When you ask the average person where in the US they might find the most outdoor beauty, excitement, or relaxation, popular choices would most likely include the beaches of Florida and California, the mountains of Colorado and Utah, and the rain forests of Oregon and Washington.
How about the whitewater rafting, the rock climbing, the cave exploring, the zip lining, the hiking, and the horseback riding of unbridled Kentucky!
How about the whitewater rafting, the rock climbing, the cave exploring, the zip lining, the hiking, and the horseback riding of unbridled Kentucky!
1. Boating the Lost River Cave
Have you ever explored an underground cave via boat? Well Kentucky is home to some of the most breathtaking cave structures in the world, including the Lost River Cave, a 7-mile cave system in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Its famous "Blue Hole" is 437 feet deep. Also, look closely and you might be able to find where soldiers from the Civil War wrote their names along the cave ceilings and walls. You can even have your wedding here. Pretty cool.
2. Rafting Cumberland Falls
Rapids, waterfalls, and unbeatable scenery. Cumberland Falls (also known as "The Niagara of the South") is spectacular, and whitewater rafting enthusiasts will find that out for themselves. Explorer Thomas Walker named the Cumberland River in 1758. It was also known as the Shawnee River, having been used by the Shawnee Native Americans. It runs all summer long, and beginners will have just as much fun as experts.
3. Hiking at Breaks Interstate Park
It's "The Grand Canyon of the South." Breaks Interstate Park is a paradise for hikers. The rolling hills and luscious forests create an atmosphere like no other. It is the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi and covers 4,500 acres. Discovered by frontiersman Daniel Boone in 1767, The Breaks is a Kentucky treasure.
4. Exploring Mammoth Cave National Park
They call it "Mammoth" for a reason. As the longest cave system in the world, over 400 miles have been explored. At over 52,000 acres, Mammoth Cave National Park offers a variety of cave tours ranging from one to six hours. "Frozen Niagara," one of the most popular tours of the cave, is a shorter tour suited for all ages where visitors experience a heavily decorated portion of the cave system.
5. Camping at Daniel Boone National Forest
Rugged Kentucky at its finest. Daniel Boone National Forest boasts some of the most sought-after camping spots in America with lakes, rivers, streams, gorges, and endless wilderness. It boasts over 780,000 acres and spread across 21 counties and is the only national forest completely within the boundaries of Kentucky.