Zip the Bluegrass – As of July 1, 2012 visitors can embark on an adrenaline-fueled tour of five distinctive zipline locations across the state.  Current locations are Mammoth Cave Adventures, Black Mountain Thunder Zipline, Red River Gorge Zipline Tours, The Big Zipper and MEGA Zips. It's free to join and you can register at any of the five locations.  Receive discounts, a passport and a T-shirt upon completion.
http://www.zipthebluegrass.com/

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour will begin on Oct. 18, 2012. The following seven Kentucky artisan distilleries will participate in the tour:  Barrel House Distillery, Lexington; Corsair Artisan Distillery, Bowling Green; Limestone Branch Distillery, Lebanon; MB Roland Distillery, Pembroke; Old Pogue Distillery, Maysville; Silver Trail Distillery, Hardin; and Willett Distillery, Bardstown.  A complement to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, these craft distilleries are located across the state and each will set their own tour hours.  
Contact:  Adam Johnson, 502-875-9351, adam@kybourbon.com http://www.kybourbontrail.com/index.php/kentucky_bourbon_trail_craft_tour

The Civil War Sesquicentennial began in 2011 and runs through 2015. Though Kentucky was a slave state, it declined to secede from the Union making it “neutral” and literally a state between the war.   Kentucky's northern border for more than 650 miles, the Ohio River, marked part of the Mason Dixon Line and final stops on the Underground Railroad.  Both the CS and US regarded Kentucky as a must-have, and both exciting and bloody conflicts happened here.  Frankfort was the only “Northern” state capital to be taken by the Confederates.  Both presidents during this tumultuous time were born in Kentucky, only 100 miles apart.    For these and a variety of other historical elements, Kentucky, part of the war's Western Front, is rich with sites that mark battles large and small; raiders' paths; wealthy Confederate sympathizers who were omitted from history books after the South surrendered and stunning reenactments.
www.kentuckycivilwartrails.org

Eastern Region

Black Mountain Thunder Zip Line – Enjoy the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains on a two-hour canopy tour.  Opened in August, 2011, this adventure includes 11 lines, 1.5 miles on line soaring up to 440 feet above ground level at speeds up to 60 miles per hour.  Not for the faint of heart, come get your adventure on!
606-837-3205 - http://www.harlancountytrails.com/blackmountainthunder.php 

Red River Gorge Zip Line Tours - With five zip lines anywhere from 330 ft. to 1900 ft., you're sure to get the thrill you are seeking.  The tour lasts between two-three hours. The last two lines are Dual Racing Zips that allow you to race at speeds up to 50 MPH soaring 250 ft. over the Gorge. Come out and experience this truly unique adventure.
606-668-6222 - http://redrivergorgezipline.com/tours.html

Red River Appalachian Zip Lines – Opened in Mid-May of 2011, Appalachian Zip Lines is located in the Red River Gorge area of eastern Kentucky.  This two- to three-hour adventure will allow you to experience seven exhilarating zip lines.  Contact:  Harley Branham, 937-304-1492, http://www.redriverziplines.com/Contact.html

Portal 31 in Lynch - Coal fueled the nation for many years and in Eastern Kentucky, coal was king.   Visitors to the area can now experience riding a rail car into the mines and discover what a day in the life of a fictional immigrant coal miner was like.  Many miners who lived and worked in mining towns came from the British Isles and Italy and their families added to mountain culture.  Portal 31 saw 120 million tons of coal pass through its entrance from 1917 to 1963.  Now the community has launched an attraction that rounds out an Eastern Kentucky visit.   606-848-1530   www.portal31.org          
Carter Caves State Resort Park - Famous and incredible X Cave and Cascade Cave, just north of I-64, are open for guided tours while other caves at the park remain off limits to humans. White Nose Syndrome threatens endangered species that hibernate there.   The Kentucky Department of Parks is protecting important bat hibernaculas for the endangered Indiana Bat that is federally protected.        800-325-0059     www.parks.ky.gov

North Central Region

WoodSongs Finds New Home at the Lyric Theatre, Lexington – The worldwide broadcast of the WoodSongs OldTime Radio Hour moved from its home at The Kentucky Theatre to the Lyric Theatre on Jan. 7, 2013.  The Lyric is uniquely designed and technically prepared for the coming high-definition TV upgrade for the show.  Once WoodSongs converts to hi-def TV, the show will have a bigger audience than A Prairie Home Companion and the Grand Ole Opry combined. The Kentucky Theatre is preparing for a major remodel and the move was made at an opportune time for both venues.
Contact:  Toni Melton, 859-255-5700 - www.woodsongs.com 

Four Roses Distillery Visitor's Center – A new Visitor Center and tasting experience opened Sept. 10, 2012, at Four Roses Distillery in Lawrenceburg.  Part of a $2.4 million renovation and expansion, the opening was timed to kick off the Kentucky Bourbon Festival week.       502-839-3436 -www.fourrosesbourbon.com/

Mega Cavern Zip Line and Adventure Tour – The world's only totally underground zip lines are now open in Louisville. Your two-hour journey will begin with a tour of never-before seen sections of this man-made cavern which encompasses over 17 miles of underground passageways beneath the City of Louisville.  Your adventure includes five underground zip lines, including a dual racing zip and three challenge bridges.  Because it is totally underground, the weather is never a problem and the Cavern is open year round.  502-855-6342 - http://www.louisvillemegacavern.com/zip-lines.html 

Kentucky Derby Winner Go for Gin Retires to the Kentucky Horse Park – Lexington – Go for Gin, the 1994 winner of the Kentucky Derby, has made his new home the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions alongside fellow Derby winner Funny Cide, two-time Breeders' Cup winner Da Hoss, and racing superstar Cigar.  Bred in Kentucky, Go for Gin was in the money in 14 out of 19 starts with earnings of $1,380,866.  He stood in stud at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky and Bonita Farm in Maryland.  Now the general public will be able to view another champion race horse.        859-259-4209 – www.kyhorsepark.com  

Town and Bear Habitat of Glacier Run, Louisville Zoo – Arki, the polar bear and Inga, Otis and Rita, the grizzly bears took possession of their new home at the Louisville Zoo in April 2011.  The Town and Bear Habitat of Glacier Run is the latest addition to the Zoo's ever expanding exhibits.  Designed as an imaginary town on the edge of the arctic wilderness, Glacier Run is modeled after Churchill, Canada, the polar bear capital of the world, where humans and wildlife have learned to co-exist. The exhibit offers spectacular views, captivating stories of the arctic and unique opportunities for close-up encounters with the magnificent and iconic polar bear, as well as grizzly bears.  Guests can interact with zoo keepers, learn about current challenges to arctic environments and animals, and discover how incremental changes in our everyday activities and behaviors can make a difference for our planet and these magnificent species.
Contact:  Kyle Shepherd, 502-238-5331 - www.louisvillezoo.org

Jim Beam American Stillhouse in Clermont - The American Stillhouse is officially open and completes a multi-million dollar renovation of the visitor's experience at Jim Beam.  For the first time you will be able to go behind-the-scenes at this distillery to see how the bourbon is crafted.
Contact:  Kimberley Bennett, kimberley.bennett@beamglobal.com  
http://www.jimbeam.com/visit-the-bourbon-distillery   

The World War II Barracks Restoration Project slated to be complete in June 14, 2013.  The last remaining barracks on Fort Knox from the WWII era was moved to the grounds of the Patton Museum in 2011.  It is being restored to its original condition and will be open to visitors.  The barracks will feature augmented reality.  POC for this project is COL (R) Mike Weaver, mike.weaver@insightbb.com.  

The General George Patton Museum of Leadership is undergoing massive changes.  There will be 33,000 square feet of interactive exhibits outlining six periods in Army history.  Patton Gallery artifacts will be displayed among sights and sounds that simulate battle field settings.  An immersive experience will allow visitors to imagine themselves in the role of a leader. Completion is scheduled for June 14, 2013, the 238th birthday of the Army.
POC for this project is Chris Kolakowski, chris.kolakowski@us.army.mil.  

New Visitor Center at Wild Turkey Distillery – Opened April 2013, the new visitor's center at Wild Turkey in Lawrenceburg will be an interactive experience and provide the visitor with the illustrious history of the distillery.    www.wildturkey.com, 502-839-4544

The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience™ - “Whiskey Row” on West Main Street in Louisville will be the home to a multi-million dollar artisanal distillery created by Heaven Hill and scheduled to open in the fall of 2013.  The experience will offer guided tours, tasting rooms, a dioramic video wall and a fully-functioning artisanal pot still.  Heaven Hill is headquartered in Bardstown, Ky. and is one of the oldest and largest distillers of bourbon in the United States.

Belle of Louisville – 100th Birthday Bash – The oldest operating Mississippi River style steamboat in the country will be celebrating its 100th birthday Oct. 15-19, 2014.  With a wide range of activities on the  Riverfront and boats from around the country joining in the festivities, this will be an event to remember.   Contact:  Linda Harris, Linda.Harris@louisvilleky.gov - www.belleoflouisville.org

PGA Championship, Louisville – 2014 – The 96th PGA Championship will be held at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville Aug. 4-10, 2014.  This private club designed by professional golfer, Jack Nicklaus, hosted the Ryder Cup in 2008. Contact:  Ben Rubin, Director, BRubin@pgahq.com, - www.pga.com

Speed Art Museum Expansion & Renovation – The Speed Art Museum in Louisville has unveiled the design for a major expansion and renovation of its facilities, encompassing 200,000 square feet of new and renovated interior and exterior space.  The design includes the constriction of two new buildings both of which will link directly to the Museum's existing structure. With the new transparent design, the Speed will welcome visitors to a space that integrates art and nature.  The total master plan consists of three phases.  The first phase at an estimated cost of $57 million is scheduled to be completed in 2015. The museum will close during the construction.   Contact:  Kirsten Popp, 502-634-2700, www.speedmuseum.org

South Central Region

“Instruments of American Excellence” opened Sept., 2012 at the Kentucky Museum in Bowling Green (www.wku.edu/museum) featuring many ordinary objects people have used to do extraordinary things.  Artifacts include a microphone from Sun Studios where Elvis made his first recordings, a paint brush from Thomas Kincaid, Neil deGrasse Tyson's first telescope, a fiddle from Charlie Daniels, a golf club from Jack Nicklaus, and Bob Ballard's underwater camera he used upon discovering the wreck of the Titanic. About sixty extraordinary people and their instruments will be represented in the initial exhibit, but a collection that will continue to grow and change will be available for loan to other institutions. Contact:  Timothy Mullin, Museum Director; timothy.mullin@wku.edu

L&N 109 Jim Crow Car – The Historic Railpark & Train Museum in Bowling Green will add the L&N 109 Jim Crow 3-section Segregation Car to its collection in 2013.  There are less than 30 intact Jim Crow cars still in existence, and only a handful of them were built in the same era (1882).  This car was last in service in 1955 and the museum plans to use the Jim Crow car to tell three stories: that of 19th-century wooden car construction, of segregation on the L&N Railroad and of the pure elegance of a 19th-century car, which featured gas lamps, walkover seating and hand-painted, curved veneer ceilings.
Contact:  Sharon Tabor, stabor@historicrailpark.com

Western Region

White Buck Vineyards & Winery, Morganfield – Opened in the spring of 2012, White Buck Winery began in 2009 when Carla and Allen White began planting grapes.  They currently have six acres and began making wine in the fall of 2011.  Named after Allen's father, “Buck” White, visitors will find White Buck merlot and Blushing Buck Rose along with other wines.  
270- 389-1285 - www.whitebuckwine.com 

2017 Solar Eclipse, Hopkinsville – The place to be during the total eclipse of the sun on Aug. 21, 2017 is just outside Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  Estimated to last two minutes and 40 seconds at this location, this is longer than any other place on the planet.  The Hopkinsville/Christian County Convention and Visitors Bureau is already making plans for this event.  
Contact:  Hopkinsville/Christian Co. CVB – 270-885-9096