My best friend and I decided to take a long September roadtrip covering 8 states in 8 days – North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Virginia. For the majority of the trip, we stayed in Kentucky, because it borders several states, and we only ventured into Illinois on our way to St. Louis, MO. Below I have included some of our favorite parts along our journey. I hope you enjoy the tips below and can use this guide to create the perfect roadtrip for yourself!
Louisville’s Waterfront Park is the place for a peaceful stroll, bike ride, or picnic. I enjoyed sitting and admiring the shimmering water as boats passed by. For baseball lovers, you might also want to add the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory to your list.
Where We Stayed: Hilton Garden Inn Louisville East
We absolutely loved this hotel! In fact, we ended up staying here again after we left Missouri.
Where to Eat: Kellie’s Homestead Restaurant
Make sure to order the Bacon Jam burger. It’s fantastic!
While visiting Churchill Downs, we walked through the Kentucky Museum & paid for the tour (approx. $20 each). We greatly enjoyed the games and reading the history of the museum. (We even got to place fake bets on races for fun!). The tour included an actual race so it felt like we were at the Kentucky Derby on a much smaller scale. Also, make sure to make a pit stop to try on fancy hats at the gift shop and eat a Kerns – Derby Pie at the Derby Cafe. YUM!
Loved the planters!
Where We Stayed: Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Dry Ridge
You may have read the Bible story of Noah building an ark after God warned him of the upcoming worldwide flood. The Ark Encounter is the Bible story come to life! On site, we were able to walk through the Ark itself, explore the grounds, and visit the on-site zoo. We even got to pet a kangaroo! It’s truly the perfect one-day adventure for the whole family. *Note: Next time I want to ride the camel at the zoo.
Ark Encounter tickets cost approximately $54 each for ages 18-59. (Seniors and youth receive a large discount, and children under 10 years of age are free). The parking is not included in the cost of the ticket. *Note: You can also get the Ark & Creation Museum Combo tickets. Be aware the Creation Museum is about a 40 minute drive from the Ark Encounter.
The picture doesn’t do the size justice. It’s really incredible in person.
My favorite part of the Ark Encounter was the sounds throughout the experience. When I stepped through the doors of the Ark, one of the first sites was the animal’s feeding troths. As I looked into the feeders, I could hear the sounds of animals scurrying around for food. Although there were no real animals in site, it gave the illusion that there really were! I loved how it played with my imagination.
The Kentucky Castle is one of those hidden gems, less than an hour south from the Ark Encounter.
Import Note: Reservations are typically required (even for lunch). Although we did not make reservations, they graciously let us in anyways. I ate the grits with lamb for $11. So yummy! For lunch, dress is business casual. Walking the grounds is free and there is no cost to park.
Hint: Make sure you take the elevator inside to the roof of the castle for spectacular views.
Allow plenty of time to walk the beautiful grounds.
This was one of the unexpected places on our trip – but very worthwhile. I absolutely loved seeing the sun beams reflect off the many buildings at sunset. Gorgeous! Note: Visit the park to see the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. We were able to see the bridge at sunset and at dark. Both were so magical!
Sunset is the perfect time to visit for pictures!
Crossing the Ohio River, we journeyed into the edges of Indiana for dinner with a view at Buckhead Mountain Grill. I ordered their Echo Lake Spinach Salad with honey roasted pecans. I ate every single bite – and trust me, it’s a very large salad. It was so good. I almost went the next day too!
Dinner & View = Perfect Vacation
We stayed less than 24 hours in Missouri, but we were able to see several beautiful places, including Lafayette Street. These houses were so charming! I loved the double entrances. (They almost reminded me of the houses in San Francisco.)
Where We Stayed: Hampton Inn St. Louis Downtown Hotel Gateway Arch
This hotel was very clean and displayed a beautiful view of the Arch from our window. However, I was not a fan of the parking deck or the location. It is a great option, though, if you don’t mind the parking deck and want a beautiful view of the arch without the cost.
Such a pretty view!
LaFayette Street
The Gateway Arch
Did you know this 630 foot arch is the largest arch in the world? I truly felt so small standing next to it.
Note: Parking can be challenging so make sure you arrive early.
Busch Baseball Stadium
As we ventured back towards NC, we made a pit stop at this national forest in Kentucky. Based on my style of choice, you can see that the weather was slightly cool in September, definitely around the water, so make sure to pack a jacket. The parking is free and the waterfall is fairly close to the parking itself – only requiring a moderate trail with some steps.
Such a beautiful waterfall!
I hope you enjoyed this brief overview of our trip. Some of my highlights include Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Castle, & Lafayette Street. Let me know which one sounds the best to you!