Kentucky, April 2025 – The Kentucky Department of Tourism is excited to highlight more than a dozen new trails and initiatives launched through multijurisdictional tourism collaborations over the past year and a half. These initiatives were developed and are operated by local destination marketing organization partners across the state. Projects were recipients of American Rescue Plan Act funding distributed by the Kentucky Department of … [Read more...]
Explore Kentucky’s Hidden Gems: Top Small Towns for Unique Adventures
With the rise in small town tourism and a growing trend toward off-the-beaten-path experiences, Kentucky's charming towns stand ready to offer unique and captivating adventures. These hidden gems combine rich history, vibrant culture, and local flavors to create unforgettable experiences. From picturesque landscapes to quirky cuisine, these destinations demonstrate that the best adventures often come in small packages. Berea: The Folk Arts … [Read more...]
Top Arts Districts Across the US and Abroad
Lower Town Arts District in Paducah, Kentucky Paducah's oldest neighborhood, Lower Town Arts District is famous for the award-winning Artist Relocation Program that prompted its colorful revitalization, which continues today with the Paducah School of Art & Design. The arts district is populated with working artists, students and artists-in-residence who add to the city's vibrant artistic landscape. The work of Paducah's resident artists can be … [Read more...]
On April 29, Yo-Yo Ma and Louisville Orchestra Perform in Mammoth Cave National Park
"A pioneering force in new music." — Billboard on the Louisville Orchestra (March, 2023) — One of the world's most awe-inspiring natural wonders will serve as the setting for a once-in-a-lifetime experience on April 29, when members of the Louisville Orchestra join forces with cellist Yo-Yo Ma at Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park, the site of more than 400 miles of interwoven limestone caves and 100 miles of above-ground trails and … [Read more...]
Lake of the Ozarks sets its Sights on Breaking the World Record for the Largest Boat Parade
LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO - It was announced during a press conference that the Lake of the Ozarks will make a second attempt at breaking the current record for the largest official boat parade in the world on Saturday, June 11, 2022. The current record, according to Guinness World Records, stands at 1,180 vessels and was set in Terengganu, Malaysia in September 2014. Over the years, there have been many attempts to break the record by different … [Read more...]
Celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month in Louisville with America’s only native spirit
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (August 31, 2021) – September’s Bourbon Heritage Month is an ideal time to celebrate America’s only native spirit in Kentucky - where 95% of the special whiskey is made. Once considered the “Wall Street of Whiskey” Louisville has been a spirits-soaked civilization ever since Evan Williams first marketed his whiskey to the city in 1783. Up until the 1920’s, a portion of Main Street was known as “Whiskey Row” because of the more … [Read more...]
Louisville Attractions Barrel Ahead
New exhibits showcase the area’s authentic history and uniqueness LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Nov. 19, 2020) – Louisville’s iconic attractions have stepped up to the plate by offering new exhibits for visitors to explore. Several even have educational components, which offer a helpful option during this year’s non-traditional virtual school days and upcoming holiday breaks. In addition, Louisville Tourism is offering a new promotion to area … [Read more...]
A Journey to the Center of the Universe in Ashland, VA
I recently had the opportunity to travel to the far west end of Richmond, Virginia, to an area called Short Pump, so named for a pump that was located at a tavern built by Revolutionary War veteran Robert Hyde Saunders. The affluent area is a shopper's paradise, with shopping malls as far as the eye can see and the Hilton Richmond Short Pump Hotel & Spa, was a comfortable and convenient basecamp for exploring the small town of Ashland, located … [Read more...]
John Muir Slept Here
The best place to walk in the footsteps of John Muir is Yosemite National Park, where the famed naturalist and conservationist hiked and climbed granite domes, lovingly surveyed plants and animals, studied with rapt eyes “cloud mountains” in the sky, and developed his passion for wild spaces. Another place that evokes feelings for one of the visionary creators of our national park system is his old home in Martinez, California, about an hour … [Read more...]
Celebrating The Willard InterContinential’s Rich Washington DC Heritage
Just two blocks from the White House and within walking distance to everything the nation's capitol has to offer, it's easy to see why The Willard InterContinental in Washington DC is known as the "Residence of Presidents" and has remained an anchor in a town that's undergone countless transformations over the hotel's 200 year existence. In 1862, National Hawthorne wrote, "The Willard may be much more justly called the center of Washington … [Read more...]