Cold and snow. Ice and slush. We get it -- winter in Kentucky isn't everyone's favorite. But if you hibernate all winter long, you'd be missing out on some of the best and (ahem) coolest adventures in Kentucky. Frozen waterfalls, ice-frosted mountains, cozy resort getaways... the Bluegrass State is positively perfect in the cold weather months! Still need convincing? Here are seven Kentucky day trips that are even cooler during the winter. Just be sure to bring along your winter hiking essentials to stay nice and warm!
1. Cumberland Falls
The most popular waterfall in Kentucky is often forgotten once the mercury drops, which is a shame, because there's little more beautiful in the Bluegrass than the frozen Cumberland Falls. This is a bold claim, as Cumberland Falls is the site of one of the only moonbows on the planet -- but seeing these falls frozen is wholly, completely wondrous. The Niagara of the South is absolutely marvelous in the winter, when its waters freeze mid-fall. Come and experience Cumberland Falls in the coldest months of the year, and prepare to be totally dazzled.
2. Carter Caves State Resort Park
A popular pick for spring hikes and summer spelunking, Carter Caves State Resort Park is a winter dark horse. The park's titular caves are downright magical when adorned with ice and snow, and the park offers regular guided tours and the fan-favorite Winter Adventure Weekend, both of which are fantastic cold-weather activities.
3. Kentucky Horse Park
Kentucky Horse Park, but make it winter. While this attraction is popular in the warmer months, it tends to fall off the radar come January. The KHP is open for winter hours, however, and its equine residents enjoy taking turns to visit park guests during "Stall-Side Chats!" Plus, if you have yet to experience Kentucky Horse Country in the snow, you're in for quite a treat.
4. Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest
Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest is easily one of the most beautiful places in the Bluegrass, and that applies to the winter months, too. Wandering around the 600-acre arboretum with over 8,000 varieties of trees and perennials dusted in snow is a delight, and when you add in a woodland giant or two, well, it's downright magical.
5. Buckhorn Lake
A beautiful place for boating in the summer, Buckhorn Lake looks like something out of a Robert Frost poem come winter. For those who enjoy a long and leisurely cold-weather stroll, there's perhaps no better place than this Kentucky State Park.
6. My Old Kentucky Home
Bardstown is an impossibly charming small town of about 13,000 that's located just outside Louisville, in the heart of Bourbon Country. It's a real-life history lesson that's home to more than 300 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places -- 200 in the downtown district alone! My Old Kentucky Home is easily the town's most famous historic resident; a designated Kentucky State Park, this Civil War-era mansion and its immaculate grounds served as the inspiration for Stephen Collins Foster’s famous song, "My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!" -- and when it's covered in fresh snow, it might just inspire the artist in you, too!
7. Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
Big Bone Lick is a total underrated treasure that's not only beautiful, but home to beguiling herd of bison. While the park adheres to a modified winter schedule, it still welcomes guests most days of the week -- and on a snow day, the park and its four-legged residents make for a postcard-perfect scene!
What are your favorite winter day trips in Kentucky? Share them in the comments below so fellow readers can experience the best of winter in the Bluegrass!
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