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Kentucky boasts a wonderful spectrum recreational opportunities within its borders, whether urban, cultural, or outdoor.

Fine arts and culture aficionados have much to choose from in the Bluegrass State. In Louisville, the Louisville Orchestra is a full-time, 71-member ensemble that is also the resident performing group for the Louisville Ballet and the Kentucky Opera, and performs across the Kentucky and Indiana areas. The Owensboro Museum of Fine Art in Owensboro showcases a permanent collection of American, European, and Asian fine and decorative arts dating from the 15th century to modern day. The Speed Art Museum in Louisville is Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museum and holds over 12,000 pieces in its permanent collection.

Many interesting museums showcase Kentucky’s history and unique cultural heritage. At the Kentucky Military History Museum in Frankfort, visitors can observe military paraphernalia from the Kentucky Militia, State Guard, and other volunteer military organizations ranging from the American Revolution through the Gulf War. The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum in Benham showcases many artifacts exploring the early years of industrial coal mining in Kentucky, and features continuous exhibits such as the Loretta Lynn Exhibit and the Mock Mine Exhibit. The Aviation Museum of Kentucky in Lexington displays historic aircraft such as barnstormers, vintage airliners, and historic Warbirds. The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Renfro Valley honors the many music professionals and performers who have made contributions to the music industry in Kentucky and around the world. Owensboro is also home to the International Bluegrass Music Museum, a state-of-the-art facility displaying bluegrass music history via interpretive exhibits, films, recordings, and other paraphernalia. The heritage of quilt making is celebrated at the Museum of the American Quilters Society in Paducah, which aims to educate the public about the art, history, and heritage of the craft through exhibits, workshops, conferences and publications.

Children of all ages can enjoy many of Kentucky’s attractions. The Louisville Zoo provides a home for 1,300 animals in natural settings. The Owensboro Museum of Science & History in Owensboro contains both permanent and traveling exhibit gallery and offers a learning center and family-friendly environment. At the Newport Aquarium in Newport, over 70 exhibits and 14 galleries feature a wide variety of aquatic life for visitors to enjoy. Astronomy buffs can visit either the Harding Planetarium in Bowling Green, the Golden Pond Planetarium in Golden Pond, or the Hummel Planetarium and Space Theater in Richmond. More educational and fun opportunities exist at the Louisville Science Center, complete with an IMAX theater, and the Exploruim of Lexington, one of the oldest children’s museums in the nation.

Kentucky’s agricultural products have given rise to a burgeoning agritourism industry. Visitors to the Bluegrass State can traverse the Bourbon Trail, connecting the state’s many Bourbon distilleries. Roughly a dozen wineries await visitors’ enjoyment. The seasonal bounty of the state can also be savored at orchards and U-Pick operations throughout the countryside. And at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, visitors can witness costumed artisans demonstrating 19th century trades in the Shaker tradition.

Kentucky’s scenic beauty begs to be explored whether by hiking, canoeing, camping, fishing, or via scenic drives. Kentucky boasts 52 Kentucky State Parks, complete with 17 resorts and 32 campgrounds. At the John James Audubon State Park and museum, visitors can observe the woodland cottage where naturalist John James Audubon studied many birds during his tenure in Henderson, from 1810-1819. At Breaks Interstate Park, shared between Kentucky and Virginia, the so-called "Grand Canyon of the South" is a 5 mile (8.05 kilometers) long, 0.25 mile (0.402 kilometers) deep gorge, among the longest and deepest east of the Mississippi River. This 4,600 acre (18.6 square kilometers or 1,861 hectares) park offers fishing, Class IV rapids, hiking trails, and stands of Catawba rhododendron to enjoy. Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park boasts the state’s largest marina in the park system on the largest of its lakes, and features the conservation area known as the Land Between the Lakes with its abundant wildlife. At Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, the first gateway to the west is preserved with historic buildings and magnificent scenery. Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest recorded cave system in the world, with over 365 miles (587 kilometers) explored and mapped, and offers cave tours in part of the caverns.

While Kentucky is not home to major league professional sports teams, the Bluegrass State is perhaps most famous for being the "Horse Capital of the World". Thoroughbreds have been raised here since the 18th century, with the Lexington area alone boasting 450 horse farms. All things equine can be appreciated at such attractions as the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, the American Saddlebred Museum in Lexington, or the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Of course, Kentucky is famed for its Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs. The Derby, occurring annually since 1875, is a race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses and is the inspiration for many related traditions throughout the state and the world. Other famous horse race courses include Ellis Park in Henderson, Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky Downs in Franklin, and Turfway Park in Florence.

Kentucky offers a multitude of activities for any age or taste to enjoy.

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