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.

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.

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.

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.

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.