A reminder is in order. Just because the traditional vacation/travel season is over doesn’t mean you can’t get up, get out and get going.

When leaves have taken their last plunge, it can be the best time to see Kentucky in more ways than one. No longer this year will large canopies of trees hide some of the beautiful structures sitting just off our byways. If you haven’t traveled in Kentucky during late fall or winter, you will surprise yourself at how many times you say, “I didn’t know that was there.”

Our backroads are less congested at this time of year, and although some of the touristy venues might be closed for the season, there is still plenty to keep your attention.

When the leaves drop, so do hotel prices. Hotel operators want heads in their beds and usually are willing to negotiate good rates. If they are a chain, don’t go through the national reservation number. Direct dial the property by getting their number on the Internet or by calling your local tourism office. Tell them you’re on a budget and are price shopping. Again, they want to fill their rooms.

Kentucky’s state parks aggressively offer seasonal rates, and these picturesque venues can keep visitors as busy as they want to be – even in the winter.

I hesitate to mention it for fear of jinxing it, but I will anyway. For the time being, gas prices are at a level we can tolerate. Keep your fingers crossed.

There are so many places in Kentucky to see. While crisscrossing the state, visiting almost all of its 120 counties, the unexpected beauty, especially during the winter, can jump out and slap me right in the face. And many of these places are probably just down the road from where you live. Some are well-known attractions; others, not so much. Some have fees, and some are free. Regardless, all are worth a visit.

One thing I’ve learned from visiting some of these places is that different people can visit the same site and come away with different reactions. For sure, none of us like or enjoy the same thing.

Keeping with the state’s “Unbridled Spirit” theme, travelers might want to consider taking in some of the lesser known sites.

Of course, there is plenty to see in Louisville and Lexington, but there’s plenty elsewhere, too. However, in Lexington, there’s Henry Clay’s home near downtown. Sitting on about 20 acres, the home is known as Ashland because of an abundance of ash trees on the property. Clay lived there for 40 years.

Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill near Harrodsburg is the epitome of preservation. The first Shaker arrived there in 1805 and settled 4,000 acres just above the Kentucky River. Today, 33 of the original buildings have been restored. The property has dining and 80 guest rooms.

Constitution Square in the heart of nearby Danville is where Kentucky officially started. A state constitution was drafted there in April 1792, and two months later on June 1, 1792, Kentucky became a state. It can be a bit humbling to walk the same grounds as our forefathers did in laying this historic foundation.

The Harland Sanders Cafe in Corbin is the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The restaurant has been restored even to the point of exhibits depicting the original kitchen and another showing what one of the motel rooms was like.

Of all the great food franchises across the country, this is the only one still operating as a restaurant. The original McDonald’s and Pizza Hut are two that are long gone.

Lake Cumberland is known as the Houseboat Capital of the World, and although much of the lake’s activity drastically slows down in the winter months, there are still things to see and do. Boat builders in Monticello, Russell Springs, Somerset, Columbia and Albany still ply their craft year-round. These boats are floated or transported to lakes throughout Kentucky and across the United States.

Some of these boat builders might be open for tours by appointment. One in particular is Sunstar Houseboats in Monticello. Call 606-348-6648 for more information.

Don’t miss the City Pool Hall for an iconic hamburger downtown.

Glasgow sits a few miles from Barren River Lake, but the city is much more than that. A thriving downtown includes the South Central Kentucky Cultural Center that the locals refer to as the Museum of the Barrens. Historic exhibits are visually strong, but the center prides itself in its genealogy resources.

Not far away is the Plaza Theatre, a 1930s restored cinema.

While Bowling Green has several high-profile attractions, there are a couple that fly under the tourism radar.

Aviation Heritage Park has several restored military aircraft that are connected to locals who actually flew them in combat. A F-4D Phantom 11, a Panther F9F-5, an F-111 and a T-33 Shooting Star are among them.

The Historic RailPark and Train Museum, at this former 1925 L & N Depot, has been restored along with five rail cars. This is a great family outing.

In far western Kentucky, Paducah often receives the avalanche of publicity, but the university town of Murray and all of its charm is a great place to hub-and-spoke to nearby areas like Mayfield, Princeton, Hazel and Kentucky Lake.

These, of course, are only a handful of suggestions that you may not have thought of. It’s a good idea to call in advance no matter where you are going during the so-called winter months to make sure of their operating hours.

There’s no excuse. Get up, get out and get going!

— Gary West’s column runs monthly in the Daily News. He can be reached by emailing west1488@twc.com.