Top Things to do in Kentucky
Top Hotels in Kentucky
- 1. Aloft Louisville Downtown
- 2. Drury Inn & Suites Paducah
- 3. The Galt House Hotel
- 4. Embassy Suites by Hilton Louisville Downtown
- 5. Hampton Inn & Suites Newport / Cincinnati
- 6. Drury Inn & Suites Bowling Green, KY
- 7. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Lexington South / Hamburg
- 8. Drury Inn Paducah
- 9. Hilton Garden Inn Louisville Airport
- 10. 21c Museum Hotel Louisville
Things to do in Kentucky, United States: The Best Caverns & Caves
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. Crystal Onyx Cave
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 349 reviews
CRYSTAL ONYX Cave, one of Kentucky's premier show cave with beautiful formations throughout. Tour group sizes are small, with a slow pace. The steps, trails, handrails & lighting have recently been renovated. NOTE theirs another local cave using a similar name, we are CRYSTAL ONYX Cave, est 1960. We are family owned & operated with a laid back approach & unscripted tours. We allow plenty of time to take pictures, relax & enjoy our formation filled cave. NO reservations needed, 1 hour tours on approx. 35 minute departures. Seasonal open everyday March-Oct. 31. Check out our web site for off season tour availability & other useful information. Just 2 miles east of 65 on 90 to Prewitts Knob Road.
Reviewed By schultkr
What an awesome experience!! Great cave, excellent tour guide, who happened to be the owner and gave a lot of history and was a lot of fun! A natural wonder you should definitely check out.
2. Cub Run Cave
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 204 reviews
Cub Run Cave, located in scenic Hart County Kentucky, was first discovered in 1950. It was then briefly shown to the public before being closed for the next 55 years. The cave reopened to the public in July of 2006.
3. Louisville Mega Cavern
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 15,493 reviews
While visiting Louisville, Kentucky, you won't want to miss MEGA ZIPS, the world's ONLY underground zipline adventure tour! Featuring 6 ziplines nearly 100 feet off the cavern floor and two challenge bridges, MEGA ZIPS is 2.5 hours of adrenaline-fueled adventure! Though fun for the whole family, the kids will especially love MEGA QUEST, the only underground ropes challenge course in the world! MEGA QUEST features two levels and 76 challenge elements including mini-ziplines and rope walls. Explore at your own pace in this 2-hour adventure! Heights aren't your thing? No problem! Enjoy the jumps in our 320,000 square foot BMX & MTB MEGA BIKE PARK, explore the furthest parts of the cavern on our MEGA eBIKE tour, or enjoy a seated historical tour of the cavern on our MEGA TRAM.
Reviewed By susanpN5519OU
Quentin and Maddie were great zipline tour guides, very funny, informative and knowledgeable (ask about the porcelain bunny collection!) Highly recommend these two as guides!
4. Hidden River Cave and American Cave Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 435 reviews
Take an in-depth look at the fascinating world of caves as you journey through gigantic subterranean chambers made out of limestone.After you explore the underground, try out the aerial view from our new zip-line and rappel! Don't forget our 2 level museum featuring caves.
Reviewed By andiecarpenter12 - Columbus, United States
Fantastic first caving experience! Aaron and Keith were great guides for us as we went deep inside on the 4hour adventure tour! Highest recommendations!
5. Diamond Caverns
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 422 reviews
A cave with stone-decor: calcite drapery, eaves of stalactites, a fence of stalagmites, and flowstone. Open year round. Offering a one hour guided cave tour.
Reviewed By 664vincentp
This is one of 4 "must see" caves around Mammoth Cave National Park. Mammoth Cave is the biggest, but the least beautiful. The other 3 caves (Crystal Onyx, Onyx, and Diamond) are "wet caves" with more spectacular rock formations. They are all within a 15 minute drive of one another. The 3 "wet caves" are all privately owned. They all have very good gift shops and excellent, informative tour guides. Diamond Caverns is about a 90 minute visit, Crystal Onyx about 75 minutes, and Onxy about 45 minutes total. Diamond Caverns is the 2nd largest to Mammoth Cave and has spectacular, gigantic rock formations. Our guide, Elizabeth, had fascinating stories about the "cave wars" between the owners of various private showcase caves in this region during the 1930's and 40's. The gift shop here was the largest and most impressive.
6. Mammoth Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,932 reviews
A mysterious limestone cave that has fascinated people for 4,000 years.
Reviewed By JULIANP710 - High Point, United States
First time here at Mammoth Cave National Park!! Get you tickets well in advance for cave tours sell out early We did the Historic cave tour start to end ,worked out to be about 2 hours ,was very enjoyable there are some very low spots and narrow areas and some very wide and open . Tickets for adults $17 each. Many tours to choose from Many trails to choose from Many camping areas GPS coordinates appears to be off as you approach NPS offices
7. Lost River Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,077 reviews
Lost River Cave is home to the only underground boat tour in the state of Kentucky and the only zipline in Bowling Green. In addition to the boat tour, Lost River Cave offers over two miles of nature trails, ziplines, and a unique, seasonal butterfly habitat. Lost River Cave is one of the largest nature parks in the South Central Kentucky region. Book your tickets online
Reviewed By toddsP6204AD - Manassas, United States
This is a "new" cave where the formation is young. The tour is far less physically demanding since you're seated in a boat for most of it. The blue hole is unique to any cave tour I've taken and they spin great local lore as part of the tour. Run by a non profit- they go into a lot of the science too. Great for the young, old, or in between.
8. Onyx Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 203 reviews
Onyx Cave is a 30 minute tour with many formations and few stairs. Tours are led by experienced, knowledgeable guides and are appropriate for the whole family. The cave stays a cool comfortable 60 degrees year-round, a welcome break from the summer heat. Also photography is allowed on our tours, so bring your camera and capture the natural beauty of the cave.
Reviewed By ErnestR392 - Royston, United States
This cave has plenty too see! This cave is different because it’s a pit cave or a vertical cave that goes straight down and not horizontal. Our guide was super cool, informative and we didn’t feel rushed and our tour was personalized. This cave is not huge but different and the features are very cool, unlike Mammoth which is like a giant tunnel this is a cave full of stalactites and stalagmites and flow stones.
9. Mammoth Onyx Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 71 reviews
Reviewed By nanookdalla2 - Plano, United States
We stopped here after reading about it online. The cave guide was very knowledgeable about the history and geology of the cave. The tour itself wasn't overly strainuous although a lot of steps were involved. The zoo was nicely maintained with no noticeable odors. The animals seemed well cared for and friendly. My only complaint is that the shows were scheduled too close to the cave tour so we missed the beginning. All in all a nice stop at a reasonable price.
10. Sand Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By bigdawgtraveler - Plattsmouth, United States
Very calm little trail but they do a Caravan tour from there once a day so look out for it and go on it. Very educating and informative. You get to see parts of the park that no one sees.
