On our way up from Knoxville TN to Louisville KY, we made sure to swing by here to see Abraham…read moreLincoln's birthplace! It was thunder storming and lightning abound when we arrived but cleared up during our stroll through the memorial and the visitor center. There is a longer path to the side of the visitor center where it's all covered by trees so we didn't get rained on. Inside the memorial is the replica of the log cabin where he was born. That closes at 4:30pm, whereas the visitor center closes at 5:00pm. I made sure to stop at the sinking springs next to the memorial for the watering hole where Abe took his first drink of water. It felt very cold in that area compared to the humid weather surrounding it. Very cool. So glad we made a stop here on our roadtrip!

Honestly? Abe deserves better, but it just doesn't seem like there's enough material to work with…read morehere, which may not necessarily be anyone's fault. My top-tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality and I came by here last Thursday in the late morning at my request. I love presidential shizzle - one of my earliest memories is getting a book of the presidents and learning all of them in order, and instead of going to Disney World (don't get me started), my parents took me to a number of presidential homesteads and birthplaces when I was in elementary school, mostly the heavy hitters in VA and the Adams one in Braintree, MA. And I've legitimately celebrated President's Day by dragging some of my chums to Grant's Tomb at 9AM to listen to a reenactment of the 1873 State of the Union. So I came into this with some nerdy, executive branch street cred. Part of it was definitely the mediocre rainy weather, but I just wasn't that impressed. I want to emphasize that there might not have been anything the National Park Service could have done once they got involved, because the biggest issue here is that the actual birthplace doesn't really exist anymore. I'm sure they got the land/property lines correct, but the log cabin that we all naturally associate with Abe? Gone, so you have to settle for a recreation, and that recreated cabin isn't given its own space outside - it's housed in the Memorial Building, which makes that experience more claustrophobic than it should be, since the cabin takes up about 70% of the room. There may be excellent reasons why it had to remain indoors, but I found that decision pretty curious. And bottom line - it's hard to have a national park based on a birthplace that's largely abstract and not something you can see with your own eyes. The Visitors Center was relatively small but pleasant. I haven't stopped to think about it until now, but I'm guessing that the vast majority of Lincoln exhibits are at his home in Springfield, IL, which I know DOES physically exist. Again, they just didn't have as much to play around with here so they're relying more on fancy/tasteful Lincoln quotes on their walls versus, say, a glass case featuring his top hat. When a sizeable chunk of your Visitors Center is taken up by a gift shop and little movie theater showing a 15-minute video about Lincoln, you're pretty much broadcasting the fact that you don't have a lot of standalone items to display, which is a shame. The biggest selling point is the Memorial Building, notwithstanding the replica cabin situation inside. It's built up on a hill with 56 steps for each year of Abe's life, and bares a pretty strong resemblance to the more notable Presidential memorials in DC. I thought it was cool that several Presidents have stopped by, now knowing that this is a bit in the middle of nowhere, but it's also just an hour outside Lexington so it was also disappointing to learn that no Presidents have visited since Eisenhower. They can't fit in a 15-minute photo op over the course of four to eight years? Come on. It's Abe. The NPS rangers (right word?) were very nice. I'd be curious what the pecking order of historic sites is for the NPS but I have to think this isn't at the very tippy top. Regardless, lots of smiles and at least one of them went out of their way to ask us if we had any questions and to (unprompted) pull out a map to orient us before we left the Visitors Center to explore the grounds a bit. If you're in the area, sure, pay your respects to the beginning of Honest Abe's story. But if you have more time/bandwidth, I think the play is to jump ahead in the timeline and get yourself up to Illinois.

We stumbled on this museum while we had some extra time. I had zero expectations and it was…read moregreat. Well laid out and detailed explanations and so many old artifacts - definitely worth a visit.

If you're a history buff, this is an amazing place to stop! This museum is very informative and has…read morea lot of well preserved items from various time periods across U.S History. The price of admission is very reasonable, and you're getting access to 3 museums including the beautiful outside area which is very scenic! I'd highly recommend people to visit here if you're interested in history, this is a top quality museum!

We were in Kentucky for a quick road trip and decided to stop at the Kentucky Railway Museum as a…read moreway to beat the heat. Located in New Haven, the old station houses both a gift shop and small museum. Many of the artifacts are from the old L&N line that made stops here. The museum also has a large model railroad but was slightly disappointed by the fact only one train was running in it. They also offer train rides, depending on the day and time of week. We were lucky enough that on this particular Tuesday they were operating. We took a hour long ride, heading south to Gethsemane and back again. The ride was smooth and cool but was generally very slow. We never felt the full power of the engine move us down to the track as we were hoping too. It's a nice ride but possibly not as exciting if you are a true train enthusiast.

We joined the grandkids for The Santa Express. Perhaps our expectations were out of line. We had…read morehoped for a Christmas decorated train chugging through some nifty Christmas lights. The exterior of the train was old, faded paint. The interior had a strand of lights extending the length of each car. And the luggage racks had lots of wrapped boxes. There was no one to lead Christmas carols. No one to give us any history of the woods & fields we chugged through. (one "conductor" told us there was a field where a decisive civil was battle took place). Late on the ride back, Frosty, Santa & Mrs Claus walked the aisles. Some Elves gave the kids a commemorative button. I saw folks dozing off. We were all ready for the ride to end. And we were pleasantly surprised to arrive to "snow". I think the Santa Express has a lot of room to grow. One other thing, don't expect to post much. Cell signal was non-existent.

I love the Dinosaur World is pet friendly. They were very welcoming and even offered my fur baby a…read moretreat. This was a fun little walk through the dinosaur "park". This is more for children as they have a kids play area, a little putt putt course, fossil dig, and some other kids friendly activities. The dinsosaurs don't move but they are pretty cool anyway. Each dinosaur has a plaque that tells you about them in English and Spanish. I may not have had any kids with me but my pup and I had an enjoyable time wandering around and looking at all the statues. There is a nice gift with lots of dinosaur and rock related gifts (among others).

If you like dinosaurs, this place is pretty cool, even for adults. They have a walk through area…read morewith statues of every dinosaur you can think of and a little sign telling you about each one. My favorite part was the building with anomatronic dinosaurs. It is really neat! The park is quite expensive, but totally worth a trip if you have a love for dinosaurs.

Definitely an interesting stop if you enjoy animals! I had no idea what to expect, but had a lovely…read moretime! It was a peaceful place to step out of the sun, and I had a blast waiting to see who would be around the next corner. Quite a range of taxidermy animals on display, including bugs and butterflies! Several times I went back to see how a previous animal compared to the next. Reminded me of exhibits in larger history museums in big cities like DC and NYC. Worth it!

Very cool experience. Lots of trails to walk and the museum is free. Caves are huge, but not as…read moreunique as the smaller private caves in the area.

Historic statue [Hodgenville KY]…read more After a quick visit to see the preserved log cabin where Lincoln was born at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park we went to Lincoln Square. This public square is located in the center point of a roundabout in downtown at the Hodgenville's Commercial Historic District. While here you could also visit the Lincoln Museum which is also in this area, unfortunately, we didn't make it and they were already closed by the time we arrived. At the Lincoln Square there is a bronze presidential statue of Abraham Lincoln that has been welcoming folks since 1909. A statue on the opposite end stood of him as a boy reading from Webster's Elementary Spelling-Book with his dog, Honey. This is a nice tribute to the 16th President of the United States. Just be careful crossing to get to that middle because cars just zoom like crazy in that roundabout. Lincoln Square is a National Register of Historic Places destination. Review #3923

Lincoln Square is a charming and well-kept little gem with a lot of personality. The area has a…read morewelcoming, small-town feel mixed with bits of modern flair. There's a great mix of local shops, restaurants, and cozy corners to explore or just sit and relax. The highlight of our visit was simply walking around and taking in the atmosphere. The landscaping and layout are thoughtfully designed, and everything feels clean and inviting. However, be prepared to wait if you're trying to dine or visit during peak times--this place draws a crowd. Good place go check it out

A must visit in Louisville KY!! The tour comes with general admission. Steve our guide was friendly…read moreand knowledgeable. I learned a lot from him. The tracks, the history, the building itself and the stories about jockeys and horses are all fascinating. The day we went unfortunately the weather was not good. Couldn't get a clear view of the track and landmarks. But it was very exciting to see the actual track. Parking is free. The gift shop is good. Lots merchandise for visitors to browse through. 2 horses in the barn when we visited. The museum itself is wonderful. Many historical information and artifacts. The Secretariat section is on the second floor. The fastest horse. And I learned that he had a bigger heart than any other horses. Might be a factor that he was fast! Absolutely a highlight of our trip in KY. It makes me actually want to come for the Kentucky Derby in May.

Came here the day after Derby Day, so it was free (and track tour during this time). I waited about…read morehalf hour in line to get in (since this year's Derby merch was also half off). I liked the 360 degree movie and spent about an hour and a half checking out the other exhibits. 2026 #42

Fun ride for all! Kids enjoyed it as well. Gorgeous day, informative guides. Cool local history.read more

A great and unique cave experience in Bowling Green. We…read morerecently took the underground boat tour at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and it was a very cool and unique adventure! This is Kentucky's only underground boat tour, and we were lucky to visit right after the river had lowered enough to reopen following flooding. (When the water is high, the cave becomes submerged, so timing is everything.) Our tour guide, Bri, was fantastic. She was funny, engaging, and an incredibly skilled boat driver. She kept the group entertained with corny but hilarious jokes while sharing the rich history of the cave, from its days as a Native American hunting ground and Civil War campground to its time as a hideout. It was even a 1930s nightclub which was being used as a wedding venue when we visited. She navigated us as far back into the cave as possible, pointing out beautiful and interesting rock formations along the way. The tour was about 45-minutes and included a guided walk to the cave entrance with 3 stops before you board the boat. Be aware that it involves a steep walk down (and back up) and requires bending over low in the boat with your torso flat toward the seat when the water is high as you first aneter and leave the cave. This makes the ride difficult or impossible for those with mobility impairments. Despite the physical aspects, I thought the experience was truly unique and peaceful as you glide through the cool, dark cave. I highly recommend this for anyone who is interested in unique cave experiences or anyone who enjoys a blend of nature, history, and corny jokes.

We had a nice time visiting Abraham Lincoln boyhood home. It was off the side of the road while we…read morewere driving around exploring the area. Didn't really know what to expect but we got out. Took a few photos. Had a good time.

This is a small park compared with the Birthplace Historical Site nearby. There's plenty of parking…read moreright off the road, and it's completely free to visit. It seems that this location is not open as consistently as the Birthplace Historical Site nearby. It was closed on the day that we happened to be around, but we were still able to park and walk around. There's a visitor center / gift shop and a replica cabin representing Lincoln's boyhood home. Beyond that, there are some trails and an overlook onto a prairie, but overall the park is small. It's worth a stop if you are in the area visiting other Lincoln sites, but it's less impressive than the Birthplace Historical Site nearby.