Kentucky has a few monikers: Some call it the Bluegrass State, while others call it the Horse Capital of the World. Still others refer to it as Bourbon Country. And you know what? They're all equally accurate. This state is interesting and eclectic, a mashup of old Southern antebellum heritage and continuously growing urban areas. Located just west of the Appalachian Mountains, it's geographically diverse (and really, really fun to drive across in your Kentucky rental car). From the old Victorians in Louisville to the Daniel Boone National Forest and the burgeoning college culture of the University of Kentucky, there's always something to see - and something to do - in this gorgeous state.
The only thing Kentucky might be more famous for than award-winning racehorses? Bourbon. Known as "America's Spirit," it originates from this area of the country. In fact, 95 percent of the U.S.'s bourbon is produced here - and they've dedicated an entire trail to it. The journey goes a little something like this: Visitors travel to a collection of world-famous bourbon distilleries, all of which are located within close proximity to each other, as they sample a variety of different selections. This trail is so popular that it's the reason many people visit Kentucky in the first place.
This cave system gets its name for a reason - it's the largest, longest cave system on Planet Earth. Guided tours are offered in these expansive caverns, which have been used for prehistoric mineral gathering and once even as a tuberculosis hospital. Tours are offered throughout many portions of Mammoth Cave - and with 340 mapped miles, there's certainly a lot of ground to cover. Oh, and in case you were wondering - the word "bluegrass" does actually refers to blue grass that grows across the fields of Kentucky.