Kentucky, which many people associate with thoroughbred racehorses and Bourbon whisky, is an unusual combination of north and south. Beautiful rolling hills, covered with the ‘bluegrass’ that the state is famed for, combined with mountains and pleasant towns, make it an ideal flydrive destination.
The state’s largest city, Louisville, will further enhance its sporting reputation when the Ryder Cup tees off at the exclusive Valhalla Golf Club on September 19. The city already has a number of sporting attractions, including the world-class Muhammad Ali Center – which opened in a regenerated downtown in 2004 – and the Slugger Museum with its 120ft baseball bat outside.
Must see
Louisville is an excellent starting point with its numerous sporting attractions and a growing reputation as a museum town. The whimsical 21C Museum Hotel has the only museum in North America dedicated to exhibiting and collecting 21st-century art. There is also the Speed Art Museum and the Frazier International History Museum, while the pedestrianised Fourth Street Live entertainment area will keep revellers occupied well into the night.
Lexington is the other major city in Kentucky and is home to the world famous Keeneland Race Course, which runs thoroughbred races every April and October and will host the 2010 World Equestrian Games.
The nearby Kentucky Horse Park is an equine theme park, where many retired Kentucky Derby winners are stabled. The Kentucky Derby takes place on the first Saturday of May, with regular thoroughbred races during spring and autumn, at Churchill Downs, Louisville.
Visitors to the southeast of the state can enjoy the stunning scenery of the Appalachian Mountains and the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. Those visiting the southwest should stop off at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green.
Must do
Fight fans might want to spar a couple of virtual rounds in the ring with Louisville’s native boxing legend at the Mohammad Ali Center’s interactive ‘Train with Ali’ exhibit – a recreation of the former world heavyweight champion’s Deer Lake Training Camp.
Turf enthusiasts can spend a day at the races at Churchill Downs in Louisville or Keeneland in Lexington. Hikers and outdoor types should head to the Appalachian Trail in the eastern part of the state. There are a number of small towns, such as Prestonsburg, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, where visitors can base themselves.
Louisville hosts an Urban Bourbon Trail – where participants can sample America’s only native spirit in some of the city’s bars. Visitors can also venture out into Bourbon County, between Louisville and Lexington, where America As You Like offers a Bourbon Trail itinerary.
Where to stay?
Louisville has two classic hotels, the elegant Seelbach Hotel, an old Al Capone and F Scott Fitzgerald haunt, and the Georgian Revival-style Browns Hotel where you can live like a champion in the Muhammad Ali suite. The sumptuous five-star 21C Museum Hotel in the heart of a revitalised downtown is a couple of blocks from the Muhammad Ali Center. Even if you are not staying at the 21C, its restaurant, Proof on Main, is worth checking out.
The Ohio River divides Kentucky and Ohio and many visitors choose to spend a night in Cincinnati, home to the stunning National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which brilliantly chronicles the plight of the slaves trying to flee the south. A good bet is the splendid art deco Hilton Netherland Plaza Hotel, while on the Kentucky side the Marriott Cincinnati at Riverside has spectacular views of the Cincinnati skyline. TW
FACTFILE
Gateways: Cincinnati
Airlines: Delta
Flying time: Eight hours
Tour operators: America As You Like It, North American Travel Service, Cosmos
Weather: Kentucky has a moderate climate, characterized by warm yet moist conditions. July’s average temperature is 30.6 C. Spring and fall are ideal times to visit but much of Kentucky’s average 46 inches of rain a year falls in spring, the rainiest season.
Time difference from GMT: Most of the state is on Eastern Time (GMT -5), but the southern and western portions are on Central Time (GMT-6).
State Motto: Unbridled Spirit
