Spending Spring Break in the Bluegrass
It’s springtime in the Bluegrass State. The days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer and more inviting. It is time to start planning where you want to take the family for spring break.
Planning a spring break trip can be daunting. A week is just long enough for you to take the family on a road trip, but not long enough that you can wander without a plan. So, for the sake of maximizing your vacation time with fun family friendly activities, here are some of the best spring break spots Kentucky has to offer.
Starting on the banks of the Ohio River, Northern Kentucky has no shortage of stuff to do and see.
Newport Aquarium in downtown Newport is a massive facility that boasts 70 exhibits, 14 galleries and 1 million gallons of water. With dozens and dozens of different aquatic creatures that can be seen and interacted with, this aquarium is guaranteed to give your family memories that last a lifetime.
Behringer-Crawford Museum has a wide array of exhibits, there is something that will pique just about anyone’s interest, such as displays of fossils and artifacts from the area’s Indigenous communities that date back several centuries. For those who like civil engineering, take in-depth look at the replica of the Roebling Bridge that connects Covington to Cincinnati
Traveling south on Interstate 75 you will find Lexington, the “Horse Capital of the World”.
Kentucky Horse Park - Want to see some horses? You’ve got it. Learn all about the history of the equestrian arts, not just in Kentucky, but the world. Spring break is a great time to visit because the Horse Park’s events calendar is chock full of horse shows and riding competitions.
Boone Creek Outdoors – For those who want to experience Kentucky’s natural wonders, look no further than Boone Creek Outdoors. This zipline company offers a canopy tour that consists of six ziplines, three sky bridges, floating stairs and so much more. For those who might not be too thrilled with heights, Boone Creek also features hiking tours through pristine, privately owned, Kentucky forest that was previously inaccessible to the public. Due to the fact that the facility is on the outskirts of South Lexington, all the above can be done in one day and you will have plenty of time to make your dinner reservation downtown.
Heading west on Interstate 64, you will come across the bustling metropolis known as Louisville.
Kentucky Science Center is a must stop for any family with children aged 3-99. Located in the heart of downtown Louisville, the Kentucky Science Center is three floors jampacked with fun hands-on exhibits designed to get your children excited about math and science.
The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory tells the story of the National Pastime and the iconic bat that has been used by all the greats for over a century. The museum is home to the world’s biggest baseball bat and offers engaging and interesting exhibits along with an award-winning bat factory tour. Guests visiting the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory receive a souvenir mini-bat.
The Muhammad Ali Center will take you through the life and times of Muhammad Ali. Also in downtown Louisville, the museum consists of three floors and takes visitors on a journey with Ali from his childhood in segregated Louisville through his distinguished boxing career and what it meant to be a world champion in and out of the ring.
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forrest isust a short drive south of Louisville in Bernheim Forrest is 160,000 acres of family fun and discovery. With more than 40-miles of trails that not only treat visitors to the wonders of Kentucky nature, but also to intriguing and fun art installations like Giant Forrest made of recycled wood and a 10 – acre natural playground or playcosystem, that provide children with open-ended, physically challenging play opportunities.
If you keep heading south down Interstate 65, you will run find a slew of exciting attractions all within an hours drive of Bowling Green.
Mammoth Cave National Park and the surrounding area in Cave City has more than 400 miles of explored cave systems. Mammoth Cave offers several different tours of these fascinating and ancient underground worlds.
Dinosaur World 150 life-size replica dinosaurs, this outdoor museum is the perfect place for kids to be kids, while they learn about paleontology. What’s more, museum’s “boneyard” offers them chance to uncover a life size stegosaurus buried under the sand. If the weather is gross, Dinosaur World has an indoor Prehistoric Museum that features displays of cast and real fossils.
Lost River Cave will give your family something to talk about for years to come as you learn about the world underground and the fascinating science and history that surround it. As the floating tour navigates the rivers, you will be engrossed as the tour guides tell tales of ancient native hunting ground, a Civil War campground for both the Union and Confederacy, a hideout for the infamous outlaw Jesse James, and a swinging underground 1930’s nightclub.