Beautiful grass with a bluish hue gave Kentucky its appellation as the Bluegrass State, and this name has become synonymous with the music of the region. Kentucky is however best known for its equine interests and as the home of America’s most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby, held in Louisville each May.
Most of Kentucky’s horse farms are near Lexington, in the centre of the state, where you’ll find the incomparable Kentucky Horse Park and many other attractions. The Shaker village at nearby Pleasant Hill is a marvellous restoration project that depicts the life of the religious Quaker sect that flourished here in the 19th Century.
Lovers of whiskey will enjoy visiting one of the many Kentucky bourbon distilleries that welcome visitors; top names include Jim Bean, Maker’s Mark, Buffalo Trace and Labrot & Graham.
The state’s biggest draw, in every sense, is Mammouth Cave National Park, where a variety of fascinating tours may be taken through chambers and passageways of the world’s largest cave system. The area around the caves offers plenty for visitors as well. Other Kentucky attractions include Fort Knox, the famous gold depository and Bardstown, with nostalgic My Old Kentucky State Park.