Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary is a quiet nature reserve outside Frankfort, with trails through woods, meadows, and creekside habitat. It is run with an educational mission, so the appeal is less spectacle than a close look at central Kentucky plants, birds, and seasonal wildlife.
Use it as a low-key outdoor counterpoint to the state capitol and historic sites in town. The sanctuary is best in mild weather, when the trails are dry and the woods have either spring flowers or autumn colour.