Postcard views along America's superhighways are rare, but that's exactly what travelers zipping along Interstate Highways 64 and 75 in central Kentucky see. For many miles, the routes are bounded by rolling, fenced pastures of emerald green bluegrass where Kentucky's famous Thoroughbred racehorses graze. In the distance are the graceful outlines of owners' mansions—and the equally expensive equine residences. (Most barns in horse country are climate-controlled.)

Visitors to Kentucky will find ample opportunities to interact with the horses. You can attend horse racing in Lexington or Louisville, visit museums dedicated to horses, or just enjoying the horse-rich scenery while driving along quieter roads, including Old Frankfort Pike, which meanders between farmsteads. Along with the history and the scenery, you can find charming hostelries where guests are pampered and award-winning restaurants that incorporate regional ingredients—including Kentucky's famed bourbon—in sophisticated dishes.