# What are some things to do in and around east / central Kentucky (Royal Gorge area)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 7, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-things-to-do-in-and-around-east-central-kentucky-royal-gorge-area/1032215 "2026-08-07T18:13:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-things-to-do-in-and-around-east-central-kentucky-royal-gorge-area/1032215/1 "2026-08-07T18:13:12Z")
My wife and I are looking to do a mini-vacation, maybe 4 or 5 days, early September-ish. We love kayaking, and she’s had her eye on this [Gorge Underground kayak tour](https://redrivergorgevacations.com/activities/the-gorge-underground/). So we’re sort of planning around that, and I’m wondering what else will be good to do and see around there. Some ideas I’m forming: - Of course, nearby nature like the Red River Gorge itself and Natural Bridge State Park sounds pretty amazing to check out. Love nature stuff. - Never been to Mammoth Cave. That’s 3 1/2 hours away, but I’ve never been, and it might be worth a side trip. - Maybe a bourbon tour? Any good bourbon distillers in the area? I know, that’s probably like asking ‘is there a lot of ice in Alaska in the Winter?’. - How about historic Civil War battle sites? - Maybe a crazy thought, but ‘The Ark Encounter’ museum is an hour and a half away. Being someone who considers the Ark story a complete fairy tale, would it be worth it to tour just for the ironic lulz? In other words, would a tour be a ‘so bad it’s good’ bunch of kitschy fun for someone like me, or just a depressing ‘WTF were they thinking devoting all these resources to this monstrosity’ experience? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-things-to-do-in-and-around-east-central-kentucky-royal-gorge-area/1032215/2 "2026-08-07T18:57:36Z")
Banjo lessons? (d&r) ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-things-to-do-in-and-around-east-central-kentucky-royal-gorge-area/1032215/3 "2026-08-07T19:20:09Z")
> [@solost](#): > > - Never been to Mammoth Cave. That’s 3 1/2 hours away, but I’ve never been, and it might be worth a side trip. My wife’s uncle used to be a park ranger there. I’ve never been, but I would recommend it from the descriptions by her and her family. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-things-to-do-in-and-around-east-central-kentucky-royal-gorge-area/1032215/4 "2026-08-07T19:22:53Z")
[Mark Cline’s Dinosaur Kingdom II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur_Kingdom_II) is just down the road from Natural Bridge. Pretty cheesy but a must-see if you’re a fan of roadside attractions. I thought the Ark Encounter was fantastic. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the Disney-quality craftsmanship on display in the Ark. Go early, it can get crowded later in the day. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-things-to-do-in-and-around-east-central-kentucky-royal-gorge-area/1032215/5 "2026-08-08T01:54:02Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Banjo lessons? (d&r) It seems like you’re making a reference to the movie _Deliverance_, but I’m not sure what ‘d&r’ means. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2026, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-things-to-do-in-and-around-east-central-kentucky-royal-gorge-area/1032215/6 "2026-08-08T01:55:42Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I’m not sure what ‘d&r’ means. Duck and run ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2026, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-things-to-do-in-and-around-east-central-kentucky-royal-gorge-area/1032215/7 "2026-08-18T14:16:48Z")
“Deliverance” was set in northern Georgia. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2026, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-some-things-to-do-in-and-around-east-central-kentucky-royal-gorge-area/1032215/8 "2026-08-26T17:50:17Z")
So we took the rest of the week after Labor Day Monday off, booked two nights in the Royal Gorge area, we’re doing the [Gorge Underground kayak tour](https://redrivergorgevacations.com/activities/the-gorge-underground/) Tuesday, then we head over to Cave City for two nights and are doing a Mammoth Cave tour on Thursday. Other than those two events, neither of which will take more than two hours in the day, we’re open and keeping it loose. So any more suggestions for things to do in, around, or between those two places, I’m still all ears (or…all eyes, I guess).