Outdoor Adventure

Parks

Elizabethtown Sports Park

Opening July 2012, the 150-acre outdoor complex includes 12 baseball/softball fields, an ADA accessible "miracle" baseball field, 9 full-size or 23 3v3 soccer fields, 2 football fields, a synthetic turf multi-purpose field, a 3.1-mile walking loop, several playgrounds, and pavilions to host a variety of events. www.TourEtown.com

Elizabethtown Nature Park

104-acres of gently rolling former pastureland. Freeman Creek meanders through the park as it flows to the City's largest lake, Freeman Lake. www.TourEtown.com

Freeman Lake Park

Recharge your batteries at this beautiful lakeside park and visit the Lincoln cabins and the one-room schoolhouse. Elizabethtown / 270-769-3916 / www.TourEtown.com

Waterfront Park & Riverwalk

Enjoy the mighty Ohio from downtown Louisville. Spectacular views. Cosmopolitan amenities. Louisville / 502-574-3768
www.louisvillewaterfront.com

Trails and Tours

American Saddlebred Horse Farm Tour

Visit a historic Saddlebred farm and see some of the most beautiful horses in Kentucky. Shelbyville / 800-680-6388
www.kentuckytourism.com/things_to_do/horses/guided_tours/american-saddlebred-horse-farm-tours/1770

Cecil L. Gorley Naturalist Trail

3.2 miles through the forest and Fagan Branch Reservoir. Set a pace to raise your pulse with the time to commune with the wildlife. Lebanon / 270-692-0021 / www.kentuckytourism.com/Listing/1799

Footprints to the Park

A 3 mile walking trail at Cross Main brings adventurers to a 10’ bronze sculpture of President Lincoln, winding through the Historic District and Idle Hour Park - Springfield / 859-336-5440 / www.seespringfieldky.com/springfield_outdoors.html

Greenbelt Walking Tours and Parks

The Elizabethtown Greenbelt Walking Tours and Parks is an expanding series of trails and mini-parks around Freeman lake, Buffalo Lake, Fisherman's Lake and all along the stream that flow to and from them. These parks and their accompanying riparian areas serve as a way to protect the recreational, ecological, educational, historical and aesthetic values, and preserve the natural attributes of the many local waterways www.TourEtown.com

Little Big Horse Trails

Gentle horses, scenic trails, escorted rides. There is no better way to see Kentucky than from the back of a horse.
LaGrange / 502-222-1842 / www.littlebighorsetrails.com

Lakes, Boating, Golf and More

Central Kentucky Canoe & Kayak

Trips and rentals ranging from one hour to one day. Bardstown / 502-507-9364 / canoeky.com

Guist Creek Lake & Marina

325 acres of water, 27 miles of shoreline. Boating, camping, year-round fishing. Shelbyville / 502-647-5359 / www.guistcreek.com

Herritage Hill Golf Club

Award-winning 18-hole championship course designed by Doug Beach. 7100+ yards to test golfers of all abilities. Shepherdsville / 502-531-0606 / www.hhgolfclub.com

Lake Nevin

Enjoy a quiet time fishing in one of the most beautiful lakes in the state, located in the official StateArboretum. Bernheim Forst / 502-955-8512 / www.bernheim.org

Nolin Lake

Full-service marina will rent boats to those who don’t bring their own. Fishing, skiing, meandering all recommended. Leitchfield / 270-286-4240 / parks.ky.gov/findparks/recparks/nl

Ohio River Camping & Boating

Outdoor adventures close to the river, close to nature. Milton

Rough River Damn State Resort

Lots to do in the water or on dry land: canoeing, cycling, golf, bird watching, and a beach! Lebanon / 270-257-2311 / parks.ky.gov/findparks/resortparks/rr

Saunders Springs Nature Preserve

Low-tech activities like walking, biking & hiking. Waterfall & lake. No batteries necessary. Radcliff / 800-334-7540 / www.radclifftourism.org/saunderssprings.shtml

Tanglewood Golf Course

Hit the links surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. Enjoy 18 holes built for U.S.G.A. championship play sprawling over 200 acres of gently rolling hills. Tanglewood Court offers a rewarding golfing experience in the midst of unparalleled natural beauty. Secluded, tree-lined fairways of rye grass and fast well-maintained bent greens await your arrival on this course. Taylorsville / 502-477-2468 / www.golftanglewood.com

Taylorsville Lake Marina

Find every way to enjoy beautiful Taylorsville Lake. This full-service marina offers more than 300 slips covered and open slips for boats up to and over 70 feet, with metered electric and water, 24-hour video surveillance and pass card access control. Taylorsville / 502-477-8766 / www.taylorsvillelakemarina.com

Taylorsville Lake State Park & Wildlife Refuge

3,000+ acre lake with boating, camping, hiking, horse trails. Taylorsville / 502-477-8713

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor’s Center Taylorsville Lake

The Corps, in cooperation with the Commonwealth of Kentucky manages the land and water for wildlife, fisheries and recreation. The 3,050-acre Taylorsville Lake and surrounding area offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. Office hours: M-F, Taylorsville / 502-477-8882 / www.lrl.usace.army.mil/tay/default.asp

Nature & Scenery

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest

Kentucky’s Official State Arboretum, complete with a new, sustainably-built visitor center, over 50 miles of hiking trails, 14 miles of biking trails, 14,000 acres of research forest, canopy tree walk, picnicking and fishing. Clermont / 502-955-8512 www.bernheim.org

Creasy Mahan Nature Preserve

Popular with birding clubs, school groups & scouts. Picnic area, playground, nature center. LaGrange / 502-228-4362 / www.creaseymahannaturepreserve.org

Tioga Falls

130-foot cascade down the side of Muldraugh Hill. Remnants of the old Louisville-Nashville Turnpike (circa 1840) and some of the oldest bridges in Kentucky. West Point / 800-334-7540 / gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/tioga.shtml

Yellowbank Wildlife Management Area

6,000 acres of wetlands, tree-clad slopes & rock bluffs along the Ohio River. Waterfall observation tower. Remote & peaceful. Hardinsburg / 270-547-6856 / www.kyvacation.com/cgi-bin/listman/listings/l0180.html

Yew Dell Gardens

Louisville area’s finest new horticulture attraction. Dedicated to horticulture display, education and research preservation of unique architectural features. Crestwood / 502-241-4788 / www.yewdellgardens.org