From the hills and hollows of eastern Kentucky through the rolling bluegrass of our heartland to the massive lakes and flatlands of the west, Kentucky has much to offer. It is a wonderful place to spend time with friends and family.

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The Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center is a multidisciplinary arts venue for all ages and provides events, educational programs, and art exhibitions to the community. With five art galleries, a magnificent turn-of-the-century theater, and a brand new education center, the Carnegie is one of the most prominent arts institutions in Northern Kentucky. More about the Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center

Mentioning the Cumberland River and trout in the same sentence makes most anglers in the Blue Grass State immediately think of the tailwaters below Lake Cumberland in Russell and Cumberland counties. The reaction is understandable since that portion of the river is widely considered Kentucky's premier fishery for trophy trout. It is also some of the most heavily stocked trout water in the state, receiving almost 100,000 fish each year. More about Fly-Casting in The Cumberland River System

Kentucky's State Capitol

Kentucky's State Capitol, one of the most beautiful in the country, was completed in 1910. Visitors are fascinated by the First Lady Doll Collection and the huge floral clock on the capitol grounds. Nearby is the beautiful Governor's Mansion, modeled after the Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's summer villa. The Old State Capitol, noted for its Greek Revival architecture, features a unique stone circular stairway held together only by precision and pressure. More about Kentucky's State Capitol

Since 1884, the Hillerich & Bradsby Company has been manufacturing the Louisville Slugger bat, the official bat of Major League Baseball. More than 1,000,000 baseball bats are made annually at the company's plant in Louisville. The Louisville Slugger Museum offers a factory tour where visitors can see how baseball bats are made. The museum also features memorabilia about the history of baseball, as well as bats actually used by such baseball legends as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Stan Musial, Henry Aaron, and many others. Visitors can purchase baseball mementos in the museum gift shop, or they can have a personalized bat made with their name engraved on it. More about the Louisville Slugger Museum

Walk the Bourbon Trail

Kentucky Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey have a history and a tradition as long and strong as the nation itself. And here in the Bluegrass State, known for its thoroughbred horses, rolling pastures and southern hospitality, nothing really says Kentucky like the nectar spirit we know as Bourbon. Come enjoy complimentary tours at seven enchanting distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. A Great Kentucky Getaway! More about the Bourbon Trail

Great American Brass Band Festival

Description of Event:
The Great American Brass Band Festival has been named “this country’s most unique music festival.” It is an old-time brass band concert in the park that recaptures the nostalgia of peaceful, turn-of-the-century America. The celebration begins Thursday with an afternoon tea and traditional Chautauqua presentation. Festivities continue all day Friday, with free concerts to top off the evening. Concerts begin at 10:00am on Saturday in two locations; then at 11:00am a New Orleans-style parade marches down historic Danville’s Main Street to the main stage at Centre College, where the music continues until the grand finale on Sunday evening. Bring a blanket or chair and listen to bands playing marches and melodies on authentic Civil War instruments, ragtime favorites, and the swingin’ beat of Bourbon Street. Swell with patriotic pride as the marches of John Philip Sousa fill the air. Marvel at the virtuosity of the world’s greatest professional brass ensembles. This festival is a musical experience that will never be forgotten. Events include the Great American Picnic on Saturday evening and Sunday worship service on the lawn. Street food vendors add to a fun-filled weekend of outdoor band concerts.

Additional activities:
THURSDAY: Chautauqua Tea, with live musical performance; Bourbon Tasting event
FRIDAY: Conference on American Band History, a hot air balloon race, free evening band performances at various locations in the area; Gallery Hop Stop (a premier arts event)

More about the Great American Brass Band Festival

Follow the footsteps of Daniel Boone through Shawnee Country! A 268-mile hike, with stretches for mountain biking and horsemanship. Sheltowee means Big Turtle. That's the name the Shawnee gave Daniel Boone when they adopted them into their tribe. Centuries after Big Turtle led early settlers through the Cumberland Gap into the Shawnee's sacred hunting ground, John Muir and other explorers followed in his footsteps. Now the Sheltowee Trace retraces the ground broken by these pioneers, along a 268-mile National Recreation Trail.
More about a Hike along the Sheltowee Trace Trails

Horse Racing in Kentucky

Kentucky has been associated with horse racing since its early days. Two of the best tracks are in Louisville and Lexington. Louisville is the home of Churchill downs, home of the famous Kentucky Derby, one of the most prestigious thoroughbred races held the first Saturday in May. The two weeks before the Derby are filled with activities in Louisville. More about Horse Racing in Kentucky

Diamond Caverns

For over 140 years Historic Diamond Caverns has offered tours of Kentucky's most beautiful cave. Presented by state-of-the-art lighting, Diamond Caverns features intricate drapery deposits lining the halls in cascades of naturally colorful calcite. Thousands of stalactites, stalagmites and flowstone formations decorate the cathedral-like chambers. Take a few minutes to discover the exciting underground world of Diamond Caverns. Located adjacent to Mammoth Cave National Park a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Preserve Diamond Caverns abounds in natural beauty. More about the Diamond Caverns