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Nature

These 15 Mind-Blowing Sceneries Totally Define Kentucky

Kentucky offers stunning natural scenery throughout the year, with diverse landscapes captured in 15 beautiful images.

Published Nov 13, 2015

Written by 

Jenn Shockley

Every season in Kentucky brings about mind-blowing naturesque scenery all across the state. Spring, summer, fall or winter, each time of year offers an artist’s palette of color across our bountiful landscapes. Not every place in our state looks alike, as we are blessed with rolling hills, thick forests, rolling rivers, serene lakes and majestic mountains. Traveling across the Bluegrass State gives visitors a taste of Mother Nature at her finest.

Here are 15 incredible images that totally define Kentucky:

15. Carter Caves

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Brenda Farris Hritz

This less traveled road is a perfect place to bask in Mother Nature’s beauty in Carter Cave’s Park.

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14. Crestwood sunrise

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Rita Turner

This beautiful sunrise is seen via the photographer’s back yard. What a wonderful view to greet the day.

13. Bourbon County

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Crystal Renee Meadows

This looks like a little slice of heaven straight out of Bourbon County.

12. East of Lewisport in Hancock County

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Eugene and Grace Robbins

This is a beautiful view of a serene country scene in the Bluegrass State. Completely peaceful.

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11. Franklin

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Vineet Patal

A serene farm on a beautiful afternoon paints a lovely portrait of the heart of Kentucky.

10. Churchill Downs

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Jorge

The winner’s circle for the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs is seen around the world on Derby Day each year. The only change is the winning horse, jockey and colors.

9. Morgan County

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Penny Gevedon

Just another beautiful evening in Morgan County. Who couldn’t get used to seeing this every evening?

8. Tip Top in Magoffin County

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Adam Mann

This is such a vibrant view of the Tip Top skyline it had to have its day for the world to see, or at least those that view this site. Breathtaking beauty.

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7. Hardin County

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Tom Gill

Hay is not just for horses, and serene scenes like this are common all across our beautiful state.

6. Jenkins

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Mike and Amber Elswick

This Jenkins landscape is a perfect vision of the rolling hills of Kentucky.

5. Kentucky North Farm

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UK College of Agriculture

Bluegrass makes a sweet grazing spot for these beautiful horses on one of many Kentucky horse farms.

4. Louisville

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Michael Montgomery

You may not imagine scenes like this in Louisville. Thankfully, we are bordered by a variety of gorgeous parks that offer Mother Nature a home in the city.

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3. Our beautiful Kentucky

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Erin Page Richardson

This is a gorgeous image of our beautiful state, showing Mother Nature in all her finery.

2. Red River Gorge

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Ulrich Burkhalter

This beautiful shot of the Gorge captures the sun as it says good night, while highlighting the colorful leaves and flowers overlooking a river of fog in the forest.

1. Bowling Green sunset

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Faith Goble

One of the most gorgeous sunsets imaginable in Bowling Green. The sun’s vibrant red, orange and gold combined with the planets twinkling in the sky is completely breathtaking.

There are so many gorgeous pictures of Kentucky it is not hard to find excellent representation of our state. The hard part is choosing between the images themselves. Each and every one of these spoke to my heart about our beautiful home. Which of these are your favorites, or do you feel best represents the Bluegrass State?

 

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Nature

This Natural Wonder In Kentucky Is The Definition Of A Hidden Gem

The Boone County Arboretum is a hidden gem near Union Kentucky. The arboretum earned the highest level of accreditation from the ArbNet Accreditation Program, and features thousands of trees, shrubs, and flowers. It was also the first arboretum within a recreation facility. Visitors can walk a 2.2-mile trail to see its many gardens and planting areas.

Published Oct 21, 2024

Written by 

Kelly Carroll

Isn't it incredible to think you can live somewhere for years, maybe even your entire life, and have not seen everything it offers? There are so many hidden gems in Kentucky, and there is especially no shortage of natural wonders like waterfalls, caves, and gardens. I was raised in Kentucky and live here now, and I can't believe all of the hidden gems I have left to discover. The Boone County Arboretum is a hidden gem in the northern part of the Bluegrass State, near Union, Kentucky.

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Three deer grazing under a tree, surrounded by lush green grass and dappled sunlight.
Management / Facebook

Boone County dedicated the Boone County Arboretum in 1999. It had established Central Park, a 121-acre baseball and soccer facility, five years before and, in subsequent years, sought to establish a horticulture site to study the area's trees and shrubs. Central Park features a 2.2-mile multi-use trail snaking through the property's 121 acres. Officials decided to create America's first arboretum within a recreational site and connect the planting areas with the park's trail. A local landscaper, Richard Ammon, initially mapped out the planting, and seven local nurseries and many volunteers brought it to life. Since its dedication in 1999, the arboretum has thrived.

A monarch butterfly perched on pink flowering plants against a blurred green background.
Management / Facebook

The arboretum now has 3,600 trees, shrubs, and flowers. Throughout the property are willows, aspens, forsythias, hollies, conifers, poplars, and more. The Children's Garden, filled with kid-friendly plants, allows kids to learn and experience the garden first-hand. There's also a butterfly garden and an area dedicated to native grasslands. A bird blind lets visitors remain unseen by birds to observe them.

The Boone County Arboretum is maintained by a paid staff, and a nonprofit organization, the Friends of Boone County Arboretum, helps with fundraising and volunteering. The arboretum consistently holds programs and events for the community.

Three vibrant trees with purple flowers stand amidst lush green foliage in a wooded area.
Management / Facebook

The Boone County Arboretum holds the highest level of accreditation for an arboretum, Level IV, from the ArbNet Accreditation Program. It was also the first arboretum in the country to have its plants mapped by global positioning technology. The Arboretum is working towards constructing a visitor center to improve its ability to welcome and educate community groups year-round.

Boone County Arboretum is open every day and is free to the public. There are restrooms on-site. Informational kiosks along the trail provide visitors with guides and collection maps. It welcomes leashed dogs and owners should always pick up after them.

A tall, leafless white tree stands in a grassy area under a clear blue sky, surrounded by sparse vegetation.
Management / Facebook

Union, Kentucky, is a small town with awesome attractions, including Big Bone Gardens. There are also fantastic restaurants, like the waterfront Weather Oar Knot. Union is only about 25 minutes from Cincinnati, where the big city provides even more things to do.

If you'd like to stay overnight near Union, Kentucky, consider booking this three-bedroom Airbnb that accommodates up to eight guests.

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Nature|Forests

The Remote Destination in Kentucky Where the Drive Is Worth the Final View

The Pinnacle Overlook near Middlesboro, Kentucky has a fantastic view of the city and the Cumberland Gap. Come hike and enjoy the panoramic views!

Published Oct 9, 2024

Written by 

Kelly Carroll

When you imagine Kentucky's pinnacle, what do you see? Do you see the state's highest mountain (Black Mountain), the tallest waterfall (Yahoo Falls), or the longest cave (Mammoth Cave)? You might imagine a spectacular place with the word pinnacle in its name: the Pinnacle Overlook near Middlesboro, Kentucky. 

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People who live near the scenic overlook refer to it as "the pinnacle." It offers spectacular views of the Cumberland Gap and Middlesboro. The area is in southeast Kentucky, very close to Kentucky's borders with Tennessee and Virginia, and visitors can view points of interest in several states.

Aerial view of a lush green mountain landscape shrouded in mist under a clear blue sky.
Tony Sweet / Photodisc Collection via Getty Images

The overlook dates back to the 1800s and holds great historical significance. Many groups have traveled through the area to traverse the Cumberland Gap. Native Americans moved through the area in search of hunting grounds. Later, colonists traveled through on their way out west. The area was also vital to the Civil War, and cannons shot down into the valley from a part of a mountain near the overlook.

To get to Pinnacle Overlook, visitors drive up a steep mountain, which they describe as full of switchbacks and steep, curvy roads. There is a parking lot at the overlook where visitors can leave their cars and walk a short distance to a viewing platform. Once there, they'll see breathtaking views. Middlesboro, Kentucky, is at the bottom of a 3.6-mile-wide crater formed by a meteor crash long ago.

To the city's left is the Cumberland Gap, the first major gateway through the Cumberland Mountains to the west. Its significant place in American history is tied to the groups who traveled through it—including Native Americans and pioneers. The pass through the Cumberland Mountains leads to the Tennessee city of Harrogate, and Virginia is further to the left. On days with high visibility, visitors can sometimes see Bays Mountain in Tennessee and the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina. 

A panoramic view from a rocky overlook, showcasing a valley with a small town and winding roads surrounded by green hills.
View of Cumberland Gap from Pinnacle Overlook in Kentucky Mountains, 25E in the Background

Pets are allowed to visit the viewpoint with their owners. A picnic table and restrooms are also available for visitors' use. 

While near the overlook, many visitors recommend seeing Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. The park's principal visitor center is south of Middlesboro and is the perfect place to learn about it. It offers a museum, gift shop, and gardens. 

For more information, visit the National Park Service's Pinnacle Overlook site. 

Have you visited the Pinnacle Overlook or Cumberland Gap?

Middlesboro is a unique mountain town with a charming downtown. It also has a swimming hole called Devil's Garden, where a devastating tragedy occurred. It has several fantastic restaurants, including Shades Cafe and Restaurant and Pelanchos Mexican restaurant.

Middlesboro may be the perfect place for a small-town getaway, and this three-bedroom Airbnb farmhouse may be the ideal accommodation. It has a beautiful outdoor porch, a peaceful environment, and stunning views.

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