The world’s longest known cave system, the nation’s longest continuously held sporting event and the world’s most accessible museum are all found in Kentucky.
That variety is what makes the Bluegrass State such a great fit for groups of all ages and interests — and it’s what student group travel planners discovered on a FAM through central Kentucky with stops in Louisville, Lexington and Bowling Green.
The state combines thriving metropolitan cities with a few natural wonders and many man-made thrills. Its abundance of museums and all-age attractions offer a peek into some of its staple industries like horses and bourbon as well as some of its lesser-known products, from sports cars to Louisville Slugger bats. And its rich history ensures student groups can learn about the state’s most influential and multifaceted public figures, from a philanthropic boxing titan to a controversial first lady.
Follow this five-day itinerary for some ideas on crafting a one-of-a-kind student trip through Kentucky.
Day 1
• Arrival in Louisville
• Kentucky Derby Museum & Churchill Downs
• Historic Frankfort walking tour
• Dinner at The Brown Barrel in Frankfort
• Overnight in Lexington
On the first day of the FAM, planners from around the United States flew or drove into Louisville and met up at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport to begin their tour of the Bluegrass State. Their first stop was at Churchill Downs and the adjacent Kentucky Derby Museum. The group enjoyed a tour of the museum before eating lunch at the cafe and watching a race. Then, they departed for Frankfort to take a historic walking tour of the state capital and a stop at a historic home, local history museum and Daniel Boone’s grave. They ended the day with Southern comfort food in downtown Frankfort at The Brown Barrel before departing for Lexington, where they stayed overnight at the Marriott Lexington Griffin Gate Golf Resort & Spa.
Kentucky Derby Museum
Located at Churchill Downs, the legendary racetrack where the Kentucky Derby takes place each year, the Kentucky Derby Museum explores every facet of this iconic sporting event, from the race’s history to the fashion it inspires. Groups can tour exhibits, eat at the museum cafe and watch “The Greatest Race,” an 18-minute short film about the Derby shown on a unique, 360-degree screen that mimics the shape of a racetrack and delivers an outstanding sensory experience. When they’re done at the museum, guests can catch a race at Churchill Downs and try their hand at betting horses.
Day 2
• Breakfast at Keeneland
• Kentucky Horse Park
• Lunch at J Render’s Southern Table & Bar
• Mary Todd Lincoln House
• Lexington Opera House
• The Kentucky Castle
• Dinner at Ramsey’s Diner
• Overnight in Lexington
After getting a good night’s rest at the Griffin Gate, the planners headed to Keeneland for breakfast at the racetrack’s Track Kitchen, where they enjoyed a cafeteria-style meal of homestyle favorites. Then, they headed to the Kentucky Horse Park to meet some of the park’s working draft horses, take a horse-drawn wagon tour and visit the International Museum of the Horse. After a tasty barbecue lunch at J Render’s Southern Table & Bar, the group headed to the Mary Todd Lincoln House in downtown Lexington, where the wife of Abraham Lincoln grew up. Next, they visited the Lexington Opera House and The Kentucky Castle, an architectural landmark turned boutique hotel just outside of Lexington. The group finished the day with a scrumptious meal at Ramsey’s Diner, a Lexington chain known for its delicious country cuisine and homey atmosphere.
Kentucky Horse Park
The Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm, equestrian sporting venue and tourist attraction comprising over 1,200 acres in central Kentucky. Daily performances such as the Parade of Breeds showcase the park’s variety of resident horses and riding styles from all around the world. Groups can tour the park with a guided horse-drawn wagon tour. No trip to the park is complete without a visit to its Smithsonian-affiliate museum, the International Museum of the Horse, which has exhibits ranging from race trophies to the skeleton of Lexington, the legendary Thoroughbred racehorse and sire that lived during the mid-19th century.
Mary Todd Lincoln House
Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of the 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, was born Mary Todd to an affluent and politically influential Lexington family in 1818. Her family home still stands in downtown Lexington and draws visitors interested in learning about the Lincolns and their legacy. Groups can tour the home to hear the story of her life, from her girlhood to her courtship with Abraham Lincoln to her later years. The home is furnished with a number of her personal belongings and furniture and photographs of the family. Several interactive exhibits let younger visitors enjoy a multisensory experience at the historic home.
The Kentucky Castle
The sight of a European-style, medieval castle just outside of Lexington undoubtedly raises a lot of questions from visitors, but locals recognize The Kentucky Castle as more than just a roadside curiosity. Formerly known as the Martin Castle, it was constructed to be a private residence in the 1970s, though the project was eventually abandoned and suffered damage from a fire. It was later bought and rebuilt and turned into a boutique hotel, restaurant and venue for festivals, weddings and events of all kinds. Groups can dine at the castle or simply stop by to marvel at the fascinating architecture found in the least likely of places.
Day 3
• Depart for Bowling Green
• National Corvette Museum
• Lunch at Stingray Grill
• Mammoth Cave tour
• Dinner at Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar
• Overnight in Louisville
After breakfast at the Griffin Gate, the group checked out and departed for Bowling Green, just a two-hour drive from Lexington. Upon arriving in Bowling Green, they headed to the National Corvette Museum for a guided tour of the museum and its many impressive Corvettes. They ate a tasty lunch at the museum’s Stingray Grill, then departed for Mammoth Cave National Park to take the “Domes and Dripstones” tour, which shows off some of the cave’s most iconic formations after a thrilling descent into the caverns. After resurfacing from the cave, the group began their journey to Louisville, where they would spend the remainder of the FAM. Their introduction to the city was Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar on historic Whiskey Row in the heart of downtown, famous for its mouthwatering Southern cooking. After dinner, they checked into The Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville.
National Corvette Museum
Recognizable from Interstate 65 thanks to its vibrant yellow-and-red Skydome, the National Corvette Museum opened in 1994. The Bowling Green museum quickly became a staple with Corvette fans, car aficionados and even automobile newbies. The museum offers guided tours for groups that chronicle the sports car’s history. One of its most popular exhibits covers the sinkhole that opened under the infamous Skydome in 2014 and swallowed eight rare Corvettes. While some were able to be restored, the museum kept a totaled Corvette and installed a window into the floor of the dome that lets visitors see down into the sinkhole. The museum also has a gift shop and the Stingray Grill, which serves burgers and sandwiches to museum guests.
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park is Kentucky’s only national park, but Mammoth Cave is also notable because it’s the longest known cave system in the world with over 420 mapped miles. The park offers a number of ranger-led programs and tours ranging in activity levels and themes, from a fully accessible tour to more strenuous options involving as many as 640 stairs. The park also has many above-ground hiking trails, campgrounds, a visitor center and more for student groups to explore.
Day 4
• The Dot Experience
• Kentucky Kingdom
• Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
• Dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory
• Baseball game at Louisville Slugger Field
On Day 4 of the Kentucky FAM, the group enjoyed breakfast at The Dot Experience, an upcoming museum adjacent to the American Printing House for the Blind, followed by tours of the printing house and the museum. Then, the group headed to Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville’s amusement park, to see the grand opening of a new thrill ride, the Flying Fox. The planners rode rides and enjoyed lunch at the park before heading back to the hotel to freshen up for an evening of excitement. This included a tour and educational activity at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, followed by dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory and a trip to Louisville Slugger Field, where the group finished the evening watching the Louisville Bats play the St. Paul Saints.
The Dot Experience
The Dot Experience, which is expected to open in late 2026, is a fully inclusive museum right next to the American Printing House for the Blind, the publishing company that produces educational materials for blind and visually impaired students across the country. It’s designed to be the world’s most accessible museum, with multiple accommodations for visitors with disabilities, including braille signage and auditory narration of exhibits. Student groups can pair a tour of the 28,000-square-foot museum with tours of the printing house to discover how braille learning materials are made.
Kentucky Kingdom
The theme park in Louisville known as Kentucky Kingdom offers a crowd-pleasing experience for guests of all ages with a selection of amusement rides, from thrilling coasters to more gentle kiddie rides. There’s also a water park, restaurants and snack stands, carnival games, performance areas and pavilions where groups can gather. The park can cater meals for groups of any size.
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
The 120-foot-tall steel baseball bat leaning casually against the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is one of the city’s most easily recognizable and intriguing landmarks. Inside, the factory and museum are just as engaging for groups. A guided tour through the factory shows visitors how Louisville Slugger bats are crafted from start to finish. Guests will see professional and retail bats being made and even get the chance to take home their own mini Louisville Slugger. Student groups can participate in a variety of educational workshops, including one where they use physics to find the “sweet spot” on a bat.
Day 5
• Muhammad Ali Center
• Depart tour
On the last day of the FAM, the group enjoyed breakfast at The Galt House and then headed to the Muhammad Ali Center, the museum that honors the Louisville native, boxing champion and philanthropist. The planners watched a short film on Ali’s life and legacy before taking a self-guided tour of the museum’s five floors of exhibits, which covered everything from the athlete’s political and legal battles to his most iconic boxing matches. After their museum tour, the planners reconvened and departed the tour with plenty of ideas for planning student trips to the Bluegrass State.
Kentucky Department of Tourism
Alex Adkins
Group Tour Specialist
502-360-6585
