You don’t have to travel far to find your next adventure in Kentucky. All across the state this spring, there are plenty of opportunities to get outside and enjoy the warmer temperatures and scenery.

Looking for some exercise? Try a state park hiking trail. Want to try a horseback ride? Check out the stables at Mammoth Cave, Woodford or Knott counties. There are also ATV rides and bicycling in Southeastern Kentucky and plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities across the Commonwealth.

“Spring is a great time of year in Kentucky to get outside and tackle a new adventure,” said Elaine Wilson, director of the state’s office of adventure tourism. “Many of these attractions are a short drive for most Kentuckians and make for great weekend trips.”

Listed below are examples of some of the adventure tourism opportunities available this spring. For more information about adventure tourism and other travel information, visit www.unbridledadventure.com. For details about Kentucky State Parks, including lodge, cottage and camping reservations, visit www.parks.ky.gov

March 20 – 21 Elk Viewing Tours  Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park 4441 KY Highway 1833 Buckhorn, Ky. 41721 Times vary, call for times. View the magnificent elk that were reintroduced back into Kentucky setting. Hundreds of elk are often seen during the tours. Wear warm and dry clothing and boots. Package of $150 per couple includes lodging and dinner the night before your scheduled Elk Watch with a sack breakfast and transportation to and from the elk site. Stay an extra night with the package for $50. Contact: Sue Thomas, sue.thomas@ky.gov or call 800-325-0058 or 606-398-7510. Nearby: Daniel Boone National Forest, camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, canoeing and kayakin

March 15 – May 15 D Bar K Horse Camp Rental 510 Ollie Rd. Mammoth Cave, Ky. 42259 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., call for reservations. Come ride the Mammoth Cave National Park on horseback. We offer a 20 percent spring break discount! Enhance your ride and visit the longest cave system in the world!  Contact: Debbie King, debbieking@dbarkhorsecamp.com Web: http://www.dbarkhorsecamp.com. Phone: 270-286-0217

March 15 – May 15 Saddle Up Elk Tours Knott County Call for reservations. Morning or evening tours available. Saddle Up Elk Tours offers 2 ½ hour guided trail rides through elk country to view elk and other wildlife by horseback. Ride through wooded areas, streams and on reclaimed strip mine land. Enjoy mountaintop panoramic views, spring wildflowers along with the redbud and dogwood trees in full bloom. Students will receive $5 off during spring break March 15 – April 30, 2010. Contact: Bernice Amburgey, beha726@hotmail.com Web: http://www.trailsrus/saddleuptours. Phone: 606-642-3656

March 18 – May 20 Tai Chi Chuan at Bernheim Education Center, Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest Clermont, Ky. 40110 Thursdays 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Dr. M.O. Serikali continues his popular 10-week class series at Bernheim’s Education Center beginning Thursday, March 18. The 10-session class meets each Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The last session of this series will be on Thursday,May 20. The class combines instruction for beginning (Yang Style 13 posture Wudan Form) and intermediate (Yang Style 24 posture Bejing Form) students. Join the series any time prior to the start of the April 8 class. Members, $85; non-members $100. Visit http://bernheim.org or phone: 502-955-8512

March 19 Bernheim at Night: Planets, Stars and Stories in the Sky Garden Pavillion, Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest Clermont, Ky. 40110 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m., no cars admitted after 9 p.m. Powerful telescopes reveal the visual splendor of the night sky over Bernheim. The Louisville Astronomical Society will captivate you and your child with springtime “star Stories” and views of the moon, Saturn and Jupiter. Members, $5 per car; non-members, $10 per car. Web: http://bernheim.org. Phone: 502-955-8512

March 19 – 21 Woods Lore and Tracking Weekend Carter Caves State Resort Park 344 Caveland Dr. Olive Hill, Ky. 41164 Times vary. Call park for times. Step back in time, when American Indians and European Americans lived closer to nature. Paw print identification, hunting/gathering, tracking walks, fur trade, scavenger hunt, a medicinal/edible/useful plants program and a native supper. Day and overnight packages are available. Call for pricing. Pre-registration is required, call the park to make your reservations. Contact: Coy Ainsley, coy.ainsley@ky.gov. Phone: 800-325-0059 or 606-286-4411. Nearby: Greenbo Lake State Resort Park, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, bird watching and camping.

March 27 – 28 Beginners Backpacking Workshop Natural Bridge State Resort Park 2135 Natural Bridge Road Slade, Ky. 40376 Starts 9 a.m. Saturday through Sunday afternoon Enjoy the beauty of Natural Bridge and the Red River Gorge area while learning the basics of Leave No Trace backpacking! The overnight trip is 8-10 miles roundtrip. Registration is required and space is limited. Contact: Tyler Morgan, Tyler. Morgan@ky.gov Phone: 800-325-1710 or 606-663-2214. Nearby: Red River Gorge National Geological Area. Rappelling, rock climbing, hiking, fishing, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking and mountain biking. (Note-some of these activities are not permitted on state park property. Please check in advance.

March 27 Adventure Pennyrile Forest Pennyrile State Resort Park 20781 Pennyrile Lodge Road Dawson Springs, Ky. 42408 Times vary. Call park for times. Hike half of the Pennyrile Nature Trail for a registration fee of $12 per person. Registration fee includes: transportation, water, snack and a State Park patch. The hike is over 6 miles. Participants can get a 10 percent discount off park lodging. Contact: Becky Clark, RebeccaE.Clark@ky.gov. Phone: 800-325-1711 or 270-797-3421. Nearby: Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Camping, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, boating, fishing and mountain biking, Pennyrile State Forest, Lake Barkley and Kentucky Dam State Resort Parks.

March 27 & April 17 Tygart Creek Regretta Carter Caves State Resort Park 344 Caveland Dr. Olive Hill, Ky. 41164 Times vary. Call park for times. A six-mile canoe excursion and canoe experience is required! Along the way we will see high cliff sides and the natural beauty that the spring has to offer. Canoes, paddles, life jackets and transportation to and from the creek are provided. The cost is $25 per person. Contact: Coy Ainsley, Coy. Ainsley@ky.gov. Phone: 800-325-0059 or 606-286-4411. Nearby: Greenbo Lake State Resort Park, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, bird watching and camping.

March 29 Spring Break Camps at Life Adventure Center of the Bluegrass Life Adventure Center of the Bluegrass 570 Milner Rd. Versailles, Ky. 40383 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Adventure Camp: Spend the day in the woods and in the trees on our ropes course! Ages 9-12 / $35 per camper. Scholarships available – please inquire. Contact: Beth Coffey, beth@lacbg.com. Web: http://www.lacbg.com. Phone: 859-873-3271.

March 30 Spring Break Camps at Life Adventure Center of the Bluegrass Life Adventure Center of the Bluegrass 570 Milner Rd. Versailles, Ky. 40383 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Beginner Rider Camp: Spend the day with our horses- learning the basics in the morning and riding in the afternoon! Ages 7-14 / $50 per camper. Scholarships available – please inquire. Contact: Beth Coffey, beth@lacbg.com Web: http://www.lacbg.com. Phone: 859-873-3271.

March 31 Spring Break Camps at Life Adventure Center of the Bluegrass Life Adventure Center of the Bluegrass 570 Milner Rd. Versailles, Ky. 40383 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Advanced Rider Camp: Riders will be involved in advanced flatwork, jumping outside of the arena, and trail riding. Ages 11-16 / $50 per camper. Scholarships available – please inquire. Contact: Beth Coffey, beth@lacbg.com. Web: http://www.lacbg.com. Phone: 859-873-3271.

April 9 – 11 Barren River’s Family Night Out (side) Barren River Lake State Resort Park 1149 State Park Road Lucas, Ky. 42156 Times vary. Call park for times. Learn outdoor skills for camping, hunting, fishing many outdoor adventures. Designed primarily for families, this is an excellent opportunity for anyone if – you are a beginning camping family who wants to improve their skills. A package includes two nights camping, a campfire dinner on Saturday night and the scheduled activities. Pre-registration is required. Call for pricing. Contact: Lisa Deavers, Lisa. Deavers@ky.gov. Phone: 800-325-0057 or 270-646-2151. Nearby: Mammoth Cave National Park. Caves, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, camping and fishing.

April 10 Michael Tygart Hike Greenbo Lake State Resort Park 965 Lodge Road Greenup, Ky. 41144 9 a.m. – approximately 2 p.m. The moderately easy trek leads past a mid-19th century iron furnace, historic cemetery, and iron ore pits, descends into Pruitt Fork Valley, site of several pioneer homes and numerous wildflowers and concludes along the scenic lakeshore. Contact: Paul Verespy, Paul. Verespy@ky.gov. Phone: 800-325-0083 or 606-473-7324. Nearby: Carter Caves State Resort Park, caves, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, bird watching and camping.

April 10 Canoeing for Beginners Natural Bridge State Resort Park 2135 Natural Bridge Road Slade, Ky. 40376 Times vary. Call park for times. Learn the basics of canoeing on Mill Creek Lake at Natural Bridge and then experience river canoeing on the beautiful Red River within the Red River Gorge. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Registration is $30. Contact: Tyler Morgan, Tyler. Morgan@ky.gov. Phone: 800-325-1710 or 606-663-2214. Nearby: Red River Gorge National Geological Area. Rappelling, rock climbing, hiking, fishing, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking and mountain biking. (Note-some of these activities are not permitted on state park property. Please check in advance.)

April 10 – April 11 Ramp Fest & ATV Ride Trail Head 122 Walnut St. Evarts Ky. Ramp Fest is April 10 at 5 p.m., ATV Ride starts April 11 at 9:30 a.m. Less than 90 minutes from I-75, using Hwy 25E to Pineville, Ky., Hwy 119 to Harlan, Ky., and Hwy 38 to Evarts, Ky. Come try the unique taste of our “Wild Mountain Onions” along with a full line of “Kountry Kookin” side dishes and desserts. Like outdoor motorized recreation? Then you will love our ATV Park. We have more than 7,500 acres of easy, moderate and extreme trails for all. Grab a map and go it alone or fall in line with one of our FREE guided rides. Permits are required to ride the Park. $35 per year. No fee for guided rides. Contact: bellman30@windstream.net Web: http://www.ridgerunnersnation.com. Phone: 877-737-0778 or 606-837-3710.

April 17 Redbud Bicycle Ride Downtown London, Ky. 7 a.m. registration, 8 a.m. start. View the best scenery that Kentucky has to offer, including one of the top 10 redbud sightseeing routes in the state! Registration includes breakfast, a t-shirt (if registered before April 7th and as supplies last for later registration), cue sheets and maps, well-stocked rest stops and sag support. Registration is only $25 before April 7th  and $30 after April 7th. There will be SAG stops approximately every 15 miles where snacks and refreshments will be provided. Contact: info@redbudride.com Web: http://www.redbudride.com. Phone: 606-877-2859

April 23 – 25 Barren River Nature Fest Weekend Barren River Lake State Resort Park 1149 State Park Road Lucas, Ky. 42156 Times vary. Call park for times. Join us for a sampling of everything outdoors. There will be activities for all ages. Prior event activities have included: canoeing, bird watching, nature hikes, nature crafts, composting and more. There will be 15-20 different activities to participate in. Spend the weekend with us in the campground where you can camp two nights for the price of one during our camper appreciation weekend. Contact: Lisa Deavers, Lisa. Deavers@ky.gov. Phone: 800-325-0057 or 270-646-2151. Nearby: Mammoth Cave National Park. Caves, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, camping and fishing.

The Office of Adventure Tourism is part of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. The office promotes outdoor activities in Kentucky. From caving, hiking and paddle sports to rock climbing, Kentucky is an adventure waiting to happen.  If you love the outdoors, come experience the Unbridled Adventure of Kentucky.