Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you visit Kentucky. While many travel blogs will tell you the best things to see in Kentucky, we want to be sure you know about the things you should NOT do on your trip to Kentucky.
Don’t Forget The First Saturday of May
The first Saturday of May is a sacred day in Kentucky because that’s the day of the Kentucky Derby. Derby day is a tradition in Louisville, but the whole state gets into it. It’s a chance to get dressed up in crazy hats, drink mint juleps and watch the races. The town practically shuts down for Derby, so either join in on the fun or plan your trip at a different time. Don’t forget to make reservations far in advance if you visit during Derby. And don’t call it “the” Derby; it’s just “Derby.”
Don’t Think Red vs Blue is Political
Red vs Blue is a major rivalry in Kentucky, but it’s not about politics. Red is for the University of Louisville Cardinals, while blue is for the Kentucky Wildcats. If you have a chance to see these two teams play each other, don’t miss it! Kentucky is all about basketball, so even if you don’t catch red vs blue, make sure you catch one of their games.
Don’t Lump Kentucky in With Southern States
Most people think of Kentucky as “the South.” And you will find good Southern food and Southern friendliness in Kentucky. But Kentucky also has a good dose of Midwest culture, too. After all, Kentucky shares a border with Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Midwest Travel
Don’t Forget that Abe Lincoln is From Kentucky
Most people believe that Abraham Lincoln is from Illinois, but he’s actually from Kentucky. While Springfield Illinois has tons of Lincoln attractions, his birthplace is in Kentucky. You can visit the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park in Hodgenville, Kentucky.
Don’t Think Colonel Sanders Makes the Only Fried Chicken in Kentucky
Of course, Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken is from Kentucky. But he’s not the only one to make amazing fried chicken in Kentucky. We found delicious fried chicken everywhere we traveled in Kentucky.
Simply Jocelyn Shares What to Eat in Kentucky
Don’t Miss Trying a “Hot Brown”
Besides the fried chicken, another Kentucky delicacy is the hot brown. It’s sometimes described as a turkey sandwich, but it’s so much more than that. It’s more like a turkey casserole baked on a piece of toast. It’s a huge calorie bomb, but totally worth it! The best place to try a hot brown is at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, where this Kentucky delicacy originated.
Don’t Think Kentucky is Just Derby and Bourbon
Yes, Kentucky is best known for Bourbon and Kentucky Derby. But there’s a lot more to see in Kentucky. Kentucky has amazing lakes for swimming and boating, plus tons of natural outdoor areas, like the Red River Gorge Geological Area. Kentucky is really a beautiful state. There are so many parks, waterfalls, and scenic drives in Kentucky. Kentucky even has a National Park: Mammoth Cave National Park is one of the coolest places to go in Kentucky.
Don’t Think You Can Get Alcohol Everywhere
In a state known for bourbon, there are actually still dry counties where you can’t buy alcohol or where alcohol sales are limited. If you’re staying in a dry county, you can still have alcohol, but you have to bring it with you.
Don’t Think Bluegrass is Blue
Kentucky is also known for bluegrass. Bluegrass is a kind of music, but it’s also a kind of grass. It’s green, not blue. It may have a purple-ish tint to it if the light is hitting just right, but don’t expect to find grass that’s actually blue.
Don’t Forget All the Iconic Things From Kentucky
There are tons of quintessential “American” products that come from Kentucky, including:
- The Corvette
- Duncan Hines
- Fort Knox
- The Happy Birthday Song
- Louisville Sluggers
The Kentucky Tourism site is a great place to start planning your trip!
Don’t Miss the Bourbon Trail
One of the best things to do in Kentucky is to take a tour along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Kentucky has more barrels of bourbon than residents of the state! The Bourbon Trail stretches for 250 miles to dozens of distilleries, and Kentucky Distillery Tours are one of the best things to do in Kentucky.
Some of our “don’ts for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail include:
- Don’t Expect a Cheap Tour – touring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is not a cheap excursion. Most distilleries charge for a tour, and those fees can add up quickly.
- Don’t Forget to Make Reservations – You may need reservations at some of the distilleries, especially if you have a large group or visit on the weekends. If there’s a particular distillery you really want to visit, make sure you have a reservation so you don’t miss out. This goes for lunch and dinner spots along the trail, as well as overnight accommodations.
- Don’t Forget Your Bourbon Trail Passport – You can get stamps along the way, and the passport makes a great souvenir from your trip to Kentucky.
- Don’t Confuse Whiskey and Bourbon – All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Bourbon has to be at least 51% corn and comes from a newly charred oak barrel, which gives it a distinct flavor. Bourbon is a type of whiskey, but it is only made in the US.
- Don’t Forget a Designated Driver – Traveling along the Bourbon Trail is a fun thing to do in Kentucky, but make sure you have a designated driver. If nobody in your group wants to volunteer, there are tour companies that can drive you around to the best distilleries in Kentucky.
- Don’t Get Bourbon Burnout – When you are on the Bourbon Trail, it’s easy to get burned out on the bourbon. After a while, they can all start to taste the same. It’s like touring cathedrals in Europe; they are each very neat, but after a while, they all look the same. My approach is to just visit 2 or 3 distilleries each day and spend the rest of the day exploring the nearby cities, like Louisville and Frankfort.
- Don’t Just Slam Your Drinks – when tasting bourbon, take time to enjoy the flavors and learn the differences between different kinds of bourbon.
- Don’t Just Drink Straight Bourbon – Kentucky is known for bourbon and a bourbon on the rocks is a great choice. But there are a lot of signature bourbon drinks that you should also try when visiting Kentucky. Old Fashioneds and Mint Juleps are two signature bourbon drinks to try in Kentucky. Mint Juleps are stronger than you might think, so one is probably enough. For a non-bourbon drink at Derby, try The Lilly.
- Don’t Skip the Gift Shops – this is a great opportunity to stock your at-home bar with bourbons that you can’t buy anywhere else. Candy goes great with bourbon, so stock up on some of the bourbon treats, too!
- Don’t Expect Easily Accessible Tours – not all of the tours are easy. Some involve a lot of walking around the grounds, many involve stairs, etc. If you have mobility issues, you may have to do some research to see which stops are the best for you.
- Don’t Forget to Hydrate and Eat Along the Bourbon Trail – even though you’ll just get small samples of bourbon along the way, it’s still important to balance it out with lots of water and not drink on an empty stomach.
- Don’t Forget Your ID – you will get carded along the way!
- Don’t Bring Your Kids – most of the places along the Bourbon trail are for adults only, so this is a better trip for grownups.
- Don’t Forget to Enoy the Beauty Around You – the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is in a beautiful part of Kentucky, with rolling hills and lovely scenery. Don’t forget to look up from your glass every once in a while!
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Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with Kentucky! Between the food, the people, the bourbon and the nature, it’s a great state to visit! We were pleasantly surprised by how much we loved our Kentucky vacation. Want more USA travel tips? Check out some of our other blog posts: