Bernheim Forest and Arboretum

Have been wanting to come here for awhile and what do you know? It was on the way from Kentucky to our flight out of Nashville!! So excited to finally see the giants. There is a suggested donation of $15 per car but they are so nice about whatever donation you may want to give so it's so worth to support this place. We couldn't have picked a better day than today! The weather was perfect! The fall colors were amazing! Parking is easy right by the visitors center. Loved looking around in the center to see what we can buy. Restrooms were convenient by the door and clean. And you can walk right back out and start your hike to see the giants and surroundings. So many beautiful picturesque spots! The trees are colorful! The hollys are budding. And the giants are adorable! Easy 2 mile hike to see them. They have maps and signs that make it so clear! We still got lost but thank God for GPS and the map lol made our way back to see the sister giant and looped back to the visitors center.Wish we had more time to explore but we had to rush to Nashville for a flight. But I highly recommend a stop here if you can on a gorgeous day like today and picnic and hike around. I so enjoyed it! And if by chance we are near here again with the kids we'd love to come back!

Bernheim is an amazing place to go!! I'm sure all of this has been said before but here's my review. The Playcosystem is a highlight. Basically it's a natural playground for kids to play on. Fallen logs to climb on, obstacle course, sand pit area, etc. Tons of hiking paths, different parts of the forest look completely different. There are plenty of art installations, like the giants, and other statues and sculptures. The gift shop is nice, although oddly I wish they had more Bernheim branded things to purchase.

If you enjoy nature and hiking then perhaps Bernheim Forest is for you. OK, you don't necessarily have to like hiking but enjoy the outdoors and seeing the art sculptures by Danish artist Thomas Dambo then go to Bernheim and pend the day. For those who live in the Louisville area it's a short drive down I-65 at exit 112 and perhaps a mile further.

We visited Bernheim twice this week. The first visit was on a Wednesday morning for a dedication ceremony on the Meditation Trail and then lunch at the on-site cafe. Parking is plentiful and the signage is clearly marked. Walking trails are well maintained in a natural state, which is beautiful and much appreciated. The pollinator garden was a pleasant place to take pause and included a sensory experience component. Our second visit was on Saturday evening for the annual CONNECT event with live music and art installations around Lake Nevin, as well as a VIP cocktail option. We thoroughly enjoyed this experience and were impressed and delighted with the offerings. Food and drink and setup were all worthy of a future repeat. We did feel one of the musical performers was too mature for the audience on site at 7 PM, specifically the "f-bombs" were cringeworthy with elementary aged kids running around near the Garden Pavilion. Maybe a warning next time or a later time for this set? Food trucks were on site and kiosks were also scattered along the trails with art displays, crafts, and educational elements. A pop up thunderstorm cut our visit short, which was a shame. Bernheim is truly a beautiful place.

How is this place free?? I gladly paid the suggested donation of $15 a car but that still felt like a steal. I live in Indy so it was a good 2-hour drive, but I would be here every weekend if I lived closer. We came for the Forest Giants but were impressed by the size and scope of the park. Right off the bat, we were greeted by a turtle crossing the road. Then a family of geese. Then a rabbit. The visitors center is chock full of nature-related items. And all the staff we met were incredibly friendly. It was rainy if the day we went so we bought some much-needed ponchos and an umbrella. They also have a cafe with sandwiches and coffee. The Forest Giants were unreal. They were also fairly accessible. While they do have a 2-mile trail to see all the giants. You can also park nearby to two of them and walk just a short way (one was paved and one was not).

Where do I even begin reviewing one of the most beautiful and utterly peaceful places I have ever visited? From the whimsical Forest Giants, to breathtaking art installations scattered around the forest, this place has so many facets to enjoy! Children can play at the playcosystem or climb into the "spirit nest" to enjoy a breathtaking view. The nearby cafe and visitors center serves delicious sandwiches with veggies, harvested from the "edible garden" across the way. A more recent adaptation is the "silent garden". A place of quiet and peace dedicated for those who have sensory processing difficulties. Whether it's to take a relaxing walk around the lake or to sit in one of the many meadows to meditate: Bernheim Forest provides joy to anyone.

Great place to take kids & Close to Louisville & Bardstown area.They had some interaction with young kids & they really like walk..

Surrounded by the classic Kentuckian horses and distilleries, this extensive tract of forest is one of the few in the state that's really developed for easy visitor use. Starting in a valley, a road heads past a visitor center (which looked nice, but was only open for limited hours) and up a hill into thick forest. It's not always clear what places mean when they say "suggested donation", but upon entering here, they literally asked me if I would like to donate, and then how much, so for someone who is short on cash would like to enjoy the park, I don't think they'd stop you. Conversely, if you have a car full of kids, the $15 would be quite a good deal.There were extensive paths in the lower portion of the park. You do have to put in some work to get to the various sculptures-including the forest giants-but this area is generally quite well manicured. The ponds were a bit scummy-which may be natural but isn't that visually appealing. Otherwise, the juxtaposition of various art objects on the natural surroundings was quite magical. Going up into the trees yields several trails and a walkway that leads one out into the treetops, where you get a distinctive experience and a cool breeze.I gave it a couple of hours to explore and it would have been easy to spend most of the day driving from Louisville or Lexington. They're open until sunset or a bit after, but I did leave before that, mainly out of not wanting to drive in the dark.

So beautiful! Only got to walk a little but the drive around was beautiful too!We were in a hurry so we only got to see little Nis and happens during the drive out we saw Mama Lou and stopped by to take some pictures.

Really beautiful colors in the fall. Lots of events throughout the year. Good food at their little cafe/gift shop.