles - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)
The Lexington Cemetery is more than a place of serenity for those buried there. It is a community memorial grounds that celebrates life in a park-like setting. In spring, an avenue of dogwoods, color crab apples, ornamental magnolias and pink weeping...
Lexington Cemetery - Lexington Cemetery
1.5 mile loop trail #9 in Cumberland Falls state park known for beautiful views.
8 Cool Reasons To Visit This Waterfall Swimming Hole In Kentucky
The Arboretum is a 100-acre public garden located on the campus of the University of Kentucky in the heart of Lexington, Kentucky. Their mission is to showcase Kentucky landscapes and serve as a resource center for environmental and horticultural edu...
Home | Arboretum
The Big Four Bridge is a must-do for visitors and residents of Louisville. As you walk, bike, or skate the mile from Louisville to Jeffersonville, Indiana, the skyline of Louisville is stunning and Jeffersonville is a beautiful town on the mighty Ohi...
Waterfront Park – The waterfront for everyone.
Zoo, Aquarium & other animal centered activities
Commune with the animals-it’s great family fun! Animals are cute, funny, educational, and studies suggest they have a positive effect on our mental wellbeing. 🐨🦊🐰🐮🐷🐒🦉🐢🦋🐙🦓🦘🦥🐬
Book a visit to see the magnificent reindeer and all the other farm animals, especially wonderful at Christmastime where you can get photos with Mr & Mrs Claus.
The Reindeer Farm
he Louisville Zoo currently exhibits more than 1,100 animals on 130 acres of natural settings representing zoogeographical areas, specific habitat types or special education areas including: Glacier Run, Africa, Islands, New World Exhibits (North, Ce...
Louisville Zoo
Newport Aquarium welcomes your family to discover the wonder of an underwater world located in Newport, Kentucky right across the river from downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. SEA thousands of the world’s most exotic aquatic creatures as you waddle with play...
Newport Aquarium
See and learn about Kentucky area wildlife and flora. Exhibits inside and out. Trails, fishing lakes, and picnic area. Very affordable admission.
Salato Wildlife Education Center (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)
You can pet a kangaroo! Stroll through a field where you’ll encounter kangaroo and emu roaming freely . See Onyx cave, mine for gemstones & more.
Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo | Attractions & Exhibts
You’re in Horse Country! 🐎
Kentucky is widely known for the Kentucky Derby and our magnificent thoroughbreds. Find horse related activities here.
Visit the historic & world renowned Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby! There is live thoroughbred racing at Churchill Downs throughout the year. These include great stakes races, themed race day events, and of course, the Kentucky Derb...
Home page | Churchill Downs
Immerse yourself in Kentucky Thoroughbred culture. From a foal’s first steps to the final turn of the track at Churchill Downs, you’ll be able to explore every facet of a Thoroughbred’s life on the Hermitage Farm / Derby Museum Tour. This is an all-...
Hermitage Farm and Derby Museum Tour | Kentucky Derby Museum
Dinning
Food!! We all need and want it everyday so why dine out at the same places all the time or be a slave to your kitchen? Treat yourself a bit and try out some of these great spots! 😋
The Whistle Stop is a family owned restaurant cooking up good southern food in Kentucky just like your mom or grandma cooked. A few famous folk including country music star Pam Tillis, Colonel Harlan Sanders (of KFC fame), and actor Bill Murray have...
The Whistle Stop
Enjoy time-honored classics like Corn-Meal Batter Cakes with Homemade Brown Sugar Syrup for breakfast or classics like our famous “Yellow-Legged” Fried Chicken, Two-Year-Old Kentucky-Cured Country Ham, Corn Pudding and more in our restaurants. This i...
Beaumont Inn
Can personally attest this was an extraordinary dinning experience all around!
One Of The Best Restaurants In Kentucky Is Hiding In This Small Town
Sky high dinning with panaramic views. Sit atop the 25th floor of the Galt House and be romanced by the rotating restaurant overlooking the Ohio River. Perfect spot for a special occasion dinner and drinks.
Swizzle Dinner & Drinks: Fine Dining & Rooftop Bar in Louisville KY
Lupo features wood-fired pizza baked to perfection in a Ferrari-red imported Italian oven, handmade pasta, small plates, & craft cocktails in a lovingly restored circa-1860 Butchertown brick building
Pizza Lupo
A local small batch artisan ice cream maker in Lexington, Kentucky using local Kentucky ingredients to create the most flavorful and unique ice creams and sorbets.
Our Story — Crank & Boom Craft Ice Cream
O scratch-made biscuits are baked fresh around the clock using an in-house recipe. Take a bite of new twists on Southern comfort favorites or order your old faithful.
You can't go wrong with biscuits this good.
St. Matthews | Get Biscuit Belly
Herb & Thelma’s Tavern has been serving the Northern Kentucky community and Travelers from all over the world the best Burger and Coldest Beer since 1939! Make sure you take cash, they don't do credit cards!
Herb & Thelma's Tavern
It’s out of the way but worth the trip to have lunch at The Glitz and explore the antique gallery housed in a former school. Make reservations before you go!
Irish Acres Gallery of Antiques
Such a unique place to grab a slice! Oh & after dinner be sure to take the short jaunt over to the banks of the Ohio River and take in the sunset!
Jailhouse Pizza stands as a living relic of history, offering visitors a chance to dine within ...
JAILHOUSE PIZZA, Brandenburg - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - Tripadvisor
A special dinning experience! Beautiful aesthetic and great Italian food!
Louisville's Best Italian Restaurant Experience
Some say it’s the best Mexican in the region and it’s fun being served by a robot! 🤖
Welcome to Tacolandia
This is your one stop shop! Great cafe with farm to table food, coffee shop, fresh flowers, garden shop, and grocery.
Home at Haymarket
Serving afternoon tea, children’s tea, and hosting bridal showers and other special events.
Lexington Tea and Brie - Downtown Lexington, Lexington, KY
Places to Stay
When traveling I just love finding unique and beautiful places to stay, it adds so much to the overall experience. Here’s some Kentucky establishments I think you might enjoy.
This hotel in Versailles, KY is an authentic stone castle featuring a farm to table restaurant and a luxurious spa. Guests can also experience guided tours, murder mystery dinners, the garden & farm. It's a truly unique experience.
The Kentucky Castle
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Wigwam Village Inn has 15 guest room teepees, all arranged in a semi circle around a grassy common area. Made from concrete and steel, each is 14 feet in diameter and 32 feet tall.
They consist of a main room, which contains one or two beds, cable TV...
Wigwam Village No. 2
Downtown Louisville with a rooftop pool, cozy library bar, a hidden speakeasy, and full-service spa, it's a perfect home base before a day on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail or a night out on Whiskey Row. 🥃🏨
Omni Louisville Hotel | Hotels in Louisville, KY
This inn is southern elegance embodied. The owners pay attention to detail and are most hospitable. The food is amazing as well. No wonder they are the recipient of several awards.
A Storybook Inn, the Historic Amsden-Haupt House in Versailles, Kentucky
Beautiful Lodge and Event space. Fabulous customer service.
Richwood on the River
This hotel is beautiful and historic. There's in house dining and a wide range of packages available for those interested in bourbon tasting, hiking, a romantic date night, etc. It is situated near the artisan center, Berea College, hiking trails, S...
Gallery | Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant
Coffee Spots
Do you have a coffee addiction? If so you’ll want to be in the know of where to stop for a caffeine pick me up when you’re traveling.
Cutest little shop! Take your girlfriends, try a coffee flight and grab some delicious pastries. Then browse the shop for trinkets you can't live without and pick up a beautiful bouquet to take home.
Mt.Washington Florist & Coffee Bar | Mount Washington KY - Facebook
Owensboro coffee shop that serves locally roasted coffee, ground bean coffee, whole bean coffee, and other hot and cold coffee drinks. Also offering beverages like lattes, espresso, smoothies, lemonade, tea, and baked goods.
The Creme Coffee House - Owensboro, KY
Cozy coffeehouse in the south Louisville area (near Iroquois Park) with a drive-thru, offering specialty drinks. The seating area is perfect for both catching up with friends or settling in with a good book.
The Well Coffee - Louisville, KY
Located in the heart of the Germantown neighborhood in Louisville, Bean is a cozy, friendly,
community-centered gathering place offering coffee, smoothies, breakfast & lunch all available to order online. The owner has been local for two decades ...
MENU — Bean
Bright & airy spot to enjoy a nice coffee and delicious pastry. Check out the coffee flights!
PHALCHA COFFEE, Louisville - Restaurant Reviews & Photos - Tripadvisor
Coffee, cafe, bookstore and bar in one. A cozy space to go read and socialize while sipping on your beverage of choice.
Nook & Nowhere
The cutest little coffee shop located in a historic old bank building on South Main in Versailles. They serve locally roasted coffee, tea, and baked goods. There’s an attached shop to browse in while you wait for your order, and there is a childre...
The Amsden
Down the road from Cherokee Park in Louisville this coffeehouse roasts in house. They also serve wine, beer and pastries. It’s cozy yet spacious with ample parking.
Fante's Coffee House
Bars
For when you want to get out & cut loose! 💃🏾🕺🏻
Louisville's only Dueling Piano Show! A place where you can go to sing, dance, and howl as the most versatile and talented musicians perform your favorite songs from 80's Rock, 90's Pop, and Today's Dance Hits on pianos, guitars, and more, in a high ...
Howl at the Moon: Bar | Entertainment | Party Venue | Nightclub | Event Venue | Banquet Halls | Live Music Bar
Enjoy live country and southern rock music, cold beer, hard drinks, and a little bull ridin' and it's every cowboy and cowgirl's nighttime oasis.
PBR features a large dance floor, a soft-seating lounge area, private outdoor balconies, multiple bars, ...
PBR Cowboy Bar Louisville | Fourth Street Live!
Historic
The rich history and remaining historical landmarks in Kentucky are well worth taking a look at.
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is a landmark destination that shares 3,000 acres of discovery in the spirit of the Kentucky Shakers. Home to the third largest Shaker community in the United States between 1805 and 1910, the vibrant site offers exper...
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
Scenic Drives🚗
There are few things I like better than a good road-trip. Get out & explore the backroads. The sights and the little cool shops & diners you run across can be such a joyful discovery!
The major road running north and south through the peninsula surrounded by Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. The full length of "The Trace" is 43 miles, from Grand Rivers, KY to Dover, TN. It's a beautiful, nature-filled drive with ample opportunities ...
Woodlands Trace National Scenic Byway - KY - National Scenic Byway Foundation
Flower Farms
Places to go for fresh blooms, whether it's to take home a bouquet or do a photo shoot.
"Sweetest little farm around"
Sugar Creek Flower Farm
5th generation farm offering farm store with produce and other goodies, farm animals and kids activities + you pick flower fields with photo ops.
Evans Orchard and Cider Mill
Pick your own, get a subscription or pick up at the flower cart.
Bountiful Blooms Farm
Lovely flowers and seasonal events. Also has farm animals and play area for the kids.
Family Farm | Middle Springs Farm | 163 Levy Road, Paris, KY
Festivals & Special Events
Festivals, concerts and fairs can be a lot of fun. Each town/city has their own unique way of doing things, and some are quite unusual. In Kentucky, we celebrate a little bit of everything, and we celebrate it right
Something for everyone...live music, car show, spoonbread eating contest, balloon glow & more.
Spoonbread Festival - Berea Chamber of Commerce
The St. James Court Art Show is a juried fine arts and contemporary crafts show held among the country's largest collection of Victorian homes in the heart of historic Old Louisville.
Ranked as one of the top three Best Fine Art and Design Shows in ...
Home
Shopping
From high end fashion to primitive crafts I love to shop and see what treasures can be found.
Unleash your shopping spirit at The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass, home to over 80 stores featuring top brands like Lacoste, Polo Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade, Hey Dude, Nike, Hugo Boss, and Michael Kors. Indulge your fashion-forward desires with an ar...
Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass ::: Home
I love visiting this quaint little town for all its cozy charm, friendliness, shopping finds, and good food! There’s great antique stores, boutiques, home decor shops & more. And be sure to make time for lunch at Tony York’s or The Whistle Sto...
Historic Glendale Kentucky
Kentucky Products
If you are a proud Kentuckian who wants to represent our state and help local business owners or travelers looking for a little taste of Kentucky here’s some products you might enjoy.
For over 100 years, the Pendennis Club has served Henry Bain's Famous Sauce. Named for a headwaiter who spent 40 years working at the club, Henry Bain created this legendary sauce for local game, beef and other meats. Full of rich and tangy flavors o...
:: The Pendennis Club's - Where you can find The Original Henry Bain's Sauce::
A great book and a great gift to give anyone who loves bourbon. It contains a great compilation of easy to follow recipes beyond the ordinary.
The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book
A nice sampling of bourbon balls from some of the state’s finest distilleries. Bourbon balls are said to have been first invented in 1938 by Rebecca Ruth Candy Company based in Frankfort, Kentucky, and they've been a longtime favorite ever since.
Mini Bourbon Ball Flight
How many KY distilleries have you visited? Commemorate your bourbon trail experience with this cool tshirt.
Kentucky Bourbon Trail Hit the Trail Tee
Random Fun
Just other experiences you might enjoy…
Candy & Karaoke, sign me up!! Discover a new sweet treat and have a blast on the claw machines & singing your heart out! 🎤🎶
HOME | Kawaii Candy & Karao