Things to Do in Frankfort with Kids
Frankfort is an easy town to do with children. The drives are short, several of the best stops are outdoors, and a few of them cost nothing at all.
See black bears, elk and bald eagles at Salato
The Salato Wildlife Education Center at 1 Sportsman's Ln, off Louisville Road, is run by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. More than 40 native species, including black bears, elk, bald eagles and bobcats, live in outdoor habitats, and the campus has two fishing lakes and about four miles of hiking trails. The center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's 2026 season announcement lists admission at $5 for adults and $3 for ages 5 to 17, with children 4 and under free with a paying adult. The center runs on a season that opened in March, so check the website before a winter visit.
Watch candy get made at Rebecca Ruth
Rebecca Ruth Candy at 116 E 2nd St in South Frankfort has been making chocolates since 1919. The tour runs about 30 minutes, Monday through Saturday, and ends with a chocolate sample. Morning tours start at 10, 10:30, 11 and 11:30, and afternoon tours at 1:30, 2, 2:30, 3 and 3:30. Book online at least 12 hours ahead, or show up and join as a walk-in. If your kids want to see the candy being made, go Monday through Thursday between 10 AM and 3 PM; production isn't scheduled for Friday or Saturday tours, and even midweek it isn't guaranteed. Keep in mind the shop's best-known product is the bourbon ball, so steer young ones to the plain chocolates.
Run around Josephine Sculpture Park
Josephine Sculpture Park at 3355 Lawrenceburg Rd is free and open every day from dawn to dusk. It is open fields with big sculptures to walk around and look at from every side, which makes it a good place for kids who would not last ten minutes in a museum. The park also hosts workshops and festivals, so check its calendar for something hands-on.
Hike to a waterfall at Cove Spring Park
Cove Spring Park has about three miles of trails and elevated walkways, with waterfalls and signs that explain what you are seeing. Part of the trail is accessible, which helps with a stroller. Park at the lower entrance, 100 Cove Spring Rd, since that is where the real restrooms are. The upper entrance on Cedar Cove Road only has portable ones.
Toss a coin at the Floral Clock
The Floral Clock on the Capitol grounds at 700 Capital Ave is a working clock face planted with thousands of flowers, set over a pool where people toss coins. It makes a quick, free stop. The Capitol building is closed for renovation, with work scheduled to finish in 2029, so this is an outdoor visit only.
Museums for a short attention span
The Capital City Museum at 325 Ann St is free, compact and focused on Frankfort itself. It is open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM, with free parking next door. For a bigger museum, the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History at 100 W Broadway is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and its ticket also gets you into the Old State Capitol around the corner.
Get on the water
In warm weather, Canoe Kentucky at 7323 Peaks Mill Rd rents canoes and kayaks for Elkhorn Creek and the Kentucky River and runs shuttles. Call (502) 227-4492 to check water levels and book a trip, and ask about what works for your kids' ages.
Where to eat with kids
Locals Food Hub & Pizza Pub at 863 Wilkinson Blvd makes wood-fired pizza and is open 11 AM to 9 PM every day. Cliffside Diner on Old Lawrenceburg Road is a retro diner with cheeseburgers, and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8:30 to 11:30. Sig Luscher Brewery at 221 Mero St has a biergarten where kids and dogs are welcome, with brats and hot dogs on the menu.
For a treat, Hoggy's Ice Cream at 301 W Main St opens at noon most days (2 PM on Sunday). Wicked Whisk Cake Co. at 238 W Main St sells cake by the slice Tuesday through Saturday, and Poppy's Bakery on Wilkinson Boulevard has donuts and a drive-through for early mornings.
A simple day plan
Salato in the morning while the kids have energy, pizza at Locals for lunch, a Rebecca Ruth tour in the early afternoon, then ice cream downtown. Salato is closed Sunday and Monday, and Rebecca Ruth has no tours on Sunday, so on those days swap in Josephine Sculpture Park or the Cove Spring trails.
More ideas are on our Things to Do page. For family-friendly festivals and shows, check the events calendar for the week of your visit.