99 Things to Do North Central

Sidney Johnston House C. 1797 Museum. Crafts and food at Paxton Inn C.1810 Museum. Displays and food at the Harriet Beecher Stowe C.1897 Slavery to Freedom Museum. And the annual Vesper Service Sunday at 4:00 pm in the C. 1848 Old Church Museum. Come, warm your heart and rekindle the spirit of yesterday with the scents and sights of early days in Washington, 4 miles south of Maysville on old US 68, an easy 59 miles NE of Lexington, 50 miles west of Portsmouth, Ohio, 90 miles W of Huntington, 51 miles east of Cincinnati, (take Wilder Exit #77 off I-275 onto Route #9 – also known as the AA Highway), then turn right at the light by Wendy’s onto US 68, turn left at the second light up into Old Washington.

Big Rock Off Road Park MAYSVILLE 8157 Stonelick Road. 2,000 acre ATV, dirtbike, 4X4 trucks, jeeps and crawlers park; riding trails overlooking the Ohio River. Family environment — Camping available for park guests - Cabin rental available. Open Year Round - Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas. (606) 759-8204

Boone County Arboretum UNION 9190 Camp Ernst Road. Welcome to the Boone County Arboretum at Central Park, the nation’s first arboretum within an active recreation park setting. We are located just outside Union, KY. A short, 25 minute drive southwest from downtown Cincinnati, OH will put you in Northern Kentucky’s only arboretum. There is no charge for admission or parking. The Arboretum is open daily from dawn to dusk for your year-round enjoyment of our more than 2,700 trees and shrubs. The Arboretum encompasses 121 acres, and has over 2 miles of paved walking trails. Special attractions at the Arboretum include the Children’s Garden, a Wildlife Viewing and our new Woodland Walking Trail. (859) 384-4999

BLOW YOUR OWN ORNAMENT! LOUISVILLE - 12/3/2009 10:00 A.M.- 12/31/2009 5:00 P.M. 815 W. Market St. Blow your own ornament! There's nothing like the classic experience of Blow Your Own Ornament during the holidays. A fun family tradition & great holiday gift! CALL 502.992.3056

Christmast Belles ELIZABETHTOWN - 12/3/2009 - 12/6/2009 The PAC 384 W.A. Jenkins Road The Kentucky Repertory Theatre will be performing Christmas Belles at The PAC, December 3 through 6, 2009. Performances are December 3,4, and 5 at 7:00 p.m., and December 5 and 6 at 3:00 p.m. For tickets and more information, call 270-769-8837 or 800-342-2177.

Heart of Kentucky Holiday Festival LEBANON - 12/4/2009 - 12/6/20092239 N. Spalding Avenue Book your holiday getaway package now at www.HeartOfKentucky.com for signigicant savings. There's no better time to visit central Kentucky! Visit our cooperage and enter free to win genuine bourbon barrel, collectors Maker's Mark bottle or "All Fired Up About Bourbon" T-shirt then visit Maker's Mark Distillery for an eye-popping holiday event with ice skating rink and more. There's great food, a 3-acre light show, live entertainment, kids activities, shopping promos... Call and ask for the free brochure that tells all or visit the Web site. Its breathtaking! (270) 692-0021

Florence Antique Mall 8145 Mall Road. A large, multi-dealer antique mall, featuring a wide selection of fine antiques, collectibles and furniture. Located in the heart of the Florence Retail Shopping District on Mall Rd., with a beautiful 50,000 sq. ft. showroom full of quality merchandise from hundreds of dealers. Open Daily 11am - 6pm, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas day. (859) 371-0600

Sweetheart Weekend FALLS OF ROUGH - 2/12/2010 - 2/14/2010ROUGH RIVER DAM STATE RESORT PARK 450 Lodge Rd Love is in the air at Rough River Dam State Resort Park! With this sweetheart package you will enjoy 2 nights stay, good food (a Prime Rib Buffet), good entertainment and a lot of love and laughter! There will be many Valentine/couple related activities, special entertainment and a dance for you and your honey! Bring your sweetie out and feel a little Triple R- Rough River Romance! Call 270-257-2311 or toll free 1-800-325-1713 for more information and prices!

Riders in the Sky: Christmas the Cowboy Way LOUISVILLE - 12/20/2009 3:00 P.M.- 12/20/2009 5:00 P.M.501 W Main St America’s favorite cowboys deck the bunkhouse walls with holiday classics and Western standards in an evening of fun for Saddlepals of all ages in “Christmas the Cowboy Way.” The world’s premier Comedy & Western group is renowned for their knee-slapping wacky western wit and Grammy Award-winning song “Woody’s Roundup” from Disney’s Toy Story 2! (502) 584-7777

Grant County Tourism Center DRY RIDGE. 1116 Fashion Ridge Rd. Tourism center is located in the Dry Ridge Outlet Mall. We sell the works of many fine Kentucky artists and craftsmen. The tourism center also partners with the local art council, CETA, which fosters creativity among local artists and craftspeople, promotes their work, and arranges rotating gallery exhibits year round at the Grant County Tourism Center. (859) 824-3451

Louisville Boat, RV & Sportshow LOUISVILLE - 1/20/2010 - 1/24/2010 Kentucky Exposition Center 937 Phillips Lane Kentucky’s premiere boat, RV and sportshow offers the best in boating, recreational vehicles, must-have gadgets and gear, along with hunting, fishing and vacation destination exhibits, fishing and hunting seminars/demonstrations by the experts, fishing for kids and valuable giveaways. Visitors can shop the best deals of the year and find hundreds of the latest in boats and RVs, the largest selection of marine accessories in the area, and more. There’s fun for the whole family under one roof at the 53rd annual Louisville Boat, RV & Sportshow! (502) 957-1666

Kentucky Speedway SPARTA 4760 Sparta Pike. Kentucky Speedway is a 1.5-mile tri-oval which hosts NASCAR, The Indy Racing League, ARCA and other national series. The track also offers 5 driving schools for fans, plus the facilities for corporate meetings including full catering and track tours. (859) 567-3400

Rosemary Clooney House Museum AUGUSTA. Riverside Drive. Visit where Rosemary lived, and let the memories of yesteryear come back to you. Showcasing the largest private collection of “White Christmas” costumes and props around. See the original dresses that Rosie wore in the movies and on stage. There are also rooms dedicated to George Clooney, Nick Clooney and of course our very own “Miss America” Heather Frech Henry. (866) 898-8091

Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan in Lebanon, Kentucky! LEBANON - Kentuckys Derby Region 239 North Spalding Avenue Suite 200 Type of Interest: Attraction Lebanon was one of only two cities that felt the wrath of Confederate Gen. John Hunt Morgan and Morgan’s Raiders during all three of their Civil War raids into Kentucky. Follow Morgan’s activities in Lebanon on this self-guided walking or driving tour that starts at Centre Square and carries five blocks through the historic downtown district. There are wayside exhibits along the route with information and photos. A guide with map and additional information is available at Visitors Center located inside the Centre Square Convention Center. For more information, call 270.692.0021.

DERBY DINNER PLAYHOUSE – CLARKSVILLE, IN Located just across the river from downtown Louisville, KY, this dinner theatre features professionally produced Broadway musicals and comedies year-round. A full home-style buffet is included in the ticket price. SHOW SCHEDULE: “All Shook Up” March 31 – May 17; “Leading Ladies” May 19 – June 28 ; “High School Musical” June 30 – August 18. Visit www.derbydinner.com or call 812-288-8281/877-898-8577 for more information.

Madcap Family Weekend LOUISVILLE - 1/30/2010 10:30 A.M.- 1/31/2010 5:00 P.M. The Speed Art Museum Brr! Get in out of the cold for a weekend of winter celebration at The Speed Art Museum. Try your hand at seasonal art activities with local artists- design unusual snowmen and watch as artists make creations from ice. Explore the galleries with family tours, and join us for a special winter hands-on studio in the Art Sparks workshop. Madcap Puppet Theatre Presents Toby and the Ice Goblin at 11a & 1p on Saturday and 1& 3p on Sunday. Admission to performance is $6 for members, $8 for non-members / Speed Auditorium. (502) 634-2735

Kentucky Scottish Weekend Description: The Anniversary of the annual event will be held at General Butler State Resort Park. In addition to Kentucky’s oldest Scottish games, the event features athletic games, a bagpipe competition, highland & Country dancing, Celtic Music, Seminars and mu … Location: Carrollton, KY (Carroll County) 08/08/2009

The 2nd Annual Derby City Film Festival LOUISVILLE - 2/18/2010 7:00 P.M.- 2/21/2010 8:00 P.M. 2117 Payne Street Louisville's largest independent film festival of all (502) 618-3192

18th Annual Irish Classic 10K LOUISVILLE - 3/13/2010 9:00 A.M.- 3/13/2010 11:00 A.M. E.P. "TOM" SAWYER STATE PARK 3000 Freys Hill Road Join us for our 18th Annual Irish Classic 10K. Each pre-registered participant receives a t-shirt, late registrants while supplies last. Awards given to the overall male and female and the top two finishers in each age group. Race begins at 9:00 am. (502) 429-7270

Pi Day LOUISVILLE - 3/14/2010 8:00 A.M.- 3/14/2010 10:00 P.M. Region Lynn's Paradise Cafe 984 Barret Ave. Pi Day every March 14th, 3.14!! Specials Pi Squared!! Come in to celebratre this mathematical event of the year

Caching for Clues LOUISVILLE - 3/20/2010 10:00 A.M.- 3/20/2010 1:00 P.M. E.P. "TOM" SAWYER STATE PARK 3000 Freys Hill Road Bring your GPS unit as we go geocaching for clues to solve a mystery! Registration is $10 per person and includes lunch. A beginners session will start at 9:00am. (502) 429-7270

Knob Creek Military Gun Show & Shoot SHEPHERDSVILLE - 4/9/2010 10:00 A.M.- 4/11/2010 11:00 P.M. Hwy 44 West Largest gathering of civilian owned machine guns in the world. The Gun Show has over 700 tables with machine guns, military surplus, ammo, hard to find parts and pieces, and regular firearms and supplies. A must see for all ages. (502) 922-4457

Goose Creek 5K LOUISVILLE - 4/10/2010 9:00 A.M.- 4/10/2010 11:00 A.M. E.P. "TOM" SAWYER STATE PARK 3000 Freys Hill Road Runners are invited to compete in a unique series of 5K runs featured at several Kentucky State Parks. Take this opportunity to participate in challenging courses with various park terrains. (502) 429-7270

Boone County Arboretum UNION 9190 Camp Ernst Road Type of Welcome to the Boone County Arboretum at Central Park, the nation’s first arboretum within an active recreation park setting. We are located just outside Union, KY. A short, 25 minute drive southwest from downtown Cincinnati, OH will put you in Northern Kentucky’s only arboretum. There is no charge for admission or parking. The Arboretum is open daily from dawn to dusk for your year-round enjoyment of our more than 2,700 trees and shrubs. You will see specialized arrangements of plant families to obscure selections rarely observed by the public eye. The Arboretum encompasses 121 acres, and has over 2 miles of paved walking trails, winding through our various plant collections, woodland settings, and athletic fields. Three informational kiosks are located at the main trail entrances. Here you will find horticultural information, Extension class offerings, and our Arboretum map, all free to the public. Special attractions at the Arboretum include the Children’s Garden, a Wildlife Viewing area in our Native Kentucky Prairie, and our new Woodland Walking Trail.

Abbey of Gethsemani TRAPPIST 3642 MONKS RD Abbey Visitor’s Center: Archive Display, a DVD Theatre for viewing a 25 min DVD about the monastery. Gift Shop featuring the monks’ world famous Trappist Cheese, Fudge and Fruit Cake in addition to many other Trappist products from monasteries in other countries. Open 9:00-5:00 Mon - Sat. Closed Sundays. There is also a Retreat House where spiritual seekers from around the world spend a weekend or a week in silence, prayer and solitude. All retreats and daily visitors are welcome to join the monks in prayer each day beginning at 3:15 AM and ending at 7:30 PM. Additional info at www.monks.org.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Site HODGENVILLE 2995 LINCOLN FARM RD ype of Built at the location of Lincoln’s birth the solid marble, neoclassical monument houses the symbolic cabin of Lincoln’s birth. Be sure to see the audiovisual presentation in the Visitor Center and the Sinking Spring where the Lincoln’s drew their water. Site now includes Abraham Lincoln Boyhood Home at Knob Creek (see separate listing). Memorial Day to Labor Day there will be a ranger program daily. Hours Memorial Day to Labor Day 8am-6:45pm. Picnic area.

Butler Outlet Mall CARROLLTON 2529 HIGHWAY 227 Type of Interest: Shopping The Mall includes the VF Factory Outlet 1/2 off the lowest ticketed price www.vffo.com; The Dress Barn www.dressbarn.com; Bon Worth www.bonworth.com; Nail Pro; Van Heusen; and Nine West

Boone County Cliffs State Nature Preserve BURLINGTON Middle Creek Rd. 20 miles along portions of KY-2852, KY 536 and KY-338. You’ll see panoramic views of the Ohio River, steep wooded ridges and gentle rolling hills with picturesque creeks and valleys. 20 to 40 ft. cliffs formed from the gravels that washed out of melting glaciers north of the area around 700,000 years ago. Open to the public for hiking, birding and nature study.

Big Bone Ghost Hunt UNION - 3/20/2010 10:00 P.M.- 3/21/2010 4:00 A.M. BIG BONE LICK STATE PARK 3380 Beaver Road Join the park staff for a night of investigating at Big Bone Lick State Park. Learn the various ins and outs of ghost hunting by seeing and getting familiar with some commonly used tools during an investigation. (859) 384-3522

American Saddlebred Horse Farm Tours SHELBYVILLE 316 Main St Shelby County has been called “The Saddlebred Capital of the World,” because it is home of many of the country’s most outstanding American Saddlebred breeding and training facilities. Contact our local hotel provider or the Shelby County Tourism Commission to arrange a horse farm tour. 502-633-6388. Reservations are required.