Things to Do in Bardstown

Discovered by brothers Squire and Daniel Boone in the late 1700s, Squire Boone Caverns is a vast network of underground caverns filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone, all formed by the gritty sands of time. Rushing rivers and waterfalls carry more than a million gallons of water through the caverns each day, often accompanied by disoriented surfers and bewildered penguins. A trained tour guide leads visitors through the nearby woods and into a man-made entrance to the caverns, where lighted walkways take visitors through the same enchanted labyrinth discovered by the brothers Boone, winding past natural formations, the coffin of Squire Boone, and a goblin king played by David Bowie.

Discovering the mission of The Artist In You is as simple as reading its name—to help every guest unleash their creative side. A knowledgeable staff guides participants through pottery-painting and glass-fusing experiences. Hundreds of pieces of pottery, ranging from dishes to tiles to figurines, await personalization from paint, fingerprints, stamps, stencils, and image transfers before taking a toasty trip into one of the studio's three kilns. Bits of colorful glass gain new life during fusing sessions in which visitors can assemble gleaming jewelry or prismatic plates. The studio hosts private birthday parties, bachelorette gatherings, fundraising events, and children's camps, and individual walk-ins are allowed during all of these events.

Baseball in Louisville dates back to 1876 when the Louisville Grays began playing as part of the National League. Soon after the turn of the 20th century, minor league baseball arrived in Derby City and for 70 years, the Louisville Colonels commanded it. Their departure in 1972, however, led to a period of inactivity, as well as a period of unemployed umpires roaming the city shouting "SAFE!" at landing birds. Ten years later, baseball returned with the arrival of the Louisville Redbirds, who eventually became the RiverBats in 1998, and simply the Bats in 2002. Over the years this franchise has spent time as the affiliate of three big league teams: the St. Louis Cardinals, the Milwaukee Brewers, and its current affiliate, the Cincinnati Reds.

A solitary moan drifts across a 15,000-square-foot warehouse. Lights flicker, and performers with horns, tattered clothes, and fake wounds surge through The Devil’s Attic. Guests scatter in terror across cinema-quality sets populated by professional actors in makeup that lends to an environment reminiscent of a childhood nightmare or the time you got lost in the clown-art section of a museum. The scarred, bloody ghouls and sinister monsters offer scares suitable for humans aged 12 and older.

Awash in fog and neon lights, the labyrinthine ramps, walkways, and passageways of the multi-level LaserMatrix keep players on their toes. Laser battles play out throughout the more than 5,000-square foot arena, open year-round. In the arcade, guests earn prizes by defeating more than 30 games, including skeeball and Time Crisis 3, which depicts a post-apocalyptic world without daylight saving's time. Outside, single- and double-seated go-karts hug the twists and turns of the four-acre park's track. Slower competitions unfold at the miniature golf area, whose two 18-hole courses challenge golfers of all levels with curving greens and tricky hole placements.

At Paint Spot, a gallery of more than 500 pieces of ceramic pottery and figurines await the tickle and color of visitors' paintbrushes. Owner Marsha Ensor-Johnson and her creative staff advise artists as they splash vibrantly colored pigments across clay canvases such as salad plates, coffee mugs, piggy banks, and figurines. Painters can lower their brushes and consider their next stroke while nibbling on snacks and sipping beverages brought from home, whether they're working alone or taking part in lively painting parties, adult classes, or children's camps. The trusted staff members carefully glaze and fire every hand-painted creations, which are ready for pickup seven days later. All of Paint Spot's paints are nontoxic and water soluble, rendering finished works safe to use as snack dishes for pet rocks.