Almost looks more like a sports headline than a Travel Blog headline………………… but sports and tourism can be one in the same………….more on that later. Last week I went to the fair, worked in the State Tourism booth and met some great people. This year’s State Fair was my 18th fair (16 in a row) to enjoy! I met a lady who was enjoying her 39 state fair IN A ROW! WOW!………….
I got to see the world’s largest dog and the world’s smallest bag of smoked almonds all in one day! LOL……
        Earlier I mentioned how sports and tourism play off of each other, wondering why or how? Well, here’s an example: When you travel to see your favorite sports team you eat out, sometime stay overnight and assuredly buy gas and snacks! That’s what you do on vacation right! The Little League World Series has been a tourism draw for 50 years in Williamsport, PA. The Ryder Cup next month in Louisville will not only host American and European players but, it and most of Central Kentucky, will benefit from thousands of fans spending money on hotel rooms, dining out and on hats and shirts…………………. High School and College football are the same, for instance, when those dreaded Hilltoppers from Bowling Green invade Roy Kidd Stadium on Sept. 6 in Richmond many of the ‘Topper fans will grab a motel room and go get something to eat after the game. Now, there is sports tourism in its finest form! High school can be the same, atleast from a fuel and eating out idea. Local golf tourney’s also provide small communities with a great chance at capturing tourism dollars.
           Upcoming news and notes……………. I’ll be hosting some really important Travel/Golf writer’s into Kentucky the week of the Ryder Cup. Some of the top Canadian, Irish and English writer’s will be travelling the state with me and playing some Ky. State Park Course’s too! I’ll swing them by the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown and then on to Valhalla! Tough Job! I Know! ha. The State Fair runs through Thursday and the Ryder Cup runs Sept. 16-21st!
Special hats off to several people for several reasons………..Tara Guenther, Susan Rieber, Julie Garland, Mary Wathen, Fred James, Greg Smith, Doug Crowe, Stacey Brothwell and Gator, Cricket and JC!
“Slow Down, buckle Up and get there in one piece”

August 14th through the 24th is an important time if you like Funnel Cakes and Fried Coke! More about Fried coke in a moment! The Kentucky State Fair is beginning Thursday and for 10 days we will be entertained by top national musical artists’ and blue ribbon winning wines and quilts and chickens and horses! I really had not visited the fair much through my post college days. I have been every year however for the last 16 years. This is a time to waive your personal guilts about high fat and calorie foods! Just enjoy the fair and put a smile on your face. It’s a great place to people watch too! I’ll be at the Kentucky Dept. of Travel booth this Thursday! Come by and say hello!
        Now to fried COKE. Did you know there was such a thing? Apparently, what the deep fried pros do is to mix together a batter of COKE and pancake mix and then fry it. And it really taste’s like COKE! Sounds bad, but it’s pretty fun to enjoy. I rather enjoy the Fried Snicker’s I have to say. That and an Ale-8-One get me going!
       School is back in for many, but there is a school day, senior day and a Farm Bureau day at the fair. You can buy slicer’s, dicer’s and veggie-matics! You can buy walking sticks, sorghum, hats and chocolate at the fair. I love America, I love Kentucky, the Kentucky State Fair , it’s like almost every guilty pleasure you have…………….. realized in one spot. Don’t forget about the concert’s…………. Brooks and Dunn, Brad Paisley, The Village People, Joan Jett and more will be in town. You know lots of the concerts are FREE.
Send me in some photos of you and your gang at the fair, or just write me about some great State Fair memories you have!
www.kystatefair.org
www.kentuckytourism.com
“Buckle up, slow down and get there in one piece”

Well, last week kept me in town mostly. I did make a run up to Northern Kentucky for the afternoon on Thursday to check out the new water attraction at the Newport Aquarium. This week I’ll be heading over to Claiborne Horse Farm in Paris to meet up with Jim Friess, I’ll also be a guest on WKYT’s “Afternoon” show Wednesday so check that out. I am very busy getting ready to work the Ky. State Fair too! I’ll be in the Kentucky Travel booth opening day, to sign autographs, ha ha………… just kidding! I’ll be there but I’ll be carrying boxes and getting people water I am sure! Opening day is August 14th.
      School has started for some districts believe it or not. If your school has not started up consider running to the Cave region, Northern Kentucky or maybe take a BBQ tour to Western Kentucky before classes get going. Speaking of Western Kentucky, boy does Fancy Farm’s annual picnic really make an impact on the local tourism economy! Millions of dollars are dropped into the deep “Purchase” area of the Commonwealth leading up to and during the Catholic picnic we know as Fancy Farm!
     I did get to play golf over the weekend in Frankfort, Ducker’s Lake golf course on Hwy. 421 really has the fairways looking good and the tee boxes are good too! I shot an 83 with an out of bounds tee shot on number 15. I was happy with that score. It’s about as good as I can hit it, in 93 degree temps! I mention that golf tidbit only to say that I met several gentlemen from Cincinnati in the parking lot; They had planned on driving to Chas./Huntington, WV. But after a backup on I-64 they quickly mapquested, googled, whitepaged, myspaced etc………………… “central Kentucky golf courses“! And of course many nice golf courses appeared and Ducker’s had tee times ready when they arrived. After leaving Frankfort they were headed to Wasioto Winds at Pine Mnt. State Resort Park. Obviously this group of men changed their plans at the last minute and Kentucky’s tourism economy benefited!
        Remember we’re all ambassadors for the Commonwealth and maybe you can get someone to stay in Kentucky just by engaging in a brief conversation. (to be truthful. one of the guys graduated from Berea College in 1978 so he was sort of familiar with Kentucky).

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Oh people, did I put some miles on the old car last week!!!!!!!!!!!! First, I went to Harlan to meet a great bunch of folks at the Harlan Center. A native son from there is preparing to do some good work on the big screen about Harlan County and its people. So I went there to talk to a group about filming in the Commonwealth and what it can bring and leave behind too! I was treated so nice and enjoyed some great lunch too! I hope the project gets moving and becomes a reality. Anyway, thanks for having me down there, heck the drive was worth it all by itself! Truly spectacular scenery through Knott, Knox, Bell and Harlan counties!

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What a headline……………………. Actually the two have Winchester connections and are equally refreshing to be around. You’re wondering where I am going with this whole thing? Well, Friday the First Lady held a press conference detailing her new program “Horses & Hope” This program is designed to bring awareness, education and support of breast cancer to Kentucky’s many equine industry employees. From horse farms to the back sides of tracks every employee will be able to learn how to detect possible problems early and get educated on their status with the help of this program.
Ellis Park, Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Turfway will be hosting special days during their fall meets! You can help show your support by attending that special day at the track and wear pink and enjoy!

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Remember…………………… last week I conducted a very unscientific poll of favorite places to visit in the Commonwealth? I have the results; but again remember these results are the opinion of the reader and NOT MINE, not that I might not agree with some of them you understand, but I have to be fair to everyone in the industry. This weeks post is devoted to revealing the results and some “housekeeping” you know, cleaning up and getting organized? Okay, here are the results, without the numbers, I am posting the 1st and 2nd place finishers, not the tally’s!
Favorite Ky. State Park: NATURAL BRIDGE, CARTER CAVES
Favorite Golf Course: DALE HOLLOW STATE PARK, GIBSON BAY
Favorite HotBrown/BBQ/Ice Cream: BOONE TAVERN, HOLLY HILL/ MOONLITE, DOTTIE STIPES’ (I CHEATED WITH THAT ONE)/ CHRIST THE KING ‘OCTOBERFEST”, CHANEY’S.
Favorite Ky Festival: GREAT AMERCIAN BRASS BAND, MNT. LAUREL FESTIVAL
Family Reunion Site: NATURAL BRIDGE, KEENELAND
Favorite Lake: CUMBERLAND, CAVE RUN
Favorite Factory Tour: BUFFALO TRACE, TOYOTA
Favorite Bourbon/Wine Tour: BUFFALO TRACE, WOODFORD RESERVE/ EQUUS RUN, CHRISMAN MILL(tie)
Favorite Bourbon Candy: Rebecca Ruth, Ruth Hunt
Favorite Old General Store: RAYBURN’S, RABBIT HASH, PENN’S.

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So far this tourism season we’ve been able to trade some good travel tips and ideas between us that hopefully have helped us find the best burgers, saved us money, edu’tained ourselves, developed new friends, discovered new roads or even walked old scenic byways! I sure have; I have taken advice from many of you and gotten out to find My Kentucky! Since we’ve had several months to enjoy ourselves and we still have a few months more before cold weather comes drifting in, I thought we should have a poll.

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I wish this summer would slow down, I mean it; its making me sick just how fast we got to July 4th!
Summer is my favorite season, the hotter the better I say!!!!!!!!!!! So much good food on the grill and so much fun in the water. We’ve talked at length about staying closer to home this vacation season………… and most of us are doing just that!

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Over the last several months we have talked about Kentucky this and Kentucky that! Good eating places, good day trip spots, favorite state parks, outstanding outdoor photography areas and real cool people; we’ve talked about it all! Over the weekend a few friends and I were talking about things or places in Kentucky that we have done and visited! I, being in the tourism industry, felt a little awkward because I knew I would STUMP or AMAZE my friends with all the places I’ve been too! WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Did you know that one week a year you get a pass on the unhealthy food taboo curse? You do! For one week every year the County Fair Gods lay upon us the guilt free sensation that we can have funnel cakes, deep fried oreo’s (my fav.), deep fried snicker’s, polish sausage, frozen milk shakes etc…………………In fact, at one county fair last year I actually experienced someone eating a deep fried serving of COKE! Who knew? I love America, uh I mean Kentucky!

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