11 Surefire Ways To Always Spot A Tourist In Kentucky
By Jenn Shockley|Published March 25, 2016
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
During our travels, we tend to try and never look like a tourist. Why? Tourists can occasionally be targeted by the unsavory looking for a quick buck. Establishments, aka tourist traps, are known to raise prices and create elaborate stories to draw in the unfamiliar. Most places that unguided out of towners frequent are deemed tourist traps, and there are multiple ways to get there. Locals often frequent tourist traps, so not all visitors are tourists. There are ways to recognize a visitor from outside the state other than an accent.
There are obvious things that can give a tourist in Kentucky away, and here are 10 of them:
Those who tentatively try different types of bourbon are usually trying to capture the spirit of Kentucky. People try bourbon balls, bourbon basted steak, bourbon drinks and straight bourbon.
During the Kentucky Derby Festival Louisville has almost as many tourists as citizens. Not really, but all the hotels, bed and breakfasts and room rentals are full, including those right across the Ohio in Indiana.
If they happen to look shiny and new, look at the rest of the ensemble. It is pretty easy to tell someone authentic who wears boots normally and someone who wears them for a night out at a club. It is all in the walk and stature.
When we see a slow driver, it is usually one of 3 things. It is possibly a chemically enhanced driver, an elderly driver, or someone from out of town who doesn’t know where they are going.
It you happen to live where people often wear cowboy hats, denim and western shirts, you are familiar with the natural look. Otherwise, people are trying to look like a cowboy because they think it’s the classic fashion statement here, or they think it is sexy and want attention. It is pretty easy to determine one from another.
They go to the tourist traps advertised on sites like Kentucky Tourism. Usually places like the Kentucky Derby, Mammoth Cave and other popular attractions.
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3. Tours
Far enough
Tourists will often take tours of things we know how to appreciate without a tour guide. The bourbon trail tour is one of the most popular.
This may be the selfie generation, but there is a difference between local photos and tourist pics. Tourists are drawn to Kentucky, and tend to want pictures of it all.
The car tags are the most obvious and the most impossible to not notice. A rental allows the possibility of being incognito if the traveler is familiar with their route.
Tourists in Kentucky are not hard to spot, especially during tourist season. What is the first thing that clues you in that someone is not from around here?
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