This Road Trip Travels To 7 Attractions You Can Only Find In Kentucky

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Posted in Kentucky

March 22, 2022
by Sarah McCosham

The Bluegrass State is rife with opportunities for exploration, whether it’s hitting the trails (above and below ground!), checking out historic sites, ogling roadside attractions, or enjoying a meal at an only-in-Kentucky restaurant. These experiences are wholly unique to the Bluegrass, so we put together the following road trip to seven attractions you can only find in Kentucky. Buckle up and get ready to be in total awe of our amazing state.

During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.

This epic road trip leads to seven only-in-Kentucky attractions. Designed to span three days and two nights, our itinerary features two unique accommodations we think you’ll love.
Bernheim Arboretum has long been a place of fun and fantasy, where nature and the imagination meet, and there’s truly no place like it.

Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd, Clermont, KY 40110, USA

Boasting whimsical woodland giants, a canopy walk, gorgeous scenery, and an epic playscape, this is a beautiful park well-worth exploring!

Did you know Kentucky was home to the world’s largest pocketknife? It’s true!

Red Hill Cutlery, 92 Bourbon Trace, Radcliff, KY 40160, USA

You’ll find this bizarre record-breaking roadside attraction at Red Hill Cutlery in Radcliff, Kentucky, a place that also has a pocketknife museum!
Bernheim isn’t the only place with charming creatures hiding in the woods; Lake Malone has its own Big Twigs.

Lake Malone State Park, 331 Ic-8001A, Dunmor, KY 42339, USA

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This family of friendly giants calls Lake Malone home, and you can see all three when you visit this imaginative attraction that’s appealing to all ages.

And this, friends, is also where we’re bunking for the night.

Lake Malone State Park features 25 sites with electric and water hookups, grills, and picnic tables. There’s nothing quite like camping in Kentucky, and park is one of the best!

We’ll spend the next day exploring Kentucky’s pride and joy: Mammoth Cave National Park.

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA

The longest underground cave in the world, this sandstone labyrinth encompasses more than 400 miles of known passageways, and new tunnels are continually being discovered! A cave tour at this national park is and extraordinary adventure for your Kentucky bucket list.
After a day spent exploring Mammoth Cave, we’re heading to Cave City to stay the night at a place that’s truly one-of-a-kind.

Historic Wigwam Village No. 2, 601 N Dixie Hwy, Cave City, KY 42127, USA

Since 1937, Wigwam Village No. 2 has been a favorite stop for travelers and visitors in Cave City. It isn’t just the only wigwam village in Kentucky, it’s also one of only three remaining wigwam villages in the entire country — and in fact, it’s actually not a wigwam village at all!

For the final stretch of this adventure, we’re going to good, old Hodgenville, a place folks go to experience a wholesome slice of small-town Americana. It’s also a town with immense historical significance.

Hodgenville, KY 42748, USA

Why Lincoln? Because the Bluegrass is the birthplace of Honest Abe!

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, 2995 Lincoln Farm Rd, Hodgenville, KY 42748, USA

The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park has a lovely replica of Lincoln’s boyhood home. It also features a beautiful Beaux-Arts neo-classical Memorial Building to commemorate the symbolic site of his birth.

We’re ending our road trip in beautiful Bardstown, one of the most idyllic small towns in the Bluegrass.

Old Talbott Tavern, 107 W Stephen Foster Ave, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA

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Bardstown has a vibrant downtown with local shops, iconic attractions (hey there, Maker’s Mark!), historic sites, and world-famous bourbon bars, a la The Old Talbott Tavern.

Harkening back to 1779, the tavern is the oldest bourbon bar in the US, and it’s a place that offers immense history, legendary accommodations, and next-level pub fare!
And you know what? We can’t think of a better way to conclude this only-in-Kentucky road trip than with an only-in-Kentucky hot brown!

Looking for more uniquely Kentucky destinations? Head to this world-record-breaking attraction in Louisville.

Address: Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd, Clermont, KY 40110, USA

Address: Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA

Address: Lake Malone State Park, 331 Ic-8001A, Dunmor, KY 42339, USA

Address: Hodgenville, KY 42748, USA

Address: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, 2995 Lincoln Farm Rd, Hodgenville, KY 42748, USA

Address: Historic Wigwam Village No. 2, 601 N Dixie Hwy, Cave City, KY 42127, USA

Address: Old Talbott Tavern, 107 W Stephen Foster Ave, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA

Address: Red Hill Cutlery, 92 Bourbon Trace, Radcliff, KY 40160, USA