Suggestions for local travel destinations this summer?

[Old School]

I'd love to hear some suggestions for places to visit this summer.

[CATHYnKY]

What do you consider local?

[Matt Dillon]

What are your interests? I would think that would be a factor.

[surveyor]

Cincinnati - Covington-Newport area.

Excellent zoo (recent horrible news notwithstanding), parks are nice, museum, Mt. Adams in the evening. Downtown Covington - Mainstrausse Village area. The Newport Levee has lots to do - especially the aquarium. Kings Island is just up the road about 30-40 minutes.

Nashville

Downtown on Broadway is more excellent music than you can shake a stick at. Louisville has an okay to decent music scene, but Nashville is the pinnacle - and acts that are heads above most bands in Louisville can be seen with no cover charge - tips only - and worth a hefty tip if you're so inclined.
Country Music Hall of Fame
Johnny Cash Museum

[Old School]

What do you consider local?

Focusing on Kentucky, but would be interested in anything within, say, a half day's drive of Louisville.

[Old School]

What are your interests? I would think that would be a factor.

Just about anything: outdoors (hiking, boating, paddling, etc.), history (sites, museums, interpretive centers, re-enactments even), museums of various sites, architecture, food, things for kids, things for adults, you name it, including things maybe I've never considered much before.

[Old School]

Cincinnati - Covington-Newport area.

Excellent zoo (recent horrible news notwithstanding), parks are nice, museum, Mt. Adams in the evening. Downtown Covington - Mainstrausse Village area. The Newport Levee has lots to do - especially the aquarium. Kings Island is just up the road about 30-40 minutes.

Nashville

Downtown on Broadway is more excellent music than you can shake a stick at. Louisville has an okay to decent music scene, but Nashville is the pinnacle - and acts that are heads above most bands in Louisville can be seen with no cover charge - tips only - and worth a hefty tip if you're so inclined.
Country Music Hall of Fame
Johnny Cash Museum

Covington really has done a lot with its waterfront lately, and so has Cincinnati. I visited there recently with one of my children. Downtown Cincinnati is nice, and different (in a nice way) than it was years before. Lots of panhandlers, but lots of other nice things as well.

I have not checked out many restaurants in Cincinnati and northern Kentucky.

I've been to Big Bone Lick state park in northern Kentucky this year. It was less than I had hoped. I plan to visit General Butler state park soon.

North of Cincinnati, I need to take a trip to Dayton. I'd really like to see the museum on the Air Force base there, among other things. People forget that the Wright Brothers were from there, too.

Nashville does have great live music, and in so many places. The Hermitage is a nice site to visit there. The Parthenon is a nice site too.

I have not visited the state museum in Nashville, but it interests me.

I wonder if the river in Nashville is used much for kayaking or canoeing.

I have visited one state park west of Nashville, but few others, if any, in that state.

[DA#23]

I love the Red River Gorge, especially if you can go when it's not sweltering hot outside and it's not a popular time, such as this past weekend. Cave Run Lake is perhaps a crown jewel of the eastern side of the state, and has lots of hiking opportunities as well.

[CATHYnKY]

I love the Red River Gorge, especially if you can go when it's not sweltering hot outside and it's not a popular time, such as this past weekend. Cave Run Lake is perhaps a crown jewel of the eastern side of the state, and has lots of hiking opportunities as well.

We will be there next weekend. Found cabins that are quaint but private. There are only 4. 3 are side by side. We took 2 other couples last year. We are now making it an annual outing. Very reasonable.

[Old School]

I need to get to the Gorge, and take kids there. Natural Bridge, too. I'd like to check out Breaks Interstate Park sometime. I've never been. My wife has spent a lot of time on Cave Run Lake. I haven't. I think I may try to get to Cumberland Falls to hike this summer.

[Blue Heaven]

Hiking at Big South Fork and RRG
canoe the Big South Fork, particularly the Station Camp to Blue Heron run
Take some time and visit any of the new park systems in Louisville
Tour some bourbon distilleries. I hate bourbon but the tours are awesome.
Go camping at Jelleystone for Halloween
Go camping at Mammoth Cave

[Blue Heaven]

I need to get to the Gorge, and take kids there. Natural Bridge, too. I'd like to check out Breaks Interstate Park sometime. I've never been. My wife has spent a lot of time on Cave Run Lake. I haven't. I think I may try to get to Cumberland Falls to hike this summer.

Get to the Gorge man! Park at the Natural Bridge Lodge parking lot and take one of the numerous trails up there or take the ski lift. When you get up there, you WILL realize what a great idea it was. A short drive from there you can check out Rock Bridge, Sky Bridge, Angel Windows and Chimney Top Overlook. You can do all these in a day. These are short hikes and well worth your time. Take your camera as the views are spectacular. I promise you will not be disappointed. We have a bunch of pics from there and they are wall hanging worthy. This is the best place to go in the state. Of course I am biased, but a have been with people who have never been there and they have voiced their opinion of why they had never thought of going there. A little FYI, Big Sputh Fork is just as good or better, particularly Honey Creek Loop, but I am pointing out excursions that would be easy for a family.

[Joneslab]

canoe the Big South Fork, particularly the Station Camp to Blue Heron run

We were just down in this area last weekend. Hiked to the O&W Bridge from Leatherwood, which is near Station Camp. 2.3 miles both ways. Pretty good walk and the bridge is very nice.

May return this weekend to do Angel Falls, which is also right there below Station Camp. My buddy and I have pretty much exhausted McCreary County, KY and are now trying to start into Tennessee.

[Lighthouse]

I've not been there in awhile, but Kentucky Lake Lodge is nice especially if you want to fish.

[Spiritof96]

Just about anything: outdoors (hiking, boating, paddling, etc.), history (sites, museums, interpretive centers, re-enactments even), museums of various sites, architecture, food, things for kids, things for adults, you name it, including things maybe I've never considered much before.

Since the Gorge has been covered.

Mammoth Cave is a nice summer activity as it is guaranteed to be cool. The wild cave tour is a blast. Stay overnight and hit the Corvette museum in Bowling Green while your at it.

Frazier History Museum is outstanding. http://fraziermuseum.org/

Shaker Village outside of Lexington is gorgeous. (Perhaps more of a spring / fall destination) You can now stay there on sight in some of the original buildings. I live in Lexington but still try to find time to do an overnight with the Mrs. in late Sept - early Nov. They have trails to hike as well and a paddle wheel boat. http://shakervillageky.org/

While likely too far for consideration (9-10 hrs from Louisville) The Pamplin National Museum of the Civil War Soldier http://www.pamplinpark.org/planning.html is the best Civil War anything I have been to. The grounds are large, well funded, and the exhibits are exceptional.

As has been mentioned the Air Force Museum in Dayton is great if you have the time and interest. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/

The Bourbon trail is worth a few Saturdays if you are into that sort of thing.