A Country Travel Discoveries Original - Discover some of the most picturesque towns in Kentucky, tour the third largest Shaker village in the U.S., gaze in awe at the ARK Encounter and the Creation Museum — and we’re just getting started!
A visit to Kentucky would not be complete without a stop at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. We’ll also visit the Kentucky Artisan Center where everything is Made in Kentucky. Get ready for a taste of the Bluegrass State as we travel its hilly backroads on a journey you’ll always cherish.
- Join our friends at Country Travel Discoveries to discover the Bluegrass state
- See Biblical history come to life at the Creation Museum
- Insightful presentation about the Underground Railroad
- Enjoy breakfast in the Horsemen’s Track Kitchen with the jockeys and trainers
- Visit to the homestead that inspired Stephen Foster’s famous “My Old Kentucky Home”
- Visit the Kentucky Artisan Center where everything is “Made in the Bluegrass State"
- Visit the Kentucky Horse Park and Museum in Lexington
- Experience the ARK Encounter features a full-size Noah’s Ark, built according to the dimensions given in the Bible
DAY 1: WELCOME TO THE BLUEGRASS STATE
Board a deluxe motorcoach for a pleasant fall drive to Cincinnati, OH. D
DAY 2: CREATION MUSEUM/UNDERGROUND RAILROAD/BOURBON
This morning we will see Biblical history come to life at the Creation Museum. This state-of-the-art museum allows you to venture through religious history, stunning exhibits, botanical gardens, a fascinating planetarium, and more. This afternoon we travel south to Oldham County for a savory southern comfort lunch. We’ll meet Dr. Nancy Theiss for an insightful presentation about the Underground Railroad. Continue on to Louisville, and a tasty tour of Evan Williams Bourbon located on the city’s “Whiskey Row”. B, L
DAY 3: CHURCHILL DOWNS/STONEWARE/ LOUISVILLE FREE TIME
There’s no experience quite like a private, behind-the-scenes tour of Churchill Downs Racetrack. Enjoy breakfast in the Horsemen’s Track Kitchen, see the horses training rail side and learn about everyday life at the track. Be sure to bring your cameras—you will get an up close and personal view of the horses, jockeys and trainers—Afterwards, we tour and have lunch at Louisville Stoneware, one of the oldest stoneware manufactures in the U.S. Watch artisans turn clay into beautiful pieces of pottery by hand. This afternoon you’ll have some free time in the very walkable downtown area, where you may wish to visit the Slugger Museum or the Muhammad Ali Center. B, L
DAY 4: MY OLD KY HOME PARK/SHAKER VILLAGE/BOONE TAVERN
Today we begin our journey with a visit to the homestead that inspired Stephen Foster’s famous “My Old Kentucky Home”. Commissioned by Scotch-Irish immigrant John Rowan Sr., the main building is a Federal-style mansion and the centerpiece of this 1,300 acre plantation. Interestingly, in 1923, “My Old Kentucky Home” became Kentucky’s first state-owned park. A few years later, the song “My Old Kentucky Home” officially was designated as the state song. This 200 year old mansion is filled with many of the original Rowan Family belongings. Then enjoy a traditional Kentucky lunch prepared with straight-from the-garden ingredients at Shaker Village. Next, we travel to Berea, located at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Home to Berea College, students are required to work at least 10-15 hours per week in exchange for free tuition. Generous donors support the College to provide a high quality education for students from Appalachia with high academic potential and limited financial resources. Berea is also known as the Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky. We’ll make a stop the Kentucky Artisan Center where everything is “Made in the Bluegrass State”. Learn about the heritage, craft and time-honored traditions of Kentucky’s people. No trip to Berea is complete without visiting and enjoying a meal at the Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant. Built in 1909 on the old “Dixie Highway,” this establishment was named after Kentucky explorer Daniel Boone. The tavern is delightfully furnished with handcrafted wooden furniture made by Berea College students. We’ll start off our meal with tasty spoonbread and enjoy locally grown items from the Berea College Farm. B, L, D
DAY 5: KENTUCKY HORSE PARK/FARM TOUR
Today, we start our day at the Kentucky Horse Park and Museum in Lexington where we will be enchanted by the beauty, strength and spirit of the horse. Our stop includes a visit to the world-renowned International Museum of the Horse, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. After lunch we will visit a beautiful family-owned Farm and Greenhouse for an exciting tour and wagon ride. You'll even get to try some tasty farm fresh treats! B, L
DAY 6: ARK ENCOUNTER/ HOME
After breakfast, possibly our biggest highlight of the tour is literally huge in size and stature — the ARK Encounter! ARK Encounter features a full-size Noah’s Ark, built according to the dimensions given in the Bible. Spanning 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, this modern engineering marvel amazes visitors young and old. After our tour, head home with fond memories of the Bluegrass State. B
Dates:
- Departure: October 4, 2023
- Return: October 9, 2023
Pricing:
- Double: $1747
- Triple/Quad: $1637
- Single: $2145
*Price per person
Average Temperatures:
Cincinnati, OH: 68° / 45°
Churchill Downs, KY: 70° / 49°
Berea, KY: 69° / 48°
Luggage:
Orange luggage tags are provided and are to be placed on your “checked luggage” (large bag). You do not need a tag for your carry-on bag, for which you will be responsible for taking on and off the coach. There is limited space in the cabin of the coach, so unless you require your carry-on bag while traveling, we will stow it in the luggage compartment.
Important Information:
New reservations will require a $250 per person deposit unless otherwise noted. As always, your deposit is still fully refundable for any reason until final payment. We are happy to accept cash, check (preferred) or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) for your deposit.
Throughout 2021 we limited capacity on all our tours. This policy was so overwhelmingly popular by Sunrise travelers, we have made it permanent. In 2022 and beyond, we will limit the capacity on our motorcoaches to 80%. Most Sunrise Tours travel on 50-seat coaches with extra legroom, which means guests will enjoy extra legroom AND at least 6-8 empty seats. In the rare cases when we charter a 55-seat coach, there will be at least 10 open seats on the bus.
Our popular on-board refreshment service on travel days will feature a variety of soda, juices and sparkling water choices served in recyclable aluminum cans. This is a safe and eco-conscious way for us to deliver the ever-popular Sunrise Tours “happy hour” on tour. We do not typically serve bottled water and ask that while on tour you be responsible for your own hydration and consider the Sunrise Tours drink service a welcome refreshment.
Terms and Conditions:
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.
