Our travels take us through the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee as we make our way to Kentucky. In Berea, we visit the Kentucky Artisan Center. Here we shop for handmade Kentucky arts and crafts. This afternoon we travel to Bardstown, one of Kentucky’s oldest settlements, where we check into our accommodations for a three-night stay. Dinner is included this evening. (D)

Today we take our seats for the Derby’s famed “Little Sister,” the Kentucky Oaks. Our seats are located in the Third Floor Grandstand boxes, allowing an elevated view of the entire track, crossover access to the paddock area, and unlimited food and beverages. Don’t forget to wear your pink as the Kentucky Oaks honors cancer awareness and its survivors. (L)

We arrive midmorning in preparation of the “Run for the Roses.” The Kentucky Derby runs a distance of one and one quarter miles in just over two minutes. It’s run by the fastest three-year-old thoroughbreds on earth. Today, we witness first-hand from our reserved Grandstand Blue Seats the “most exciting two minutes in sports,” the “First Jewel of the Triple Crown” plus the five stakes races proceeding. Your ticket includes seats located in the Third Floor Grandstand boxes, allowing an elevated view of the entire track, crossover access to the paddock area, and unlimited food and beverages. (L)

In Lexington, we see thousands of acres of beautiful Kentucky bluegrass. Here we visit the Kentucky Horse Park, the only park dedicated to the horse. This is also where Man O’War is buried, the Calumet Trophy Collection rests, and many retired champions are stabled. As we depart for home, we recall the last exciting four days of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. We arrive home late evening.