New Kentucky Travel Campaign “Joy Ride” Showcases BOURBON COUNTRY and American Pickers Mike Wolfe

Winding roads with heart-stopping views, wineries, historic homes, nature preserves and yes, horses and bourbon, are all highlighted in Kentucky’s latest tourism campaign inviting visitors to take a Joy Ride through Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region.  With a nostalgic flair, and the most beautiful scenic byways in America, Kentucky’s Joy Ride campaign encourages travelers to take the backroads, and own the idea that life is all about the journey and not just the destination.  

“Travel is booming, and with that, people are re-discovering the joy of the open road,” said Mary Quinn Ramer, President, VisitLEX.  “The Joy Ride campaign encourages people to travel like they used to, in the ‘50s and ‘60s, when people took their time to stop at scenic sites along the way, really enjoying the experience of getting to their destination.”   

Anchored by a two-minute short film featuring and narrated by Mike Wolfe from The History Channel TV show American Pickers, alongside Heritage Tourism Preservationist Leticia Cline, Joy Ride showcases their trip exploring idyllic spots in Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region.  The commercial will run nationwide on Connected TV channels of Discovery Networks, HULU, YouTube, Google and other social channels now through the end of next year.  

“As people plan their fall travel and next year’s spring break or summer vacation, we encourage them to travel the way Americans used to travel – taking the backroads and enjoying the time spent together and the memories made,” added Ramer.  

Commemorative Posters

The Joy Ride campaign is also supported by nostalgic collectible posters and digital content highlighting these iconic spots in the Bluegrass:

• Berea, KY – Historic Boone Tavern
• Carlisle – Nicholas County, KY – Wendt’s Wildlife Adventure
• Cynthiana, KY – Downtown Cynthiana
• Frankfort, KY – Buffalo Trace Distillery
• Georgetown – Scott County, KY – Old Friends Farm
• Harrodsburg, KY – Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill
• Lancaster & Paint Lick, KY – Herrington Lake
• Lawrenceburg, KY – Kentucky River at Young’s High Bridge and Wild Turkey Distillery
• Lexington, KY – Keeneland Race Track
• Nicholasville & Wilmore, KY – First Vineyard and Winery and 1922 House Vineyards and Winery
• Paris – Bourbon County, KY – Claiborne Farms
• Richmond, KY – Battle of Richmond and Fort Boonesboro
• Standford – Lincoln County, KY – William Whitley House and Sportsman’s Hill
• Winchester, KY – Ale-8-One Soda, Beer Cheese Trail and Beer Cheese Festival
• Woodford County, KY – Woodford Reserve Distillery

Posters are available at each participating site.  Kentucky Tourism’s  Joy Ride campaign runs from September 20^th, 2023 through the end of 2024.  For more information on each site, visit bluegrasskentucky.com

About Joy Ride

Joy Ride is a tourism campaign supported by Team Kentucky through the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet.  The Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet is dedicated to fostering and promoting the state’s rich heritage as well as continuing Kentucky’s long history of being a premiere travel destination for all travelers to enjoy. For more information visit Tourism News – Tourism, Arts & Heritage (ky.gov)

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