Community Magazine October 2010

54 Community magazine Kentucky, The Bluegrass State Kentucky is best known for its horses, bourbon, caves, Louisville Sluggers, and being the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. You can spend the day on the famous Bourbon Trail, choosing from the over a dozen bourbon distilleries dotting the Kentucky landscape,whichareopen for tours and taste samplings (bourbon is generally considered kosher without certification, check with your rabbi to confirm). The tour takes you through the historical brick or wood buildings that house the aging barrels, as you waft the strong oak-scented air. You’ll learn about the limestone water, one of Kentucky’s signature resources, that adds a unique flavor to Kentucky bourbon. In fact, according to law, it can only be called bourbon if it’s made in Kentucky. Another requirement is that it be made with at least 51 percent corn and stored in fresh casks. Although there won’t be bourbon on the menu, you can find the lone kosher* restaurant in the state in Louisville, at The Jewish Community Center, which has both a dairy and meat take-out. Also in Louisville, there’s the horse fan’s favorite Churchill Downs, home of the famous Kentucky Derby. There are races about every twenty minutes. After each race, you can get up close when the horses are guided through a slow walk-around, on a small outdoor track. It costs just a few bucks to watch races, and you can stay there as long as you want, without having to wager on the races. The Kentucky Derby is part of the trio of annual horse races, called the Triple Crown, that includes the Preakness and Belmont. If you want to hop on a horse yourself, check out Jesse James Riding Stables, one of the largest riding stables in Kentucky. Driving through Kentucky is just as fun, too, and as the weather is generally warm year-round. Your family will enjoy spotting cattle grazing, blooming trees, or wildlife just outside the cities. Along the Kentucky River are some great camps sites, fishing spots and state- preserved beaches and shores. For other nature adventures, Blanton Forest, at 3,090 acres, contains trees three to four feet in diameter, towering up to seven stories, with varieties such as sugar maple, poplar, oaks, hemlocks, beech and magnolia. A trail system about four-and-a-half miles in length is open to the public. Kentucky is filled with all kinds of caves. Outlaw Cave, for instance, offers a 35-minute guided tour filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and dazzling rock formations. And for the ballplayer fans - discover how baseball bats are made at the Louisville Slugger Museum (and you may even score a baseball bat miniature as a souvenir). Off The Beaten Path Winter Getaways for The Jewish Traveler Thinking of changing up your usual vacation spot? There are plenty of destinations that have lots to offer a Jewish traveller and still satisfy the adventurer in you. BY “DESTINATION” DAVE GORDON Kentucky • Utah • Nevada • Missouri • Louisiana • Georgia Establishment Address Phone Prayers: Anshei Sfard Congregation 3700 Dutchmans Lane (502) 451-3122 Kosher* Food: Jewish Community Center 3600 Dutchmans Lane (502) 238-2744 More Info: Jewish Community of Louisville (JCL) www.jewishlouisville.org (502) 451-8840 Jewish Louisville Kentucky’s Churchill Downs