No, you’re not dreaming. And it definitely isn’t a mirage. There are, indeed, palm trees in Kentucky.
For the record, the Bluegrass State also boasts an arctic cave, an Aztec jungle and a pirate ship — all of which can be found at the Wildwood Inn Tropical Dome & Theme Suites in Florence, Kentucky. The overnight spot offers eye-popping sights for kids, thanks to Wildwood’s commitment to making each suite an exotic wonderland. Among other attractions, the establishment’s 122 rooms include 14 family “adventure” suites, each appointed in a more playfully over-the-top manner than the next.
Need proof? Check out the Happy Days Suite: The room not only features such amenities as a two-person spa and 4-foot-by-6-foot projection TV, it also comes equipped with a jukebox and a queen-size bed that’s nestled inside a restored, cherry-red 1959 Cadillac convertible. In the Kentucky Cave Suite, guests may find such modern features as a microwave and refrigerator, but the constructed stalagmite and stalactite formations that decorate the room transport guests back to a prehistoric period. And in the Treehouse Suite, travelers can recall the Swiss Family Robinson, thanks to a wicker swing, a spiral staircase hidden within the trunk of an enormous tree, and a king-size bed that appears to be suspended from thick vines.
The Wildwood Inn has come a long way since its 1932 opening: Back then, the theme room was a one-room cabin that rented for 25 cents. Now, in addition to the wealth of extraordinary spaces, Wildwood Inn also includes a tropical dome complex, home to a baby pool and an indoor play gym and (for parents only) a lush, waterfall spa.