Explore Kentucky’s themed trails
PACK A BAG. Grab a snack. Pick up those special passports.
You’re going to need them for traveling between the Fairy Forest of Yew Dell Botanical Gardens and the Forest Giants of Bernheim, slipping over the border into ancient America at Manchester’s Stone of Witness: Red Bird Petroglyph and crossing into the paranormal realm at Harlan’s Sassy Trash, an antiques trove crowded not only with vintage goodies—but ghosts, too.
“The opportunities to experience ‘our new Kentucky home’ showcasing our rich culture and amazing landscapes invites travelers to connect with our unique heritage and attractions,” says Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier. “Whether you’re interested in music or gardens, wine or the outdoors, we have something for everyone.”
Here are five trails, each offering a new, exciting and enriching way to experience Kentucky.
Kentucky Garden Trail
Twelve botanical gardens and arboreta located in nine different communities show off exquisite landscapes filled with alluring fragrance, color, beauty and texture. From Owensboro’s Western Kentucky Botanical Garden to Goshen’s Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve, this trail has the distinction of being the only state garden passport trail in the country.
Collect garden-specific stickers at each location on the Kentucky Garden Trail, including Yew Dell Botanical Gardens. Photo: Yew Dell Botanical Gardens
The trail is equally enjoyable for green thumbs, casual gardeners and those who’ve never planted a single seed. Thanks to a website that sorts sites not only by garden type (display, research, sculpture), but by activities and interests—like guided tours, workshops, on-site dining, architecture— trailblazers can seek out their perfect experience.
“If you are looking for a pretty place to walk your dog, you can sort by ‘pet-friendly,’” says Kim Hydes, executive director at the Oldham County Kentucky Tourism & Conventions. “Looking for a nice place for lunch or historic architecture? You can search for that, too.”
Wander Yonder: Appalachian Triangle of Kentucky
Adventure, authenticity and alluring natural beauty are the calling cards for this trail that categorizes experiences by such enticing themes as Lost and Found, Hills and Hollers and Tree Tops to Trail Towns.
For example, Lost and Found beckons adventurers to seek out the road less traveled and immerse themselves in Appalachia’s unique culture. Get a taste of it by taking in a concert at “Kentucky’s Country Music Capital” at Renfro Valley; eating the world’s most well-known fried chicken at its birthplace; and touring an actual coal mine.
“Portal 31 allows visitors to experience firsthand the conditions that miners endured and the profound impact coal mining has had on Kentucky’s history and economy,” says Brandon Pennington, executive director for the City of Harlan Tourist and Convention Commission.
Kentucky After Dark
How do you like your scares? This trail serves up haunts and haints, thrills and chills through a spooky cemetery tableau in Mayfield dubbed The Strange Procession That Never Moves; BB Riverboats’ creaking, creepy USS Nightmare docked in Newport; and stories of the goblins of Dead Man’s Hollow in Georgetown.
Things go bump in the night all over the state, from Louisville’s abandoned tuberculosis hospital, Waverly Hills Sanatorium, to Manchester’s circa-1800 Old Chesnut House, a former funeral home. Experience them on ghost hunts, year-round guided and self-guided tours, and other encounters. Frankfort even has a Capital City Museum Murder and Mayhem tour.
Bluegrass Train Experience
My Old Kentucky Dinner Train. Kentucky Railway Museum. Nostalgia Toy and Train Museum. Historic Railpark and L&N Depot. From Bardstown to New Haven, Woodford to Bowling Green, America’s rail history is on display in vintage train cars, museums and a new three-day celebration called RailFest, taking place May 9–11, marking 175 years since the very first train rolled through La Grange.
“The Bluegrass Train Experience celebrates the railroads’ legacy as the backbone of Kentucky’s growth, but it’s also about what these destinations and train attractions offer today: beautiful scenery, rich history and memories waiting to be made,” says Madison Lindsey, marketing director at Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The Bluegrass Train Experience shares Kentucky history in a new and exciting way. Shown is the Historic RailPark and Train Museum in Bowling Green. Photo: Visit BGKY
Kentucky Music Trail
Take a deep dive into the state’s musical heritage on the Kentucky Music Trail. This trail connects visitors to the heart of Kentucky’s sound—from the hometowns of legends Loretta Lynn and Chris Stapleton to iconic venues like Ashland’s Paramount Arts Center and Danville’s Pioneer Playhouse to museums, like the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.
Find the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum on the Kentucky Music Trail. Photo: Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Search for upcoming concerts on the website’s Kentucky Fried Festivals page. Click “My Passport” and use the KMT app to check in at the trail’s more than 55 participating locations. To accompany the journey? Click the “Music” tab for the Fresh Sounds and Hot Browns playlist featuring 29 songs from Kentucky artists— from Tyler Childers to Johnny Blue Skies
Passports and treats
Now about that swag. Many of Kentucky’s new road trip trails, including the trails above, are passport programs that deliver rewards—from a custom organic wildflower seed packet to a canvas zipper tote.
Passports are typically available at trail attractions or participating visitor centers and/or tourism offices. Follow individual trail guidelines to redeem collected stamps or stickers.
