Maker's Mark
Dip your own bottle in red wax.
Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Tour the rickhouses and tasting rooms of Kentucky, source of about 95 percent of the world's bourbon, among horse farms and limestone springs.
Maker's Mark, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve and more are close to Louisville and Lexington. Bluegrass horse country is just as lovely, with Keeneland and the Kentucky Horse Park.
- Best Time
- April to October
- Time Needed
- 2–3 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round
- Getting There
- An hour from Louisville or Lexington.
What to See
1 of 4 are freeBuffalo Trace
The oldest continuously operating distillery site in America.
Woodford Reserve
A National Historic Landmark in horse country.
Keeneland
Beautiful racetrack; meets in April and October.
Know Before You Go
- Tours sell out: book ahead.
- Don't drink and drive.
Where to Stay
Stay in Louisville, Lexington or Bardstown.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
Editor's picks. Nobody paid to be on this list.
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Traveler Reviews
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Go Next
If You're NearbyLouisville
Kentucky
Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, and the gateway to bourbon country.
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Worth a DetourKentucky Derby
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First Saturday in May
The 'Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports': hats, mint juleps and America's greatest horse race, on the first Saturday in May.
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Worth a DetourMammoth Cave National Park
Kentucky
The world's longest known cave system, with over 400 miles mapped beneath Kentucky's hills, a World Heritage Site.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Southeast list.