Kentucky is many things — horse country, the Bourbon Capital of the World, home to one of the greatest rivalries in college basketball. It’s also a state with some of the most affordable housing in the nation, regardless of location, and it’s marked by stunning natural beauty throughout.
Here in East Central and Northeastern Kentucky – the parts of the state United Country Real Estate | Land & Lifestyle Realty calls home – we understand how easy it is to become captivated by Kentucky, for many of the same reasons we mentioned above.
Let’s take a closer look at why so many people choose to live in The Bluegrass State.
Kentucky’s Outdoor Adventures: Lakes, Rivers, Forests and More
Kentucky is second only to Alaska when it comes to miles of running water in the state, and it’s also almost half-covered by forests. The landscape is ideal for taking on outdoor adventures from paddle boarding to hiking, fishing to biking, horseback riding, hunting and more.
Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade, Ky., offers peaceful canoeing with views of woodlands and sandstone cliffs; great lake fishing; hiking trails; and picnicking. And while there are some popular, massive lakes in the southern and western portions of Kentucky, such as Lake Cumberland and Kentucky Lake, places in our neck of the woods like Cave Run Lake in Morehead are also great.
Triplett Creek, Eagle Lake and the Kentucky and Licking Rivers are also in this part of the state … but let’s not forget about the horses. Lexington is the Horse Capital of the World and many head to Kentucky Horse Park to ride, or over to Whispering Woods Riding Stables in Georgetown. And in Daniel Boone National Forest, there’s horse camping, riding and many other activities outdoors (access points in Powell and Rowan Counties).
If you’re an avid golfer, take note there are hundreds of courses in Kentucky! You might start with these top 10 in the state, ranked by Golf Digest.
Kentucky’s Culture and History: Bourbon, Horses, Music and More
One cannot discuss the culture of Kentucky without mentioning bourbon. It provides a big boost to the state’s economy and there’s even a county named after it. The Kentucky Distillers Association can lead you through its Bourbon Trail, and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival is a global event each fall. But at any time, you can sample spirits at local distilleries such as Bluegrass Distillers or Woodford Reserve Distillery.
For insight into the history and culture of horses in the state, go to Kentucky Horse Park. Or tour the facilities and catch a race at Keeneland. Beyond horses, you can discover more of Kentucky’s history with the Kentucky Historical Society.
There are also numerous places to learn more about President Lincoln, as well as discover local military history at Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site.
Lastly, while it’s a bit outside our region of the state, the Country Music Highway is a must do road trip for diehard country fans. Running along Route 23, the journey takes travelers through the towns and venues frequented by Kentucky stars like Loretta Lynn, The Judds, Chris Stapleton and Dwight Yoakam.
Sources:
parks.ky.gov, kentuckytourism.com, fs.usda.gov, golfdigest.com, history.ky.gov, kybourbontrail.com