4 Autumn Adventures in Kentucky

Illinois may be the “Land of Lincoln,” but Kentucky was where he was born. He lived there nearly eight years, long enough for the Bluegrass State to shape the future president’s attitude toward slavery and other issues that put him on a path to the White House. Fall offers a great time to explore Lincoln’s Kentucky legacy but also other offerings that range from tours of the state’s bourbon country to a visit to a racehorse retirement home to a a new way to ride the rails. 


Ride the Rails in a New Way

Most travelers experience Kentucky from the road. But Rail Explorers: Bluegrass Division offers a different perspective, taking you along a historic railroad corridor that winds through horse country, across limestone cliffs and along one of the state’s most scenic river valleys.

Departing from the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum in Versailles, the two- and four-seater, pedal-assisted rail bikes follow tracks first laid in 1888, tracing 5 miles of countryside before reaching the Kentucky River Palisades. 

Along the way, the two-hour experience takes riders past thoroughbred horse farms and rolling countryside before arriving at the turnaround point just before Young’s High Bridge. An engineering marvel, the former railroad bridge soars over the river and offers a view of the new Wild Turkey Distillery on the opposite hillside.

Rail Explorers: Bluegrass Division offers morning, midday and evening rides along the route, but fall visitors should go for the seasonal Fireside Tour. Before departure, guests gather around crackling fire pits to roast s’mores and sip complimentary hot cider or hot chocolate. 

As dusk settles, early dark is not a concern. Each rail bike is equipped with a lantern to help illuminate the evening autumn landscape, creating a sensory experience unlike any other.

“Each season brings such different glimpses of Kentucky,” says Rail Explorers CEO Mary-Joy Lu. “In fall, you’re completely surrounded by the changing colors, and it’s a completely different experience when you’re riding at night with nothing but a lantern and the stars to light your way.” 175 Beasley Rd., Versailles, Kentucky 40383, 877/833-8588, railexplorers.net/locations/bluegrass


Learn About Lincoln’s Early Years

Long before Abraham Lincoln became one of our nation’s most influential presidents, he was a Kentucky farm boy exploring the woods, fields and creeks that still surround where he lived. Today, the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park invites visitors to experience that formative landscape across two historic farms in central Kentucky.

The Knob Creek Farm features a reconstructed cabin on the site where Lincoln’s family lived, offering a glimpse into the frontier childhood our 16th president later remembered in various writings. 

Visitors can walk the same fields and wooded trails that now overlook Highway 31. Once the old Louisville-to-Nashville Road, it’s here that historians believe the young Lincoln witnessed enslaved people being marched South — an experience that may have helped shape his lifelong opposition to slavery.

“People get the beginnings of Lincoln’s history at Knob Creek,” says Iris LaRue, director of the nearby Lincoln Museum. “They get to see the land that molded the man.”

Complete the experience at the park’s Birthplace Unit just 10 miles away, where the nation’s first memorial to Lincoln crowns a hill at the top of 56 granite steps. Inside the neoclassical building, a replica cabin honors Lincoln’s birth, while the nearby visitor center houses the Lincoln family Bible and other artifacts that reflect the family’s Kentucky roots.

“Lincoln’s integrity, honesty, dignity and commitment to human rights resonates with people on a personal, political and cultural level,” says Lincoln Museum assistant director Rob Thurman. 

Plan your visit for early October so you can stop by the 55th annual Lincoln Days Celebration on Oct. 3 and 4 in Hodgenville’s Lincoln Square. There, you’ll find rail-splitting contests, pioneer games and a Lincoln look-alike competition that brings the area’s history to life. 2995 Lincoln Farm Rd., Hodgenville, Kentucky 42748, 270/358-3137, nps.gov/abli


Explore Kentucky Bourbon Heritage

No two trips along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail need look alike. Every itinerary at Bluegrass Bourbon Tours is built around what customers want to experience, from iconic distilleries to hidden whiskey gems and a few unexpected Kentucky stops along the way.

As the state’s only female-veteran-owned bourbon tour company, owner Melanie Lopez personally plans every excursion after talking with her visitors about their interests and goals.

“We don’t do a cookie-cutter tour,” she says. “We offer so much more by getting to know you and creating an all-around great experience.”

You’ll want to see the heavy hitters like Buffalo Trace, where coveted bottles and limited releases draw bourbon lovers from around the world, or Maker’s Mark, where you can dip your own bottle into the distillery’s signature red wax.

But Lopez also steers travelers toward new exciting directions like Whiskey Thief Distilling Co., a working farm where you can sample bourbon straight from the barrel before filling and sealing your own bottle.

The tour experience also extends well beyond bourbon. Whether its visiting Secretariat’s grave at Claiborne Farm or making a stop to see the world’s largest baseball bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum, every minute you spend with Bluegrass Bourbon Tours sheds light on what makes the heart of Kentucky the place to be.

“We take all the guesswork out of it,” Lopez says. “You can let us do the planning while you sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful Kentucky scenery.” 10607 Alderbrook Place, Louisville, Kentucky 40299, 502/509-1095, bbttours.com


Connect with Racehorse History 

Kentucky’s horse country is filled with famous farms, but Mane Characters Equine Reserve & Retirement offers something many visitors won’t find anywhere else: the chance to slow down, step into the pasture and spend time with retired horses living their best lives.

Located on a 122-acre farm outside of Paris, Kentucky, this nonprofit rescue provides free tours by appointment. During each tour, visitors meet nearly 40 horses rescued from racing, breeding programs and other difficult circumstances. 

Unlike larger horse farms, there is no bus ride or distant viewing area. Instead, you’ll stroll from paddock to paddock, petting horses, feeding them peppermints and learning each animal’s story. On average, tours run 60 to 90 minutes, but they’re done at an unhurried pace and last as long as you’d like. There are even opportunities to volunteer at the farm, from helping with barn chores to assisting with events.

“People want more of a hands-on experience, and we give that to them here,” says co-owner Amy Rogers. “There’s a huge need of aftercare for horses when they’re done racing or being brood mares. Once those horses reach our farm, they’re here forever, and we take good care of them.”

One of the farm’s newest residents is Midnight Jewel, a retired racehorse who earned more than $800,000 on the track before arriving at Mane Characters for permanent retirement. Fans who followed her racing career now make special trips just to see her up close and how she has traded the racetrack for peaceful days in the pasture.

Like Midnight Jewel, every rescue becomes a permanent main character at the farm where they’re free to graze, socialize and soak up attention from visitors.

It’s a quieter side of Kentucky’s horse culture — one built on second chances instead of trophies. And while tours remain free, donations are also welcome to help support the rescue’s work. 985 Millersburg Rd., Paris, Kentucky 40361, 859/414-6161, manecharacters.org

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