The Bluegrass State offers all sorts of interesting indoor and outdoor experiences for travelers of all ages. This itinerary will give you a glimpse of what this multi-faceted state has to offer, from history to horses!

1. Paducah

Starting Point • Entertainment, History

Designated a UNESCO Creative City, Paducah stands out for its arts and architecture. It’s best known for quilting, and is home to the National Quilt Museum, which features beautiful examples of fiber art from around the world plus regular touring exhibits and workshops. Other artsy points of interest include the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, the Maiden Alley Cinema and Gallery, and the Yeiser Art Center. There’s also a 20-block historic district filled with beautiful Victorian structures.

2. Cave City

Drive 186 miles, 2 hours, 40 minutes • Nature, Outdoor Recreation

Your next stop is Cave City, gateway to Mammoth Cave National Park, famous for its hundreds of miles of limestone passages that constitute the longest cave system on earth. There’s also plenty to do in the surrounding area besides just spelunking, from mountain biking to canoeing to horseback riding. The city even touts itself as Kentucky’s capital of zip lining, with three lines within a five-mile radius of town.

3. Frankfort

Drive 120.2 miles, 1 hour, 58 minutes • Food, History

Kentucky’s capital city, Frankfort bursts with interesting historic sites, including Daniel Boone’s Grave and a variety of lovely old mansions. The State Capitol Building is also worth a visit, as is the Capital City Museum, which traces the history of life in Kentucky over the centuries. No visit to the city would be complete without a stop at the Buffalo Trace Distillery, a National Historic Landmark offering tours, complete with Bourbon tastings.

4. Lexington

Drive 25.8 miles, 43 minutes • History, Nature, Sports

End your trip in Lexington in the heart of the Bluegrass Region, dubbed the horse capital of the world for its large equestrian sports industry. It’s long been a center for breeding Thoroughbred racehorses, and has two major horseracing tracks: Keeneland and The Red Mile. The Kentucky Horse Park is a big draw for visitors and features a museum and a horse farm that a few retired celebrity horses call home.