The popular Louisville Slugger baseball bat was first manufactured in Louisville in 1884, and it is still manufactured at the site's active factory today. Baseball fans travel from all over the country to visit this factory tour and museum dedicated to the love of the game. There are memorabilia galleries, including a Babe Ruth bat, as well as rotating exhibits, such as "The Best Black Baseball Team You've Never Heard Of", to keep things interesting.

General admission is less than $20 (and children under the age of five are free) and includes a factory tour as well as a mini bat keepsake. Meanwhile, $299 gets you an exclusive All-Star Experience pass that grants access to restricted areas of the factory floor, the bat vault, the archive room containing the museum's most prized artifacts, and a personalized bat. Take a picture with it outside, next to Louisville's iconic Big Bat, the world's largest at 120 feet tall.

Address: 800 W. Main St., Louisville, KY 40202

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, located in Corbin, Kentucky, is one of the most beautiful nature preserves in the state. Cumberland Falls is the park's main attraction. Cumberland Falls creates a moonbow on clear nights around a full moon (about five days per month), a natural phenomenon that refracts light in its water droplets. A total of 17 miles of hiking trails wind through the park, many of which connect to Daniel Boone National Forest.

Birders visit both parks in search of species such as the Carolina wren and the tufted titmouse. Horseback riding is available every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day, as well as on select weekends in September and October. Families will also appreciate the organized gem mining, which is located just past the gift shop. From mid-March to October, the park allows fishing with a license and welcomes campers.

Address: 7351 Highway 90, Corbin, KY 40701

If you're in Kentucky on the first Saturday in May, even if you're not near Louisville, you won't be able to escape the Derby frenzy. The iconic horse race is defined by mint juleps, extravagant hats, and seersucker suits, but Churchill Downs is also worth visiting all year. Churchill Downs racetrack, where the Derby is held, offers unparalleled insight into the world of horse racing.

The Kentucky Derby Museum has two floors of related exhibits and tours of the grounds, with activities ranging from meeting jockeys and working with horses to tasting bourbon. Tickets to the museum are less than $20, and children under the age of five are free; all tour rates include museum admission. Race day tours provide a full-day experience of America's most famous horse racetrack. Consider paying a visit to Keeneland in Lexington, another of Kentucky's premier thoroughbred racetracks.

Address: 704 Central Ave., Louisville, KY 40208

Even if you're not planning to stay, it's worth paying a visit to Kentucky's largest hotel, which dates back to the early 1800s. The Galt House, a Trademark Collection Hotel in downtown Louisville, was originally Dr. W.C. Galt's private home. The Galt House Hotel first opened its doors in 1835, and the original house was incorporated as the hotel's East Tower in 1984. The Galt House Hotel's main selling point is its convenient location near Museum Row, the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, the Muhammad Ali Center, and other attractions.

On-site, there are two bourbon bars as well as a spa with bourbon-infused treatments. Anyone looking for unusual and free activity can visit Gallop to Glory, a hidden installation on the hotel grounds near the main entrance, which features the handprints and signatures of the Kentucky Derby's winning jockeys.

Address: 140 N. Fourth St., Louisville, KY 40202

The Kentucky Castle is a stunning boutique hotel just 10 miles outside Lexington, appropriately located in the town of Versailles (not to be confused with the French palace). The castle's origins are, as one might expect, strange. The castle was started in 1969 by a wealthy couple but was never finished because the couple divorced six years into construction. The castle was eventually purchased, but renovations were put on hold due to a fire in 2004.

After nearly 40 years in the making, the Kentucky Castle finally opened to the public in 2008 as the Castle Post, a bed-and-breakfast. Visitors who are not staying at the B&B can now book a 45-minute tour of the grounds for $25. Events such as murder mystery dinners are also held here on occasion.

Address: 230 Pisgah Pike, Versailles, KY 40383

To drool over all things Corvette, head to Bowling Green, Kentucky, the self-proclaimed "Home of America's Sports Car". Between the exhibits of 'Vettes old and new, which span Chevrolet's automotive achievement since the introduction of the Corvette in 1953, there will be more cars than you can handle. A more surprising installation includes heavily damaged Corvettes; in 2014, a massive sinkhole took eight cars about 30 feet down.

To make lemonade out of lemons, the museum created the Skydome Sinkhole Experience, a permanent exhibit of the cave-in, to document the event. Other additions to the museum include an interactive driving game and a large gift shop. If you want to take home a truly unique souvenir, you can custom-build your own Corvette — Bowling Green is the only plant in the world that does so.

Address: 350 Corvette Drive, Bowling Green, KY 42101

Harriet Beecher Stowe paid a visit to one of her students in Maysville, Kentucky, in 1833. During her visit, she witnessed a slave auction at a local courthouse, and it was this upsetting experience that inspired her to write "Uncle Tom's Cabin". The Marshall Key House, where her former student grew up, now houses the Harriet Beecher Stowe, Slavery to Freedom Museum. The small house is more than 215 years old and is decorated in the style in which Stowe would have seen it.

Visitors can also see artifacts from the American Civil War and slavery. Anyone interested in taking a tour should contact the Old Washington Visitor Center on Main Street in Maysville. Visitors to Maysville may be interested in visiting the National Underground Railroad Museum and the Kentucky Gateway Museum for historical collections and temporary exhibits.

Address: 1001 Forest Ave., Maysville, KY 41056

Did you know Kentucky has the world's longest recorded cave system? Mammoth Cave National Park, which is about 40 miles northeast of Bowling Green and has more than 400 miles of recorded caves, is free to visit (cave tours incur an additional fee). Hiking, biking, camping, scenic drives, horseback riding, and other activities are available aboveground. Nonetheless, the park's cave tours highlight the area's fascinating history and are its main draw.

In the 18th century, enslaved Black Americans mined the caves for saltpeter, and enslaved men and women developed cave tour routes as Mammoth Cave became a tourist destination. Following the Civil War, generations of newly liberated Black tour guides continued to lead tours. Tours are now incredibly accessible, with versions for various levels of mobility and hearing. The routes range in length from a quarter-mile with a dozen stairs to more than two miles with 600 stairs.

Address: One Mammoth Cave Parkway, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259

Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Clay in Louisville in 1942, went on to have an iconic boxing career that earned him the moniker "The Greatest". Most people remember him as a charismatic athlete, but throughout his life, Ali donated his time and money to charitable causes.

Ali cofounded the Muhammad Ali Center in Kentucky in 2005, a multicultural gathering space and nonprofit museum dedicated to the "Six Core Principles" by which he lived his life: confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect, and spirituality. The exhibits, which include artifacts, historical footage, multimedia presentations, and more, inspire greatness. The Muhammad Ali Center is located on Museum Row in Louisville, Kentucky. Admission ranges from $9 to $14; children under the age of five are free.

Address: 144 N. Sixth St., Louisville, KY 40202

This museum, which is part roadside attraction and part homage to country music royalty, is located along a gas station exit ramp off U.S. Highway 23, also known as "the country music highway". The U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum highlights talent from the eastern part of Kentucky, with 14 exhibits spanning country artists who have called the Bluegrass State home, including Loretta Lynn and Chris Stapleton.

Every Thursday night, a bluegrass musician performs on the porch steps, carrying on the tradition. The museum is located in Paintsville, Kentucky, about 100 miles east of Lexington and not far from the West Virginia border. Admission is $4. If you're heading toward Louisa, the Kentucky Country Music Museum is yet another collection of local legend memorabilia — this time, it's housed inside an actual gas station.

Address: 120 Stave Branch, Staffordsville, KY 41256

The Creation Museum, founded by curators who are not fans of the Big Bang Theory — the astronomical event, not the comedy series — is dedicated to "creation science", an explanation of human existence drawn directly from the pages of the Bible. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly half of Kentucky's adult population considers themselves to be evangelical Protestants. According to the same group's survey, 67 percent of respondents believe humans have always existed in the current form or evolved as a result of God's design.

Regardless of your beliefs, the Creation Museum, with over 140 exhibits, provides a unique perspective on the origin of life. Admission is approximately $45 for adults and $25 for children ages 11 to 17, with children under 10 admitted free. A life-sized replica of Noah's Ark can be found about 40 miles south in a companion exhibit.

Address: 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg, KY 41080

With a name like Cave City, Kentucky, it's not surprising that hundreds of life-size dinosaur figures can be found in the town. While it may appear a little cheesy at first, previous Dinosaur World visitors rave that the colorful statues and interactive "fossil digs" were a huge hit with their kids and more fun than they expected. Visitors are encouraged to learn about their ancient ancestors through walking trails and an indoor museum. Adult admission is $15.75, with reduced rates for children and seniors.

Visitors can purchase an Excavation Pass for about $6 more, which allows them to "excavate" shiny rocks, minerals, and bones to take home. Dinosaur World, unlike prehistoric times, is a dog-friendly attraction for well-behaved canines. A 5,000-square-foot gift shop may add to the cost, but Dinosaur World encourages visitors to bring their own food and beverages.

Address: 711 Mammoth Cave Road, Cave City, KY 42127

Do the words "shark rope bridge" make you nervous or excited? If it's the latter, you're in for a treat at the Newport Aquarium in Kentucky. Newport Aquarium, regarded as one of the best in the country, is best known for its sharks. While these sea predators swim above and around you, you can walk through a glass tunnel. Alternatively, if you're feeling particularly daring, try crossing the Shark Bridge, a suspended rope bridge where thrill-seekers can walk inches above the 385,000-gallon shark and fish tank (free with admission).

Of course, there's more to see at this vibrant aquarium, such as penguins, crocodiles, stingrays, and an exhibit featuring eels that live in an old shipwreck. Tickets to the museum, which is located in Newport, Kentucky, start at $59.99, with discounts available for children and seniors.

Address: 1 Aquarium Way, Newport, KY 41071

Previous visitors from all 50 states and more than 40 countries generally agree that this textile museum is one of Paducah's top attractions. The National Quilt Museum bills itself as displaying "the world's finest quilting and fiber art". The museum has 600 quilts in its collection and hosts rotating exhibits, with thousands more submitted for consideration each year.

World-renowned quilters select new additions to the museum based on their quality and diversity, and the museum takes pride in its well-rounded contemporary collection. Visitors comment on how artistic and not kitschy the museum is, defying expectations of what a quilt museum can be. Tickets to the museum start at $12, with discounts for seniors and students, and children under the age of 12 are free.

Address: 215 Jefferson St., Paducah, KY 42001

Aside from ponies and chicken, the most well-known Kentucky product is bourbon, an American-style whiskey. Today, Kentucky has dozens of working bourbon distilleries; the state produces 95 percent of the world's bourbon, with more than two aging barrels for every resident at any given time. It's a $9 billion industry, and visitors can get a firsthand look at it with a distillery tour — or two, or three.

Favorites like Jim Beam and Maker's Mark have locations in Louisville, Lexington, and Frankfort, Kentucky's state capital, with one outlier — Green River Distilling — in Owensboro, Kentucky. Of course, you can visit your favorite brands one at a time, or you can go all-in by following Kentucky's official Bourbon Trail, a four-day liquid adventure through 18 distilleries.

Address: 614 Shelby St, Frankfort, KY 40601