Nada Tunnel

Breaks Interstate Park straddles the Kentucky–Virginia line 7 miles east of Elkhorn City, KY, protecting the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi River — five miles long and up to 1,600 feet deep, carved by the Russell Fork of the Big Sandy. Four named overlooks (Clinchfield, Stateline, Grassy, and the Geological Trail viewpoint) look down into the canyon. The park entrance is reached via KY-80/VA-80, a sinuous mountain road that is itself a destination. A $3 day-use fee applies; the Visitor Center has maps, restrooms, and a historical museum.

Maker's Mark Distillery at 3350 Burks Spring Road in Loretto is a National Historic Landmark operating continuously since 1805 on Star Hill Farm. The 1,100-acre property includes the original limestone spring, cypress fermentation vats, aging warehouses, and the signature black-dip bottling line where bottles are hand-dipped in red wax. Tours run daily and include a tasting; the campus is a signature stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The approach roads through Marion and Washington Counties pass through rolling bourbon country with light traffic and sweeping curves.

Miguel's Pizza at 1890 Natural Bridge Road in Slade has been the unofficial base camp for Red River Gorge visitors since the 1980s. Rock climbers originally turned the small yellow building into a gathering spot, and riders followed — the gravel lot routinely fills with motorcycles on weekends from April through October. The menu centers on hand-tossed pizzas built to order, plus calzones and salads. Camping on the property is available for a small fee. Miguel's sits half a mile from the Natural Bridge State Resort Park entrance and is one of the few year-round food stops inside the gorge corridor.