When it comes to southern living, the American
state of Kentucky serves it up well, even though it’s actually
situated in the east central area of the nation. Kentucky
actually belonged to the state of Virginia originally, but it
became the 15th one to join the Union back in 1792. It’s not the
biggest, as it’s ranked 37th when it comes to land mass and with
about 4.5 million people it’s number 26 on the list when it
comes to population. The capital city is Frankfort, while
Louisville is the largest center. Other main cities include
Lexington, Bowling Green, Owensboro, Richmond, Henderson, and
Covington.
Kentucky’s called the Bluegrass State due to the
native grass that grows in the pastures. The region is ideal for
farming and it’s home to diverse environments, which includes
Mammoth Cave National Park, the longest cave system in the
world. The state is also well known for its waterways, swamps,
rivers, streams, lakes, and mountains. Kentucky is also home to
thousands of turkeys, deer, and elk. And to top things off,
you’ll find it’s a great spot for horse racing, bluegrass music,
and bourbon distilleries.
The weather in Kentucky’s pretty hot and humid
in the summer and cold in the winter. The state has over 90,000
miles of streams and is the only one to be bordered by rivers on
three sides. However, there are only three main natural lakes,
with many others being man made.
There is a lot of wilderness to discover and
it’s ideal for those who love nature and outdoor activities.
There’s a national park, two national forests, two national
recreation areas, two historic parks, and 45 state parks, along
with 82 wildlife areas. Kentucky also has several interesting
natural attractions to spend visit. These include the Red River
Gorge, the Cumberland Gap, Cumberland Falls State Park, Land
Between the Lakes, Big South Fork National River and Recreation
Area, Black Mountain, Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve,
Jefferson Memorial Forest, and Lake Cumberland.
Driving around Kentucky is a great way to view
the scenery and the road system is first class. You can get to
most major areas by bus and there are Amtrak rail stations in
several regions such as Ashland, Maysville, South Shore, and
South Portsmouth among others. If you’d rather fly into
Kentucky, you’ll find the main international airport in
Louisville, with numerous smaller ones located around the state.
There are several major ports, but these are typically used for
industrial shipping.
Kentucky's culture is basically considered as
southern, and it’s home to several large events and festivals
such as the Kentucky Derby horse race and festival, the Kentucky
State Fair, the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, and the National
Quartet Convention.
The city of Old Louisville is the biggest
historic preservation district in the country as it features
Victorian architecture, and the St. James Court Art Show. As for
historical figures, President Abraham Lincoln was born in
Hodgenville, and famous boxer Muhammad Ali in Louisville.
Music is a popular part of the culture and
you’ll easily find famous venues and music festivals throughout
the state. Popular music includes folk, blues, bluegrass,
Christian, country, jazz, pop, rock, and even heavy metal.
The state’s southern cooking is quite famous as
many excellent and creative local dishes can be found as well as
regional barbecues. Of course, fried chicken is one of the most
well known. You can also find international food at a lot of the
establishments as well as local cuisine.
When it comes to sports, there are quite a few
minor-league pro teams playing in the state and college sports
are huge, especially basketball and football. But, perhaps one
of the most loved is horse racing, and the Kentucky Derby is
probably the most famous horse race on the planet.
Finding a comfortable place to stay in Kentucky
shouldn’t be a problem at all as there’s a wide choice and the
accommodations come in all price ranges.
All in all, a trip to Kentucky will let you
enjoy the wonderful scenery, exciting outdoor activities,
interesting historical sites, fine food, and laid-back city
life.
About Kentucky