Summer Fun In The "Hart" Of Kentucky

There aren’t many places in North America where you’ll find kangaroos, wallabies, and rheas - Oh, my! Along with Amish-made goods, treehouses, and roadside markets, travelers along Interstate 65 will be delighted to experience the great outdoors in a fun and unique way, deep in the Hart (County) of Kentucky.

After exploring the eastern part of the state for a few days, my daughter and I drove along a few more backroads and headed west to the middle of the state. Just off I-65, a wealth of hidden treasures awaited us in Horse Cave, a small town with tons of entertainment.

Where to Explore: Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo

Did you know a baby kangaroo is about the size of a jelly bean when it’s in its mother’s pouch? You’ll learn that fun fact and many more when you explore Kentucky Down Under.

The zoo encourages visitors to mingle with, feed, and pet the 50 or so kangaroos, two albino wallabies, and two emus that live in the Outback habitat. They sell food so tourists can feed the animals, and each one we fed and petted was very gentle, friendly, and hungry! They’re used to humans interacting with them and came right up to us when they saw our cup of treats.

After petting many kangaroos and marveling at the double quill feathers sported by the emu, we moved along to the sheep herding encounter - a hidden gem according to our guide. The petting zoo features goats, sheep, and horses, and the Rainbow Lorikeets aviary is a must for bird watchers.

Colorful peacocks also strut around the property. And no trip to Kentucky would be complete without seeing some beautiful horses because it is, after all, horse country.

A group could easily spend hours at Kentucky Down Under petting animals, mining for gems, wandering on trails, watching animal encounter shows, and touring the Mammoth Onyx Cave discovered in 1799.

Those who enjoy nature walks and hiking trails will have lots of fun at this adventure zoo. For those with mobility issues or young kids, golf carts are available to rent.

Where to Have Hands-On Fun: Dutch Country Safari Park

My daughter’s favorite stop in Hart County was the Dutch Country Safari Park. We started at the petting zoo, where we had some hands-on fun with sheep, goats, deer, alpaca, and other animals. Chickens roamed the grounds, and the owner even let some of the baby goats out while we were in that area.

After getting lots of animal love at the petting zoo, we wandered over to the gift shop and browsed their selection of cute critter collectibles, souvenirs, and snacks. Also housed in that building is a nice little animal encounter section with spider monkeys, turtles, and guinea pigs. Don’t be surprised if you see bunnies hopping around the building! They add to the already fun atmosphere.

Next, we climbed aboard the tractor-pulled wagon ride. Seated atop covered hay bales, we were handed bowls of animal feed, the gates were opened, and off we went!

The beautiful countryside of Kentucky opened up to us, as the tractor slowly drove us down an old dirt road. We were surrounded by camels and emu on both sides, followed by rheas (also known as the South American ostrich).

We were happily greeted by highland cows, zebras, wildebeests, and longhorn cattle. Gorgeous trees lined our route, which meandered along the shore of a pond filled with black swans and water buffalo cooling themselves and finding shade from the summer heat.

When we were out of animal feed, we were thrilled to learn there was plenty more for us to do at the Safari Park. We spent a good hour in the play area zooming down the zipline, playing hide and seek in the tunnel, sliding down the tractor slide, and going round and round on the merry-go-round.

There’s a nice covered area and several picnic tables for the adults to sit and watch their young ones having fun and running off extra energy. Make sure you get your photo taken with the buffalo statue!

Where to Eat: Farmwald’s Dutch Bakery & Deli

Just outside the entrance of the Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo is one of the best delis I’ve ever eaten at. Our lunch of grilled cheese on sourdough, a roast beef sandwich with Swiss, mushroom, and onion, and sides of fries and mac ‘n cheese was so delicious we went back the next morning for breakfast.

We were told the homemade donuts were out of this world, and I can confirm they were absolutely amazing. We ate a couple of chocolate-covered cream-filled donuts and took some for the road along with several bottles of cold, fresh local milk.

While I was too full for dessert, their variety of cheesecakes and pies looked delicious - and they were selling fast. Prepare for a short queue because everything is made to order, but it’s well worth the small wait.

As they’re preparing your meal, take some time to stroll through the store. It’s filled with delicious goodies, from jams, jellies, and pickled veggies to local honey, fried pies, and Amish-made souvenirs.

Where to Shop: Dennison’s Roadside Market

Dennison’s isn’t your typical roadside market. With 30 years of agricultural experience, this family knows how to keep people fed and happy, and it shows.

Dennison’s started with just tobacco and tomatoes, but it has since expanded to selling a variety of produce, flowers, and local products over the years.

After being asked by the Department of Agriculture to put a table in the front yard to sell tomatoes, they generated enough demand to turn the old tobacco barn into a much larger produce store.

Shoppers will find Amish jams and jellies, homegrown produce, seasonings and oils, local cheese, and fresh Legacy Milk from just down the road. The greenhouses are filled with dozens of varieties of tomato plants, hanging baskets, and gorgeous flowers.

The playground was huge, and my daughter spent quite a while going from the playhouse to the slide to the swings. When she’d run off quite a bit of energy, we explored the shop and grabbed some souvenirs, ice cream, and snacks to take back to our accommodations.

Where to Stay: Horse Cave KOA

It’s not every night you get to choose between sleeping in a Teepee, covered wagon, or treehouse. The great thing about the Horse Cave KOA is that you can stay there with or without an RV.

We opted for the treehouse, a welcoming retreat from our fun and busy schedule. Nestled in the tree tops, our home away from home featured a small living room area with a couch, a kitchen with a table, a low loft with 2 queen-sized floor beds, a bedroom with a queen bed, and a full bathroom.

A walk outside led us to a nice deck where we could sit and relax from our 20-foot-high perch. Though we didn’t use it on our trip, at the foot of the treehouse was a firepit and chairs, which would have been perfect for making smores.

Ready to explore Horse Cave and Hart County, Kentucky? Visit KYGetaway.com for information on attractions, museums, and historical sites, check out local restaurants, and learn more about special events.