Family Fun in Central Kentucky

Central Kentucky is famous for horses, but beyond its horses, it’s a fantastic place for for families to visit. The rolling hills, fence lined-farms, and tree covered roads create a backdrop for a peaceful getaway full of family fun. Central Kentucky is full of places for families to explore, from state parks, historic sites, nature centers, and unique places for children to play. Read on for recommendations for the best places for families to visit in Central Kentucky.

Downtown Lexington, Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky is a fantastic choice for families wanting to visit a city that has a lot of history, culture, and charm without having to deal with the traffic of a larger city. Located in the heart of Kentucky, it’s also a great hub from which to explore the surrounding areas from. Within a 20 minute drive you can go from the center of downtown Lexington to horse farm country- it’s incredible.

In downtown Lexington, take a walking tour to explore different periods of architecture and different historical places tucked away throughout the town. Previously known as the “Athens of the West,” Lexington is a great city to explore America’s history as well as a city that highly values the arts.

If presidential history piques your family’s interest, the Mary Todd Lincoln house is in downtown Lexington. Abraham Lincoln visited the home in the early period of their marriage.

Downtown Lexington is also home to Rupp Arena where the UK Wildcats play basketball. If you’re visiting during basketball season, this is a great experience; the atmosphere in Rupp Arena is exhilarating.

For kids, be sure to check out the fountains at Triangle Park. If you visit during the winter, take advantage of the outdoor ice skating rink at Triangle Park.

McConnell Springs

Located just outside of downtown Lexington, McConnell Springs is the site of the founding of Lexington, and it’s a hidden gem. Nature and history come together here to create a great place for families to explore.

There’s a short, mostly paved walking trail that will take you to the springs, which are absolutely gorgeous. Past the springs you’ll see the foundations of historic buildings.

As the trail makes the loop back up towards the visitor center you’ll pass a large pond that has a bridge wrapping around the edge. It’s a great place for kids to explore pond life as it is teeming with animals- especially turtles.

This is an easy place for families to explore as it’s small and mostly stroller accessible. (And a bonus- it’s free!)

The Arboretum and Kentucky Children’s Garden

Just outside of downtown Lexington and across from the University of Kentucky’s football stadium is the Arboretum. As the state botanical garden of Kentucky, it contains over 100 acres full of plants and trees representing Kentucky’s different regions. The arboretum features paved jogging paths, dirt trails through wooded areas, and natural play areas set up for kids to explore. It’s a beautiful place to explore no matter what ages are in your family. Plus- exploring the main part of the arboretum is completely free.

The Kentucky Children’s Garden

For families with little kids though, be sure to check out the Kentucky Children’s Garden if you’re visiting between April and October.

Tucked away in a corner of the arboretum, the Kentucky Children’s Garden is absolutely AMAZING. Designed for kids to run free and explore, this is a place that never gets old. There are steam jets for kids to run through, a vegetable and flower garden for them to dig in and water, and a music wall to unleash their creativity.

There’s a small boat in a pond for kids to explore complete with fishing nets. Tucked back into the far corner is a pioneer style cabin for children to pretend that they’re in a different time period completely. There are rock walls to climb, hollow logs to climb through, and a lending library to curl up with a good book under a big tree.

And if the weather is warm enough, there’s a creek that is PERFECT for little kids to explore. Shallow in many parts for the little ones and deeper in areas for kids who want more of an adventure, it’s just perfect for kids.

Additionally, there are typically children’s crafts or events held in the morning that are included with the price of admission.

The Children’s Garden is just the best place to let kids run free and experience the magic of being a kid.

Logistics

Admission is $4 a person (children under 2 are free), but it is WELL WORTH IT. They’re not open everyday, so be sure to check their website before visiting.

When you visit the arboretum, be sure to check into the welcome center first. They’ll help you with directions and they even have guides for specific plants or birds to look for. And if you’re visiting the Children’s Garden, you’ll want to visit the welcome center first as well to purchase your entry pass.

Keeneland

Just on the edge of Lexington, Keeneland is BEAUTIFUL. Even if it’s not horse racing season, it’s still worth a visit. (And honestly- I think it’s even more fun to visit when there aren’t races going on. It’s less crowded, calmer, and easier for kids to actually see the horses.)

Check out their family events and sunrise track services (don’t worry- it’s not actually at sunrise.) Kids can watch horses practice and warm up. Plus, there’s the best donuts ever available.

Beyond the horses, the grounds of Keeneland might just be one of the prettiest areas in Lexington.

Waveland Historic State Park

On the south side of Lexington (and probably just a 20 minute drive or so from the Arboretum) is Waveland Historic State Park.

This site was an antebellum plantation. The mansion and three outbuildings still exist and are open for viewing. In order to tour the mansion you need tickets (which are only available certain days- be sure to check their website), but the grounds are open and free.

The grounds are absolutely beautiful and are an engaging place for children to explore nature and history. There is a playground and a picnic area right near the parking lot. Beyond that just a bit are two gardens that are open for exploration- a learning garden where seasonal vegetables are planted and a walled-in garden full of herbs. The walled-in garden reminded me of The Secret Garden a little bit.

There is also a short nature trail that takes you through a more wooded area and passes the family cemetery.

Additionally, more research is being done here by scholars about the lives of the enslaved persons that lived here in an effort to bring their stories to more of the forefront of this history of Waveland.

If you are looking for a site to help pique your child’s interest in history and historical preservation, Waveland is a good option.

Camp Nelson

Located just past Waveland State Historic Park, Camp Nelson National Monument is an incredible site for learning about historic preservation and Kentucky’s role during the Civil War. (And it can be easily paired with Waveland Historic State Park. It’s just a few miles down US-27 from Waveland.)

Camp Nelson was a large supply depot for the Union Army during the Civil War. Located on a major route through Kentucky, Camp Nelson played a critical role in the Union’s efforts to keep Kentucky within the Union. Additionally, Camp Nelson was one of the largest training centers for African American soldiers. It also became a large refugee camp for freedom seekers.

The site today consists of the antebellum home and reconstructed barracks. There is a museum that has exhibits on what life would have been like at Camp Nelson during the Civil War. There is also a Junior Ranger program here for older kids.

Hiking trails run throughout the site, with some going back to earthworks that were built during the war.

What I love about Camp Nelson National Monument is its emphasis on the roles African Americans played in the war effort. It’s a great place to help kids gain a more detailed understanding of the Civil War. And for elementary aged children, definitely ask about their junior ranger program.

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

This is a bit more of a drive outside of Lexington, but it is SO WORTH IT. A little bit further south from Camp Nelson, Shaker Village is just simply magical.

Originally a Shaker settlement, it is now a place for living history. The historic buildings are open for tours and some have even been turned into an inn for guests wanting to stay overnight. One building is also now a restaurant that features southern cooking.

The farm is a working farm, with sheep and pigs and horses. A gravel road will take visitors along the main avenue of Shaker Village but for those wanting even more of an adventure, there are hiking trails, including trails that take you along the palisades of the Kentucky River.

Additionally, there is a natural playground for kids to leap, climb, and dig.

The foundation that operates Shaker Village is committed to preservation, conservation, and letting history come alive. They often hold special events for kids, including science discovery days, festivals, and holiday themed specials. Be sure to check out their calendar of events to plan your visit.

There is an admission fee, but with so much to do here, it is so worth it.

Salato Wildlife Education Center and Cove Springs in Frankfort, KY

About 45 minutes from Lexington is Frankfort, KY. Frankfort is the capital of Kentucky and is located along the Kentucky River. While there are certainly more sites to see here, including the capitol building and what is possibly Daniel Boone’s burial site, the two sites in Frankfort I recommend the most for families are Salato Wildlife Education Center and Cove Springs.

Salato Wildlife Education Center is great for kids who love animals. Featuring animals that are native to Kentucky, this small wildlife center features a black bear, an eagle, bobcat, deer, elk, and bison. The center is highly walkable with a mostly paved path looping around it. (If you need to use a stroller, I do recommend one that can go over slightly bumpier terrain as some parts of it are gravel. Our wagon did fantastic.)

Along the way, kids can also learn about rehabilitation efforts that the center does for these animals that would not survive in the wild. They also frequently have talks for the kids to learn fun facts about different animals or enrichment programs.

The best part to me was that it is extremely affordable and manageable with small kids. It’s small enough to walk around a couple of times and yet still open enough that there’s plenty of space for to be able to really see the animals without being caught up in a crowd.

Right down the road from Salato is Cove Springs- a small park with a beautiful waterfall and a few hiking trails. The waterfall is right by the parking lot, so this makes a great place to picnic right in view of the falls. We also did a short hiking trail here and while it was fine, we certainly didn’t’ see any views better than what we had already seen from the picnic area.

As both Salato and Cove Springs are fairly small, you can easily do both in an afternoon.

Salato is only open seasonally though, so be sure to check their website before visiting.

Closing Thoughts

Central Kentucky is such a beautiful place for families to explore. It’s worth it- for the history, the nature, the horses, and the culture- it’s worth it.

And for more trip ideas in Kentucky, be sure to check out my post about Carter Caves State Park- just about an hour’s drive east of Lexington.

Exploring Carter Caves State Park With Kids