The 10 Best Hidden Gems Things to do in Kentucky, United States

August 9, 2021 Roseanne Arnett

Famous for Bourbon Country and horse farms, civil war battlefields and beautiful natural parks, Kentucky offers a delightful mix of experiences. You might begin in Lexington, where the 1200-acre Kentucky Horse Park is a popular attraction. The university adds exciting sports, impressive art and a vibrant student/professor population to the city. Louisville is similar, where renowned Churchill Downs hosts the annual Kentucky Derby and the Belle of Louisville, the nation’s oldest steam-driven river paddlewheeler, hosts enchanting lunch and dinner cruises along the beautiful Ohio River. Next, head south to visit Mammoth Cave National Park for a day of touring the cave (the world’s longest known cave), hiking and canoeing on the Green River. Paducah, Berea, Bowling Green – so many places to explore and enjoy!
Restaurants in Kentucky

1. The National Quilt Museum

215 Jefferson St, Paducah, KY 42001-0714 +1 270-442-8856 [email protected] http://www.quiltmuseum.org
Excellent
84%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 993 reviews

The National Quilt Museum

The National Quilt Museum is a nationally recognized art museum that exhibits the finest fiber art in the world. In an average year, the museum is visited by quilters and art lovers from all 50 states and over 40 countries worldwide. Our exhibits rotate throughout the year so they will be different every time you visit. The museum is an eight-time TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner and a two time TripAdvisor Hall of Fame winner. If you enjoy art museum's you will love The National Quilt Museum.

Reviewed By jfadds

Paducah is fortune to have such a gem to draw visitors from far and wide There are changing exhibitions along with a permanent collection -plenty of parking and a gift shop too An hour would suffice for most folks to visit

2. Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm

1841 Paynes Depot Rd, Georgetown, KY 40324-9138 +1 502-863-1775 http://www.oldfriendsequine.org/
Excellent
90%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 489 reviews

Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm

Horse Racing's Living History Museum! At Old Friends, the non-profit Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, the horses may not be racing anymore, but they are winners everyday. Founded in 2003 by former Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen, Old Friends cares for more than 200 horses, many of them stallions whose racing and breeding careers came to an end. A "Rural Hall of Fame", the farm welcomes visitors to get up close and personal with such stars of the turf as Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners Silver Charm and War Emblem, Belmont Stakes winners Sarava and Touch Gold, millionaire gelding Arson Squad, and many more. Hear their stories, meet them in person...Er..Horse. Our guests come to visit a few ex-racehorses, they leave having been touched by the heart of a Thoroughbred hero. March 15th through November 4th, tours are daily at 10 am, 1 pm & 3 pm. Winter hours at our Kentucky farm November 4th through March 14th - one tour daily at 11:00 only.

Reviewed By RobtB - Saint Charles, United States

Take a trip back down memory lane while enjoying a small piece of the golden years for some of the greatest race horses ever to race. Silver Charm/1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, War Emblem/ 2002 Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness winner, Sarava/2002 Belmont Stakes winner, Touch Gold/1997 Belmont Stakes winner, reside here along with another 160 thoroughbreds living the good life in their twilight years. Also here are Alphabet Soup/Breeders Cup Classic champion from 1996, Popcorn Deelites, the horse that played "Seabiscuit" in the Toby McGuire movie. Afternoon Deelites, great grandson of Secretariat and Nicanor.....full blood brother to the great Barbaro. The final resting place of derby winner Charismatic and Secretariat's last sired foal "Tinners Way" are here along with so many others resting in peace. Many other champions and name horses from historic settings and times wait for you to either pet or feed a carrot to. The staff there is knowledgeable, friendly and so willing to tell the stories about these majestic animals you never knew. They exist because of our tour fees and donations in a setting fit for retired champions. If you are in the Georgetown KY area and you miss this, then you have cheated yourself out of a part of your trip through horse country. You never really know the next retired champion you may see at Old Friends. A return trip is a must.

3. Conrad-Caldwell House Museum (Conrad's Castle)

1402 St James Ct, Louisville, KY 40208-2127 +1 502-636-5023 [email protected] http://conrad-caldwell.org
Excellent
85%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 622 reviews

Conrad-Caldwell House Museum (Conrad's Castle)

The Conrad-Caldwell House Museum is a historic, Victorian mansion located in the heart of Old Louisville on St. James Court. It is one of the finest examples of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture and was the masterpiece of famed local architect Arthur Loomis of Clarke & Loomis. Surrounded by a beautiful courtyard neighborhood at the center of the largest collection of Victorian Homes in the US, "Conrad's Castle" featured all the latest innovations of its day, including interior plumbing and electric lighting. Known for its beautiful woodwork and parquet floors, this massive Bedford limestone home, covered with gargoyles, beautiful archways, and elaborate stone designs, incorporated 7 types of hardwoods and magnificent stained glass windows in the interior design, making it one of the most stunning homes in Old Louisville. The Museum has been lovingly restored to the Edwardian Age, housing a massive collection of period items including many original pieces.

Reviewed By mhume

Beth Caldwell, a great granddaughter of the second owner of the home, led our tour and it was the best home tour I have ever done, due in large part to her engaging personality and personal stories! The framing woodwork and staircase, as well as the different parquet flooring pattern in each room are remarkable examples of craftsmanship from the past. Seeing the Acousticon (a hearing aid from the early 1900s) which Grace used, her life size doll, a sewing machine from the era, mechanical pencils and tools used by the Caldwell men, the large hidden wall safe, and more were all interesting. The exterior is constructed of limestone, and with its indoor plumbing and electric light bulbs, it was one of the most remarkable homes of its day! It is a treasure to have such a beautifully preserved home to tour in Louisville.

4. Badgett Playhouse

1838 Jh Obryan Ave, Grand Rivers, KY 42045-9049 +1 888-362-4223 [email protected] http://www.badgettplayhouse.com
Excellent
84%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 369 reviews

Badgett Playhouse

Shows at the Badgett Theatre in Grand Rivers rival anything you can find in Branson or Nashville. High-caliber talent, music and performances right here in West Kentucky! The Playhouse is a 6,000-square-foot facility located on JH O'Bryan in Grand Rivers behind the Welcome Center. It features state-of-the-art sound and lighting (including moving light fixtures), and 15 exciting shows per year!

Reviewed By wposound1 - Tooele, United States

Great show! Christmas show is great fun with great music and dancing. Had a blast! Being the family and enjoy.

5. Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum

1100 N Dixie Ave, Elizabethtown, KY 42701-2534 +1 270-763-6175 [email protected] http://www.swopemuseum.com
Excellent
90%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 262 reviews

Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum

"... a wonderful collection, and it's FREE! Thank you" a recent visitor. The Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum features vehicles ranging from the early 1900's to the 1960's in a variety of makes and models in both original condition and restored condition. After years of planning and nine months of construction, Swope`s Cars of Yesteryear opened in May 1999. The collection consists of sixty magnificent machines of the past, all museum quality. These are exciting automobiles that stir memories of long ago days when motoring was a fun-filled adventure. Our museum allows car fans and collectors to admire the progression of automobiles over time. Our collection includes antique cars like the 1914 Model T and the 1925 Pierce Arrow to classics like the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro and the 1956 Thunderbird.

Reviewed By Homecroft56 - Nineveh, United States

Almost missed it - road signs direct you to a previous location. It sits in the parking lot of the Swopes car dealerships right on US 31W. A small museum with about 40 antique cars, all in mint condition. Excellent collection and worth a stop to see. The museum is free.

6. Purple Toad Winery

4275 Old US Highway 45 S, Paducah, KY 42003-9280 +1 270-554-0010 http://www.purpletoadwinery.net
Excellent
89%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 369 reviews

Purple Toad Winery

Reviewed By Sweetspcl - Antioch, United States

I had heard of this winery before but never visited. As we were on our way to Metropolis we decided to stop and am I ever so glad we did!!!. This place was great, the staff was very welcoming, knowledgeable and engaging. The amount of different wines was unmatched compared to the many other wineries I have visited. I had recently stocked up on wine at the Tennessee wine festival but that didn't stop me from coming with 7 bottles from here. I am already planning a day trip with my girlfriends as part of my birthday celebration next month. It didn't hurt any that we caught them while having the customer appreciation sale of 20% off.

7. Copper & Kings American Brandy Distillery

1121 E Washington St, Louisville, KY 40206-1822 +1 502-561-0267 ext. 213 [email protected] http://www.copperandkings.com/bookatour/
Excellent
83%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 539 reviews

Copper & Kings American Brandy Distillery

Copper & Kings is an American Brandy, Gin, Absinthe & Liqueur distillery located in Louisville, Kentucky. Come see why Copper & Kings is consistently rated one of Louisville's Best Distilleries! All tastings will be safely conducted in our spacious Art Gallery or, weather permitting, in our outdoor Courtyard space. 6 Guest Maximum Capacity per Tasting Experience. To keep our guests and staff safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, all guests are required to wear a mask when visiting the distillery. Social Distancing will be enforced throughout the entire distillery. Our Tour Guides will lead all tours wearing a mask, and we will sanitize all touchpoints before and after each experience. To keep our Production Team safe, our Tasting Experiences will not access our Production Floor or the Barrel Room for the time being. Our style of distillation and barrel maturation will be thoroughly discussed during the educational tasting. Stay safe & take care.

Reviewed By Lovestheocean789

Informative, upbeat and fun tour with Missy.Tasted samples of three different types of brandy in a colorful tasting room with cool art. Impressed with sustainability efforts (bee hive, pollinator gardens, solar panels, repurposing of wood and waste products.) Brandy products were very good-also some gin and absinthe.The sales/distilling/ownership team seems very creative with fresh perspective on whole distilling/marketing process. Tour finishes on urban rooftop bar overlooking sections of Louisville with downtown in distance. Great two hours!

8. The Parklands of Floyds Fork

15712 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY 40245-4144 +1 502-584-0350 [email protected] http://www.theparklands.org
Excellent
86%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 146 reviews

The Parklands of Floyds Fork

Reviewed By jeffF8875IX - Louisville, United States

Outstanding and well-kept park - perfect for hiking, dogwalking, and biking - paved bike paths as well as dirt trails through the woods and along Floyd's Fork creek - great time.

9. O.Z. Tyler Distillery

10 Distillery Rd, Owensboro, KY 42301-1422 +1 270-240-0060 [email protected] http://www.oztylerdistillery.com
Excellent
86%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 124 reviews

O.Z. Tyler Distillery

Visit the historical O.Z. Tyler Distillery, Owensboro, Kentucky's only Bourbon Whiskey distillery. Gift shop open year-round and tours + tastings offered for a small fee. See how traditional Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey is made firsthand, then see our exclusive TerrePURE® technology in action.

Reviewed By DanaDahlia17 - Wilmington, United States

We went to 9 other distilleries throughout our visit to Kentucky. OZ Tyler was our last stop and it was a great one. From the kind gentleman at the gate, friendly ladies in the gift shop, and our knowledgeable tour guide Adam, we had a wonderful experience here. Highly recommend the Honey Bourbon although all 3 OZ Tyler Bourbons were noteworthy. It’s a way off the trail but it was worth it!

10. Casey Jones Distillery

2815 Witty Ln, Hopkinsville, KY 42240-8162 +1 270-839-9987 [email protected] http://caseyjonesdistillery.com
Excellent
90%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 349 reviews

Casey Jones Distillery

The legend of Casey Jones began in prohibition-era Golden Pond, Kentucky, where he built more than 250 illegal-production copper stills. AJ, Casey’s grandson, used granddad’s last work to create the still used in the distillery today, giving an extra measure of historic family authenticity to our premium distilled spirits. It’s also where you can get married, celebrate a birthday, host a corporate event, or just wander around our lake & waterfall, sit on the back deck & lose yourself in the beautiful Christian County, KY, rural countryside. All while sipping a taste of authentic piece of Golden Pond, Kentucky history. Our team makes this a must-stop to come tour and taste and experience local distilling history. Visit us Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 1pm-6pm for tours & tastings, shop in Casey's Corner, enjoy a beer, wine, cocktail, moonshine popsicles or soda in Casey's Lounge. Fun for all ages, our tastings and spirits for 21+ are free. Tours for 21 & over $5.

Reviewed By brynkirk

Enjoyed our visit to Casey Jones Distillery as part of the State Line Whiskey Tour. Great stories about the history of Casey Jones and his moonshine career. Learned a lot from the tour and the tasting.

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