Kentucky, the Bluegrass State, is a land of unparalleled beauty and history—perfect for motorcycle trips. Following are a few of the scenic routes you won’t want to miss, and keep in mind that helmets are required for riders under 21 and eye protection is mandatory.

Red River Gorge Scenic Byway

Begin in Stanton, KY, and continue along the Red River through the picturesque gorge, or get off your bike and canoe the river and enjoy the tranquility. A few minutes down the road, you’ll reach the hand-carved Nada Tunnel, which is a fascinating drive. When you reach Raven Rock, be sure to stop and see the natural stone arches of the Red River Gorge Geological Area.

This area offers several natural wonders, sights, and historic sites:

• Clifty National Wilderness Area
• Dozens of arches, including Angel Windows and Sky Bridge, the largest arch in Red River Gorge
• Gladie historic logging site
• Natural Bridge State Resort Park
• Sheltowee Trail, used by Native Americans and Daniel Boone

Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Since 1999, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail has educated visitors about the long, proud tradition of Kentucky whiskey making. When Kentucky was settled, farmers found that the mountains posed an obstacle to getting crops to market, so they converted their crops to whiskey and shipped it in oak barrels. Bourbon County was where the barrels shipped from, so the whiskey became known as Bourbon.

The Bourbon Trail includes stops and tastings at the following distilleries:

• Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg http://www.fourroses.us
• Heaven Hill Distilleries in Bardstown http://www.heaven-hill.com
• Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont http://www.jimbeam.com
• Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto http://www.makersmark.com
• Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg http://www.wildturkey.com
• Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles http://www.woodfordreserve.com

Other attractions near the Trail include The Bourbon Chase http://www.bourbonchase.com, the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History http://www.whiskeymuseum.com, and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival http://www.kybourbonfestival.com.

**Of course, drink responsibly, and if you run into trouble, find a good DUI lawyer immediately.

Country Music Highway

Located in eastern Kentucky, this route commemorates country music with stops at several sites of interest:

• Paramount Theater in Ashland, home of Billy Ray Cyrus and Naomi Judd
• Kentucky Pavilion, with memorabilia from Dwight Yoakam and Ricky Skaggs
• Butcher Hollow, the childhood home of Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle, with tours of the actual cabin they lived in
• Mountain Arts Center, home of the Kentucky Opry and Kentucky mountain music

Which trip would you prefer, and why?