Kentucky

We know what you’re thinking: Kentucky is all about bourbon and horses, right? There’s no denying that many memorable days do start with these storied activities, but we’ve got lots more up our sleeve. Whether you're into live music, craft beer, chef-driven cuisine, American history, family fun or exploring the outdoors, there's a Kentucky experience for you. No matter how long you're visiting, we've got endless ways to keep you busy.

From Paducah to Pikeville, you’ll find lakes, rivers, waterfalls, caves, forests, mountains and rolling fields of bluegrass dotted with horse farms and bourbon distilleries. You’ll also find exciting cities, rich culinary traditions and more outdoor adventures than you can possibly squeeze into one trip.

The Spirit of Kentucky

In Kentucky, bourbon is much more than a drink. It’s a way of life. Whether you’re new to bourbon or an aficionado, whether you prefer your bourbon neat or on the rocks, whether you want to eat your way through Bourbon Country or bike along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, there’s a bourbon experience for you in the Bluegrass State.

Explore Kentucky's Great Outdoors

Here you’ll find hikes and horseback rides on the rolling hills of the bluegrass state. Rock formations that draw climbers from around the world. Mountains that sing with history and adventure. Wild rivers that beckon paddlers and anglers. The longest known cave system on earth. And lakes that make Kentucky the “Houseboat Capital of the World.” Discover the legendary places and experiences that inspired Daniel Boone to proclaim: "Heaven must be a Kentucky kind of place."

Gather Around Our Table

Come sit at the Kentucky table where food traditions older than the state meet cutting edge culinary trends. Feast on farm-to-fork cuisine crafted by world-class chefs with products supplied by Kentucky Proud farmers. Discover Bluegrass specialties from Hot Browns to bourbon balls, and beer cheese to West Kentucky barbecue. Indulge in epic food experiences all around the Commonwealth, from gourmet restaurants to hole-in-the-wall diners, where you just might have the best meal of your life.

Home of Bluegrass (and so much more)

The shimmer of an Appalachian dulcimer. The woody lilt of a fiddle. Even the burble of a mountain creek or the rhythmic clip-clop of a horse's hooves. Music knows no bounds in Kentucky. As the birthplace of bluegrass, Kentucky's impact on American music is profound, and our musical roots extend all around the Commonwealth – from Rosine, home of “Father of Bluegrass” Bill Monroe, to the Country Music Highway, a tuneful stretch of Eastern Kentucky where more than a dozen country legends got their start. If you want to get to the soul of Kentucky, all you've got to do is open your ears.

Welcome to Horse Country

No other place in America or indeed the world is as synonymous with horses as Kentucky, home to both the Horse Capital of the World (Lexington) and the Saddlebred Capital of the World (Shelbyville). Here you’ll find legendary horse racing tracks, a wide variety of equestrian activities, and pretty-as-a-picture farms where the most magnificent horses in the world graze on our famed bluegrass. Even if you don’t come to Kentucky a horse lover, you’ll almost certainly leave as one.

One thing that often gets overlooked in Kentucky, is the states thriving festival scene.

The state's rich musical culture is celebrated throughout the year at various festivals and events, including the Festival of Bluegrass, which takes place in Lexington.

In addition to its music festivals, Kentucky is home to many other events. From culinary celebrations such as the international BBQ festival in Owensboro and the Kentucky Bourbon festival in Bardstown. To sporting events including the world-famous Kentucky Derby festival taking place in Louisville every year.

Kentucky's festivals and events offer a glimpse into the state's rich heritage and cultural traditions. Whether you're a music aficionado or a bourbon lover, there's something for everyone in the Bluegrass State.

Explore Kentucky's Bluegrass Beauty

Built on the falls of the Ohio River, Louisville is Kentucky's largest city, but it has all the friendliness of a small town. Sip the finest bourbon in the world at more than 40 top-shelf bars and distilleries on Louisville's Urban Bourbon Trail®.

Take a walking tour of historic downtowns like Paducah, where you can get a dose of culture at the National Quilt Museum and River Discovery Center.

Lexington, the Horse Capital of the World, offers a vibrant mix of charming neighborhoods, breweries and distilleries, historic sites and farm-to-table cuisine. Here you can visit the childhood home of Mary Todd Lincoln, watch a race at the elegant Keeneland Race Course and interact with nearly 50 breeds of horses at the amazing Kentucky Horse Park.

For an equally breathtaking experience, rev things up at the National Corvette Museum and GM Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green – the one and only place in the world where "America's Sports Car" is manufactured.