Have you checked them off? 12 summer bucket list locales to visit in Kentucky

Kentucky is known worldwide as the home of bourbon, but the Bluegrass State boasts a multitude of other inspiring, unique, jaw-dropping and even quirky contributions to the world.

From natural wonders to manufactured marvels — if you want to feel like you went somewhere and saw something this summer, how about starting with a checklist of uniquely Kentucky contributions?

Think of these Kentucky gems as bucket list items you can check off as quickly or leisurely as you like. We'll start you off with a dozen suggestions and encourage you to add your own.

The iconic home of the Kentucky Derby

704 Central Ave., Louisville, Kentucky

Nowhere else in the world except at Churchill Downs Racetrack can you visit the iconic Twin Spires and the home of the Kentucky Derby. Even when horse racing isn't taking place, visitors can book several different tours of the racetrack which take you from the grandeur of the grandstands to the horse barns on the backside and more. Tours are available through the Kentucky Derby Museum and can be booked at derbymuseum.org.

Start your engines: Kentucky is the home of the world-famous Corvette

600 Corvette Drive and 350 Corvette Drive, Bowling Green, Kentucky

Bowling Green Assembly is the only plant in the world to build the Chevrolet Corvette and has produced over 1.1 million of vehicles since it opened in 1981. Visitors can book tours to watch the world-famous sports car come to life on the assembly line.

Nearby, the National Corvette Museum offers various temporary and permanent exhibits throughout the year — from exotic and special Corvettes throughout history to interactive exhibits like E. Pierce Marshall Memorial Performance Gallery and the Corvette Cave-in experience.

For more information visit corvettemuseum.org

Witness the rare 'moonbow' at Cumberland Falls

7351 Highway 90, Corbin, Kentucky

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park isn't the only waterfall in the world to regularly display the famous "moonbow" but it's a lot closer to visit if you live in Kentucky than driving to Yosemite Falls in California or Niagra Falls in New York.

The “moonbow,” also called a white rainbow or lunar rainbow, is formed just like a rainbow — light is refracted in tiny water droplets — and appears for two or so days, as long as the sky is clear, on either end of the full moon.

For more information on Cumberland Falls State Resort Park and the best dates to witness the moonbow, visit parks.ky.gov.

Say hello to the world's most famous thoroughbreds

1841 Paynes Depot Road, Georgetown, Kentucky

Whether you watch horse racing on television or at the racetrack, most of us never get anywhere near the actual equine athletes. But that's not the case at Old Friends Farm, a retirement farm for racehorses. This is the home to Triple Crown race winners like Silver Charm and Birdstone. Old Friends is a working farm that offers guided tour experiences to get you up close and personal with dozens of amazing Thoroughbred athletes.

For information, visit oldfriendsequine.org.

The unexpected castle of Kentucky

230 Pisgah Pike, Versailles, Kentucky

We're not suggesting you can only sleep in a castle if you visit Kentucky. But gee whiz, The Kentucky Castle is legit. With 15 guest accommodations nestled among stone turrets and walls, The Kentucky Castle looms over a vast hillside in a town named Versailles (that's ver-sails, not the ver-sigh of French fame).

The venue offers luxurious overnight accommodations, spa treatments, food and drink experiences and more. If the royal treatment is on your bucket list, The Kentucky Castle in Versailles is a close-to-home and once-in-a-lifetime experience.

More information is available at thekentuckycastle.com

Kentucky is home to the world's longest cave system

1 Visitor Center Parkway, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

Mammoth Cave is the longest cave system in the world and one of the U.S.'s oldest tourist attractions. The national park is home to thousands of years of human history and a rich diversity of plant and animal life, earning it the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. It's one of the foremost destinations for hiking, biking, horseback riding, canoeing, and camping on over 52,000 acres in south central Kentucky.

Visit nps.gov for more information.

Pay your respects to 'The Greatest' and the King of Chicken

701 Baxter Ave., Louisville, Kentucky

Every year, hundreds of visitors stop by the final resting place of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, KFC's Colonel Harland Sanders, Revolutionary War hero George Rogers Clark and other famous Kentuckians at Cave Hill Cemetary and Arboretum. Founded in 1858, about 138,000 people have been laid to rest in the 296 acre cemetery including Patty Hill who composed the song "Happy Birthday." The beautiful and serene cemetery is free to visit and very large. We suggest consulting the Cave Hill website for a map of the gravesites of interest before your visit.

Visit the world's only fully underground zipline course

1841 Taylor Ave., Louisville, Kentucky

The largest building in the state of Kentucky is actually a former limestone mine. Due to its support structures, the Louisville Mega Cavern is classified as a building and is home to an underground aerial ropes course and zip line experience. The world's only fully underground zip line course includes six zip lines and two challenge bridges. In addition to zip lining and aerial ropes, the cavern also offers a historic tram tour and a 90-minute walking tour.

More information: louisvillemegacavern.com

Secretariat, 'America's Horse,' was laid to rest in Kentucky

703 Winchester Road, Paris, Kentucky 

American sports icon Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown winner and one of the most prolific thoroughbred racehorses of all time, is buried at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. Located 30 minutes outside Lexington, Kentucky, Claiborne Farm is one of the most famous, oldest and most respected horse farms in the world. Guided tours are offered seven days a week and require a reservation.

For more information, visit claibornefarm.com.

You can only find the world's largest bat here in Louisville

800 W Main St., Louisville, Kentucky

Erected in July 1996, the 120-foot-tall baseball bat leans against the side of the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory weighs 34 tons and is made of hollow carbon steel. The Big Bat is an exact-scale replica of Babe Ruth's 34-inch Louisville Slugger used in the 1920s.

Find more information at sluggermuseum.com.

Michelangelo's 'David,' bigger and brighter than ever

700 W. Main St., Louisville, Kentucky

Unveiled in 2012, this 30-foot-tall, gold-painted statue guards the entrance to the 21c Museum Hotel and sets the standard for oversized outdoor art. Located in downtown Louisville, this well-endowed replica of Michelangelo's 'David' is a short walk from the world's largest baseball bat at Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. We can only imagine the home run potential if these two ginormous structures ever come into contact with one another.

Spend the night in a rare piece of Americana

601 N Dixie Hwy, Cave City, Kentucky 

Historic Wigwam Village No. 2 in Cave City, Kentucky, offers back-road explorers a fun sleeping experience just a short distance from Mammoth Cave National Park. Built in 1937, Wigwam Village No. 2 is one of only three surviving Wigwam Villages of the seven built around the country before 1950. The village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has undergone an extensive renovation to bring it back to its 1930s splendor and authenticity. Guests can choose from two types of wigwams: a single (sleeps two) or a double (sleeps four.)

For more information, visit historicwigwamvillage.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Things to do in Kentucky: 12 bucket list locations to visit