Father & Son Trip to Kentucky

Cumberland Gap

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Attraction | "Mountain Range straddling three states"

Big South Fork River Photo - Cumberland Gap , Middlesboro, Kentucky

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The Appalachian Mountains is a major mountain chain extending over 1500 miles from Alabama to Maine and into Canada. In the southeastern portion of the Appalachians lies the Cumberland Mountains, a mountain range straddling the tri-state area of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. In 1750, a physician, Dr. Thomas Walker, discovered the Cumberland Gap, a passageway through the lower central Appalachians. It was used extensively by Native Americans and then Daniel Boone widened the trail which allowed pioneers to settle into Tennessee and Kentucky. The Cumberland Gap National Historic Park preserves the natural beauty and history of this area and tells the story of the pioneers who founde...Read More

The Appalachian Mountains is a major mountain chain extending over 1500 miles from Alabama to Maine and into Canada. In the southeastern portion of the Appalachians lies the Cumberland Mountains, a mountain range straddling the tri-state area of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. In 1750, a physician, Dr. Thomas Walker, discovered the Cumberland Gap, a passageway through the lower central Appalachians. It was used extensively by Native Americans and then Daniel Boone widened the trail which allowed pioneers to settle into Tennessee and Kentucky.

The Cumberland Gap National Historic Park preserves the natural beauty and history of this area and tells the story of the pioneers who founded and settled a new region. Many claim that this was the first Gateway to the West, long before Lewis and Clark started their expedition in St. Louis. The Cumberland Gap National Historic Park visitor’s center is located on US Highway 25E in Middlesboro, Kentucky. A 2.3 mile stretch of US 25E has been replaced with the Cumberland Gap Tunnel extending from Tennessee to Kentucky, making it one of only two tunnels to cross state lines. Before the tunnel was built, that stretch of road was known as "Massacre Mountain" because of the huge number of deaths that occurred on the winding mountain road. Today, that stretch of road has been converted into a hiking trail.

The visitor’s center is open daily from 8am to 5pm and contains exhibits, interactive films, and a small bookstore. The park offers many outdoor activities that are free of charge except for the Gap Cave tours and tours of the Hensley Settlement. Leading from the visitor’s center is Skyland Road, a winding four mile long road that takes you to Pinnacle Outlook at 2440 feet. At this height, you can see all three states of Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Harrogate, Tennessee, home of Lincoln Memorial University boarders the park is clearly visible form the overlook. On the way to the top of the overlook, you will cross over the state line from Kentucky into Virginia. There is a marking on the paved road leading to the top.

The Gap Cave tours cost $8 a person and is a 1.5 mile hike exploring four levels of the cave. The Hensley Settlement cost $10 a person and it explores the settlement founded by Sherman Hensley in 1904. The tour is about a mile in length and lasts about 3 to 4 hours. Hikers will enjoy the 85 miles of different trails ranging from an easy ¼ of a mile to the strenuous 21 mile hike on Ridge Trail.

An hour and a half away in Oneida, Tennessee is the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The park preserves the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, a river extending from Tennessee into Kentucky. There are two visitor’s centers; one is located in Oneida at Bandy Creek and the Sterns Depot Visitor’s Center in Sterns, Kentucky. The park offers everything from hiking and horseback riding to hunting and fishing or paddling on the Cumberland River.

For those without the time to explore the nature side of Big South Fork, take time to visit Blue Heron. It is an abandoned coal mining town in Sterns, KY that operated from 1937 until it was closed in 1962. The buildings sat abandoned and they lapsed into decay. The original buildings have been replaced with replicas of the same size and design and in the same location as the originals. The buildings are referred to as "Ghost Structures" and each building is open to the public. This outdoor museum preserves the history and legacy of this once profitable mining community.

For those looking for something different and wanting to explore all that nature has to offer, these two National Parks within a short distance of each other make an ideal choice.

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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 21, 2009

Cumberland Gap
US 25E South
Middlesboro, Kentucky 40965
(606)248-2817

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Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant Tour

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Attraction | "A Must for the Auto Enthusiast"

First Toyota Car Photo - Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant Tour, Georgetown, Kentucky

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Kentucky is well known for its horses from the world famous Kentucky Derby to the Lexington Horse Park. The state is instrumental in producing horsepower, but not the type you may be thinking about. Toyota has built one of the biggest automobile plants in North America located in Georgetown, a few miles from Lexington. The plant which is known as Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky (TMMK) produces the Camry, Avalon, and Solara. While it is the area’s largest employer, it is also the area’s biggest contributor, pumping millions of dollars back into the community to improve schools, infrastructure, and other noteworthy civic projects. The plant encourages visitors to take a tour and see firsthand the...Read More

Kentucky is well known for its horses from the world famous Kentucky Derby to the Lexington Horse Park. The state is instrumental in producing horsepower, but not the type you may be thinking about. Toyota has built one of the biggest automobile plants in North America located in Georgetown, a few miles from Lexington. The plant which is known as Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky (TMMK) produces the Camry, Avalon, and Solara. While it is the area’s largest employer, it is also the area’s biggest contributor, pumping millions of dollars back into the community to improve schools, infrastructure, and other noteworthy civic projects. The plant encourages visitors to take a tour and see firsthand the engineering marvel that takes a coil of steel and transforms it into an automobile.

The tour begins at the visitor center where you check in with the receptionist. Reservations are required and tours are conducted Monday thru Friday at 10am, noon, and 2pm with a 6pm tour on Thursday. As you wait for the tour to begin, you can browse the exhibits that chronicle the creation of Toyota from its humble beginnings to its rise as the largest automaker in the world. On display is a 1988 Toyota Camry, the first vehicle produced at TMMK, but it is not street legal as it was built without a VIN plate. The tour guide motions us into the next room where we receive headphones and safety glasses. After a short fifteen minute video presentation, it is now time to board the tram with our safety glasses on and headphones attached. The headphones are used primarily to hear the tour guide explain the different departments as well as drown out the noise.

The first stop is the unloading docks where trucks haul huge steel coils that are then molded into different body components. The components are then welded to the chassis giving the vehicle a "shell." The vehicles are carried on an assembly line to different areas in the plant where the magic begins. The workers are divided into teams who are responsible for a particular section of the vehicle. There are those who install the steering wheel, the dash, seats, as well as someone who sticks the Toyota emblem on the hood and trunk lid. Toyota believes in quality as well as efficiency, which is why all employees are cross-trained as every two hours they switch jobs to break up the monotony. Don’t be surprised to see employees playing video games or billiards. Employees can spend their breaks in recreation areas throughout the plant before going back to work.

The tour takes you to every area of the plant except for painting, for obvious reasons. This is also where the vehicle spends most of its time on the production line. It takes only twenty hours to build a vehicle and eleven of those are spent in the paint shop. We approach final inspection where the vehicles are given the white glove treatment, literally. These employees donned with their white gloves inspect every nook and cranny as well as trained to detect a trunk or car door that does not close properly. A new vehicle rolls off the assembly line every 55 seconds where it is taken to the test track. A two-mile track allows the vehicle to show off its acceleration and braking, before being loaded onto trains and shipped around the country. The tour ends back at the visitor center where the safety goggles are yours to keep as a souvenir.

This tour is excellent for the auto enthusiast or anyone who enjoys watching an engineering marvel. After having visited the Ford Rouge plant in Detroit, Michigan, the tour of Toyota plant far surpasses the latter for a number of reasons. At the TMMK, there is no walking, thereby making this tour ideal for children or handicapped persons. Most importantly, the tour is FREE unlike most other attractions. Since 1988, Toyota has continually built more production facilities across the United States and has demonstrated to the rest of the world that Toyota is truly Moving Forward. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 21, 2009

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant Tour
1001 Cherry Blossom Way
Georgetown, Kentucky 40324
(800) 866-4485

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Father & Son Trip to Kentucky

Best Of IgoUgo

Overview

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Kentucky, commonly known as the Horse Capital of the World, was our final destination on this year’s road trip. We drove from North Carolina making it to Kentucky in less than five hours. Our first stop was at Cumberland Gap National Park which straddles three different states, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. A drive up to Pinnacle Overlook gives a nice 360 degree panoramic view of the tri-state area. We made a stop in Corbin and ate lunch at the original KFC where Colonel Sanders perfected his famous chicken recipe. Our final destination for the first day was Louisville, however getting there turned out to be harder than we thought. After getting lost several times and finally making it through th...Read More

Kentucky, commonly known as the Horse Capital of the World, was our final destination on this year’s road trip. We drove from North Carolina making it to Kentucky in less than five hours. Our first stop was at Cumberland Gap National Park which straddles three different states, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. A drive up to Pinnacle Overlook gives a nice 360 degree panoramic view of the tri-state area. We made a stop in Corbin and ate lunch at the original KFC where Colonel Sanders perfected his famous chicken recipe. Our final destination for the first day was Louisville, however getting there turned out to be harder than we thought. After getting lost several times and finally making it through the mountainous terrain of Southern Kentucky, we finally arrived in Louisville at three in the morning.

Louisville is a destination in itself. About thirty minutes from Louisville is Fort Knox, the Army’s Cavalry School and home to that all important commodity, gold, stored at the bullion depository. A block away from the front gates is the Patton Museum. In the city of Louisville, a visit would not be complete without going to Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. You can tour the museum or place some bets if you happen to be there on race day. Some of the other highlights include the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum, the Muhammad Ali Center, and Six Flag Kentucky Kingdom Amusement Park.

The rest of the trip was spent in Lexington with a stop in Frankfort to admire the Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion. Lexington is surrounded by thousand of acres of farm land where horses roam free and contribute to the beauty of this great state. The Kentucky Horse Park is a great place for families to interact with the many different breeds of horses as well as take a trail ride on one of their trusty steeds. For sports fans, there is the University of Kentucky, who has won more basketball games than other school in history. Lexington has plenty of historic homes such as Ashland-The Henry Clay Estate and Mary Todd Lincoln’s home. Located about fifteen minutes from Lexington is the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant, in Georgetown. The plant offers free tours but must be reserved in advance.

Quick Tips:

************Important Advice****************
Fort Knox, the gold depository, is located right off of the highway. It is a great picture opportunity, but beware. I pulled off to the side of the road to take a couple of pictures. A few minutes later, I was being pulled over by the US Mint Police. It was explained that after 9/11, they stop almost everyone who takes pictures of Fort Knox. Just be warned that if you try to take a picture you may see bright flashing lights in your rearview.

While driving in the mountains, do not take short cuts as you will spend a lot more time trying to get your destination as I recently found out. Try to find the main highways or interstates even if it looks farther on the map. It is a lot better to drive more miles at faster speeds than less miles at thirty miles an hour.

Best Way To Get Around:

Kentucky is linked by a number of interstates and major highways. The best way to get around is by vehicle. In the biggest towns, such as Lexington and Louisville, parking in downtown is usually not a problem with a vehicle. Public transportation can pretty much be avoided. The major cities also have international airports which are serviced by a number of different airlines. Read Less

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Kentucky Fried Chicken

Restaurant | "The Original Kentucky Fried Chicken"

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As we crossed into Kentucky, we went in search for the original Kentucky Fried Chicken in Corbin. Corbin is about an hour and a half south from Lexington. Colonel Harlan Sanders began serving chicken in 1930 at a gas station that he owned. In the back of the gas station was a dining room that originally consisted of one table which seated six and eventually grew to seat 142. In 1937 when the restaurant caught on fire, he rebuilt it to include a motel, and called it "Sanders Court and Café." In 1940, Colonel Sanders perfected his Original Recipe of eleven herbs and spices, which he claimed really wasn’t a secret because it could be found in anyone’s kitchen. Because of his successful operation, the...Read More

As we crossed into Kentucky, we went in search for the original Kentucky Fried Chicken in Corbin. Corbin is about an hour and a half south from Lexington. Colonel Harlan Sanders began serving chicken in 1930 at a gas station that he owned. In the back of the gas station was a dining room that originally consisted of one table which seated six and eventually grew to seat 142. In 1937 when the restaurant caught on fire, he rebuilt it to include a motel, and called it "Sanders Court and Café." In 1940, Colonel Sanders perfected his Original Recipe of eleven herbs and spices, which he claimed really wasn’t a secret because it could be found in anyone’s kitchen. Because of his successful operation, the Kentucky governor made him an honorary colonel and upon his death he laid in state at the State Capitol in Frankfort. When future Interstate 75 was built bypassing Corbin, he sold his properties and sold his chicken to restaurant owners. In 1952, he entered into his first franchising arrangement which led to the first Kentucky Fried Chicken (as we know it) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

As we arrived at "Sanders Court and Café," the building still looks as it did when Colonel Harlan Sanders was preparing fried chicken for his customers. I was disappointed when we stepped inside the restaurant. It turned out that "Sander’s Court and Café" on one side is a typical KFC and on the other side of the restaurant is the dining area and small museum. The restaurant is open daily from 10am to 10pm.

Although eating here can be experienced anywhere a KFC can be found, the one thing that the other ones do not have is the museum dedicated to Harlan Sanders. The kitchen is still preserved as it was when Col. Sanders tried and failed before creating his famous recipe, which is rumored to be locked in a vault in Louisville. Also on display is a motel room from the motel that he added onto his restaurant in 1937 making it an all-stop shop, gas, food, and lodging.

The food can be had anywhere but the museum is only unique to Corbin. If your travels take you through Corbin, it is worth a stop at the museum. It should be noted that Corbin is in a dry county; however, alcohol is served in restaurants that seat at least 100 people.

Although Corbin may not be a tourist destination, if you happen to be in the area, you can visit Cumberland Falls State Park about twenty miles southwest. The state park contains one of the few waterfalls in the world that has a continuously occurring moonbow. About fifty miles south is the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, which straddles three different states.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on August 29, 2007

Kentucky Fried Chicken
688 Highway 25 West
Corbin, Kentucky
(606) 528-2163

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Churchill Downs/Kentucky Derby Museum

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Attraction

Prepare to Race Photo - Churchill Downs/Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville, Kentucky

Quote:

While Kentucky is famous for its thoroughbred racing horses, Louisville is famous for the place to allow them to race. That place is Churchill Downs located on Central Avenue in the southern part of the city with its Twin Spires rising upward to the sky. Horse racing has been a fixture in the city ever since 1875 when the first Kentucky Derby was raced here. The Kentucky Derby is held the first Saturday in May. It is one of the three major horse races, whereby if the horse wins all three, they receive the prestigious award of the Triple Crown. Acquiring tickets to the Kentucky Derby is by far one of the hardest in all of sporting events. The race known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" requ...Read More

While Kentucky is famous for its thoroughbred racing horses, Louisville is famous for the place to allow them to race. That place is Churchill Downs located on Central Avenue in the southern part of the city with its Twin Spires rising upward to the sky. Horse racing has been a fixture in the city ever since 1875 when the first Kentucky Derby was raced here. The Kentucky Derby is held the first Saturday in May. It is one of the three major horse races, whereby if the horse wins all three, they receive the prestigious award of the Triple Crown. Acquiring tickets to the Kentucky Derby is by far one of the hardest in all of sporting events. The race known as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" requires applications to be submitted the year before to secure reserved seating. For those who are not lucky to get a seat, general admission tickets are offered on the day for $40. Be prepared to stand in the infield and chances are you will never get a view of the race.

If you are not able to attend the Kentucky Derby, don’t despair as there is still plenty to do at Churchill Downs. Two racing meets are held each year at the track. The first one begins a week before the Kentucky Derby and ends in early July and the fall meet begins in October and ends on Thanksgiving weekend. General admission is only $2 to see some of the finest racing horses in the world. If you feel lucky, put some money on your favorite horses and see if you come out a winner. You may win enough money to be able to watch future races from Millionaire’s Row, where the wealthy enjoy the best view in the house.

Also located at Churchill Downs is the Kentucky Derby Museum which is open seven days a week. Admission for adults is $10 with reduced rates for senior citizens and children. The museum contains exhibits honoring all of the Kentucky Derby winners. The highlight of the museum is the 360 degree theater which plays the film entitled "The Greatest Race" and pits the viewer right in the center of the action. Along with the admission, you can take a guided tour of Churchill Downs as well as the Paddock area, where the jockeys are united with their horse before the race.

Even if you are never able to attend the Kentucky Derby, there is still plenty to do at Churchill Downs. From watching the races, placing bets, eating in the world famous cafes, or enjoying the museum, there is something here for everyone. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 8, 2007

Churchill Downs/Kentucky Derby Museum
704 Central Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky
(502) 637-1111

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Kentucky Horse Park

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Attraction

English Horse Photo - Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Kentucky

Quote:

The Kentucky Horse Park, located in Lexington, is dedicated to "maKen’s relationship with the horse." It is a 1200 acre park that contains exhibits, museums, and plenty of stables to interact with the horses. Once you have bought your ticket, there are a number of things to explore. Museums that are located on the grounds include the International Museum of the Horse and the American Saddlebred Museum, The International Museum of the Horse chronicles the horse’s history in relation to man. On display are 19th century horse-drawn carriages and racing vehicles. Also within the museum is an exhibit that is dedicated to Lexington’s most famous farm, Calumet Farm, with 560 gold, silver, and crystal trophie...Read More

The Kentucky Horse Park, located in Lexington, is dedicated to "maKen’s relationship with the horse." It is a 1200 acre park that contains exhibits, museums, and plenty of stables to interact with the horses. Once you have bought your ticket, there are a number of things to explore. Museums that are located on the grounds include the International Museum of the Horse and the American Saddlebred Museum, The International Museum of the Horse chronicles the horse’s history in relation to man. On display are 19th century horse-drawn carriages and racing vehicles. Also within the museum is an exhibit that is dedicated to Lexington’s most famous farm, Calumet Farm, with 560 gold, silver, and crystal trophies won by the farm’s successful racing horses. The American Saddlebred Museum is dedicated to Kentucky’s first native breed with exhibits highlighting the horse’s history to modern times.

The Breeds Barn contains 24 different breeds of horses from around the world. New ones are continuously added while others may be on loan to other organizations. Twice a day, March through October, you can witness the Parade of Breeds, which shows off those different horses for the spectators. The riders of the horses are dressed in full costume based on the origin of the horse and the society that rides them. After the show is finished, the horses are brought out for the audience to interact with them and offer an excellent picture taking opportunity. The Draft Horse Barn contains horses that pull the park’s horse drawn trolley tours. These horses known as "Gentle Giants" include breeds such the Clydesdales, Belgians, and English Sires. There is also a blacksmith shop where you can witness the pounding of iron into horseshoes at the Farrier Shop.

Visitors can also enjoy a 45 minute trail ride during the months of March through October. Anyone can enjoy the horse ride as no previous riding experience is needed. These horses are so highly trained that they are pretty much on autopilot and therefore all you need to do is enjoy the ride. For children under 7, there are pony rides so no one is left out of this enjoyable experience.

Upon leaving the park, stop for a minute outside the visitor center and pay your respects to Man O War, considered the greatest thoroughbred horse of all time. A full size bronze statue sits on top of his remains surrounded by a pool of water. As with many horse burials, only the head and heart are buried. However, Man O War’s whole body was interred as a tribute to the greatest horse of all time.

The Horse Park is a major attraction for the state of Kentucky and has now gained worldwide attention. It has been announced that the Kentucky Horse Park will host the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, which marks the first time that the games have ever been held outside Europe.

The Kentucky Horse Park is a must see for the whole family. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on September 10, 2007

Kentucky Horse Park
4089 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, Kentucky 40511
(859) 255-5727

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