My Old Kentucky Home State Park

Just outside of Bardstown in Nelson County, Kentucky, sits a grand old mansion on the Rowan Estate known as Federal Hill. This stately home was the symbol of Stephen Foster's famous ballad, "My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night", and is where this picturesque state park gets its name.

Visitors to My Old Kentucky Home State Park can tour the historic mansion and its grounds, experiencing 200 years of history on this fascinating site. Admission to the mansion is $14 for adults and $9 for children, and while it's undoubtedly the centerpiece of this charming park, it's far from the only thing to see and do in the area.

The park is also home to the Kenny Rapier 18-hole golf course, where visitors can test their skills on Kentucky's rolling bluegrass. There's also an outdoor theater where you can take in a performance of Kentucky's longest-running outdoor drama, "The Stephen Foster Story", and tennis courts if you feel like raising a sweat.

Birdwatchers also frequent the park in the hope of seeing a wide variety of feathered creatures. All year round, you might catch a glimpse of the Red-tailed hawk, goldfinches, Northern Cardinals, a variety of woodpeckers and many other varieties.

If you want to call this part of the world home for a little while, My Old Kentucky Home State Park also includes a 39-site campground. Utility hookups, showers, restrooms, and a dump station are all provided, and pets are also welcome.

If traveling with your pet, make sure you always fulfill your duties as a responsible dog owner. Remember to keep your dog under control at all times, only take your pet in designated areas, and clean up after them whenever necessary.

If you do the right thing, you and your dog can enjoy a paw-some camping trip and help keep state parks like this one pet-friendly.