Rent a Bus in Kentucky and Enjoy the Bluegrass State!

For amusement parks, you can check out Beech Bend (Bowling Green, KY 42101), a traditional amusement park that has been operating since 1898; Guntown Mountain (Cave City, KY 42127), which has a Wild West theme; SomerSplash (Somerset, KY 42503); and Venture River (Eddyville, KY 42038).

Some of Kentucky's best museums are dedicated to nature and how it help shape the lives of Kentuckians. There are also museums that center on the people's culture.

Check out:

• River Discovery Center (Paducah, KY 42001), where you would understand the importance of water and rivers to the state, including how these bodies of water were used in the past.
• Creation Museum (Petersburg, KY 41080), where you could learn more about creation as it is told in the Bible, even explaining natural selection and dinosaurs in biblical contexts.
• Hidden River Cave and American Cave Museum (Horse Cave, KY 42794). Kentucky is dotted with caves. So how are they formed? Learn all about it here. You would also understand how caves are important in the state.
• The Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum (Marion, KY 42065), where you could see the minerals that are sourced from the area.

There are also a number of art galleries in every city in Kentucky that showcase the talents of local artists.

The National Corvette Museum (Bowling Green, KY 42101) has more than 75 Corvettes displayed, while the Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum (Elizabethtown, KY 42701) has a wider variety of vintage cars on display.

Check out the art museums here, including the Art Museum of the University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY 40506), the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft (Louisville, KY 40202), the Speed Art Museum (Louisville, KY 40208), and the Flame Run Glass Studio and Gallery (Louisville, KY 40202).

And of course, no discussion on Kentucky is complete without mentioning the Kentucky Derby. The race is held every May in Louisville. The race itself lasts for two minutes, but the celebration and the festivities last for a couple of weeks. Be sure to check out the Kentucky Derby Festival and witness the traditional activities such as the Thunder over Louisville, recognized as the biggest fireworks display in the entire North America, the Great Balloon Race and the Pegasus Parade.

There are a lot of food and drinks that you should try while in Kentucky. For example, there is the mint julep, bourbon, wines, Kentucky burgoo, BBQ and who could forget, Kentucky Fried Chicken. Kentucky is unique in that it has an extensive palate when it comes to food, owing to its history and to the creativity of its top chefs.

Some of the best restaurants in the state include:

• 610 Magnolia (Louisville, KY 40208)
• Bluegrass Brewing company (St. Matthews, KY 40207)
• Bon-Ton Mini Mart (Henderson, KY 42420)
• Buck's Restaurant and Bar (Louisville, KY 40203)
• Coach Lamp Restaurant and Pub (Louisville, KY 40204)
• Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar (Louisville, KY 40202)
• Old Hickory Bar-B-Q (Owensboro, KY 42301)
• Smokey Valley Truck Stop (Olive Hill, KY 41164)
• Pat's Steak House and the English Grill at the Brown Hotel (Louisville, KY 40206)
• Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar (Louisville, KY 40202)
• Dudley's on Short (Lexington, KY 40507)
• Jonathan's at Gratz Park (Lexington, KY 40507)
• Yamaguchi's Sake and Tapas (Lexington, KY 40509)

Shopping in Kentucky. Kentucky has its own arts and crafts capital in Appalachia where you could get hand-made items that is truly unique. On top of that, there are really great downtown stores in every city in the state.

Kentucky is a great place to scout for antiques featuring the state's culture such as bourbon memorabilia, horse racing artifacts, heirlooms and furniture. You could go to the flea markets where you could buy items related to the Kentucky Derby or the Civil War. You should also look for handcrafted items, pottery, woodworks, furniture or unique gift items while you are here.

You can go down to Frankfort Ave. in Louisville for some great shopping options, too.

Of course, the big malls are also a good destination for some retail therapy. Check out:

• Fayette Mall (Lexington, KY 40503)
• Florence Mall (Florence, KY 41042)
• Mall St. Matthews (Louisville, KY 40207)
• Jefferson Mall (Louisville, KY 40219)
• Greenwood Mall (Bowling Green, KY 42104)

Golf in Kentucky provides a special thrill for avid golfers. Maybe it is because of the great weather, no matter what time of the year it is, or just the beauty of the golf courses here, but golfers just fall in love with Kentucky.

Be sure to go on the Kentucky State Park Golf Trail, which takes you to 19 of the top golf courses in the state. Or tee off at any of the more than 300 courses in the area. Some of the recommended golf courses include:

• Valhalla Golf Club (Louisville, KY 40245)
• The Club at Olde Stone (Bowling Green, KY 42103)
• Hurstbourne Country Club (Louisville, KY 40222)
• Louisville Country Club (Louisville, KY 40207)
• Big Spring Country Club (Louisville, KY 40205)
• Champion Trace Golf Club (Nicholasville, KY 40356)
• Dale Hollow State Park Golf Course (Burkesville, KY 42717)
• Persimmon Ridge Golf Club (Louisville, KY 40245)
• Triple Crown Country Club (Union, KY 41091)
• Eagle Ridge Golf Course at Yatesville Lake State Park (Louisa, KY 41230)

Kentucky has a rich history and it is not surprising that the state has hundreds of museums, monuments and memorials dedicated to the Civil War, African-American history, Abraham Lincoln, Native American history and military history.

Check out the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History (Frankfort, KY 40601), where you could learn about the state's past – from prehistory until today. There are more than 3,000 artifacts on display here.

Or you could go to Highlands Museum and Discovery Center (Ashland, KY 41101), where you could interact with the past through recreations, such as a doctor's office from the 1800s and an old classroom.

Some of the landmarks you ought to visit include:

• Jenny Wiley Gravesite
• Kentucky State Capitol
• Kentucky Vietnam Veteran's Memorial
• Lebanon Civil War Park
• Lexington Public Library
• Liberty Bell
• Lincoln Memorial at Waterfront Park
• Lincoln Museum
• Trail of Tears Commemorative Park
• Western School Site

Kentucky offers you variety when it comes to parks. From the beautiful rivers and lakes to an underground cave to mountain peaks, you can easily find the most beautiful outdoor space here. Check out Lake Barley (Cadiz, KY 42211) and Kentucky Lake. Both of these man-made lakes offer you a wide range of water activities. You could also head over to Natural Bridge State Resort Park (Slade, KY 40376) where you could go atop the Natural Bridge and admire the view.

Be sure to go to John James Audubon State Park (Henderson, KY 42419) as well.

The state also has its share of outstanding recreation parks where you could go fishing, boating, caving, swimming, hiking, horseback riding and everything you want to do outdoors. Check out some of the best, including Mineral Mound State Park (Eddyville, KY 42038), E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park (Louisville, KY 40241), Taylorsville Lake State Park (Mt Eden, KY 40046), Carr Creek State Park (Sassfrass, KY 41759) and Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail.

Check out the Lost River Cave and Valley (Bowling Green, KY 42101), too, and go on a walking tour to explore this cave, which was discovered 10,000 years ago.

More than just horses, Kentucky has great venues where you could see animals up close. Check out Kentucky Down Under (Horse Cave, KY 42749), the Louisville Zoo (Louisville, KY 40213), and the Newport Aquarium (Newport, KY 41071).