A day trip can be a wonderful time of fellowship and growth for Boomers and Seniors!

The opportunity to learn, share new experiences and fellowship together may strengthen and encourage Boomers and Builders and give them a great opportunity to reach out to unchurched friends. Ron Wilburn, a senior travel consultant, offers the following simple steps to planning safe and successful day trips:

  • Set date for trip and plan three to four weeks ahead with promotion and announcements in newsletter, bulletin, etc.
  • Have a “Sign Up Sheet” in a room or on a bulletin board.
  • Consult the Kentucky Travel Guide for phone numbers and detailed information on the event or attraction. If specific information is not available, ask about what is required, such as reservations, advanced deposits, and discounts for seniors.
  • Ask about the times for openings and closings, and whether they are in the Central or Eastern Time zone. Outside of Kentucky, ask about Daylight Savings time.
  • Be sure to indicate that your group is a group of senior citizens and not high school seniors.
  • Give the name of your attendees, name of your church, address and phone numbers. This should also include the office and home phone of the ministry director.
  • Ask for the name of the person with whom you are speaking and ask if they will be present the day of your arrival. If not, get the name of the person who will be in charge of the tickets, tour guide, etc.
  • Let them know the approximate number of seniors in your group. If there are last minute cancellations, it may be necessary to call the day before your arrival or the morning of the trip, to indicate the total number arriving for the trip or tour.
  • Inquire about how much walking is involved for the tour or event, and if their facilities are accessible for those with handicaps.
  • In cases where there is no set time required for your arrival, let them know the approximate time they can expect you.
  • Take photos of each trip, either by prints for an album collection, or slides for a presentation to the church.
  • Be sure the van/bus is thoroughly inspected before the start of the trip, with a checklist including: gas, oil, tires, transmission, etc. Standard equipment should include: cell phone, first-aid kit, toolbox, flashlight and paper towels. Also, an updated official Kentucky Highway Map, and city maps of major metropolitan areas such as Louisville, Lexington or Cincinnati, should you schedule trips to these areas. In addition, be sure there is always a backup driver for all trips.
  • Note: Much of the above may also apply when making reservations for dining in restaurants, cafeterias, etc.
  • Don’t forget to pray at the start of each trip, asking God’s blessings and protection on you all day, and for a safe return home!

Things to Do

From the mountains to the Mississippi, there’s plenty to do all across Kentucky! Looking for a little inspiration on what to visit first? The following guides, magazines and books will point you in the right direction.

Magazines

  • Kentucky Monthly (Frankfort publication)
    (888) 329-0053
  • Kentucky Living (published monthly)
    (800) 595-4846
  • Louisville (published monthly)
    (800) 236-9286
  • Kentucky Explorer (published 10 times a year)
    (606) 666-5060

Books

  • The Kentucky Encyclopedia, John E. Kleber, 1992
  • A New History of Kentucky, Harrison-Klotter, 1997
  • Our Kentucky, A Study of the Bluegrass State, James C. Klotter, 1992
  • The Encyclopedia of Louisville, John Kleber, 2001
  • Kentucky, Off the Beaten Path, Zoe Strecker, 1992
  • The Insiders’ Guide to Lexington & Louisville, Co-pub. Lexington Herald-Leader & Insiders’ Guide, Inc.

For regional information, visit the Kentucky Tourism website.

Kentucky Attractions & Events

There’s just no excuse for being bored in Kentucky! Not when there are so many interesting, educational and fun things to do. For details on any of these great attractions, visit the Kentucky Tourism website. Read on:

  • Abe Lincoln Statue, Hodgenville
  • Actor’s Theatre, Louisville
  • American Quilter’s Society Show & Contest, Paducah
  • American Saddle Horse Museum, Lexington
  • Ashland, Henry Clay’s Estate, Lexington
  • Ashland Oil Headquarters, Newport
  • Barkley Birthplace, Paducah
  • Barkley Gravesite, Paducah
  • Barkley Museum, Paducah
  • BB Riverboat Cruise & Dining, Covington
  • Belle of Louisville
  • Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest, Clermont
  • Big South Fork Railway, Stearns
  • Birds of America Museum, Henderson
  • Bluegrass Scenic Railway and Toy Train Museum, Versailles
  • Blue Licks Battlefield State Park & Pioneer Museum, Mt. Olivet
  • Boonesborough State Resort Park, Winchester
  • Boone Tavern, Berea
  • Calumet Horse Farm, Lexington
  • Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington
  • Chained Rock, Pineville
  • Cherry House Furniture, LaGrange
  • Churchill Weavers, Berea
  • Civil War Museum of the Western Theater, Bardstown
  • Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, Pineville
  • Claudia Sanders Dinner House Restaurant, Shelbyville
  • Colonel Sanders Café & Museum, Corbin
  • Courthouse, Newport
  • Cumberland Falls State Park, Corbin
  • Cumberland Gap Lookout, Middlesboro
  • Cumberland Gap Tunnel, Middlesboro
  • Cumberland Inn & Conference Center, Williamsburg
  • Dale Hollow Lake State Park Lodge, Burkesville
  • Depot Restaurant, Glendale
  • Dixie Belle on Kentucky River, Shaker Village area
  • Doe Run Inn, Brandenburg area
  • Filson Historical Society, Louisville
  • Floral Clock, State Capital Grounds, Frankfort
  • Fort Knox
  • Goddard Covered Bridge, Flemingsburg
  • Gold Depository, Ft. Knox
  • Governor’s Mansion, Frankfort
  • Great American Brass Band Festival, Danville
  • Hadley Pottery, Louisville
  • Headley-Whitney Museum, Lexington
  • High Bridge on Kentucky River
  • Holly Rood (Clark) Mansion, Winchester
  • Horse Farm, Lexington
  • Hummel Planetarium & Space Theater, Richmond
  • IMAX Theater, Louisville
  • International Bluegrass Music Museum, Owensboro
  • Jefferson Davis Monument, Fairview
  • John James Audubon Museum & Nature Center, Henderson
  • John Landon, Theater Organ Entertainer, Lexington
  • Keeneland, Lexington
  • Kentucky Coal Mining Museum, Harlan area
  • Kentucky Dam State Resort Park, Gilbertsville
  • Kentucky Depot Restaurant/L & N Depot, Stanford
  • Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville
  • Kentucky History Center, Frankfort
  • Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington
  • Kentucky Opry, Mountain Arts Center, Prestonsburg
  • Kentucky Railway and Museum, New Haven
  • Kentucky Speedway, Sparta
  • Kentucky State Fair & Exposition Center, Louisville
  • Lake Barkley State Resort Park, Cadiz
  • Lexington Courthouse (Proposed Lexington History Museum)
  • Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site, Hodgenville
  • Lincoln Homestead State Park, Springfield
  • Lincoln’s Boyhood Home, Knob Creek Farm, Hodgenville
  • Louisville Palace (Performance Theater)
  • Louisville Science Center
  • Louisville Skyline
  • Louisville Slugger Bat Museum
  • Lost River Cave/Underground Boat Tour, Bowling Green
  • Mammoth Cave National Park, Cave City
  • Man ‘O War Statute, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington
  • Mary Todd Lincoln House, Lexington
  • Model of Jerusalem, Clear Creek Baptist College, Pineville
  • Moonlite Bar-B-Q Restaurant, Owensboro
  • Mountain Laurel Festival, Pineville
  • Museum of the American Quilter’s Society, Paducah
  • My Old Kentucky Home Dinner Train, Bardstown
  • My Old Kentucky Home State Park (Federal Hill), Bardstown
  • National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green
  • Natural Bridge State Park, Slade
  • Newport Aquarium
  • Nostalgia Train Ride, Hardin
  • Old Fort Harrod State Park, Harrodsburg
  • Old Governor’s Mansion, Frankfort
  • Old Hickory Bar-B-Q Restaurant, Owensboro
  • Old Talbott Inn, Bardstown
  • Old State Capital, Frankfort
  • Oneida Baptist Institute, Oneida
  • Owensboro Museum of Science & History
  • Paducah Wall to Wall Murals & Steam Locomotive
  • Patti’s 1889’s Settlement/Restaurant, Grand Rivers
  • Patton Museum & Cavalry Armor, Elizebethtown
  • Red River Gorge, Slade
  • Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon
  • Rupp Arena, Lexington
  • Ruth Hunt’s Chocolate Factory Tour, Mt. Sterling
  • Schmidt Museum of Coca-Cola Memorabilia, Elizabethtown
  • Shaker Museum, South Union, near Bowling Green
  • Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Burgin/Harrodsburg area
  • Simon-Kenton Bridge, Maysville
  • Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville
  • Slugger Field, Home of Louisville Bats Baseball
  • Southern Lights Christmas Display, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington
  • Speed Art Museum, Louisville
  • St. Joseph Cathedral, Bardstown
  • Star of Louisville Cruise & Dining
  • Stephen Foster, The Musical, Bardstown
  • Stone Bridge over Cumberland River
  • Stone Fences
  • Thoroughbred Park, Lexington
  • “Thunder Over Louisville” Fireworks (two weeks before Derby)
  • Tour of Horse Farms, Lexington
  • Tour of Kentucky Baptist Convention Headquarters, Middletown
  • Tour of Kentucky Baptist Colleges and University
  • Tour of Southern Baptist Seminary & Billy Graham Room, Louisville
  • Trail of Tears Commemorative Park/Heritage Museum, Hopkinsville
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing Tours, Georgetown
  • UK Basketball Museum, Rupp Arena, Lexington
  • Wakefield-Scearce Galleries/Science Hill Inn, Shelbyville
  • White Hall State Historic Site, Richmond area
  • Whistle Stop Restaurant, Glendale
  • Whitehaven, Paducah
  • Wigwam Village Motel, Cave City

Kentucky's Best Kept Secrets

Sometimes the best adventures are somewhere off the beaten path. Here is a list of fun, sometimes off-beat attractions that you may want to consider for your next outing. For details on any of these great attractions, visit the Kentucky Tourism website.

  • African-American Heritage Center, Franklin
  • American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville
  • Aviation Museum of Kentucky, Bluegrass Airport, Lexington
  • Applebee’s Park, Home of the Lexington Legends Baseball
  • Buffalo Crossing, Family Fun, Ranch & Restaurant, Shelbyville area
  • Cane Ridge Meeting House Shrine, Paris
  • Cathedral of the Assumption, Louisville
  • Colonel Harland Sanders Museum, Louisville
  • Cumberland Museum, Williamsburg
  • Daniel Boone’s Gravesite, Frankfort
  • D. W. Griffith Gravesite, Hollywood Pioneer Film Producer, Centerfield
  • Duncan Memorial Chapel, Floydsburg Cemetery, Crestwood
  • Foucault Pendulum & Ceiling Clock, Central Library, Lexington
  • Franklin Sousley Monument, Flemingsburg
  • Garden of Hope, Replica of the Garden Tomb, Covington
  • Gathering Place Music Museum, Marti Williamson, Harrodsburg
  • Genesis Creation Museum, Burlington (forthcoming)
  • Glassworks, Louisville
  • Irish Acres Antiques & Glitz Restaurant, Nonesuch
  • Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon
  • Kentucky Museum, Western KY University, Bowling Green
  • Kentucky Railway Museum, Louisville
  • Kentucky Viet Nam Memorial, Frankfort
  • Lincoln Museum, Hodgenville
  • Millennium Monument Tower, Newport (forthcoming)
  • Oakwood Acres, Old Fashioned Town, McKee
  • Otter Creek Park & Lodge, Brandenburg area
  • Paramount Arts Theater, “Festival of Trees”, Ashland
  • Portland Museum, Louisville
  • Southeast Christian Church Easter Pageant, Louisville
  • Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear Museum, Elizabethtown
  • Thomas Edison’s House, Louisville
  • Williams Cross Museum, Williamsburg
  • W. T. Young Library (Quilt Exhibit), UK Campus, Lexington
  • World Peace Bell, Newport
  • Wrather West Kentucky Museum, Murray State University Campus
  • Zachary Taylor National Cemetery, Louisville