There's always something to see and do during the winter months when many attractions are closed. Slade is a case in point. Sandwiched between Natural Bridge State Resort Park and the Red River Gorge Geologic Area, Slade is a collection of shops and businesses catering to travelers.
Natural Bridge State Resort Park makes a wonderful base of operations. The lodge not only remains open, January is the one time you are likely to find rooms open without making reservations a year in advance.
The big draw in the park is its namesake arch. Although neither the largest nor tallest natural arch in the region, Natural Bridge has been attracting tourists for more than 100 years. The skylift is closed for the season, but it's a relatively easy walk to the arch.
Trail #1-Original Trail-is 1/2 mile of comparatively easy hiking. It does, however, climb steadily, so be prepared for that. After exploring the arch, you can return on the same trail, or take Balanced Rock Trail back. Caution: there are 450 stairs on this trail. But if you're up for it, you'll see the unique mushroom-shaped rock that gives the trail its name.
As you enter the driveway leading to Hemlock Lodge and the skylift, stop the car and look at the cliffline to the right. You'll see a natural carving called Indian Head at the end of the cliff. Just under it is an opening through the ridge, called a "lighthouse." That's Owl's Window.
When you've had your fill of the park, head over to Red River Gorge by taking KY 11 toward the Mountain Parkway. Along the way you'll pass the Mountain Horse Museum, which remains open during the winter.
The Mountain Pleasure Horse is little known. Yet this breed, which originated in eastern Kentucky about 165 years ago, is the precursor to all the walking horse breeds, including the Tennessee Walking, the Rocky Mountain, and the Kentucky Mountain horses.
The Mountain Horse Museum celebrates all these breeds, with particular emphasis on the Mountain Pleasure Horse. Here you'll find saddles, tack, photos, literature, and memorabilia.
While visiting the museum, make a point of seeing Goldfinger's Star, a Mountain Pleasure stallion that Governor Patton named the official Kentucky Flag Horse.
Unless you're a die-hard hiker, the best way to experience Red River Gorge this time of year is to take the driving tour. From Natural Bridge State Resort Park, it's a 40-mile loop, primarily using KY 715 and KY 77.
The 100 known natural arches and bridges found in the Geologic Area are the main draw. And you'll see some of the more dramatic of them along the driving tour. But there are other important attractions-natural and man-made.
One of the most awesome is Nada Tunnel on KY 77. Begun in 1910 and completed in 1911, this one-lane tunnel was cut through the mountain by hand, using dynamite, steam drills, and hand tools. Climax Locomotives hauled logs through the tunnel to Clay City, where the largest sawmill in the United States was located.
Ironically, the first load of logs jammed in the tunnel, and had to be dynamited free. The tunnel was then widened to its current 13 x 12 x 900 feet. Be sure to put your headlights on when passing through the tunnel, and remember: traffic is only one way at a time.
The Red River Gorge Geologic Area starts on the other side of the bridge. You'll pass through some really scenic country until merging with KY 715, after which you'll be following the river. Shortly after passing the parking area to the Sheltowee Trace, look down and you'll see a pedestrian suspension bridge, built to accommodate hikers. It is usually only visible during the winter months when the leaves are off the trees.
A while later you'll come to the Gladie Creek Visitors Center. The center itself will be closed, but check out the two-story log house and the bison herd. Bison once roamed freely throughout this part of Kentucky, and the herd commemorates those early trailblazers of the Bluegrass.
Continue on KY 715, exploring Sky Bridge, Angels Windows, and the overlooks along Chimney Top Road. Tunnel Ridge Road, however, is undergoing construction work, so don't bother driving it this trip.
Eventually you'll return to KY 15, which returns you to Slade and Natural Bridge State Resort Park.
For details, contact: Natural Bridge State Resort Park, 2135 Natural Bridge Road, Slade, KY 40376, (606) 663-2214; Mountain Horse Museum, 691 Natural Bridge Road, Slade, KY 40301, (606) 663-0928.

Day Trips & Short Stops
Cast in iron

Although you wouldn't know it from their facades, many old buildings were actually built out of cast iron. This includes both supporting members and decorative elements, including columns, finials, and facing panels.
Even less well known than the building material is the fact that Louisville has the second-largest collection of cast-iron buildings in the world, second only to New York. You can see them, along with artifacts commemorating them, by taking the West Main Street Walking Tour, a stroll through history often called "Louisville's Time Machine."
Specialized paving stones and markers help identify the iron architecture that spans two centuries. The ironwood trees supported by cast-iron "walking stick" tripods are a really nice touch. Each of the cast-iron buildings is fronted by one of the specially commissioned walking stick triads, which are carved with icons of the buildings' original uses.
Of course there's a lot more to the walking tour than the cast-iron edifices. Several museums are located there, including the Louisville Slugger Museum (which includes a tour of the factory that produces the famed baseball bats); the Louisville Science Center; and nearby is the new Glassworks museum.
For full details, contact: Louisville and Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 400 South First St., Louisville, KY 40202, (502) 584-2121.

Outdoor Log
Winter game

Are you a fair-weather hunter? Then January may not be for you. Cold, blustery days. Rain. Possibly snow. For many Kentucky shooters, that kind of weather means hunting up a hot drink and the latest game on TV.
But the fact is, some of the best upland hunting of the year takes place in January. What's more, there's no dearth of choice, because most of the seasons extend to the end of this month and beyond.
Squirrel season, for instance, continues to January 31. Bannertails tend to be more active during the daylight hours, too, so there's no need to get out at the crack of dawn. You'll find squirrels on the ground this time of year, foraging for fallen nuts and other foods. Either a shotgun or .22 rifle is a good choice. Daily bag limit on squirrel is six, with 12 in possession.
Rabbit and quail seasons also remain open until the last of this month.
Rabbits are ubiquitous, but like thick stuff. Work the overgrown swales and edges between woodlines and farm fields, and you should get some shooting. Chaps or brush-buster pants are a good idea. Not all the stuff rabbits hide in has thorns. It just seems that way. Limit on rabbit is four per day, with eight in possession.
It's not as easy to kick up quail as it is bunnies. But it can be done, especially if a group of hunters forms a line and sweeps through the right habitat. Here again, edges are where to find the birds, those weedy, overgrown areas abutting farm fields. Quail bag limit is eight daily, with 16 in possession.
Grouse season stays open until the end of February. And there are plenty of places to hunt them. Grouse have been expanding their range in Kentucky, and now virtually all of the eastern counties are part of the statewide season: 53 counties in all.
Although grouse can be hunted without dogs, it tends to be an exercise in futility. By this time of year they are spooky, and tend to flush wild. A good pointing dog can up your success ratio tremendously. You're allowed four grouse per day, with eight in possession.

Brook and Barbara Elliott are freelance writers and public relations consultants. They write primarily about travel and outdoor recreation, and help publicize businesses in those industries.