There is no destination on Earth like the state of Kentucky. It’s got its own unique foods, its own drinks, it own music, and is home to the one-and-only Kentucky Derby, all set against a backdrop of babbling rivers, sparkling lakes, green mountains, and rolling hills. Where else can you bet on your favorite horse while sipping a mint julep, a signature derby drink, and feasting on dry-rubbed, hickory smoked, pork barbecue? It’s also home to several uniquely Kentuckian dishes such as Kentucky Hot Brown (bread, turkey, bacon and pimento browned and topped with Mornay sauce), Benedictine (a cucumber cream cheese), and burgoo (a slow-simmered stew of pork, veal, chicken, beef, lamb, chicken, vegetables, and potatoes). It is also the only place in the world where a whiskey can truly earn the name “bourbon” due to the ingredients and geographic location of where it was primarily distilled. Of course, due to its varied terrain, more active visitors might choose river rafting, boating, fishing, exploring the Land between the Lakes, hiking through the Appalachian Mountains or Daniel Boone National Forest, spelunking Mammoth Cave, or climbing around Red River Gorge. So if you want a destination that’s interesting, impossible to duplicate, and loads of fun, look no further than Kentucky, USA.