Kathryn (Kathy) Witt has contributed some wonderful articles and recipes to Real Food Traveler over the years. So, when I heard she had a new book out, about one of the U.S.’s most iconic states, I knew it was time to check in and learn more. Here’s a Q&A with the author of 100 Things to Do in Kentucky Before You Die. Kathy also provided a recipe to accompany the book you can try at home. 

Save this article about the book “100 Things to Do in Kentucky Before You Die,” by Kathryn Witt to keep it handy. Cover image courtesy of Kathryn Witt and Reedy Press. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

Q&A with Kathryn Witt, Author of 100 Things to Do in Kentucky Before You Die

Real Food Traveler: How many books have you written?
Kathy Witt: I’ve written eight books, including Reedy Press series bestsellers, Perfect Day Kentucky: Day Trips, Weekend Getaways, and Other Escapes and Secret Cincinnati: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure; Cincinnati Scavenger: The Ultimate Guide to Cincinnati’s Hidden Treasures; and the historical novel, The Secret of the Belles.

RFT: Wow! That’s very impressive! What made you want to write this particular topic?
KW: I’ve traveled Kentucky all my life and written about Kentucky for most of my career. Kentucky has so much to offer with outdoor adventure, quirky discoveries, outstanding museums and attractions big and small, and I love sharing these experiences. I’ve had a chance to meet so many Kentucky artists, private museum owners, historians, chefs, boutique owners, festival organizers and others—all so passionate about what they do—and you just want to see them succeed and share their stories. These stories deserve a home, a place where readers can discover them and feel inspired to create their own Kentucky memories.

Mrs. Teapots is one of the recommendations in the book, 100 Things to Do in Kentucky Before You Die. Photo courtesy of Mrs. Teapots.

Hungry for more? Read about Kathryn’s “Cincinnati Scavenger” book on RFT.

RFT: Are there any particular challenges with writing a “100 Things to Do” book?
KW: The challenge was definitely whittling the list down to 100 things and trying to find a balance with iconic attractions like Mammoth Cave—and not just the cave but focusing in on a specific experience—and under‑the‑radar wonders like the archaeological site at Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site and a newly installed, larger-than-life Tin Man sculpture in Bernheim Forest and Arboretum in Clermont.

I wanted the 100 to be a mix of 1) wild adventures like hiking to Cumberland Falls on the evening a moonbow makes an appearance or leaping off a railroad bridge with Vertigo Bungee; 2) quirky sights, think: the Bigfoot Festival in Stanton and the Oddities Boxes of bones, crystals and other unexpected finds at Corkscrew Curiosities in Henderson; and 3) those only-here and elevated experiences—the kind you’ll find at places like Kentucky’s bourbon distilleries, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and other places. So, the challenge was fitting all of this in but still knowing that some worthy places would have to be left out because there could be only 100.

The Belle of Louisville, one of the 100 Things to Do in Kentucky Before You Die. Photo courtesy of the Belle of Louisville.

RFT: What was your process for researching everything?
KW: In most cases, research meant a visit and experience of the restaurant, shop, adventure, museum, etc., and talking to the owners/creators/managers. In the case where I’m too chicken 😊, like in the case of ziplining in Mega Cavern in Louisville, I let my husband and son take up the adventure while I kept my feet firmly on the ground and stuck with the tram tour. Because I’ve been writing Kentucky’s Official Visitor Guide for many years, I’ve been to or have heavily researched everything in the book. I’m in regular contact with Kentucky’s tourism directors and am lucky enough to hear right away about anything new coming to the state.

Hungry for more? Try the recipe for authentic Kentucky Hot Brown sandwich.

RFT: You really have your finger on the pulse of all things Kentucky! Were there any items that were particularly surprising to you when you researched them?
KW: I’m always surprised that many of Kentucky’s most extraordinary treasures and experiences hide in plain sight. For example, the exceptionally rare elephant folio edition of John James Audubon’s The Birds of America lies open at the Henderson museum named for him. The storytelling at the Backwoods Moonshine Museum in Beattyville is by Discovery Channel celebrities. A rare bottle of Pappy Van Winkle sits amidst the world’s largest collection of whiskey at the Newberry Prohibition Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop in Newport. And a camping adventure awaits not far from the museums at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington—and includes discounted admission tickets to the park.

RFT: How do you suggest people utilize the book and make the most of it?
KW: There are several ways. For those who love a good theme, six themed itineraries, including Bourbon Immersion and Stranger Things, are included in the book. Experiences are also grouped by each of the four seasons. For winter, for example, you could experience the zipline adventure at Mega Cavern in Louisville, the Reindeer Farm in Bowling Green, Vom Fass in Crestview Hills for a culinary class, etc. A straightforward approach for those who like the element of surprise is to flip the book open to a random page and visit that experience.

The book covers Vom Fass for cooking lessons. Photo by Kathy Witt. 

Hungry for more? Bake up Kentucky’s Snug Hollow Braided Rosemary Bread.

RFT: Where can people get the book?
KW: Find the book 100 Things to Do in Kentucky Before You Die at Reedy Press (free shipping). The book is also available at Amazon (in Kindle and Paperback) and Barnes & Noble Booksellers. In Kentucky, it is available at many of the state resort park gift shops, including Big Bone Lick State Historic Site in Union, and at many of the places featured in the book, like the Moonshine Museum in Beattyville and Newberry’s Prohibition Bourbon Bar & Bottle Shop in Newport.

-By Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher & Managing Editor, Real Food Traveler

Motivated to visit Kentucky? Use your favorite booking tool through Real Food Traveler to start planning.

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