- Tour six distilleries on The Bourbon Trail.Jupiterimages/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
Kentucky has long been associated with the art of distilling bourbon. In 1999, the state distiller's association created the Kentucky Bourbon Trail so that visitors could see the process firsthand. Six distilleries along the trail offer tours, tastings and a gift shop. Admission is free at five of the six locations making them budget-friendly for seniors on fixed incomes. You can take as much time as you like at each distillery and visit all or some, so scheduling is also amenable to seniors. The Bourbon Trail offers a Passport program for visitors. Collect a stamp from each of the six distilleries and turn it in for a free Kentucky Bourbon Trail t-shirt. - Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is a National Historic Landmark restored Shaker community. Seniors can explore the 14 original Shaker museums at their own pace. Craftspeople demonstrate broom making, spinning and weaving, while the 1820 Meeting House offers Shaker music performances. The Carpenters Shop Craft Store offers handmade items for sale. Seniors can enjoy a slow-paced cruise on the Dixie Belle Riverboat offering a narrated tour. Special events throughout the year include concerts, craft fairs and special holiday events in December. The Inn at Shaker Village offers on-site lodging and dining for those wishing to spend more than one day exploring the village.
- Horse farms and tracks are abundant in Kentucky.Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
Kentucky is renowned for its horse farms and tracks. Seniors can choose from several different aspects of the state's horse country depending on their interests and travel abilities. The Kentucky Horse Park, near Lexington, offers live and movie presentations, as well as two museums. Georgetown's Old Friends Farm, home to retired Thoroughbreds, offers daily tours. For those who enjoy horse racing, spend a day at the track at Churchill Downs, site of the annual Kentucky Derby. While in Louisville, visit the Kentucky Derby Museum. Other race tracks include Keeneland in Lexington and Kentucky Downs in Franklin. - Many Kentucky attractions offer day-trip visits for seniors on the go. Abraham Lincoln's birthplace, in Hodgenville, is a solid marble monument symbolic of the cabin. See an audiovisual presentation at the Visitor's Center there. The National Quilt Museum, in Paducah, houses more than 150 quilts for viewing. The entire museum is wheelchair accessible. For those who prefer outdoor attractions, Breaks Interstate Park has the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi, while Cumberland Falls is known as the Niagra of the South.
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