Things to do / Travel Guide
Whether you are wishing to walk over waterfalls or climb into caves, the Central Kentucky and Tennessee region can live up to your high (or low) expectations.
Waterfalls in Central Kentucky and Tennessee
One can't help falling in love with the waterfalls of Central Kentucky and Tennessee. Below are a few exceptionally captivating cascades:
- Often called the “Niagara of the South,” Cumberland Falls, located in central Kentucky's Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, is a 68-foot-high, 125-foot-wide cascade, which, under a full moon, forms a magical “moonbow,” or lunar rainbow. This is only of two waterfalls in the world that feature this phenomenon (the other is Victoria Falls in Africa).
The Falling Water River runs through the Burgess Falls State Natural Area on the eastern edge of the Tennessee Highland Rim near I-40 in central Tennessee. Numerous waterfalls amidst spectacular scenery of bluffs, ridges, and mixed forests can be found within the area, but Burgess Falls is a 130-foot beauty.
The highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains, 90 feet higher than Niagara Falls, is the 256-foot Fall Creek Falls located in central Tennessee's Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park. Other waterfalls within the park include Cane Creek Cascades (cross the swinging bridge), Piney Creek Falls, and Rockhouse Falls.
Ruby Falls, on Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee features a 145-foot waterfall located 1,100 feet inside the mountain. Tours are available year-round.
Cave Spelunking in Central Kentucky and Tennessee
A casual cave caper will help you unearth the mysteries hidden within Central Kentucky and Tennessee's underworld. One of many Kentucky caves open to the public, the gigantic Mammoth Cave in Mammoth Cave National Park, is the world's longest cave and the second-oldest tourist attraction in the United States; people have been flocking to see it since 1816 and tours continue to be offered year-round. Tennessee itself has more than 3,800 documented caves, several of which are open for visits. So how about sauntering amidst the stalactite secrets concealed in the region's cavernous underground? Here are a couple of suggested caves to spelunk:
Caves of Central Kentucky
- Among central Kentucky's most beautiful, Diamond Cave off the Mammoth Cave Parkway, is a real gem. Open year-round, you'll experience the exquisitely colored calcite, stalactites, and stalagmites illuminated by state-of-the-art lighting.
- You'll be among the first humans to set foot in Cub Run Cave, recently opened to the public. Take U.S. Highway 88 to Cub Run and you'll see signs for this largely unknown cave located amidst breathtaking scenery.
- Crystal Onyx Cave, in Cave City, is a sparkling subterranean sensation filled with crystalline draperies, rhinestone pools, stalactites, and stalagmites. Tours are available year-round.
- On Kentucky's only underground boat tour in Lost River Cave and Valley, near Bowling Green, you can ply the same waters that both Union and Confederate forces as well as outlaw Jesse James once sailed.
Caves of Central Tennessee
- You'll feel like a paltry peon inside the Hall of the Mountain King at McMinnville's Cumberland Caverns cave system. The system is one of the larger systems in the U.S. and if you are up for a mucky mud bank underground hike you will want to explore the infamous Bubblegum Alley. Various tours are available year-round.
- You may see the full gamut of rock formations without happening on a single raccoon at the Raccoon Mountain Caverns, near Chattanooga. A wide variety of tours are available year-round.
Horseback Riding in Central Kentucky and Tennessee
Trot, canter, or gallop through the backcountry on the back of one of Central Kentucky and Tennessee's exquisite horses. If you aren't content to just ogle Tennessee Walkers and Kentucky Spotted Saddle horses or watch them chomping bluegrass, or if you're aching to ascend an Andalusian, Arabian, or Appaloosa, you have come to the right place. Central Kentucky and Tennessee have literally hundreds of horse trails waiting to be blazed by you and your equestrian companion. There are gentle horses for beginners, feisty horses for more-experienced riders, and horses ready to fulfill any other requirement (size, shape, color, or otherwise) you may have. Wherever and whenever you get the sudden urge to ride off into the sunset, horse stables and rentals are likely just around the corner. Private stables are open for guided rides year-round, but it is generally wise to call in advance for a reservation. Here are a couple recommended special places to saddle up:
- Mammoth Cave National Park in central Kentucky has more than 60 miles of trails on the north side of the Green River the majority of which are open to horseback riders. Jesse James Riding Stable in Cave City is one of the largest stables in central Kentucky, the closest to Mammoth Cave, and offers a wide range of riding options.
- Saddle up in the “Horse Capital of the World” - scenic horseback riding is available at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington or at several stables in the area. Kentucky Horse Park's stables are open from April-October.
- Considered one of the best places in the country for horseback riding, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area on the Kentucky-Tennessee border offers 130 miles of scenic horse trails. You can expect to cross creeks and trudge through remote areas. Big South Fork's stables are located at Bandy Creek Campground, where you can rent a horse and schedule a guided excursion.
- With 12,000 acres of mountainous forest along the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, East Fork Stables in Jamestown, Tennessee offers a wide range of rides taken with guides who are well versed in Tennessee's topography and wildlife.
Dude Ranches in Central Tennessee
While it's not the Wild West, you can still have a wild time at one of the dude ranches in central Tennessee. Just north of Chattanooga, for instance, is the Sequatchie Valley B&B Guest Ranch, where every guest gets their own Guest Ranch horse at check-in. The Sequatchie Valley is full of beautiful horse trails through the stunning, rolling countryside and your stay includes plenty of horse roping and riding instruction.
Fun Attractions in Nashville, Louisville and Lexington in Central Kentucky and Tennessee
Cool-Things-to-Do
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