Louisville Zoo, Kentucky

Out of all of the Louisville attractions that are possible to visit during a Kentucky vacation, the Louisville Zoo is one that you won’t want to miss. The zoo in Louisville is located on 100 acres right in the heart of the city and is home to an unusual variety of animals that live in habitats designed to mimic their natural environments. Louisville tourism brochures often list this Kentucky zoo as a favorite vacation destination.Louisville tourism is especially popular in the summer because of the popular non-profit Kentucky zoo. First time visitors to the Kentucky zoo are often amazed at the variety of animals that make the Louisville zoo their home. Over 1,300 animals currently live at the zoo, and more may be on the way.

Some of the most popular exhibits at the Louisville Zoo are the Lorikeet Landing, the Wallaroo Walkabout, and the Gorilla Forest. The Islands is an exhibit for endangered species or threatened animals of Indonesia. Because of the changing status of endangered animals, the animals that live in the exhibit are rotated. Some of the animals that you might see in this mock Indonesian wilderness are Orangutans, Sumatran Tigers, and the exotic Tapir.

Visitors may have to bring out their binoculars in order to spot the gorillas in Gorilla Forest. This four acre exhibit prides itself on attempting to duplicate the natural home of Western Lowland Gorillas and pygmy hippos as much as possible. The animals are free to roam about the lush grassy exhibit as they please. With an exhibit that is so natural, it is possible that the gorillas don’t even realize that they are being watched.

The creators of the Zoo in Louisville felt it was important to let visitors interact with certain animals. The Lorikeet Landing is one exhibit where this is possible. Visitors can feed the rare Australian Lorikeets nectar and learn about the foods that the animals eat from volunteers and zoologists.

Other interesting animals that make their home at the zoo include Siberian Tigers, Hippos, Polar Bears, Antelopes, and Gazelles. The Wooly Monkey exhibit is an all time favorite exhibit of children because of the monkey’s often quirky behavior.

A variety of daily activities educate families on different types of animal species and their habitats as well as endangered species. The daily “Giraffe Feeding” and “Elephant Aerobics” rank among the favorites.

Most Louisville attractions stay open all year-round because of the state’s mild climate, and the Louisville zoo is no exception. The zoo is only closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day and even stays open in the evenings during the summer, when Louisville tourism is at an all time high. You will find that admission prices are extremely affordable. Children under two are admitted for free, and children and adult admission prices are under $11.00.

For more outdoor fun in Louisville, head to EP Tom Sawyer State Park. Here you can take advantage of both indoor and outdoor recreational activities. Have a family picnic, play a game of tennis, or go for a swim in an indoor pool. Kentucky hiking enthusiasts will appreciate the one mile trail that is perfect for people of all ages and fitness levels. There is even a separate dog park with large green spaces for your pet to run around in.

Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom is located just a few miles away from the zoo and is one of the best Louisville attractions to visit on a hot summer day. The amuseument park feature dozens of thrilling rides and seven roller coasters. There are also tame rides that smaller children will enjoy.

If you’re building your itinerary of fun Louisville attractions to visit on your next vacation, be sure to include the zoo in Louisville on your list of things to do. With such a fun variety of Kentucky attractions to choose from, it is no wonder Louisville tourism continues to thrive year after year.

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Louisville Slugger Museum, Kentucky

When most baseball enthusiasts think of Louisville Kentucky, the Louisville Slugger Baseball Museum is the first thing that comes to mind. Located in downtown Louisville, the Louisville Slugger Museum Factory produces the No. 1 selling bat in the entire country and is the official bat of Major League Baseball. On your next Kentucky trip, why not include a trip to the museum on your list of things to do in Kentucky?

Visiting the Louisville Slugger Museum is a great way to learn how Slugger bats are made and what makes them so popular with baseball players. Upon driving up to the Louisville Slugger Baseball Museum, your eyes will immediately be drawn to the “World’s Biggest Bat,” which is 120 feet tall and weighs nearly 68,000 pounds.

Before touring the Louisville Slugger Museum Factory, take some time to explore the museum and watch a film that features some of the best players in baseball history. Most visitors don’t realize that there are a wide variety of Louisville Slugger bats available, ranging from tiny to super sized. The museum shows visitors the custom made bat designs of famous players throughout Kentucky history, including the legendary Babe Ruth.

A tour of the Louisville Slugger Museum Factory is most people’s favorite part of the experience. Guided tours run every ten minutes, so feel free to explore the museum for as long as you want before embarking on a tour. One thing to note is that bats are only produced on Saturdays from April to November, so be sure to factor this in when planning a vacation in Kentucky.

Once inside the Louisville Slugger Museum factory, visitors will learn how bats are cut and how the wood for bats is stained, among other things. Most people are surprised to learn how many coating of finish Slugger bats need to be considered complete. Friendly Kentucky tour guides are available to answer any questions you may have about bat production and are extremely knowledgeable about baseball in general.

After the tour, head over to the batting cage and try out a Louisville Slugger for yourself. The batting cages cost a dollar per player and there are many different types of bats available for practice. You can also interact with an exhibit that shows what it’s like to be an umpire with a fast pitch coming right towards your face. Baseball fans will have a chance to reminisce about the sport’s legendary past when sitting in some of the old seats of Wrigley Field.

Be sure to check out the museum’s gift shop if you’re interested in purchasing your very own Louisville Slugger Bat or other souvenirs. Even if you don’t decide to buy anything at the gift shop, each person who tours the Louisville Slugger Museum will receive a miniature bat.

The museum is located in the heart of downtown Louisville, right on Main Street. There you will find great Kentucky sights such as the Louisville Zoo and Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. Kentucky horse racing is also a popular activity in Louisville. Every May, thousands of people head to the Churchill Downs race track to watch the Kentucky Derby.

You will find a fantastic selection of Louisville hotels that are in walking distance of the Louisville Slugger Museum. The Brown Hotel is right in the heart of downtown and is the perfect place to stay for Kentucky getaways to Louisville. Catch a show at the nearby theatre district or take a stroll through the famous Tom Sawyer State Park.

With a bat making history of over 130 years, the Louisville Slugger Museum is one destination that baseball enthusiasts must see for themselves. Plan your next vacation today and find out why so many people consider Louisville to be one of the best Kentucky vacation spots.

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Lake Reba, Kentucky

Lake Reba Recreational Complex is a great place to stop while on vacation to Kentucky. Lake Reba is more than just a typical lake. It’s a favorite among locals of Richmond and tourists because of the excellent fishing and boating opportunities.

Lake Reba Richmond is known as a fishing enthusiast’s paradise. Spend a day fishing at Lake Reba and you may catch yourself a largemouth bass, warmouth, channel catfish, or a crappie. If you just can’t wait until you get home to clean and prepare your fish for eating, there is a fish cleaning site right on the grounds of the Lake Reba Recreational Complex.

Be sure to bring your walking shoes to Lake Reba. The grounds are a great place to enjoy a stroll on one of the many walking trails. You can even organize a game of baseball, soccer, or horseshoes. Mini golf and batting cages are also available for a small fee.

The sky above Lake Reba Richmond lights up every year Independence Day with a spectacular fireworks display. Besides the best fireworks display in the state, visitors to the free Independence Day celebration can enjoy live entertainment by local artists. The Independence Day celebration is no small event. Over 20,000 people from Kentucky and neighboring states gather at Lake Reba every year to celebrate the fourth of July.

After enjoying some morning fishing and boating on Lake Reba Kentucky, head over to the Bull Golf Club down the road. This 18-hole championship golf course is characterized by rolling green hills and small lakes and streams. The golfing is moderately challenging, but all ability levels are welcomed on the course.

One reason that so many people enjoy Lake Reba Kentucky is because of its ideal summer weather. Day time temperatures during the summer are usually around 80 degrees and get down to a comfortable 60 degrees at night. To experience the best weather and avoid the rain, try visiting the lake in October when rain fall is scarce. May is a beautiful time to visit Lake Reba Richmond because of the warm weather, but it is also the month that experiences the most rainfall.

Lodging options are plentiful around the Lake Reba Kentucky. Fort Boonesborough is nearby and offers large campsites and shaded picnic areas. The history of Fort Boonesborough is also quite interesting, as it was founded by Daniel Boone in the late seventeen hundreds.

If you’re planning to stay in the Richmond area for a few days, why not check out some of the other attractions near Lake Reba. The White Hall State Historic Site and the Hummel Planetarium are two popular tourist attractions in Richmond. The planetarium is one of the largest in the country and is a great way for children and adults to learn more about the solar system.

When traveling through the Bluegrass state, be sure to stop by Lake Reba Recreational complex for a fun day of fishing, boating, and relaxation.

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Kentucky Rivers

If you are into fishing and want to experience world renowned Kentucky whitewater rafting for yourself, the state of Kentucky is a perfect place to spend a vacation. The state is reported to have more water flowing through it than any other state, besides Alaska. A trip spent sampling Kentucky rivers, such as the Cumberland river and the Tennessee River, offers opportunities for some of the best fishing and whitewater rafting in the country.

Kentucky has a program that is designed to protect and preserve the water and the natural geographic features of Kentucky rivers, making them clean and safe for future generations. They limit activities such as mining and interfering with the dams and habitats of the many animals that live in the river or on the river banks. Keep this in mind when you visit Kentucky rivers and be sure to leave Kentucky parks and rivers cleaner than how you found them.

The Cumberland river provides the perfect setting for a day of canoeing or fishing. Launch your boat from one of the many boat launch areas and enjoy the scenic banks, forests, and rolling hills as you fish. The Cumberland river extends 700 miles east to west and most of its waters are suitable for boating and fishing thanks to lock and dam systems that control the strength of the current. Cumberland river fishing is popular for people looking to catch the perfect trout or do some fly fishing. Visitors should know that the best chance to experience Cumberland river fishing is anytime between April and June.

Much of the Cumberland river flows through the Daniel Boone National Forest, near the Appalachian foothills. Don’t spend all of your time in Kentucky Cumberland river fishing. Kentucky’s other major rivers, all of which empty into the Ohio River, are worth exploring as well. You will find that the Russel Fork canyon of the Big Sandy River offers challenging whitewater rafting. The canyon is 1600 feet deep and five miles long—perfect for white water rafting with an experienced guide. Unless you are a very experienced rafter, it is probably best that you leave the whitewater rafting at Russel Fork up to the experts. Sudden huge drop offs and unpredictable turbulent water can be expected and make for an adventure of a lifetime.

If you are up to the challenge, the whitewater rafting at the sandy river is offered every weekend in October. Consider taking a white water class before you take on the challenge of whitewater rafting. Lessons are available near Cumberland river and will teach you how to handle the raft and maneuver rough waters.

For Kentucky whitewater rafting trips for inexperienced rafters, head to Elkhorn Creek near Lexington Kentucky. This tributary of the Kentucky River is mild enough for families with children to enjoy, but will still provide the thrill that whitewater rafters are seeking. Limestone bluffs will surround you on both sides and you may see a wild turkey or two.

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Kentucky Horse Park

Horse enthusiasts world wide enjoy visiting the nation"s largest working horse farm and museum, the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Lexington Kentucky is known as the “Horse Park of the World” because of its museums that show visitors the tools of the trade along with the opportunity to see Thoroughbreds who have had a long tradition of Kentucky racing. Events take place nearly every month at the Kentucky Horse Park, so no matter what time of year you are visiting there will always be something to do. After enjoying a day’s worth of horse related activities, enjoy resting your head at the well maintained Kentucky Horse Park campgrounds.

The Kentucky Horse Park Lexington is unique in so many ways. For starters, over fifty different breeds live together on 1,200 acres of beautiful grassy pastures. One of the best pastimes for visitors to the Kentucky Horse Park is taking note of all the different breeds that you may encounter in a day. There is also a bronze statue dedicated to a famous thoroughbred horse. Kentucky tours of the park provide an excellent educational opportunity for those who want to learn more about the proud tradition of horse racing in Kentucky.

Be sure to catch one of the events going on at the Kentucky Horse Park Lexington, such as art and crafts fairs, horse shows, and carriage driving competition. A “Mare and Foul Show” and the “Hall of Champions Show” are just a couple of examples of the events that regularly take place at the park.

There are two museums located right on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park. The International Museum of the Horse is one of the largest horse museums in the world. An extensive collection of Kentucky racing trophies, horse related art work, and antique carriages are on display. The American Saddlebred Museum shares information about the Saddlebred horse, which is Kentucky’s first native horse breed. This museums at the Kentucky Horse Park Lexington is one of the best Kentucky vacations spots for equine enthusiasts around the world.

The Kentucky Horse Park Lexington is even complete with a 260 site campground featuring tennis courts and an outdoor pool. Visitors will never have to leave the grounds because of all of the convenient resources that make the Horse Park one of the best Kentucky campgrounds available. Laundry facilities, a grocery store, and a gift shop are on site. At night, visitors can partake in some square dancing or a game of horseshoes at the recreation pavilion. If you choose not to stay at the Kentucky horse park campgrounds, there are several hotels in the Lexington Kentucky area that are in close proximity to the horse park.

The cost of admission changes according to the season, so be sure to call ahead for the most accurate information. Also, it is best to book a campsite at the Kentucky horse park campgrounds early to ensure the best availability of sites.

The Kentucky Horse Park is open all year, so no matter what time of season you wish to take your Kentucky vacation, there will be an array of fun and educational horse events waiting for you. Look for Kentucky tours that make a stop at the Horse Park and other Kentucky sights, such as Churchill Downs .

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Kentucky Derby Tickets

The Kentucky Derby is by far the most famous event in Kentucky history. Every year since 1875, thoroughbred horses have been competing at the Churchill Downs race track in an event that is known as the most exciting two moments in sports history. There are several ways to purchase tickets to the event, including the most popular option, Kentucky Derby infield tickets. For the most options in cheap Kentucky Derby Tickets, start looking for tickets early or buy them on the day of the race. Purchasing your Kentucky Derby tickets in advance could save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

While getting reserved seats at the Kentucky Derby is difficult because of the popularity of the event, cheap Kentucky Derby tickets can be found on the day of the race. While you won't be provided with a place to sit down, you will be able to watch the race from the infield or paddock area. These cheap Kentucky Derby tickets provide the best way to see the race if you haven't had time to plan in advance. Make sure to get to Churchill Downs early, because the lines to purchase tickets can be extremely long. Arriving at the Kentucky Derby early will also improve your chances of getting a good seat. The gates to Churchill Downs open at 8:00 a.m.

If you want to experience a Mardi Gras-like setting while watching the racing, Kentucky Derby infield tickets are the way to go. This area has the most mint juleps being served out of any other area in the park. Every year, over 80,000 people purchase Kentucky Derby infield tickets in order to experience the energy that the excitement of horse racing can create. You can purchase these Kentucky Derby tickets at the gate or as a part of Kentucky Derby packages that local Louisville hotels offer.

If you have children, be aware that the Kentucky Derby Infield tickets are usually purchased by adults who like to let loose and party, resulting in a sometimes chaotic and drunken atmosphere. For a more family friendly spot to watch the race, consider purchasing Kentucky Derby tickets at the "Turn 1" area of the infield or the paddock area. This is a great place to have a picnic and discuss the results of the races without being trampled upon.

Cheap Kentucky Derby tickets aren't hard to find but you may want to think about packages. Kentucky Derby packages are great options for those looking to couple their food and lodging with admission to the Derby. The prices for the Kentucky Derby packages will depend on the type of seating available. There are packages available which include Kentucky Derby tickets in the first, second, and third floor seating areas and even the exclusive Millionaire's Row. Expect to pay thousands of dollars for three days at the event and Louisville lodging. Even though Kentucky Derby packages can be expensive some people love the fact that they can leave the planning of their trip to someone else.

Make sure to get to Louisville early to check out the events going on at the Kentucky Derby Festival. Take in a concert performed by top performers, eat some southern style specialties such as barbeque ribs, and watch a boat race. Besides the festival scene, there are so many other things to do in Louisville, including a visit to the Tom Sawyer Park or Six Flags Kentucky.

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Kentucky Derby Museum

Kentucky Derby history dates back all the way to the year 1875 when fourteen Thoroughbred horses took part in a racing event that would become an important part of Kentucky history. Since this time, Kentucky Derby horse racing has been one of the main reasons people decide to take Louisville vacations every May. If you don’t have Kentucky Derby Tickets, you can still check out the Kentucky Derby museum which is open all year long. Many people don’t realize the years of hard work and training that goes into producing Kentucky Derby winners. A trip to the Kentucky Derby Museum will satisfy your curiosity as you learn about the three year old thoroughbred horses that have competed in past Kentucky Derby horse racing events. You will learn about current and past Kentucky Derby participants through a collection of informative exhibits, films, and displays.

A Kentucky Derby Museum favorite is the “Riders Up” exhibit. The exhibit simulates what it is like to ride real Kentucky Derby horses. The challenge is to see if you can stay on the horse for two minutes, the time it takes for the horse and jockey to race one lap of Churchill Downs.

You can learn about past Kentucky Derby Winners such as Seattle Slew and War Admiral at the “Horses, their Owners, and Trainers” exhibit. Children especially enjoy picking up the phones and hearing about the thoroughbred horses that have made Kentucky Derby History.

The Kentucky Derby Museum also has an extensive collection of hats that have been worn by famous people. It is a tradition at the Kentucky Derby for women to show off their own hat designs on the Saturday of the race. Hat designs range from brightly colored elaborate hats that stand a foot tall to more conservative French style hats that were popular in the early 1900’s.

The museum even offers Kentucky Derby tours that take visitors behind the scenes. The Barn and Backside Van tour will make you feel like a jockey as you explore behind the scenes areas of Churchill Downs, such as the stalls of Kentucky derby winners. If you’d rather walk, consider taking the Behind the Scenes Walking Tour. One of the highlights of the tour is a chance to see Millionaire’s Row, a select seating area for U.S. presidents, royalty, and other famous celebrities.

You can find Kentucky Derby accommodations near the Churchill Downs race track at a range of prices. For the cheapest options in Louisville lodging, visit the museum sometime during the winter when Kentucky tourism is at a low.

Your family will have a great time learning about Kentucky Derby history at the museum. Besides watching Kentucky Derby horse racing, there are other things to do in Louisville that will complete your vacation. While you are taking a Louisville vacation, be sure to check out some of the other fun Kentucky vacation spots such as the Louisville Slugger Museum and the Louisville Zoo.

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