Well, it CAN be dangerous because parts of it are so wild and rugged. There are lots of cliffs, drop-offs, etc. But, an average family who uses normal caution shouldn't have any trouble. Like the other poster said, the biggest danger is from people who pitch a tent next to the cliff's edge and then proceed to drink a case of beer. The state park area is very family-friendly, with several easy trails that include barriers/rails. You can walk over the rock bridge, and that does require supervision because of the drop-offs along both sides, but it is fairly wide and flat. It does amaze me, though, to see the families that let their young children run wild along it, just like the familes that let their children wade in the rapids of the Niagara River just 500 ft from the falls.
A popular weekend trip is to go to the Smoky Mtn area of TN. It is only few hours from Lexington, and once there you have the choice of the kitschy towns like Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, family attractions like an aquarium and Dollywood, and also the gorgeous national park and some rustic camping and cabin areas.
Ky does have some gorgeous scenery and outdoors activities, but if you're looking for other options
:
- King's Island (Cincinnati) and Six Flags (Louisville) are big theme parks in the area, with the standard roller coasters, features, etc. I prefer King's Island, but both are easy trips.
- Louisville and Cincinnati both have nice zoos
- Lexington has a children's museum and a professional children's theater
- Louisville and Cincinnati also offer a variety of museums and attractions, including the aquarium you mentioned (which I highly recommend!)
- Lexington offers a big following of college football and basketball, as well as a pro baseball club (the Legends), and major baseball and NFL games are available in Cincinnati. I recommend the Legends for a night of classic baseball family fun, without the high prices of bigger stadiums.
- Keeneland is a must-visit during their spring and fall meets. From the gorgeous scenery to the excitement of the races, it is a classic Lexington icon.
- The Horse Park near Lexington offers a great chance to experience the whole horse-y environment of Central KY, with plenty of time with real horses! There are also several horseback riding places near Lexington, including Whispering Woods in Georgetown.
- Several of the lakes in KY (like Cumberland) offer weekend houseboat rentals, which are fun to just kick back and hang out on the water. Some of the lakes can get very busy, but at other times you can almost always find a secluded cove or inlet.
-lots of small towns around Lexington (Midway, Berea, etc) offer quaint shopping, cafes, etc in historic areas. Berea in particular is highly regarded for their beautiful folk arts and crafts and their unique college.
- Frankfort also has some nice historic areas, including a privately owned Frank Lloyd Wright home and the state capitol bldg, and is a nice easy drive from Lexington.
- If you're into wine or bourbon, there are quite a few places to tour and do tastings around Lexington, from the historic and beautiful Woodford Reserve bourbon to Talon and Equus Run Vineyards (and many more!)
- During Derby time, Louisville offers a variety of big events from parades and hot air balloon races to the famous "Thunder over Louisville" fireworks display that bring people in from all over the country
- If you're mechanically inclined, Toyota offers a free visitor tour that lets you ride inside the plant and witness the production of its famous Camry. It's actually pretty impressive if you haven't been into an assembly plant before.
- In addition to cabins, camping, motels, and resorts, KY also offers a variety of Bed and Breakfast inns that offer working farm experiences, relaxing among horse farms, and upscale pampering.
Whew! And don't forget, cities like Indianapolis, Columbus, and Nashville are only a few hours away. Just a little further and you can be in Chicago, Cleveland, etc. In case you haven't checked it out, don't forget to go to
Lexington, Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau for more info. Hope your family gets to explore and enjoy your new home soon!
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
