From its role in the American Civil War to Tobacco plantations, automobile factories and Bourbon distilleries, Kentucky's attractions appeal to travellers from far and wide. Though Kentucky may not be one of the largest US states, it shares borders with seven other states — Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and Missouri. Cities in Kentucky boast of a gentle, unhurried pace of life. The three areas of Lexington, Louisville and the region, including Covington and Newport, are considered the state's Golden Triangle.
Let us explore some of Kentucky's most famous cities.
List of cities in Kentucky for travellers
Here's a quick look at the major cities in Kentucky, how to get there and their tourist highlights:
|
City
|
Area
|
Must Visits
|
Connecting Airport
|
|
Frankfort
|
37.8 sq km
|
- Berry Hill Mansion
- Capital City Museum
- Floral Clock
- Frank Lloyd Wright-Ziegler House
|
Bluegrass Airport
|
|
Louisville
|
1030 sq km
|
- Churchill Downs
- Kentucky Derby Museum
- Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
- Speed Art Museum
|
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
|
|
Elizabethtown
|
72.49 sq km
|
- Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum
- Hardin County History Museum
- Hardin County Playhouse
- American Legion Park
|
|
|
Lexington
|
739 sq km
|
- Keeneland Race Course
- The Kentucky Horse Park
- Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill
- Singletary Center
|
Bluegrass Airport (LEX)
|
|
Richmond
|
53.28 sq km
|
- Madison County District Court
- EKU Center for the Arts
- Irvington House Museum
- Kentucky River Museum
|
Central Kentucky Regional Airport (KRGA)
|
|
Newport
|
7.8 sq km
|
- Newport Aquarium
- Bridgeview Box Park
- BB Riverboats
- Newport on the Levee
|
Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky Airport
|
|
Paducah
|
53.74 sq km
|
- Floodwood Murals
- Dolly McNutt Memorial Plaza
- Lloyd Tilghman House & Civil War Museum
- National Quilt Museum of the United States
|
Barkley Regional Airport (PAH)
|
|
Shelbyville
|
21.26 sq km
|
- Louisville Mega Cavern
- Shelby County winery
- Wakefield Scearce Galleries
- Jeptha Creed Distillery
|
|
|
Harrodsburg
|
13.7 sq km
|
- Old Fort Harrod State Park
- Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
- Herrington Lake
- George Rogers Clark Federal Monument
|
Lexington Airport
|
|
Danville
|
41.2 sq km
|
- Shaker Village
- Red River Gorge
- Cumberland Fall
- The Ark Encounter
|
Lexington Airport
|
|
Glasgow
|
40.2 sq km
|
- Beech Bend Park & Splash Lagoon
- South Central Kentucky Cultural Center
- Fort Williams
- Peninsular Marina
|
Nashville Airport
|
|
Bardstown
|
31.57 sq km
|
- Old Union Church
- Abbey of Gethsemani
- Kentucky Railway Museum
- Basilica of St. Joseph
|
|
|
Berea
|
42.76 sq km
|
- Artisan Village
- Berea College Forest
- John B. Stephenson Memorial Forest
- Anglin Falls
|
Lexington Airport
|
|
Owensboro
|
53 sq km
|
- Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum
- Owensboro Museum of Fine Art
- Owensboro Symphony Orchestra
- Rex Robinson Visual Art Center
|
Owensboro–Daviess County Airport (OWB)
|
|
Somerset
|
29.5 sq km
|
- Lake Cumberland
- Cumberland Falls State Park
- Wildcat Offroad Park
- Veterans Memorial Park
|
Lexington Airport (distance: 105.2km)
|
|
Covington
|
35.63 sq km
|
- Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption
- Covington Plaza
- Garden of Hope
- Behringer-Crawford Museum
|
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
|
|
Murray
|
28.5 sq km
|
- Kentucky Lake
- Land Between the Lakes
- Cypress Bay
- Golden Pond Planetarium
|
Barkley Regional Airport
|
|
Bowling Green
|
105.28 sq km
|
- National Corvette Museum
- Lost River Cave
- Beech Bend Amusement Park and Splash Lagoon
- Historic Railpark & Train Museum
|
Nashville Airport
|
|
Georgetown
|
44.42 sq km
|
- Ward Hall
- Kentucky Horse Park
- Toyota Biodiversity Trail
- Hockensmith Fine Art Edition Gallery & Press
|
Lexington Airport
|
|
Florence
|
27.79 sq km
|
- Turfway Park
- Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
- Boone County Distilling Co.
- Ark Encounter and Creation Museum
|
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
|
Interesting facts about the top cities in Kentucky
Also known as the Bluegrass State, Kentucky offers visitors plenty to see and do. Here are a few fun facts about the cities in Kentucky:
- Kentucky is also known as "The Corn Cracker State".
- Bardstown is known as the Bourbon Capital of the world.
- Middlesboro is the only city in the US to be built inside a meteor crater.
- Louisville hosts the oldest horse race in the US.
- Louisville is also known as Derby City.
- Harrodsburg was the first permanent settlement in Kentucky.
- Bourbon gets its name from Bourbon County.
- Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world's longest cave system.
- The Fort Knox underground vaults hold the largest amount of gold stored in one place.
Conclusion
Whether visiting Kentucky to watch the horse races, explore bourbon distilleries, or enjoy the state's natural beauty, you will surely take back wonderful memories. However, when travelling internationally, it is important to be prepared for the unexpected, especially if the place is new and unfamiliar. In such cases, having international travel insurance is a great way to stay protected as it provides coverage against a range of emergencies like medical costs and accidents, along with travel-related hiccups like lost baggage, flight delays and trip cancellations.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It may contain outdated data and information regarding the Insurance industry and products. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.