All the United States Kentucky

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Kentucky

86 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Kentucky

Updated August 9, 2024

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Bardstown
  2. Bowling Green
  3. Burlington
  4. Cave City
  5. Covington
  6. Frankfort
  7. Lexington
  8. Louisville
  9. Paducah
  10. Petersburg

Unusual Attractions in Kentucky

See All 86 Things To Do in Kentucky

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Kentucky

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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

5 Famous and Delightfully Obscure Folks Buried in Kentucky

When the Grim Reaper visits, it doesn't discriminate. The cemeteries of the Bluegrass State are home to a cast of characters that includes famous folks, as well as others whose faces you know, but whose names you might not recognize. Visitors can pay their respects to a fast-food icon, a world-famous athlete, comedic actor, and a local magician, as well as a folk hero who may or may not be buried there at all.

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Explore Kentucky

Museums 15
Architecture 7
Cemeteries 7
Roadside Attractions 6
Hotels 6
Shops 6
History 6
Ecosystems 5

Kentucky Leaderboard

Recent Kentucky Activity

Stories About Kentucky

Podcast: Vent Haven Museum

Here lies the world's largest collection of ventriloquist dummies.
by The Podcast Team
A illustration depicts the Hopkinsville Goblins incident from 1955, when a group claims they were assaulted by aliens of some sort.

The Long, Surprising Legacy of the Hopkinsville Goblins

Or, why families under siege make for great movies.
by Colin Dickey

The World’s Only Ventriloquism Museum is in Northern Kentucky

Vent Haven is a must-see for lovers of oddity museums, quirky collections, or off-the-beaten-path places.
Sponsored by Meet Northern Kentucky

Gastro Obscura’s Guide to the Northern Kentucky Bourbon Tour

10 worthy stops along The B-Line® to sip and savor spirited whiskey.
Sponsored by Meet Northern Kentucky

Podcast: Thomas Merton’s Hermitage

This little house in Kentucky is where the famous rebel monk tried to get away from the world.
by The Podcast Team
The Alaska box often includes indigenous food, ingredients, and art.

These 7 Local Food Boxes Offer a Taste of Travel

Get New Orleans pralines, Jersey Shore sea salt, and other iconic treats delivered to your door.
by Laura Kiniry
Ingredients that underpin the cuisine include pitseed goosefoot (left), a type of physalis known as ground cherries, among other names (center), and sunflowers pressed into oil (right).

The Cherokee Chefs Bringing Back North America’s Lost Cuisine

Researching traditional foods led them to the revelations of an archaeological dig in Kentucky.
by Eric J. Wallace
The meat shower, here shown falling on Mrs. Crouch, caused confusion across the nation.

The Artist Trying to Explain Kentucky's 'Meat Shower' of 1876

A historical head-scratcher inspired the world's worst jelly bean flavor.
by Marina Wang

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