10 Beautiful Places to Visit in Kentucky and Tennessee

Beautiful places to visit in Kentucky and Tennessee. Kentucky is a southeastern state in the United States of America. Its largest city is Louisville. Kentucky is widely known for horse racing. Kentucky is also known as the Bluegrass state. It has a different geography and cultural history, offering attractions for couples, families, young people and everyone else. There are numerous great places you could visit in Kentucky.

You could plan a vacation or romantic getaway with your couple and visit one of the most fascinating outdoor places in Kentucky and Tennessee. Most people may feel that Kentucky is not the best place to be, however, it also offers a plethora of amazing things to engage in and enjoy your vacation.

In this article, we would be providing 10 places to visit in Kentucky and Tennessee during a short stay or long vacation. In little or no time here is the list of the 10 outdoor places to visit in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Louisville 

Horse racing is the main activity, popular in Kentucky. Louisville is the centre of horse racing in Kentucky. It is one of the beautiful places to visit in Kentucky. It’s annual Kentucky Derby, a leg of the Triple Crown that’s called the “greatest two minutes in sports.” The annual derby dates back to 1875, which attracts horse lovers from around the world. The city is one of the oldest in the state, founded in 1778, so you will find a lot of history there.

If you need more engaging experiences, you could spend an afternoon at the Speed Art Museum or plan a river cruise onboard the Belle of Louisville, the city’s historic paddlewheel boat. You can stay at Homewood Suites by Hilton downtown and walk to some of the top Louisville attractions. If you are also a lover of outdoor recreation, you can take a walk or bike ride along part of the 100-mile loop around the city or sit and relax in the 85-acre green space at the waterfront park and is among the popular places to visit in Kentucky. 

Cumberland Gap 

The Cumberland Gap is a major break in the Appalachian Mountains and in the early years of settlement was a gateway to the west. Between 1775 and 1810 an estimated 300,000 settlers entered Kentucky. Cumberland Gap is one of the best outdoor places to visit in Kentucky. The Cumberland Gap National Historical Park is not only a beautiful area but it’s also historic: early settlers used it to move buffalo to the west.

You can visit the Hensley Settlement in the park, which is a living history village representative of early Appalachian settlement. The Cumberland Gap Visitor Center, the Artists Co-op, and Mitty’s Metal Art workshop are also fun stops in the park if you are looking to fill out a day in the area and is also the most populated attraction places to visit in Kentucky.  

Lexington 

Kentucky’s second-largest city, Lexington, is the heart of the Bluegrass region. It is also known as the horse capital of the world; it’s been a centre for thoroughbred racing for more than 200 years. Lexington has a vibrant arts scene, hosting music and arts festivals throughout the year.

Notable personages with ties to Lexington include 19th-century politico Henry Clay, Confederate president Jefferson Davis and actor George Clooney. If you enjoy learning about horses, you should definitely plan a Horse Farm Tour, which is a unique experience in Lexington. There are nearly 450 horse farms where you can book an appointment and see where some of the famous Kentucky Derby winners now reside.  

Paducah 

Paducah is a small city located at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee rivers. The city’s top attraction is the National Quilt Museum, which hosts an annual international quilt exhibition. The city is known, too, for its vibrant music and arts scene.

Just a walk away are the Floodwall murals that trace Paducah’s history in 50 panels. Paducah also is known for its historic district – 20 blocks are on the National Register of Historic Places Making it one of the popular places to visit in Kentucky.  

Natural Bridge State Resort Park 

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, add Natural Bridge State Resort Park to your bucket list of outdoor places to visit in Kentucky. Natural Bridge, one of Kentucky’s first state parks, offers 19 miles of hiking trails. It’s really one of the best places to visit in Natural bridge state resort park.  

Land Between the Lakes 

The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is aptly named: It’s located between Kentucky and Barkley lakes, which are connected by a canal. The outdoor recreation has multi-use trails for hikers and bikers.

There are more than five designated water trails that range from one to three hours, where you can kayak along with the quiet lake systems. Horseback riding is another popular activity in the area because there is so much outdoor space.  

Newport 

Newport in northern Kentucky is a small and fun waterfront city located just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. One of the best places to visit in Kentucky. Newport on the Levee is where you can spend much of your time.

One of the top attractions is the Newport Aquarium, which has world-class exhibits and interactive demonstrations, from the Shark Bridge and fish feedings to interacting with penguins, Newport is on the list of most populated attraction places to visit in Kentucky.  

Bowling Green 

The town of Bowling Green is one of the best outdoor places to visit in Kentucky, especially if you are an automotive or aviation enthusiast. It is home to the National Corvette Museum, where you can see a large collection of restored vintage Corvettes and exhibits related to the iconic American car. You can take a factory tour or visit the National Corvette Museum which is located there. 

Mammoth Cave National Park 

The massive cave system at Mammoth Cave National Park, near Brownsville in central Kentucky, is the longest known in existence in the world. Hiking is another popular activity. There are several miles of trails that start from the visitor centre and can accommodate every skill level.

You can also book a horseback riding tour through the national park. It’s one of the most popular places to visit in Kentucky, about two million people visit the national park every year, with around 500,000 taking a cave tour. 

Kentucky Bourbon Trail 

Spirited travellers will definitely want to journey along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The road trip takes in nine of the state’s major distillers, including Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and Four Roses, as well as some of the smaller craft distilleries. You’ll learn how America’s native spirit is made, view the distilleries and maybe even do a little sampling of the state’s best. 

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