The Courier-Journal (Louisville)

Treehouse, bourbon barrels and more

Here are six unique places to stay in Kentucky

When did you last sleep in a treehouse? What about a bourbon barrel? ● If your answer is “never,” maybe this is the summer you step outside the box. Because the truth is, when you live in Kentucky, you don’t have to go far to have a truly unique vacation experience. ● Whether you are getting away for a weekend or a week, we’ve rounded up six special places to stay that offer guests a break from traditiona­l motels and hotels.

Bourbon Barrel Retreats

4814 Bardstown Road, Lawrencebu­rg, Kentucky, bourbonbar­relretreat­s.com

Talk about immersing yourself in the Kentucky bourbon experience. Bourbon Barrel Retreats is located on a sprawling 50-acre property, in the heart of bourbon country. The sleeping barrels accommodat­e two guests a piece and come with a king bed, private bathroom, kitchenett­e, heat/air and some include a hot tub. The only thing missing is the scent of the bourbon, which you can pretty easily remedy by opening your favorite bottle.

Guests can also access the common space with firepits, grills, hammocks, and more.

Cerulean Farm Bed & Breakfast

575 Moody Pike, Shelbyvill­e, Kentucky, ceruleanfa­rmbedandbr­eakfast.com

Nestled in the heart of horse country, guests are invited to bring their horses along for the trip when booking a stay at Cerulean Farm.

A bed and breakfast in a renovated farmhouse from 1860, this luxurious retreat has created a cozy equestrian escape within a farmhouse featuring four horse-themed bedrooms and boarding options for your horse on site, with a profession­al-grade barn and arena. Nearby, guests can explore wild rivers

and waterfalls or travel through the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Historic Wigwam Village No. 2

601 N Dixie Highway, Cave City, Kentucky, historicwi­gwamvillag­e.com

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Historic Wigwam Village No. 2 offers a truly unique lodging experience.

Dating back to 1937, during the heyday of American road trips, Wigwam Village No. 2 includes overnight sleeping accommodat­ions, a gas station, and a lunch counter. Located in Cave City, it is one of the last remaining of seven original Wigwam Villages built throughout the United States.

Red River Gorgeous Treehouses

Stanton and Campton, Kentucky, rrgcabin.com

This vacation experience quite literally rises above the rest. For a true nature-filled family vacation, Red River Gorge offers hiking, climbing, biking, and overnight accommodat­ions in a treehouse. With names like “Cloud Dome,” “Cliff Dweller” and “The Observator­y,” these gorgeous treehouses are the perfect place to come back to after a day of hiking in nature.

Besides amazing views, each treehouse has a bedroom, living area, kitchen, bathroom, Weber charcoal grill, wall heater in the bedroom, solar-powered kitchen lights and solar charging station for small electronic­s, battery-powered lanterns, and a private fire pit with camp chairs.

Pickle Factory Boutique Hotel

13 Tobacco Alley, Covington, Kentucky, picklefact­oryhotel.com

Located in the heart of downtown Covington, The Pickle Factory, is an eight-room hotel that has woven the buildings’s rich history into every detail of the design.

At different points in time, it was a soft drink factory, a pickle factory, and one of the first African-American Odd Fellows lodges. Today, The Pickle Factory is less than an 8-minute drive from downtown Cincinnati, a 5-minute drive from the Newport Aquarium, and a 3minute walk from the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.

Progress Park Airstream Resort and Event Venue

4501 Progress Blvd., Louisville, Kentucky, progresspa­rkky.com

Just 10 miles from downtown Louisville, Progress Park Airstream Resort and Event Venue is a 12-acre oasis with eight Airstreams RVs, a lake for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing plus five private beaches. At the center of this hidden gem, visitors have access to pickleball, volleyball, yard games, and a giant fire pit.

For larger groups Progress Park has three small homes for rent and did we mention, the owners supply everything you need? Just bring your toothbrush, a change of clothes, and food and you are good to go.