After leaving North Carolina, we spent a few days back in Tennessee before continuing north into Kentucky. This stop combined three things I enjoy discovering while we travel—local history, iconic attractions, and unexpected roadside treasures.

We stayed at Elkhorn Campground in Frankfort, which provided an excellent home base for exploring the area. It placed us within an easy drive of both the Thoroughbred Center and the Louisville Slugger Museum, along with a historic covered bridge that quickly found its way onto my growing list of favorite discoveries.

The Thoroughbred Center

Our visit to the Thoroughbred Center began early in the morning while the horses were out on the track for their daily training. There is something almost peaceful about watching these incredible animals exercise in the early morning light. Their speed, power, and grace are impressive, but it's the bond between the horses and their riders that really caught my attention.

During our visit we learned that jockeys can weigh no more than 105 pounds, while exercise riders are generally limited to around 130 pounds. Needless to say, neither career would have been in my future! Still, it gave me an even greater appreciation for the dedication and discipline required by everyone involved in the racing industry.

One of the highlights was being able to get up close to several of the thoroughbreds after their training sessions. Some were curious and eager for attention, while others seemed content to quietly observe us from their stalls. Either way, spending a few moments with these magnificent animals was something I'll always remember.

The Thoroughbred Center also offers educational programs for anyone interested in learning more about Kentucky's horse industry. If horses have ever fascinated you, this is definitely a place worth adding to your bucket list.

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The Louisville Slugger Museum

Baseball has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up watching the game and later spent years cheering on my stepson from the stands as he played. Visiting the Louisville Slugger Museum felt like stepping into a place that celebrated so many memories.

The factory tour was fascinating. Watching a baseball bat take shape from a simple block of wood in only about 30 seconds was incredible. I learned that professional bats are crafted from either ash or maple, with much of the wood harvested from Pennsylvania. Production runs seven days a week, although professional bats are generally manufactured Monday through Friday.

Walking through the museum was just as enjoyable. Seeing bats and memorabilia connected to legends like Babe Ruth and Pete Rose reminded me how much history is woven into America's pastime.

When we visited in 2016, the museum had teamed up with Ripley’s Believe It or Not! for a limited-run temporary exhibit called “Oddball.” The display featured a quirky collection of bizarre baseball treasures, including a replica of Captain Jack Sparrow made completely of seashells.

After leaving the museum, we spent some time exploring downtown Louisville as we wandered along the Louisville Slugger Walk of Fame.

Switzer Covered Bridge

If you've followed our travels very long, you've probably realized I have a soft spot for covered bridges. Whenever I discover one nearby, it almost always finds its way onto our itinerary.

Just a short drive from the campground, we found the Switzer Covered Bridge. Built around 1855 by George Hockensmith, the bridge stretches 126 feet long and just 11 feet wide. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and has quite a story of its own.

In 1953 the bridge was saved from demolition, and decades later, in March 1997, floodwaters knocked it completely from its foundation. Thankfully, rather than replacing it with a modern bridge, the community chose to carefully restore and rebuild it, preserving an important piece of Kentucky history.

The only disappointing part of our visit was seeing graffiti covering portions of the bridge. It's always discouraging to see historic landmarks treated that way, especially when so much effort has gone into preserving them for future generations.

Even so, I never leave a covered bridge without wanting to learn more. I enjoy researching their history—who built them, why they were constructed, and how they've survived for well over a century. As we continue sharing stories from our travels, you'll notice covered bridges appearing quite often. Each one has its own unique story, and I look forward to sharing many more of them with you.

Kentucky gave us a little bit of everything during this stop—beautiful thoroughbreds, baseball history, and a reminder that preserving pieces of our past allows future generations to appreciate them as much as we do today.

Every destination leaves us with a memory. Some make us laugh, some teach us lessons, and a few completely steal our hearts. We hope our experiences help you plan your own adventures and inspire you to keep exploring.

This destination is just one stop from our original full-time RV adventure. Every place we visited left us with unforgettable memories, beautiful scenery, and lessons learned along the way.

Ready for another adventure?