Family Fun in Daniel Boone Country
Ready to explore Kentucky’s wild frontier just like Daniel Boone? Stunning overlooks, dramatic rock formations and lush forests make up a large part of this region’s draw – but don’t overlook the area’s family attractions and the Colonel’s secret recipe, too.
Day 1: Walk in Daniel Boone's Footsteps
Start your Daniel Boone Country adventure at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, where you can learn about the area through hands-on exhibits at the visitor center museum. See three states from the Pinnacle overlook, a view that remains largely unchanged from what the area’s first western explorers – including Daniel Boone himself – once saw. Join park rangers on an exciting two-hour adventure exploring Gap Cave, a majestic underground cavern in the park.
Head northwest to Williamsburg and the Hal Rogers Family Entertainment Center - Kentucky Splash Water Park. Spend your afternoon playing in the water or enjoying the Go Kart track, miniature golf course, driving range, arcade and batting cage. Rest up for the night at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, or at lodging options in Corbin.
Day 2: Cumberland Falls & The Original KFC
Spend today visiting dramatic Cumberland Falls, “the Niagara of the South,” where you can enjoy the area’s great outdoors by hiking, paddling through the water or even booking a thrilling rafting trip below the falls. After an adventurous morning, return to Corbin and eat a late lunch at the original home of Kentucky Fried Chicken, the Harland Sanders Cafe & Museum. Once you’ve savored the Colonel’s secret recipe, tour the museum to learn more about the man behind it.
End the day with a leisurely drive to spend the night at Natural Bridge State Resort Park.
Day 3: Nature's Coolest Bridge
As the gateway to the Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge State Resort Park offers numerous outdoor activities to entertain your entire family. To experience the true wonder of this park’s namesake formation, take the hiking trails that begin near Hemlock Lodge or buy a ticket for the seasonal Sky Lift, which will carry you up the mountain and drop you just a short walk from Natural Bridge.
For more extreme outdoor adventures, make reservations for the Red River Gorge Zipline in Campton, where the Canopy Tour features five ziplines ranging from 330-1,900 feet long. The tour lasts between two and three hours, and the last two lines are dual-racing zips that allow you to rush at speeds of up to 50 mph while soaring 300 feet over the gorge!