The Bluegrass State is a wonderful place to visit if you like the Great Outdoors, and its cities provide urban settings that have that big city feel without the sacrifice of friendliness.  Kentucky has 9 distinct regions where the diversity of the landscape is only rivaled by the diversity of things to do.  Toward the border of Virginia, the eastern Appalachian highlands are dramatically stunning and may surprise you if you did not know that the mountains in this state can soar to heights over 4,000 feet.  Kentucky’s central region is characterized by rolling hills and the signature Bluegrass, and in the western region of the state are a welcome array of lakes and rivers.  Across the Kentucky landscape, the state parks rival some of the best in the nation, and if you are fond of bourbon and thoroughbred horses, than you are long overdue for a Kentucky vacation.  Kentucky offers a variety of unique festivals throughout the year, and there is no shortage of Kentucky hotels wherever you may find yourself here.

The capital of Kentucky is the small city of Frankfort.  Due to its location just 25 miles west of Lexington and 50 miles to the east of the state’s largest city, Louisville, Frankfort is easily accessible for a quick visit if you are exploring these other metropolitan areas.  Frankfort has famous land marks, and its architectural styles give insight into its rich history.  If you like to shop, you will want to see what the unique shops here have to offer.  Among the historic homes you can tour here are the Berry Hill Mansion and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Zeigler House.  The Kentucky Capitol Building also makes for a good tour, and for more history and museums, check out Daniel Boone’s Grave at the Frankfort Cemetery, or dive into the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History.  The Kentucky hotels found here are of the chain variety mostly, with some interesting inns, and you will also find some nice bed and breakfasts. If money is tight, you will appreciate the budget hotels in Kentucky here.  After exploring Frankfort, you can head either to Louisville or Lexington for more urban fun.

The city of Louisville is known primarily for hosting the famous Kentucky Derby, which is held every year on the first Saturday in May.  It’s no easy task to get tickets for the Derby, but you can visit Churchill Downs at other times of the year when it is not as crowded.  Also, when the Derby is in town, the Louisville KY hotels can go fast, so if you are going to be here during that time, book your Louisville KY hotels as early as possible.  There is no shortage of things to do in Louisville, and you may start your adventure here by heading to Fourth Street Live, which is a recently completed entertainment district that was constructed to the tune of $70 million.  If you are looking for gaming action, the Caesars Indiana is located just across the Ohio River in Indiana, and if you have the kids in tote, the Louisville Zoo and Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom are good bets for family fun.  If you are a boxing fan, a trip to the new Muhammad Ali Center is rewarding.  You can find attractive Louisville KY hotels downtown and near the river, and chains like Best Western and Holiday Inn have a strong presence among the chain Louisville KY hotels.  Back west to Lexington, there is more fun to be had.  Known as the “Horse Capital of the World”, Lexington offers some nice scenic drives that reward you with views of the major horse farms.  If you like the outdoors, Lexington and the Fayette County area have over 3,000 acres of park facilities.  If it’s culture you are after, you will find it here, as Lexington is home to the University of Kentucky, as well as a number of other higher education schools.   If you are looking for Kentucky hotels, Lexington has all varieties, including budget hotels in Kentucky.

If you haven’t heard of Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave National Park and are trying to find a unique natural wonder in Kentucky, then head south from Kentucky’s larger cities on I-65 towards Bowling Green, Kentucky, which is not to be confused with Bowling Green, Ohio.  Bowling Green is just about an hour north of Nashville, Tennessee, and here you can visit the National Corvette Museum to see the birthplace of this great American car.  There are plenty of museums, historical homes, and tours to take here, and the presence of Western Kentucky University and its beautiful campus only helps to add culture to this dynamic small city.  The hotels in Bowling Green KY feature some of the chain budget hotels in Kentucky that you will find elsewhere, as well as some unique inns.  There are also a nice group of bed and breakfasts, and you might try the Hilton Garden Inn for added comfort.  If you are looking for something outside the norm in hotels in Bowling Green KY, try The Cottages at Olde Stone.  When it’s warm out, you can also bypass the Bowling Green KY hotels for the area campgrounds. 

Listing all that there is to see and do in Kentucky is no easy chore.  In the northern part of the state, you can explore the Ohio River and hop over into Cincinnati for big city fun.  This part of Kentucky continues to develop, and there are a wide assortment of Kentucky hotels in the area, as well as budget hotels in Kentucky near the Cincinnati airport, which is actually located in Kentucky.  The town of Covington has a most interesting scene and plenty of nightlife entertainment.  To the far east of the state, the rugged mountainous terrain is ideal for hikers, bikers and anybody else that likes stunning scenery and natural splendor.  Out in this area, the Kentucky hotels range from inns and bed and breakfasts, to lodges, resorts and cabins.  You’ll be amazed how beautiful Kentucky is, and if you haven’t yet explored it, it’s time to plan your getaway.  You can find discount Kentucky hotels online, and the various packages you will come across can help you save money on your Kentucky vacation.  Kentucky is bordered by Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana and Illinois, if you care to explore nearby states.