Just when it felt like life might be returning to normal, the high fuel prices for both cars and passenger planes, along with the high demand for hotel rooms, Post-Covid-19 travel has made a week-long road trip or a transcontinental trip an expensive proposition worth reconsidering.
Prices for flights from June to August are 47% higher than they were in 2021 and 34% higher than the same period in 2019 according to Hopper, an online travel website that analyzes prices.
For the price at the fuel pump, at about $5 a gallon in Kentucky, let’s just say a lot of trips to Disney World and outlying national parks are currently canceled.
Travel company executives have warned of a busy summer travel season for several months. In April, USA Today reported that Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian predicted a “very strong summer” for travel driven by pent-up demand. While summer travel always has the potential to turn into a headache, the 2022 summer influx of post-COVID travelers, airline staff shortages and rising fuel prices have combined to escalate the chaos to a new level of chaos.
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This desire to travel has also led to higher costs when booking an overnight stay in hotels. Average daily hotel room rates in the US are up 22% compared to 2019 according to hotel data company STR.
But before you ditch your summer travel plans for 2022, remember that we’ve all become experts in adjusting our forecasts during a pandemic, and we can certainly muster these superpowers again. About 60% of Americans are still planning at least one trip this summer, and 35% expect to travel more this summer than last despite the higher prices, according to the American Travel Association.
The key to making summer travel in 2022 affordable is how to change those plans to reduce costs. The most reasonable solution is to stay close to home. Here are a few Kentucky trip and vacation ideas that won’t break the bank but will satisfy a bit of your summer trip.
Where to kayak, go white water kayaking in Kentucky
While Kentuckians will tell you that we live in one of the most beautiful of the lower 48 states, it’s not just Earth that is amazing.
Nearly 2,000 miles of navigable waterways—more than any other state—and dozens of lakes mean there’s enough water for any kind of adventure this summer. From flat-water paddling, kayaking, or kayaking across The calm waters of an ancient Kentucky River Palisades ecosystem to the adrenaline-pumping second- and third-grade white waters of the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, there are enough options to keep water lovers busy all summer into fall.
Or, if you fancy yourself more of a thrill-seeker, The Big Sandy River in eastern Kentucky includes many speedy V+ whitewater drops. It is considered one of the most dangerous stretches of white water in the United States where commercial guides operate.
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Plan a summer fishing trip in Kentucky
For those who pack a rod and reel, Kentucky is home to more than 62,000 miles of fish streams, as well as 40 public lakes of 100 acres or more. A variety of fish live in the waterways including blue catfish, crappie, walleye, and many species of trout, mouthwatering trout, largemouth, spotted and striped bass. Kentucky Boating and Fishing Site is a comprehensive fishing site Iinformations The website that will help you narrow down the best place to fish from over 900 destinations.
The good news is that most of them are within driving distance of a gas tanker from Louisville. For more information on finding the best Kentucky fishing holes, river boating opportunities, beaches and lakes, visit kentuckytourism.com.
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Summer Vacation Ideas in Lexington, Kentucky
Only an hour and a half from Louisville, Lexington, offers plenty of activities for a regional road trip.
Known as the “Horse Capital of the World”, travelers can visit the historic Keeneland Racecourse, which offers rides during the summer season. New in 2022, people can now enjoy exclusive access to more than 400 Thoroughbred Championship horse farms, including the historic Claiborne Ranch that was visited twice by Queen Elizabeth II, via Visit Horse Country.
It’s also home to the “Bluegrass District” on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and home to 14 of the state’s largest distilleries, if you’re looking to do some bourbon tourism this summer. Lexington is also home to over 120 locally owned restaurants that boast everything from Asian, Western African and Caribbean cuisine to locally sourced fare at one of Oita Michelle’s seven James Beard restaurants.
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And don’t miss outdoor adventure opportunities in the Lexington area, where you’ll find the Kentucky River Palisades, great for hiking and water sports, or soar 185 feet above the Palisades via Zipline Canopy Tours at Boone Creek Outdoors.
Where to Stay During a Summer Trip to Lexington, Kentucky
If you’re planning on making Lexington your destination for a multi-day summer trip, the city has plenty of unique accommodations. For fans of Golden Globes-winning “The Queen’s Gambit,” book a night in the Queen’s Gambit-inspired Harmon Room at 21c Museum Hotel Lexington. Guests are transported to a scene from the entire Netflix series with chess pieces hanging from the ceiling above a queen-size bed.
For history lovers and families, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill offers private cottages with stunning countryside views. Set on 3,000 acres of native prairie and woodland, this historic destination was home to the third largest Shaker community in the United States between 1805 and 1910.
And for a bug-free, moisture-free camping experience, or in the great outdoors, Origin Hotel Lexington features 120 spacious loft-inspired suites with the option to order an in-room tent or sleeping bag for an in-room camping adventure.
Where to visit in Hart County, Kentucky
If you’re looking for a summer vacation with an itinerary planned, check out the activities in Hart County, Kentucky.
intersect By way of Interstate 65, the Horse Cave/Hart County Tourism Authority has taken the idea of planning your family’s multi-day trip. Travel from the Louisville area to the Tennessee border, or fewer miles if you prefer, using this attractions map that will direct you to fun at nearly every exit.
Whether you’re visiting Mammoth Cave National Park, the Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo, Hidden River Cave or stopping at President Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace National Historical Park, multi-day itineraries will help you plan stops, dining, and lodging.
Like the rest of Bluegrass State, Hart County has some great water adventures suitable for a family trip. The Hart County Blueway on the Green features 42.5 miles of kayaking adventure on the Green River, one of the world’s most biologically diverse rivers.
Big Buffalo Crossing Canoe & Kayak offers Green River cruises that include five of the largest springs in the state, or water travel to Mammoth Cave National Park. Day or night tours can include camping, fishing, swimming, caving, and/or sightseeing.
Not to be missed, The Blueway on the Green features river islands, sandbars to explore, blue holes to dip into for a refreshing vacation, and numerous freshwater springs. In addition to the blue holes, the stunning 300 springs, which can only be accessed by river, are a thrilling series of small waterfalls that are definitely worth the effort for kayaking there.
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These trails in Hart County are a network of more than 1,300 current national trails, which can be found in every US state.
“With COVID-19 vaccination rates increasing and our nation sighing a collective sigh of caution, we need recreational resources now more than ever to promote physical, social and mental health across our country,” Home Secretary Deb Haaland said. New release. “National Recreation Trails strengthen local economies and provide communities with safe and equitable access to the outdoors.”
Once you’re off your river adventure, don’t be surprised if you see a horse-drawn carriage slowly moving along one of the back roads in Hart County. The area is home to nearly 200 Amish families who run businesses including greenhouses, bakeries, window and lawn furniture manufacturing, and general merchandise stores. Hart County Tourism offers an online brochure detailing Amish business in the area.
Safari, Animal Adventure Vacations in Kentucky
One of the Hart County Amish businesses worth visiting is Dutch Country Safari Park, the area’s newest animal attraction. Visitors will find 3/4 miles of exotic animal drive safaris and animal encounter areas where you can feed camels and pets, and maybe even bottle-feed goats.
Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo is another option for the animal lovers in your family. Whether it’s petting a kangaroo, feeding a rainbow lorikeet, or watching sheep herding, the adventure park features animals from Australia, Kentucky and all over the world.
Who knows, you might even learn to play the didgeridoo.
Spend the night in a covered wagon, treehouse or tent in Kentucky
Embrace your Hart County trip with a one-of-a-kind experience when you sleep in a covered wagon at Conestoga Wagons in Horse Cave KOA. Each wagon has its own patio and fire pit. Inside you will find one king size bed, one set of twin beds, bedding, mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker, electricity, heating and air conditioning.
For a bird’s eye view, the campground also offers a tree house. You’ll go up the stairs and settle into the 20-foot-high two-bedroom treehouse complete with a full kitchen and bathroom, complete with bathtub, shower, and more. Rustic cabins (without bathroom) and deluxe cabins (full shower and bathroom) are also available at Horse Cave KOA.
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You’ll find more tree houses when you travel to the Red River Gorge located within the vast Daniel Boone National Forest in eastern central Kentucky. Red River Gorgeous offers several architecturally stunning treehouses as well as a handful of yurts (round tent structures) equipped with queen-size beds, full kitchens, and bathrooms for an unforgettable night’s stay. Treehouse Adventures in Brooksville, Kentucky is another destination that features treehouses and tree climbing activities for all ages.
Whether you’re traveling for a week or a day, with its abundance of waterways, natural beauty, and unique experiences, you don’t have to travel far to travel well when you choose Kentucky.
You can reach Kirby Adams at [email protected] or Twitter @kirbylouisville.