Louisville or Elizabethtown, KY suggestions

Ft. Knox is very close to Elizabethtown (locals call it Etown), and you can tour the Patton Museum and the Bullion Depository, where they keep all the gold! I'm not sure what touristy kinds of things Etown itself has, we mainly just went shopping there. A google search of top sights doesn't bring up much.

Louisville has a lot of things! We lived there when my DD was young, so a lot of what we did skewed toward the elementary age. The Louisville Zoo is awesome for all ages, I think. They opened up the MegaCavern after we moved away, but lots of FB friends go there. The Science Center is fun too for that age.

Churchill Downs has tours year round. Fourth St. Live should be having lots of outdoor entertainment going on during the summer. Kentucky Kingdom is a theme/thrill park (used to be a Six Flags). The River Bats are a minor league team--I thought the ballpark was charmingly retro. I've heard great things about the Muhammad Ali Center, the Speed Art Museum on UofL's campus, and taking a cruise on the Belle of Louisville. For a more adult option, there's a casino just across the river in Indiana.

You might consider a day trip to Bardstown (about 45 minutes east of Etown). Charming, historic small town. Several bourbon distilleries there you can tour. Has an outdoor show called the Stephen Foster Story every summer. Or go tour Mammoth Cave, again about a 45 minute drive to the south. I have done every tour they have that doesn't require serious spelunking skills--I think the cave system is amazing. And it will be cool as the cave stays a consistent temp in the 50's all year long. That area, Cave country, has lots of neat, kinda kitchy stuff to do.

I really hope you enjoy your time in Kentucky!!

quiltedbrain hit all the highlights!

If you're going to the Slugger museum, that general area is nice to walk and explore. There is a science center though I feel it's geared slightly toward young children. There's also the Frazier History Museum, the Mohammad Ali Center and the riverfront nearby. Churchill Downs has an amazing tour and museum. It's really a KY must-do. A drive through the horse farms in Versailles is beautiful but it'll be a bit of a drive east toward Lexington for you. And always the bourbon tours. I've been on most and couldn't pick a favorite-they're all fun!

If you're looking at tween-teen age activities, the MegaCavern is going to be a hit. They have fat tire biking tours, zip lining, etc. Mammoth Cave is always awesome for that age as well. If you're looking for a budget friendly activity just to get out of a hotel room, Iroquois Park in L'ville is very nice. They have great hiking trails.