Explore Kentucky’s North Central Region

North Central Kentucky is known for impressive scenery, incredible horse racing, inspiring history and a Bourbon Trail that will tempt every connoisseur. It holds cosmopolitan cities and gorgeous rural areas. It comes alive with festivals, world-class art museums, performing arts endeavors and exciting sports action.

If horse racing is your passion, the North Central Region is home to the iconic Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, The Red Mile, The Kentucky Downs Race Course and Keeneland Race Course. The area also hosts the Thoroughbred Center and impressive equine-related museums.

The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was born in Hodgenville and is celebrated at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. Cities throughout the area boast perfectly preserved landmark homes and local and Civil War history museums. Boone Station, the frontier home of Daniel Boone, is here, as is Frankfort, the State capital.

Horse race in North Central Kentucky

Aficionados can sample the wares of nine Bourbon distilleries that are part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. From the oldest distillery to the best-selling producers, you can find them here. This area of Kentucky was the home of the first commercial vineyard, and now hosts a growing number of critically acclaimed wineries and craft breweries.