Kentucky

Top Regions of the Bluegrass State

(Pictures and places in bold are places I have been to.)

Burnt Ends
Burnt ends

10. Western Coal Fields

Owensboro (self-proclaimed “Barbecue Capital of the World”) is home to their International Bar-B-Q Festival and Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn (Note: Kansas City, Missouri also claims to be the “Barbecue Capital of the World”)

Shaker Museum at South Union
Shaker Museum at South Union

9. Jackson Purchase and the Western Waterlands

      • Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
      • Shaker Museum at South Union
Downtown Maysville
Downtown Maysville, Kentucky

8. Northern Ohio River Region

Maysville (a small town gem) along the Ohio River

Daniel Boone National Forest Natural Arch
Daniel Boone National Forest Natural Arch

7. Daniel Boone Country

Daniel Boone National Forest (including Red River Gorge Geological Area) and Natural Bridge State Park

Carter Caves State Resort Park
Carter Caves State Resort Park

6. Kentucky Appalachians

Hatfield and McCoy County along Kentucky’s boarder with West Virginia, plus the Carter Caves State Resort Park

Symbolic cabin of Abraham Lincoln's birthplace at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
Symbolic cabin of Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park

5. Abraham Lincoln Birthplace and Southern Lakes Region

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park and the Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway National Scenic Byway (see Land of Lincoln for more Abraham Lincoln sites)

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

4. Cumberland Region

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (shared with Tennessee and Virginia – it is thematically related to Virginia’s Wilderness Road State Park)

      • Cumberland Falls State Resort Park
      • Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument
      • Just for fun: Harland Sanders Café and Museum in Corbin (the original Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant)
Mammoth Cave Natural Entrance, Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave Natural Entrance, Mammoth Cave National Park

3. Cave Country

Mammoth Cave National Park – a World Heritage Site

      • Lost River Cave at Bowling Green
      • Hidden River Cave at Horse Cave
      • American Cave Museum at Horse Cave
Horse in Kentucky
Horse in Kentucky

2. Bluegrass Country

      • Horse Country around Lexington
      • My Old Kentucky Home State Park
      • Camp Nelson National Monument
Belle of Louisville
Belle of Louisville, Louisville

1. Kentucky Derby Country

Louisville

      • The Kentucky Derby
      • Kentucky Derby Museum
      • Churchill Downs
      • Belle of Louisville Riverboat on the Ohio River

State Info

A) State Nicknames+

      • The Tobacco State
      • The Dark and Bloody Ground State

B) Iconic Foods

      • Hot Brown
      • Fried Chicken
      • Owensboro Mutton Barbecue
      • Country Ham
      • Burgoo Stew
      • Spoonbread
      • Kentucky Derby Pie
      • Chocolate Bourbon Balls
      • Modjeska Candy
      • Ale-8-One Soda