Kentucky 

Travelers who seek beautiful scenery and outdoor activities or are interested in the history of the south will love Kentucky.  The Civil War had a dramatic effect on this state as the presidents on both sides of the conflict, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, were both born in Kentucky.  Although torn between two sides, Kentucky never seceded from the union.  However, it did contribute troops to the confederated cause and more or less aligned itself with the southern sentiment.

Bowling Green, located between Louisville and Nashville, is the sports-car buffs heaven.  Places to visit are Beech Bend Racetrack and the GM Corvette assembly plant.  The next best thing to buying a corvette right off the assembly line is to see them on display at the new National Corvette Museum.  It is filled with many models dating back to the first year in production (1953), to a futuristic concept car display.  St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bowling Green was used in many ways, from a shelter during prehistoric times to a hide out for the robber Jesse James.  Today it is part of a park with a scenic nature trail.  

Louisville has its share of history.  We recommend beginning at Farmington.  This charming mansion dates back to the 18^th-century.  It was built from a plan by Thomas Jefferson (be sure to note the two octagonally shaped rooms and search for the hidden stairway!)  Other points of interest include Locust Grove (the plantation home of the Revolutionary War hero George Rogers Clark), and the Thomas Edison house.  To find Louisville’s lively cultural life, check out the Kentucky Center for the Arts.  It has a superb collection of 20^th-century sculptures, a gift shop, three performances halls, and an excellent restaurant. Adults and children alike will love the Louisville Zoo.  Inside the zoo there is a section called the HerpAquarium.  It houses hundreds of reptiles, fish, and amphibians.  A must see here is the goliath bird-eating spider – it's huge!  Louisville is probably most famous for a little horse race: the Kentucky Derby.  All thoroughbred horses celebrate their birthday on the first of January.  This is an important induction since only three-year olds can race in the Kentucky Derby. Although the Derby takes only two minutes to complete, the popularity of this event lasts all year long. The Thunder Airshow kicks off the Derby Festival with one of the most extravagant pyrotechnics displays in the country.  Thunder is one of more than 70 festival events, but it's the largest and most visible, attracting 500,000 people who view the fireworks and daylong air show.  It has grown to be Louisville's largest civic event.

Mammoth Cave is one of the most fascinating cave systems ever discovered and a classic U.S. tourist site.  Measuring more than 345 miles, it is the longest cave system in the world.   It even has a restaurant called the Snowball Dining Room located right inside! One of the most famous 19^th-century cavers was Stephen Bishop, a black slave who became a tour guide.  In his spare time, Stephen explored the unknown nooks and crannies of the Mammoth Cave system.  He is buried inside the park at the Old Guides Cemetery.  Other natural wonders in Kentucky include the Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area, Carter Caves Resort State Park, the John James Audubon State Park, and the Pine Mountain State Resort Park.  

Try the famous Kentucky Burgoo Stew and finish with a Mint Julep.

Recommended times of the year to visit are April-May and September-October.

Check out the Appalachian handcrafted items.

Two classic hotels are the Regal Seelbach (modeled for one of the hotels in the film "Great Gatsby") and the Brown Hotel (one of the National Trust's Historic Hotels).

 

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