Horsepower Experiences
Family Experiences
Kentucky Horse Power presents a bright and beautiful adventure for the whole family – a destination trail for all ages with first-time experiences for everyone. Have you ever pet a kangaroo? Explored a “Horse Cave” that opens underneath a city block? This is a tour of hidden-away treasures and open-air experiences that share their own special kind of Kentucky Horse Power. Buckle up for a trip across twelve counties – this is the premier family experience for your Kentucky Horse Power plans. Here, you’ll see the great outdoors, adventurous land and waterscapes, farmland experiences, close-ups with animals, cave tours, rodeos, restaurants, shows, fairs, a scenic railroad, and so much more!
Itinerary Quick Look:
Gateway to LBL | Lake Barkley | Summer Venture River | Amish Country | Butterfly Festival | Tulip Fields | Animal Encounter Kentucky Downunder | Horse Cave Tour | Central Kentucky Ag/Expo Center with Rodeos Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, and Horse Shows | South Fork Amish/ Mennonite Community | Big South Fork Scenic Railway | Barn8 Restaurant/Hermitage Farm | Lawrenceburg Fair and Horse Show | Judy Drive in Theater | KY State Capitol Tour
Keep Reading to Learn More.
Related Locations
Anderson County
Lawrenceburg Tourism
502-598-3127
113 South Main Street Lawrenceburg, KY 40342
visitlawrenceburgky.com
Discover historic Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, with bass fishing on Beaver Lake and the 150th Lawrenceburg Fair & Horse Show featuring horse events, demolition derby, carnival rides, live music, and more. Experience dirt track racing, motorcycle jumping, rodeos, classic car shows and more. No matter what revs your engine, you’ll find it in the Distilling Capital of the World, Lawrenceburg, KY.
Casey County
Liberty Tourism & Convention Commission
606-706-7777
518 Middleburg St. Liberty, KY 42539
explorelibertyky.com
Discover Liberty, KY’s vibrant horsepower culture at the Central Kentucky Ag Expo Center. Experience thrilling truck pulls, graceful horse shows, and lively rodeos. Then, explore the serene rural charm of South Fork, where Amish traditions and a slower pace of life await.
Christian County
Oak Grove Tourism CVB
270-439-5675
105 Walter Garrett Lane Oak Grove, KY 42240
visitoakgroveky.com
Head to Oak Grove, KY for your horsepower experience… Where you can enjoy live harness racing and year-round simulcast racing at the beautiful Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel.
Crittenden County
City of Marion Tourism Commission
270-965-5015
P.O. Box 174 213 South Main St. Marion KY 42064
marionkentucky.org
Discover Kentucky’s Hidden Treasures-Visit Kentucky’s Largest Amish Community and the World-renowned collection of Minerals from around the world at the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum. A short scenic drive from Kentucky’s Western Waterland Lakes and Land Between The Lakes.
Edmonson County
Edmonson County Tourist & Convention Commission
270-597-2222
PO Box 628, 110 E Main Cross St, Brownsville, KY 42210
cavesandlakes.com
Double J Stables and Horseman’s Campground offers small group guided trail rides on the beautiful back country trails inside Mammoth Cave National Park. Reservations are required.
Moutardier Marina Nolin Lake is coming off a complete renovation and is already an anticipated hot spot for the upcoming lake season! What was once rustic is now pure lake luxury.
Franklin County
Frankfort – Franklin County Tourist & Convention Commission
502-875-8687
300 St. Clair St., Suite 102 Frankfort, KY 40601
visitfrankfort.com
Make sure to visit Frankfort, KY! Discover our horsepower at Lakeside Arena and watch horse shows that feature Hunter & Jumpers, Roping & Reining and more. There is more horsepower on the Kentucky River where boats cruise through our historic downtown and enjoy views of the city from the water. And don’t miss a stop at the State Capitol, our horsepower engine for all things Kentucky! Frankfort is worth a visit soon!
Hart County
Horse Cave/Hart County Tourism
270-218-0386
I-65 Mile Marker 60 Northbound and Southbound, PO Box 385, Horse Cave, KY 42749
kygetaway.com
Experience Kentucky’s horse culture at our animal parks, on a horseback ride along the edge of Mammoth Cave National Park, and at our Horse Cave mural photo op just above the cave in our historic downtown!
Lyon County
Lake Barkley Tourist Commission
270-388-5300
82 Days Inn Dr.
Kuttawa, KY 42055
lakebarkley.org
Marshall County
Kentucky Lake CVB
270-527-3128
93 Carroll Rd. Benton, KY 42025
visitkylake.com
Experience Kentucky’s horsepower, Kentucky Lake style! We have speeding boats, Drive-In movie theaters, rodeos, and more! Horsepower feels different on the water, so start your engines and get planning today!
McCreary County
McCreary County Tourist Commission
606-376-3008
14 Geary Ave. P.O. Box 62 Whitley City, KY 42653
mccrearytourism.com
Welcome to McCreary County, where horsepower reigns supreme, and adventure awaits at every turn.
Montgomery County
Mt. Sterling/Montgomery CountyTourism
859-498-8732
124 N. Maysville Mt. Sterling, KY 40353
mtsterlingtourism.com
Mt. Sterling is where Old Becomes Bold! Founded in 1792 and filled with rich history and modern flair, Mt. Sterling is the perfect pit stop on our Horsepower tour through beautiful Kentucky. Cruise into downtown to find a revitalized area bustling with shops and restaurants, then cruise into the Judy Drive In Theater for a night of entertainment under the stars- entertainment visitors since 1952!
Oldham County
Oldham County Tourism
502-222-0056
6826 W. State Highway 22, Crestwood KY 40014
touroldham.com
Experience the essence of Kentucky Horsepower by visiting the Farm Tour Capital of Kentucky – Oldham County! Witness the life of a Kentucky horse, from newborn colt to retirement, and relish a farm-to-table dinner in Kentucky’s only barn restaurant located on our historic racehorse farm.
Simpson County
Simpson County Tourism Commission
270-586-3040
201 South Main St, Franklin, KY 42134
visitfranklinky.com
Hear the thunder of the hoobeats during live races, play the fast-paced gaming machines and feel the power of the hot rods and classsic cars with a visit to Franklin, Kentucky.
family experiences
Itinerary Details
Families are always welcome in Commonwealth and families who share a love for horsepower adventures can certainly find lots of opportunities in Kentucky! So let’s buckle up and get going to see what family friendly adventures are just around the corner!
DAY 1: Small Town Vibes and Rides
- The whole family is sure to enjoy the Big South Fork Scenic Railway in McCreary County. This train ride gives riders a glimpse of Kentucky Appalachia and look back at the rich history of logging and mining in the Commonwealth.
- If you’re traveling in the area around the holidays the train ride magically transforms into a Polar Express that kids both young and old will appreciate!
- Liberty, Kentucky in Casey County has that small town charm that so many are looking for these days. From concert series, to festivals, and cruise ins, families can enjoy all Liberty has to offer!
- Another small town option is Mt. Sterling, Kentucky in Montgomery County where old becomes bold! This quaint downtown area offers a unique movie drive-in experience! The Judy Drive-In has been entertaining visitors since 1952!
Day 2: Tails and Trails
- You’ll find guided trail riding opportunities in the Mammoth Cave National Park area in Hart County.
- Spend the afternoon riding the trails, exploring the cave system, and maybe even petting a kangaroo! Yes, you read that right! The Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo is a family favorite with lots of furry and fun creatures to discover! Hart County also features the Dutch Country Safari park, complete with petting zoo, train rides, and more!
- You’ll want to stay in or near Mammoth Cave National Park during this part of the trip.
- Mammoth Cave National Park has park two levels – 52,830 acres of reclaimed hardwood forest and winding waterways, and below it, the longest known cave system in the world, surveyed at 420 miles to date! So while you might start with horses, you’ll stay for the exploration!
Day 3: Wings and Water
- If you find yourself in Western Kentucky, you have got to check out the South’s Great Lake, Kentucky Lake! This 160,000 acre reservoir in Marshall County is known for being a fishing Mecca! Fish for bass, crappie, catfish, sauger, bluegill, and more!
- Kentucky Lake isn’t just a fishing lake though, it’s also popular for boating, paddle boarding, wake surfing, tubing, and more! The whole family can enjoy sunny days on the water!
- About 30 minutes from Kentucky Lake, you will find more thrills at Venture River Water Park! This family friendly attraction in Lyon County features waterslides, a wave pool, lazy river, and more! Race like the thoroughbreds on competing water slides. The horsepower may be working behind the scenes, pumping thousands of gallons of water throughout the park, but it sure does make for a fun day!
- Just under an hour away is Oak Grove in Christian County. This city puts on amazing festivals all throughout the year including a gigantic festival, Spring into Summer, on Memorial Day weekend as well as the butterfly festival too!
These family friendly activities plus many more will add excitement to any road trip! Accommodations will vary depending on where you stop, but don’t wait, start your engines, and get to planning your roadtrip today!