Bourbon, Bluegrass & Horse Country

Upon arrival, pick up you rental car and start off your trip with a tour of Ryman Auditorium - the "Birthplace of Bluegrass." Nashville has many places to hear bluegrass music while you are in town. Pair your musical experiences with a tour of Nelson's Green Brier Distillery. Learn about the distillery's German founder and taste some of the hand-crafted Tennessee whiskey.

The beauty of horse country unfolds on this half-hour drive to Versailles. Stop at WinStar Farm, home to award-winning stallions. Then visit Lane's End Farm before considering lunch at Melissa's Cottage Cafe and continuing to Lawrenceburg's Wild Turkey distillery. One of Kentucky's most revered distilleries is Buffalo Trace, a National Historic Landmark that has won more than 500 accolades worldwide. Stop at the Woodford Reserve distillery, one of Kentucky's oldest and smallest distilleries. Grab a snack at Glenn's Creek Cafe before departing for Ashford Stud farm, being the largest thoroughbred racehorse breeding operation in the world.

The beauty of horse country unfolds on this half-hour drive to Versailles. Stop at WinStar Farm, home to award-winning stallions. Then visit Lane's End Farm before considering lunch at Melissa's Cottage Cafe and continuing to Lawrenceburg's Wild Turkey distillery. One of Kentucky's most revered distilleries is Buffalo Trace, a National Historic Landmark that has won more than 500 accolades worldwide. Stop at the Woodford Reserve distillery, one of Kentucky's oldest and smallest distilleries. Grab a snack at Glenn's Creek Cafe before departing for Ashford Stud farm, being the largest thoroughbred racehorse breeding operation in the world.

The beauty of horse country unfolds on this half-hour drive to Versailles. Stop at WinStar Farm, home to award-winning stallions. Then visit Lane's End Farm before considering lunch at Melissa's Cottage Cafe and continuing to Lawrenceburg's Wild Turkey distillery. One of Kentucky's most revered distilleries is Buffalo Trace, a National Historic Landmark that has won more than 500 accolades worldwide. Stop at the Woodford Reserve distillery, one of Kentucky's oldest and smallest distilleries. Grab a snack at Glenn's Creek Cafe before departing for Ashford Stud farm, being the largest thoroughbred racehorse breeding operation in the world.

Depart Nashville for Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg. Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House and Restaurant is a chance to eat down-home cooking and at the Lynchburg Hardware General Store you can see memorabilia. On your way to Tullahoma, take a detour to Short Springs Natural Area featuring lush scenery and lively waterfalls. It is only a short drive to Tullahoma. Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. is where George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey is handmade.

On the way to Pigeon Forge consider to make a stop in Knoxville to watch a live radio performance at Knoxville Visitor Center. The WDVX Blue Plate Special is always free and has broadcast everything from blues and bluegrass to Celtic and funk. Pigeon Forge is the home of Dollywood and Dollywood's Splash Country, an Appalachian-inspired theme park founded by singer and songwriter Dolly Parton. The park holds music-centered events throughout the year and dinner shows that showcase horses and country music.

Bluegrass and bourbon are both inextricably tied to the land. Explore the natural beauty that inspired bluegrass musicians with a detour through the Daniel Boone National Forest and visit the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Mount Vernon. An hour north from Mount Vernon is Lexington, Kentucky's horse capital, where you will spend two days.

Today you will meet thoroughbred horses at Darley at Jonabell Farm, where Kentucky Derby winning stallions have been bred. Visit Keeneland, the internationally renowned racecourse. At Blue Door Smokehouse you can enjoy a house-smoked barbecue. Continue your journey in horse country at Claiborne Farm covering more than 100 years of thoroughbred racing history and see some of today's champion racehorses.

The beauty of horse country unfolds on this half-hour drive to Versailles. Stop at WinStar Farm, home to award-winning stallions. Then visit Lane's End Farm before considering lunch at Melissa's Cottage Cafe and continuing to Lawrenceburg's Wild Turkey distillery. One of Kentucky's most revered distilleries is Buffalo Trace, a National Historic Landmark that has won more than 500 accolades worldwide. Stop at the Woodford Reserve distillery, one of Kentucky's oldest and smallest distilleries. Grab a snack at Glenn's Creek Cafe before departing for Ashford Stud farm, being the largest thoroughbred racehorse breeding operation in the world.

Take a break from bourbon and drive for two hours to Cincinnati. Walk across the "Purple People Bridge," a pedestrian walkway that connects Cincinnati, Ohio to Newport, Kentucky, being the longest con¬nector of its kind in the USA. The riverfronts of the two cities are linked with options for entertainment, dining, nightlife, festivals, parks and attractions. New Riff Distilling offers a range of craft whiskeys and hosts a 60-foottall, 24-inch-diameter copper still.

Explore more of the new urban craft distillery scene when you get to Indianapolis. The 12.05 Distillery is named for the date prohibition was repealed. Next up on your bourbon trail is West Fork Whiskey Co. producing spirits in its own fashion with ingredients from Indiana. Continue your tour at Hotel Tango artisan distillery, the first artisan distillery in Indianapolis since Prohibition, located in the historic Fletcher Place neighborhood of downtown Indianapolis. For dinner, you might consider Bluebeard.

Today you will explore the mecca of American horse racing in Louisville, Kentucky. Churchill Downs is the home of the famous Kentucky Derby horse race. See the iconic twin spires that sit atop the grandstands and visit the Kentucky Derby Museum. Experience the Stitzel-Weller Distillery close to downtown Louisville. It opened on a derby day in 1935 and is home to the Bulleit Bourbon brand. Doc Crow's, located in the historic Whiskey Row of downtown Louisville is an option for dinner.

Drive south to the rolling foothills of Clermont, home of the Jim Beam American Stillhouse. For lunch, grab a meal at bourbon-inspired cafe, Fred's Smokehouse. Next up is the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History. This museum has a collection of rare whiskey artifacts. Drive south to visit the Maker's Mark dis¬tillery in Loretto, which is considered the oldest working distillery on its original site. The grounds of this distillery are also an arboretum. In the evening you will reach Owensboro.

Get ready for more bluegrass history and visit the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Wrap up the day with a visit to the O.Z. Tyler Distillery. The distillery has around 130 years of history in Owensboro.

On your way back to Nashville, make a stop in Rosine to tour the Bill Monroe Museum, home to the legacy of Bill Monroe, the "father of bluegrass." It will be a two-hour drive back to Nashville.

Return your rental car at the airport in time for your departure flight.