Written by Rex Vogel, RVing with Rex explores North America one meaningful place at a time through destination guides, history, slow travel, and thoughtful storytelling. Drawing on years of RV travel and firsthand experience, the site helps readers move beyond simply seeing places to truly experiencing them.
Versailles, Kentucky, is more than bourbon and Bluegrass. Discover its historic courthouse, scenic railroad, horse farms, bourbon heritage, and the rolling countryside of Woodford County.
Versailles is one of those Kentucky towns that can be easy to pass by if you are focused on getting somewhere else.
We weren’t looking for a major attraction when we arrived. After exploring nearby Midway, we continued on to Versailles and began exploring the town and surrounding countryside. What we found was a place that offered something more than the bourbon and horse farms for which Woodford County is known.
There was a historic downtown, an impressive courthouse, a church steeple rising above the buildings, and a railroad that offered a different way to experience the countryside. Beyond town, the landscape opened into the rolling hills of Kentucky’s Bluegrass region where horse farms and bourbon distilleries seemed to fit naturally into the scenery.
Versailles turned out to be less about checking off attractions and more about seeing how the pieces of Kentucky fit together.
The first thing that caught my attention was Versailles itself. And if you are wondering, Versailles, Kentucky, is pronounced ver-SALES, a little different from the French city most of us know.
The historic downtown has the comfortable character of an old Kentucky county seat with the courthouse providing a natural focal point and a tall church spire rising above the rooftops. Older buildings line the streets, reminding visitors that this is a community with a history rather than simply a stop on the way to somewhere else.
Established in 1792 and incorporated in 1837, Versailles is one of the older communities in this part of Kentucky. Yet what I noticed most wasn’t the age of the buildings but the way the town has retained its character while remaining very much a working community.
There was no need to hurry. A walk or slow drive through downtown was enough to appreciate the architecture, the streets and the details that can easily be missed when we’re focused on reaching the next attraction.
Sometimes discovering a place begins simply by stopping long enough to see it.
The Woodford County Courthouse is hard to miss when exploring downtown Versailles. It also provides a good place to begin understanding the town’s history.
Woodford County was established in 1788, before Kentucky became a state and Versailles was selected as its county seat. The first court met in 1789 in the home of Caleb Wallace, a local judge and Presbyterian minister. As the community grew, it soon needed a courthouse of its own.
The first was about as simple as a frontier courthouse could be—a log building constructed by Jesse Graddy in 1790 at a cost of just $22.50. It was followed by a stone courthouse in the 1790s and then a brick courthouse built in 1812–13. That courthouse served the county for more than 150 years before fire destroyed it in 1965. The present courthouse was completed in 1970.
Looking at the courthouse, it is easy to see it simply as another government building. But its story says something more. For more than two centuries, this square has remained at the center of government and public life in Woodford County.
Around it, Versailles grew from a frontier community into the county seat of one of Kentucky’s most productive agricultural counties.
That connection between town and countryside remains evident today.
An old railroad offers a different view of Kentucky
One of the best ways to see the countryside around Versailles is from the railroad.
The Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum operates from nearby Woodford County Park with excursions through the rolling landscape of Central Kentucky. The train crosses a rebuilt wooden trestle and continues toward Young’s High Bridge, built in 1889 over the Kentucky River.
For me, the appeal wasn’t simply reaching a destination. It was seeing Kentucky from a different perspective.
From the train, the rolling hills, wooded stretches and open farmland became part of the journey rather than scenery passing by the windshield. The slower pace made it easier to appreciate the landscape that defines this part of Kentucky.
Railroads once connected communities like Versailles with the wider world. Today, riding these same tracks offers something different—a chance to slow down and experience the countryside.
Sometimes, that’s reason enough to take the train.
Leaving Versailles, the character of the landscape changes quickly. The streets and buildings give way to rolling hills, open fields, and winding country roads.
This is horse country and the farms are impossible to miss. Fences follow the contours of the land, barns sit back from the road, and horses graze in carefully maintained pastures. Many are large Thoroughbred operations, some associated with Kentucky’s horse industry for generations.
What makes the landscape so appealing is its sense of order without looking manufactured. Fences, stone walls, barns and farmhouses seem to belong naturally to the rolling terrain. The roads rise and fall through the hills, revealing another pasture or farm around the next bend.
The Bluegrass isn’t simply green grass. Its underlying limestone soils have long supported productive agriculture and helped make this region especially well suited to raising horses. That same limestone geology contributes to the water and conditions that helped make Kentucky famous for bourbon.
The horses and bourbon aren’t separate stories. Both are products of the same landscape.
Driving through Woodford County helped me appreciate that the countryside isn’t simply a backdrop to Versailles.
The story of Woodford Reserve begins long before the name appeared on a bottle.
In 1812, Elijah Pepper established a distillery on the property outside Versailles. His son, Oscar, later expanded the operation and in the 1830s Dr. James C. Crow became associated with the distillery. Crow’s methods and attention to consistency helped shape practices that became important to modern bourbon.
Over the years, the property changed hands and names, eventually becoming known as Labrot & Graham. After periods of operation and closure, the historic distillery was restored and eventually became the home of Woodford Reserve.
Walking through the property today, it is easy to look beyond the modern brand and see the connection to a distilling tradition more than two centuries old.
The bourbon may bring people to Woodford Reserve but its history is what makes the place memorable.
I have toured Woodford Reserve twice but my first visit came when Woodford was still a dry county.
That created an unusual situation for someone touring a bourbon distillery. I could see where bourbon was made, learn its history, and tour the facilities but I couldn’t taste the product.
I bought a bottle anyway.
It wasn’t just my first bottle of Woodford Reserve. It was my first bottle of bourbon. Buying it without ever tasting bourbon seemed like a gamble but fortunately it turned out to be a pretty good one.
When I returned for a second tour, I appreciated the experience differently. I already knew what was in the bottle but I also had a better appreciation for the historic property and its setting among the rolling hills of Woodford County.
Those two visits gave me more than an introduction to bourbon. They gave me another way to appreciate the place where Kentucky history, bourbon, and the Bluegrass landscape come together.
Sometimes the best destinations are the ones that make you slow down
Exploring Versailles, I found that the town is about much more than the bourbon and Bluegrass for which this part of Kentucky is known.
It’s the historic downtown, the courthouse and church spire, the railroad that carries you into the countryside, and the rolling hills where horses graze and bourbon has been made for generations.
It’s also about what lies between those places—the roads, farms and quiet stretches of Kentucky countryside that invite you to slow down and look around.
That’s what stayed with me about Versailles. Not a destination that demands your attention but a place that rewards it.
Sometimes the places we remember longest aren’t the ones with the most attractions. They’re the ones that give us a reason to slow down, look around, and appreciate where we are.
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Editor’s note
This article was originally published in August 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. Conditions, access, and amenities may change over time, so please verify current details before planning your trip.
To maintain transparency and editorial independence, this website contains no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just firsthand RV travel experiences and practical information for fellow travelers.
Some towns grow around rivers. Others grow along highways. Midway, Kentucky, grew around a railroad. Nearly two centuries later, the tracks still run through the heart of this charming Bluegrass town, surrounded by historic buildings, small businesses, and the stories of the railroad that created it.
Some towns grow around a river. Others grow along a highway. Midway, Kentucky, grew around a railroad.
Transportation has always shaped where communities develop and how they grow. Nearly two centuries later, the tracks still run through the heart of Midway, surrounded by the historic buildings and Bluegrass landscape that give the town its character.
To understand Midway, you have to understand the railroad—not just how it created the town, but how its rise and eventual decline shaped the community that grew around it.
In Marietta, Ohio, the story began with water. The Ohio and Muskingum Rivers brought people, goods, and commerce together and helped shape the town that grew along their banks.
Midway tells a similar story but its highway was made of steel.
In the 1830s, the Lexington and Ohio Railroad was being built between Lexington and Frankfort. When the tracks reached this point, the railroad created more than a transportation route. It created a town. In 1835, the railroad purchased John Francisco’s farm and laid out Midway around the tracks, making it Kentucky’s first town established by a railroad.
The contrast is fascinating. In Marietta, you can stand beside the river and understand why the town grew there. In Midway, you can stand beside the railroad tracks and understand the same thing.
Different forms of transportation. Different landscapes. But the same lesson: sometimes the best way to understand a town is to look at what brought it to life.
From tracks through the countryside to a thriving town
Once the tracks arrived, Midway began to grow.
The railroad brought more than a route between Lexington and Frankfort. It brought people, businesses, goods, and opportunity. A community that had begun as farmland developed into a busy railroad town with its commercial life concentrated around the tracks.
Midway’s location was especially important. Sitting between two established Kentucky cities, it became a natural stopping point along the route. The railroad connected local farmers and merchants with markets beyond the Bluegrass and gave residents access to a much larger world.
During the railroad’s heyday, Midway was anything but sleepy. As many as 30 trains a day passed through town, bringing a steady flow of passengers and freight.
The tracks had created Midway. Now they were helping determine what kind of town it would become.
For generations, the railroad was central to life in Midway. Then the way Americans traveled and moved goods began to change.
Automobiles and highways increasingly replaced passenger trains while trucking took over much of the freight business. The steady stream of trains that had once defined Midway gradually diminished and passenger service eventually ended in 1971.
For a town created around the railroad, this was more than a change in transportation. It threatened the economic foundation on which Midway had been built.
But Midway did not disappear when the passenger trains did. The community adapted, its historic downtown survived, and the railroad tracks remained part of the town.
Today, freight trains still pass through Midway. The railroad no longer dominates the community as it once did but its presence is a reminder of both what built the town and how Midway learned to move beyond it.
The railroad didn’t simply pass through Midway. It became part of the town’s daily rhythm.
The tracks run directly through downtown with historic buildings and businesses gathered close by. Streets meet the tracks, storefronts face the activity they brought, and the compact downtown still reflects the community that grew around them.
Walking through Midway today, it is easy to imagine the importance those tracks once held. Trains brought passengers into town, delivered goods to local businesses, and carried Midway’s products beyond the Bluegrass.
What makes the scene especially remarkable is that the tracks are still active. Freight trains continue to pass through town, following the same route that helped create Midway nearly two centuries ago.
The railroad may no longer define everyday life as it once did but it remains impossible to separate Midway from the tracks running through its heart.
Where the railroad still divides—and connects—the town
The railroad tracks still run through the heart of Midway, physically separating the two sides of downtown. But today, the corridor feels less like a barrier and more like part of the town’s character.
Large flower pots line the railroad, adding color and a touch of charm along the tracks. On either side, historic buildings continue to house businesses, restaurants, and shops.
Darlin’ Jean’s is one example. Its presence in the historic downtown is a reminder that these buildings aren’t simply preserved for visitors. They remain part of everyday Midway, giving the old railroad town a sense of life and purpose.
Walking through downtown, I found an interesting contrast: the railroad that once brought Midway to life still cuts through its center while the town has found ways to make that historic corridor its own.
The trains may be quieter in Midway’s story today but the town has learned to live with the tracks—and around them.
Some towns are interesting. Others are charming. And then there are those little towns you find yourself reluctant to leave.
Midway was one of those towns for me.
Perhaps it was the historic buildings clustered around the railroad tracks, the flower pots lining the corridor, the small businesses and restaurants, or simply the scale of the place. Nothing felt hurried. Midway invited me to slow down, wander a little longer, and take another photograph before moving on.
That may be the real charm of a small town. You arrive expecting to spend a little time and before you know it, you’re wishing you had more.
Midway began because a railroad needed a place to stop. Nearly two centuries later, the railroad is still there but it is the town’s character that makes you want to stay.
And sometimes, that is the best measure of a place: how hard it is to leave.
Eventually, of course, we had to leave Midway. We continued our drive through the Bluegrass, with another historic town waiting down the road: Versailles.
But Midway stayed with me.
Perhaps that is because the town never felt like a place I had simply visited. I had followed its railroad story, walked its streets, photographed its buildings, and watched trains still passing through the town that they helped create.
The railroad brought Midway to life nearly two centuries ago. Today, it is the town’s character that makes you want to stay.
Sometimes the best travel experiences aren’t about checking another place off the map. They are the places that make you wish you didn’t have to leave.
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Editor’s note
This article was originally published in August 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. Conditions, access, and amenities may change over time, so please verify current details before planning your trip.
To maintain transparency and editorial independence, this website contains no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just firsthand RV travel experiences and practical information for fellow travelers.
After more than 30 years of RV travel, I’ve learned that the best journeys often begin with a quiet campground rather than a famous destination. Staying at Whispering Hills RV Park near Georgetown, Kentucky, led us to unexpected discoveries—from Japanese gardens and historic estates to horse country, barn quilts, and the charming railroad town of Midway.
After 30 years of RV travel, I have learned that Julia Alvarez was right when she wrote, “Don’t plan it all. Let life surprise you a little.” Some of our most memorable journeys haven’t begun with a famous destination or a carefully planned itinerary. They’ve begun with something much simpler—a campground, a quiet back road, and the freedom to explore.
That’s exactly what happened when we pulled into Whispering Hills RV Park, just north of Georgetown, Kentucky. We chose it as a peaceful base for exploring Kentucky horse country. Instead, it became the gateway to a week of unexpected discoveries where every drive revealed another layer of the Bluegrass State’s history, culture, and countryside.
Looking back, I realized we hadn’t simply found a campground. We had found a quiet place to begin.
When we arrived at Whispering Hills RV Park, we quickly understood why choosing the right campground matters. A good RV stop is more than a place to park—it becomes a base for exploration.
Located about 2.5 miles from Interstate 75 at Exit 129 and approximately 7 miles north of Georgetown along U.S. Highway 25, Whispering Hills offered the kind of setting we appreciate: a peaceful rural landscape away from the noise and traffic of the highway.
Surrounded by Kentucky countryside, it provided the perfect place to slow down and begin exploring the area.
During our stay, we used the campground as our home base, heading out each day to discover what lay beyond. Some destinations were planned while others appeared simply by following the roads and seeing where they led.
That is one of the pleasures of RV travel. Stay long enough and a place begins to reveal itself. What first appears to be just a stop on the map can become the beginning of stories you never expected to find.
For us, those stories began along the roads leading away from Whispering Hills.
Our first surprise came before we even reached Georgetown.
Just north of town, we turned into Yuko-En on the Elkhorn, the Official Kentucky-Japan Friendship Garden. Hidden beside Elkhorn Creek, the six-acre garden felt like an unexpected discovery, blending the tranquility of a traditional Japanese stroll garden with the rolling Bluegrass landscape of Kentucky.
We wandered along winding pathways that crossed graceful arched bridges, passed beneath carefully pruned trees, and circled quiet ponds where colorful koi glided through the water. Waterfalls, a Zen rock garden, and thoughtfully placed benches encouraged us to slow our pace and simply enjoy the surroundings.
It was a peaceful place that seemed far removed from the interstate only a few miles away. Instead of rushing toward our destination, we found ourselves lingering, appreciating the craftsmanship and symbolism that had gone into creating a garden dedicated to the friendship between Kentucky and Japan.
Finding Yuko-En reminded us why we enjoy using a rural campground as a base for exploration. Had we been focused only on reaching Georgetown, we might have driven right past one of the area’s most memorable places.
Leaving the garden, we continued toward Georgetown, unaware that another piece of the area’s history was waiting just down the road.
Just beyond Yuko-En, another unexpected stop offered a glimpse into Georgetown’s rich past. Tucked among mature trees and peaceful grounds, Cardome is one of those places that quietly invite visitors to slow down and explore.
Named from the Latin phrase cara domus, meaning “dear home,” Cardome has been part of the Georgetown community for more than two centuries. Over the years it has served many purposes, yet its historic buildings and beautifully maintained grounds continue to reflect the character and heritage of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region.
We took our time walking the property, enjoying its quiet setting and handsome architecture. There was no rush, no crowds—just an opportunity to appreciate a place where history has been carefully preserved rather than replaced.
Cardome may not appear on every visitor’s itinerary but that is part of its appeal. Like so many of the places we discovered during our stay, it rewarded curiosity more than careful planning.
As we left Cardome and continued toward Georgetown, we realized the journey had already become as memorable as the destination itself.
Historic Georgetown was no longer simply the destination we had set out to explore. It was the next chapter in a journey that had already exceeded our expectations.
Walking through the historic downtown, we quickly understood why so many visitors are drawn to this charming Kentucky community. Streets lined with beautifully preserved Victorian buildings, locally owned shops, and inviting storefronts encouraged us to slow our pace and simply wander.
More than 200 buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, giving Georgetown a remarkable sense of continuity. History is not confined to a museum or historic site—it remains woven into the fabric of everyday life.
We found ourselves lingering far longer than we had expected, admiring the architecture, browsing the shops, and appreciating the relaxed atmosphere. Georgetown was the kind of place where every block seemed to reveal another interesting building or another reason to keep walking.
What we appreciated most was its unhurried pace. Rather than rushing from one attraction to another, we found ourselves enjoying the simple pleasure of exploring a community that had preserved both its history and its welcoming small-town character.
Our journey had begun with the search for a campground. By the time we finished exploring Georgetown, we realized we had found much more than a place to spend the week.
Leaving Georgetown, we soon discovered that the stories did not end at the edge of town. Some were waiting along quiet country roads where the journey itself became part of the experience.
One of those discoveries was the Buffalo Gals Barn Quilt Trail. Winding through the rolling hills of Scott County, the route offered a beautiful drive where colorful quilt squares appeared on barns, buildings, and fences along the way.
Barn quilts transform traditional quilt patterns into large works of roadside art. Each design adds its own character to the landscape, creating a colorful connection between local creativity and rural heritage.
What made the trail memorable was not just the artwork. It was the setting—the quiet roads, historic farms, open fields, and the feeling of discovering a part of Kentucky that many travelers never see from the main highways.
Like so many discoveries during our stay, the Buffalo Gals Barn Quilt Trail was not something we had planned. It was simply another reminder that when you have time to wander, the journey often becomes as rewarding as the destination.
A rural base had opened the door and the roads beyond continued to surprise us.
Among the many discoveries surrounding Georgetown, one connected us directly with one of Kentucky’s most enduring traditions: Thoroughbred racing.
At Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm, we found a place where the stories of racing champions continue long after their days on the track have ended.
Spread across nearly 140 acres, Old Friends provides a retirement home for Thoroughbred horses whose racing careers are behind them but whose legacies remain. The farm is home to celebrated horses including Kentucky Derby winners War Emblem and Silver Charm, along with Breeders’ Cup champions Amazombie and Alphabet Soup.
What makes Old Friends special is not simply the fame of the horses. It is the idea behind the place. Animals once celebrated for speed, competition, and victory are given a peaceful setting where they can enjoy their later years while visitors learn the stories behind their names.
The farm offers public tours, private tours by appointment, and a visitor center, allowing guests to connect with another chapter of Kentucky’s racing heritage.
Like so many discoveries during our stay, Old Friends was not part of the original plan. It was another reminder that when you have the time to explore, unexpected stories often become the ones you remember most.
Just when we thought our exploration around Georgetown had revealed all its surprises, another short drive introduced us to a town we quickly fell in love with.
Midway, only a few miles beyond Georgetown, was unlike any other community we had visited during our stay. From the moment we arrived, it was clear this was a town comfortable with its history and proud of what made it unique.
The answer was found in the railroad that runs through the heart of downtown. In many communities, tracks became reminders of a past that had disappeared. In Midway, they remain part of everyday life with shops and businesses lining the streets on both sides.
There was something charming about a town that embraced the very thing that shaped it. The railroad was not a barrier separating the community; it was the centerpiece that brought the town together.
Walking through Midway, we discovered historic buildings, local shops, and an atmosphere that encouraged visitors to slow down and look closer. It had the kind of small-town character that cannot be created overnight.
Like so many discoveries during our stay, Midway was not part of the original plan. It was simply another reminder that choosing a rural base allows time for unexpected places to reveal themselves.
And sometimes, those unexpected places become the ones you remember most.
When a place becomes more than a stop along the way
When we arrived at Whispering Hills RV Park, we were simply looking for a comfortable place to spend a week and explore the surrounding area. We had no idea that a quiet campground in a rural setting would open the door to so many unexpected discoveries.
What began as a simple stay became a journey filled with places we never intended to find. The most memorable moments came not from following a carefully planned itinerary, but from having the time to wander, follow the road, and let each discovery lead to the next.
Julia Alvarez wrote, “Don’t plan it all. Let life surprise you a little.”
Those words capture much of what we have learned through years of RV travel. Planning has its place, but some of the best experiences happen when we leave room for the unexpected.
A campground is more than a place to park for the night. Sometimes it becomes the starting point for stories you never knew were waiting.
We had found a quiet place to begin—and it led us somewhere far beyond what we imagined.
Editor’s note
This article was originally published in August 2026. Information reflects what was accurate at the time of writing. Conditions, access, and amenities may change over time, so please verify current details before planning your trip.
To maintain transparency and editorial independence, this website contains no ads, no sponsored content, and no affiliate links—just firsthand RV travel experiences and practical information for fellow travelers.
Starting surrounded by horse farms in Woodford County and culminating at Lexington’s Distillery District, it’s easy to see why the Federal Highway Administration named Old Frankfort Pike a National Scenic Byway
Remember when the term Joy Ride had a negative connotation? When it was thought that taking a Joy Ride meant you were frivolously enjoying yourself rather than getting to the task?
Kentucky Tourism is all about forgetting the task at hand and enjoying yourself with their new Joy Ride campaign. On outings across the 16-county Bluegrass Region, weekend road warriors are encouraged to become less warrior-like and slow down to enjoy all the region has to offer: Horses, bourbon, historic homes, nature preserves, wineries, and world-class views down every winding byway.
“The Joy Ride campaign encourages people to travel like they did in the ’50s and ’60s,” says VisitLEX president Mary Quinn Ramer. “When they took time to stop at scenic sites along the way and enjoy the experience of getting to their destination.”
How to get to Kentucky distilleries: Three Joy Rides from Lexington
November and even parts of December have plenty of brisk, sunny days left to experience the beauty of the Bluegrass adorned in its wardrobe of gold, orange, and scarlet. And what better way to enjoy a road trip on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail with brisk, sunny days and fall colors than the commonwealth’s signature spirit?
So, when you ask for directions don’t ask for the fastest way to get to the distillery. Instead, enjoy the journey just as much as you’re going to enjoy the bourbon at the end of the road trip. Here are three Joy Rides to take from Lexington around Central Kentucky, each with a bourbon-themed destination in mind. These road trips will navigate you on the back roads to three iconic Kentucky bourbon distilleries.
Lexington to Woodford Reserve Distillery, Woodbridge County
Sure, we all know that Woodford County offers some of the best scenery in the state but when was the last time you took time to stop and take a long look? Crossing the county line the Kentucky Castle looms on a hill beckoning you to a 21st century Camelot. You may not be planning to overnight at this luxury hotel but you can detour for a peek at the lovely gardens at the back of the Castle. From the Castle, eschew US 60 in favor of Old Frankfort Pike which in 2021 was designated a National Scenic Byway. It’s easy to see why.
The scenery on both sides of the road is eye-popping—a lush tapestry of Thoroughbred horse farms framed by the region’s iconic rock fences (a horse farm tour always makes for a good stop.)
A brief detour—and on a Joy Ride you are free to take as many detours as you want—will get you to the Instagram-worthy Weisenberger Mill with its cascading waterfall. A stop at the red brick Romanesque Mt. Vernon Baptist Church will introduce you to an architectural style not usually found in the Bluegrass and a plaque in the churchyard will tell you that it dates back to 1822 and is still welcoming congregations.
You may have come to the intersection of the Pike and US 62 and wondered what the story was behind the white Colonial-style Offutt-Cole Tavern. Well, the story is a good one as it dates back nearly 250 years and at various times has been a tavern, a stagecoach stop, and the home of Zerelda Cole, mother of outlaws Frank and Jesse James.
From here you can either stop in Midway for a leisurely lunch or perhaps take an even more winding road to Nonesuch for lunch at The Glitz at Irish Acres Antiques but be sure you have a reservation. History buffs will want to stop at Huntertown Community Interpretive Park, the former site of an African-American freetown settled after the Civil War. No structures remain but the setting honors Huntertown’s history.
By now, you’re ready for a tour and tasting at Woodford Reserve Distillery on picturesque Glenn’s Creek (if you booked in advance, that is.) Should you want to extend your stay, book a room at the Woodford Hotel, a new property in downtown Versailles. The hotel’s eight suites are named for some aspect of the bourbon industry—from the Wild Turkey Suite to the EH Taylor Suite.
Lawrenceburg offers Joy Riders multiple opportunities to appreciate all the Burg offers. If you’re into historical preservation there’s no better example of it than the Ripy Mansion completed in 1888 by bourbon baron T.B. Ripy. The 11,000-square foot, 24-room mansion, a mix of Queen Anne/Victorian/Romanesque Revival styles is available for tours (with a reservation) and as a bonus you can wander through the gardens lush at peak season with roses, tiger lilies, hydrangeas, phlox, irises, and viburnum.
If one of you is into historic preservation and the other is an adrenaline junkie you can both be happy on a Joy Ride to Lawrenceburg. Nothing gets the juices flowing like a plunge from the 240-foot Young’s High Bridge spanning the Kentucky River in the shadows of Wild Turkey Distillery. You will have to do a little planning as bungee jumping through Vertigo Bungee is only offered one weekend a month (May through October.)
However, tours and tastings are offered year-round at Four Roses Distillery whose unique Spanish-style architecture is more reminiscent of southern California than Central Kentucky. You will love the romantic story about how the distillery got its name almost as much as you will love the silky taste of its single-barrel bourbon. Settle in for a bourbon flight and if you don’t feel like driving back afterward you can overnight in a bourbon barrel. Well, at least the only accommodations in the U.S. are shaped like bourbon barrels. Bourbon Barrel Retreats is a collection of seven barrel-shaped cottages 16 feet in diameter that can sleep two people (plus a furry companion should you wish to bring one.)
Each cottage has a kitchenette equipped with a refrigerator, coffee pot, and hot plate for cooking, a full bath, and a small sitting area (three cottages also have an outdoor hot tub). The most impressive feature, however, is the large circular window mimicking a barrel top that is the focal point of the bedroom. The Bourbon Barrel Retreats’ common area allows guests to sit around the fire pit and swap bourbon stories.
By now, you’re aware that a tour of Buffalo Trace distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail requires some planning (well in advance.) But once you’ve got that treasured ticket don’t be in a hurry to get there. Before your assigned time check out Franklin County’s non-bourbon offerings.
US 60 with its stunning horse country scenery is the perfect location for a joy ride. Once you cross the county line stop at Rebecca Ruth Candy for a bourbon ball (just to whet your appetite for what’s to come.) If you want to enjoy a spirit other than bourbon detour to Prodigy Vineyards and Winery and belly up to the onyx bar for a sampling of this family-owned winery’s vintages from semi-sweet to dry reds. If your sweet tooth extends beyond wine, B’s Bakery in downtown Frankfort is a must. “B” aka Beth Carter who once catered for Taylor Swift and Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman has a selection of scones, cookies, and cupcakes that will leave your mouth watering for days.
If you need a refresher course in Commonwealth history, check out the burial site of Daniel Boone. The jury is still out as to whether Dan’l is buried here but the grave is impressive and the view from the overlook even more impressive. Or you could take a tour of Liberty Hall, an oft-overlooked slice of history that encompasses not only that of Frankfort but of Kentucky and Colonial-era America.
To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson, “it’s about the journey as much as the destination.” Take a Joy Ride and find out for yourself.
A ride through the Bluegrass State reveals a legacy of thoroughbred horses and horse racing, bourbon, intriguing history, natural attractions and beauty, and much more
Kentucky bills itself as a place of Unbridled Spirit. After numerous RV trips around this diverse state, I have to agree.
Horses, the royalty of Lexington, live in barns of beauty surrounded by velvety green fields of Kentucky bluegrass. Miles of fences and traditional hand-laid limestone dividers partition the farms where they reside. A few horse farms even open their doors to visitors—truly a worthwhile stop.
The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington showcases thoroughbred equines with live horses in numerous venues and informative exhibits in the American Saddlebred Museum. Retired racehorses reside in the park and they and their histories are introduced to visitors. Costumed equestrians ride various breeds around an outdoor ring during the Parade of Breeds show, accompanied by commentary.
Visitors have an opportunity to take photos, pet the horses, and chat with the riders at the end. Guests can board a horse-drawn wagon for a tour and catch a glimpse of the sculptures that dot this 1,200-acre working farm.
The Kentucky Horse Park Campground offers 260 campsites with electric (50, 30, 20 amps) and water hookups. All sites are 55-foot paved back-in spots. In addition, some electric-only and primitive sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Two dump stations are provided.
The campground makes a great base for exploring the Lexington area which boasts one of the largest concentrations of horse farms in the world. Driving along the Bluegrass Country tour route takes you past many of them. Intricate iron entrance gates and impressive homes stand on many farms in the rolling green countryside.
On a morning visit to the Keeneland racecourse, you can rub elbows with equestrians during breakfast in the Track Kitchen and observe the athletes’ workouts on the track. This famous and historic horseracing arena attracts visitors year-round. Even when races are not in session, Keeneland’s significance and extensive history make it a popular Lexington destination. Horses began racing at Keeneland, one of the top Lexington attractions in 1936 and since then, annual races have become a traditional event.
Keeneland is also host to practice meets for jockeys and horses preparing for the Kentucky Derby as well as a series of horse auctions throughout the year. Visitors to Keeneland can view the racecourse, visit the indoor facility, and tour the sales complex. Keeneland’s website offers a calendar of upcoming events and ticket-purchasing options.
The Kentucky Horse Park Campground’s proximity to nearby cities and towns also proved to be very convenient. Interested in seeing how cars are manufactured? Explore the visitor’s center at the Toyota assembly plant in Georgetown, the largest Toyota manufacturing facility in the world which offers free 45-minute tram tours on weekdays (reservations required).
Georgetown boasts more than 200 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places making it an interesting and visually appealing place to stroll. Download the walking tour map or pick one up at the visitor’s center.
On the northern edge of Georgetown the Yuko-En on the Elkhorn is a symbol of friendship between the nation of Japan and Kentucky State. As a four-season garden, travelers and locals alike are welcome to visit the Yuko-En on the Elkhorn all year round. Access to the park is via the Tokugawa Gate along Cincinnati Pike which will lead visitors into the lush 5.5-acre garden.
The Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm is a farm for retired Thoroughbred horses that encompasses nearly 140 acres. The unique home for horses offers an opportunity for guests to get up close to several Thoroughbreds including winners of the Kentucky Derby like War Emblem and Silver Charm and Breeders’ Cup Champions Amazombie and Alphabet Soup as well as stakes winners Ide and Game On Dude. The Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm offers daily public tours for a fee, private tours by appointment, and a visitor center.
A flower-lined boulevard in Frankfort leads to the Kentucky State Capitol building. Its murals, sculptures, and columns artfully combine to make it one of the most beautiful capitals in the United States. Broad steps ascend to the entrance which leads into a grand rotunda under a seven-story dome where a large Abraham Lincoln statue greets you.
Marble staircases lead to the judicial floor and the Supreme Court chambers which are adorned in rich mahogany and burnished with gold leaf. The Senate and House of Representatives chambers occupy opposite ends of the third floor.
Near the capitol rotunda is a doll display depicting each of Kentucky’s first ladies in her inaugural ball gown. It is incredible how fashion has changed through the centuries.
On the grounds of the state capitol stands the beautiful Floral Clock. Its face stretches 34 feet across and is covered by flowers exclusively grown in the state of Kentucky. Beneath the clock is a pool of water that is often used as a wishing well and the coins thrown into the well are used to fund scholarships. The Floral Clock is one of the most-visited attractions in Frankfort and is open to the public every day from dawn until dusk.
Visitors also can tour the Old Capitol Building in Frankfort which served the state legislature from 1830 until 1910 when the larger capitol was built in south Frankfort. The old and new capitol buildings have striking differences. The old capitol was constructed in 1830 in the Greek revival style. Of architectural interest is the curved, self-supporting stone staircase. The first-floor library houses old books, implements, and furnishings from the 1800s.
Rebecca Ruth’s is home to the famous bourbon balls, a treat that mixes chocolate with Kentucky’s best-known liquor. The candy factory and museum is open for tours Monday-Saturday for a $5.00 admission fee. Children 5 and under get in free. After the tour, guests can purchase these sweet treats to take home with them at the company store.
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill founded in Harrodsburg in 1805 by members of a celibate religious sect allows visitors to immerse themselves in Shaker culture.
About 45 minutes south of Frankfort in Harrodsburg, visitors can enjoy a glimpse into the lives of the Shaker people. In 1805, members of this celibate religious sect established Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill which grew to 500-plus members.
Today, there are 34 surviving buildings of the 260 that were constructed during 105 years. In the Shaker faith, men and women had equal status—but everyone still had gendered roles, even eating on different sides of the dining rooms. Self-guided and staff-led tours of the village are available.
Feeling energetic? Hike up the trail at Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade. To get to the top of the bridge, you squeeze through a narrow fracture and climb some steps. For an easy ascent, you can take the skylift. Once at the top, you will be within walking distance of the 30-foot-wide sandstone structure known as Natural Bridge. If you want to extend your adventure, follow the 1,200-foot flat trail to Lookout Point for an incredible view of the bridge and the valley. Choose from among a dozen hiking trails that range from one-half mile to 7.5 miles.
Plenty of other fun activities beckon in and near the park. Lively music fills the air at outdoor hoedowns that take place at Hoedown Island within the park as dancers perform line dancing, Appalachian square dancing, two-stepping, and other lively dances. Throw in a fishing line or go canoeing on nearby Mill Creek Lake—maybe you will catch a largemouth bass.
Two campgrounds in the state park offer a total of 52 sites with electric hookups plus several primitive sites for tents. While here, drive to the adjacent Red River Gorge geological area for an immersion into nature. The Red River is Kentucky’s only National Wild and Scenic River. The erosive forces of wind and water have sculpted 100 arches in this area. Some of these natural phenomena will show themselves to you on the 70 miles of hiking trails.
One of the most popular attractions in Kentucky is Mammoth Cave National Park. Kentucky lays claim to the longest known cave system in the world—Mammoth Cave National Park. Before tourists started coming to the cave, mining saltpeter to make black gunpowder was conducted in the 18th century. Park rangers give cave tours that range from 30 minutes to six hours long. Some are strenuous, requiring many steps and steep grades.
Visitors can negotiate tight tunnels and view huge domed spaces, slot canyons, and historic structures in the park. Enjoy the waters of the Green and Nolin rivers by going fishing, canoeing, or kayaking. Or ride a bike along the 9-mile Railroad Bike and Hike Trail to visit scenic overlooks and historic sites. Other hiking trails ranging from 0.1 to 1.3 miles lead to a variety of sights.
Backcountry trails beckon adventurers to miles of forested hikes and horse trails. Everyone can find an outdoor trek that suits them. Two campgrounds here offer sites that accommodate RVs up to 40 feet with limited electric and no water hookups.
Cumberland Gap offers stunning scenery. Nestled on the border of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia is Cumberland Gap National Historical Park which offers an attractive campground. Pioneers heading west traveled through this natural pass in the mountains.
Volunteers leave the visitors center at 9:00 a.m. to lead a four-hour tour of Hensley Settlement, a remote mountain enclave founded in 1903 and occupied until 1951. After riding a shuttle up a steep gravel road through the woods, visitors embark on a stroll around the historic Appalachian farm community. Split-rail fences outline plots Hensley family members called home. The reconstructed one-room schoolhouse and log homes will transport you to simpler times.
Kentucky’s second-oldest city, Bardstown was first settled in 1780. Nearly 200 buildings in the historic downtown district are listed on the National Register of Historic Places including a 1779 stagecoach stop that today is the Old Talbott Tavern, the oldest bourbon bar in the world.
Bourbon distilleries are synonymous with Kentucky. Some offer tours and others offer only tastings.
The Bourbon Capital of the World is home to six notable distilleries. Kentucky’s “Official Outdoor Drama,” one of the country’s most highly regarded Civil War museums and one of the most recognized structures in the world is here at Federal Hill, better known as My Old Kentucky Home.
While staying at My Old Kentucky Home Campground in Bardstown we stopped at Heaven Hill Distillery and toured its small museum which tells the story of the only original U.S. spirit.
The Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loredo. After deciding on Maker’s Mark Distillery for a tour, we sipped coffee mixed with bourbon while gazing over the lush landscape. We then bought a gift bottle and hand-dipped it in the company’s traditional red wax.
Heaven Hill and Maker’s Mark are among the distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Kentuckians add this spirit to many dishes. On Route 49, to and from Bardstown, large buildings house hundreds of thousands of barrels of aging bourbon—barrels that are used only once by the distilleries.
Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, in Louisville. Choose from several behind-the-scenes tours for an up-close look at this legendary track and the equine athletes who thrill spectators here. On the 30-minute Historic Walking Tour included with admission you visit the paddock and grandstand to learn about the history of the track and horses.
A second tour visits such non-public areas as the workers village, Millionaires Row, and the Turf Club. Stable operations begin as early as 5:00 a.m. and these beautiful animals are treated like royalty.
Watching The Greatest Race on a 360-degree screen gives you the feeling that the horses in the Kentucky Derby are galloping straight at you. Colorful exhibits regarding jockeys, Derby attendees, and horses fill the Kentucky Derby Museum.
Kentucky is fortunate to have so many attractions worth visiting. It seems as though there is an attraction for everyone. Quilters can visit the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, sports-car enthusiasts can tour the Corvette factory and museum in Bowling Green, bluegrass music fans can visit Owensboro, history buffs will appreciate Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace in Hodgenville, and there are plenty of national parks such as Mammoth Cave and Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.
Visitors to this beautiful southern state will be rewarded with happy memories of the unbridled spirit of Kentucky.
Cool, hidden, and unusual things to do in the Bluegrass State
I know what you’re thinking: Kentucky is all about bourbon and horses, right? There’s no denying that many memorable days do start with these storied activities but there are so many more reasons to visit Kentucky.
There are plenty of reasons to visit Kentucky. It isn’t all horse racing, bourbon distilleries, and bluegrass music—although it’s got all three in abundance. Kentucky’s incredibly diverse array of geological features and ecosystems means it offers opportunities for all your favorite outdoor activities, too.
Lexington is known as the “Horse Capital of the World.” Situated deep in Kentucky’s Bluegrass Country, Lexington has several main attractions including the Kentucky Horse Park, The Red Mile, and Keeneland race courses. Outside of the equestrian scene, the city is known for Rupp Arena, Transylvania University, and the University of Kentucky.
Lexington has imposed a unique urban growth boundary to protect the miles of pastures where horses are kept. This means that large swaths of green fields can be found throughout Lexington. In the heart of the city, visitors will find plenty of intriguing places to explore, including the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, Kentucky Theatre, the Mary-Todd Lincoln House, and Martin Castle.
This famous and historic horseracing arena attracts visitors year round. Even when races are not in session, Keeneland’s significance and extensive history make it a popular Lexington destination. Horses began racing at Keeneland, one of the top Lexington attractions in 1936 and since then, annual races have become a traditional event.
Keeneland is also host to practice meets for jockeys and horses preparing for the Kentucky Derby as well as a series of horse auctions throughout the year. Visitors to Keeneland are able to view the racecourse, visit the indoor facility, and tour the sales complex. Keeneland’s website offers a calendar of upcoming events and ticket purchasing options.
Keeneland is located at 4201 Versailles Road, Lexington.
If Kentucky can be described as the state of horses and bourbon its capital Frankfort is at the heart of it all. Located on the banks of the Kentucky River, it is a quintessential river community with small-town charm, rich history, and typical Southern hospitality. Stroll through the city to admire its fabulous architecture, especially the new and old capitol buildings as well as the new and old governor mansions which are open to the public. Get a sense of 200 years of city history at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History and learn about the way of life in old Kentucky at the Liberty Hall Historic Site.
The Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History is a 167,000-square-foot modern research facility and a museum. It also serves as the headquarters of the Kentucky Historical Society. The center has a range of permanent and temporary exhibitions and an extensive research library. The main permanent exhibit is called “A Kentucky Journey” and it provides insight into Kentucky and its inhabitants from prehistoric times to today. The Martin F. Schmidt Research Library is a history and genealogy research library.
The Center offers resources such as manuscripts, books, oral histories, and graphic collections about the places and people that made Kentucky what it is today. The library is popular among family historians who are trying to trace their genealogy. The center also has the Keeneland Changing Exhibits Gallery which hosts various temporary exhibitions and a collection of Lincoln memorabilia.
The Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History is located at 100 W Broadway Street, Frankfort.
Completed in 1910 in the Beaux-Arts style the beautiful, stately building of today’s Kentucky Capitol is the fourth building to be the home of the Kentucky government since 1792. Its predecessor still stands in downtown Frankfort. The building, designed by architect Frank Mills Andrews has an elegant façade covered with Vermont granite and Indiana limestone.
The interior is decorated with brilliant white Georgia marble, dark green Italian marble, and gray Tennessee marble. The Capitol’s State Reception Room is used as a place for ceremonies and has hand-painted walls with murals and scagliola created to look like Gobelin tapestries. There is a huge amount of art displayed throughout the building. One of the most popular pieces is the Lincoln statue in the rotunda. There is also an interesting collection of dolls that belonged to various First Ladies.
The Kentucky Capitol Building is located at 700 Capital Avenue, Frankfort.
On the grounds of the state capitol in Frankfort stands the beautiful Floral Clock. Its face stretches 34 feet across and is covered by flowers exclusively grown in the state of Kentucky. Beneath the clock is a pool of water that is often used as a wishing well and the coins thrown into the well are used to fund scholarships. The Floral Clock is one of the most-visited attractions in Frankfort and is open to the public every day from dawn until dusk.
The Floral Clock is located at 700 Capital Avenue, Frankfort.
A national historic landmark and home of the world’s most award-winning bourbon, Buffalo Trace Distillery is a true Kentucky Landmark. The state’s native spirit has been distilled and aged at Buffalo Trace for over 150 years. The distillery offers five different tours from behind the scenes of the whiskey making process to a tour of the barrels used to store and age the product.
All tours are free and include a sample of Buffalo Trace’s award-winning bourbon at the end. The distillery is open every day except for major holidays. Groups of over 25 people are required to reserve the tour in advance.
Buffalo Trace Distillery is located at 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort.
Two former schoolteachers, Ruth Booe and Rebecca Gooch, started Rebecca Ruth Candies in 1919. Their business has survived fires, family tragedies, two world wars, and the Great Depression and it is now a Kentucky institution.
Rebecca Ruth’s is home of the famous “bourbon balls,” a treat that mixes chocolate with Kentucky’s best-known liquor. The candy factory and museum is open for tours Monday-Saturday for a $5.00 admission fee. Children 5 and under get in free. After the tour, guests can purchase these sweet treats to take home with them at the company store.
Rebecca Ruth is located at 116 East Second Street, Frankfort.
Home to 30,000 people, Elizabethtown is the 10th largest city in the state of Kentucky. The town was once home to the log cabin where Abraham Lincoln’s daughter Sarah was born in 1807.
Elizabethtown was also the site of a dramatic Civil War battle in 1862. Modern Elizabethtown boasts a variety of cultural and natural attractions. There is a cluster of museums and event centers in the downtown area and for outdoor adventures, visitors can check out the Bourbon Trail and the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. Another popular attraction in town is Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood home.
At 15,625 acres, Bernheim boasts the largest protected natural area in Kentucky. Bernheim contains a 600-acre arboretum with over 8,000 unique varieties of trees. Take a scenic drive through the forest on paved roads or bicycle around the Arboretum, a living library of trees.
Over 40 miles of trails with varying degrees of ease and difficulty weave their way through the forest at Bernheim; no matter what level you are looking for, there’s a trail for you. Some are handicap accessible. Hang out on the tree tops in the Canopy Tree Walk. This short boardwalk extends into the forest canopy, suspending visitors an astonishing 75 feet above the forest floor.
Bernheim Arboretum is located 20 miles northeast of Elizabethtown off Clermont Road.
Leaving Shepherdsville and heading southeast to Bardstown your first stop is in Clermont at the home of one of the world’s most noted whiskeys—the Jim Beam American Stillhouse. Although it’s now owned by Japanese mega-conglomerate Suntory, the seven-generation family-owned company’s rich history is still evident. The Jim Beam name dates back to before Kentucky was even a state. Their German immigrant ancestors settled on the land to grow corn that would soon after be used to make their original-recipe whiskey. You would be remiss to pass up one of its most influential brands.
Jim Beam is located 22 miles northeast of Elizabethtown off Clermont Road.
Kentucky’s second-oldest city, Bardstown was first settled in 1780. Nearly 200 buildings in the historic downtown district are listed on the National Register of Historic Places including a 1779 stagecoach stop that today is the Old Talbott Tavern, the oldest bourbon bar in the world.
Bardstown was described by Rand McNally and USA Today as the Most Beautiful Small Town in America and it is hard to argue with that description. The county seat of Nelson County, Bardstown is famous around the world for its bourbon while its eclectic shops are well worth exploring too.
The Bourbon Capital of the World is home to six notable distilleries. Kentucky’s “Official Outdoor Drama,” one of the country’s most highly regarded Civil War museums and one of the most recognized structures in the world is here at Federal Hill, better known as My Old Kentucky Home.
Distillery tours are a good way to get up close and personal with the beloved oak-aged liquor. By staying in Bardstown you’re roughly a half-hour drive from Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, and Four Roses. You’re practically spoiled for choice right in Bardstown, as well: The Barton 1792 distillery is a stone’s throw from downtown while Lux Row (which produces Rebel Yell, Ezra Brooks, and more), Willett, and the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center aren’t much farther.
For whiskey lovers, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail is a bucket-list trip, full of opportunities to visit distilleries and learn about bourbon—plus, of course, plenty of sampling along the way. Kentucky is the spiritual home of bourbon, an American whiskey made with at least 51 percent corn and aged in charred new American oak barrels. Kentucky’s bourbon distilleries are sprawled across the state with most of them between Louisville and Lexington.
The official Kentucky Bourbon Trail exists under the auspices of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association and it includes 18 distilleries as well as 23 smaller distilleries designated as the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. This official trial doesn’t include every bourbon producer in the state. But it’s still a pretty comprehensive overview and provides a useful way to organize a visit—including a website with plenty of maps and links.
With 11 unique distilleries within 16 miles of Bardstown’s court square, the Bourbon Capital of the World is a logical starting point for the journey.
My Old Kentucky Home State Park consists of many elements including a 39-site campground, an amphitheater, an 18-hole golf course (the Kenny Rapier Golf Course), and wedding and conference space. But what it is most famed for is Federal Hill more lovingly known as My Old Kentucky Home. Visitors can explore the historic mansion that was once owned by US Senator John Rowan.
It was an important site in US politics but was most famously known for its association with Stephen Foster’s ballad which the home inspired. Visitors can explore the mostly-brick structure and its amazing architecture which includes hand-carved windowsills and mantels, a stable, and a garden house. Guides dressed in period costumes who are full of fun facts lead the tours to take visitors back to another time.
My Old Kentucky Home State Park is located at 501 East Stephen Foster Avenue, Bardstown.
Visit the campus-like setting of the Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto on the banks of Hardin’s Creek. Established in 1805 as a gristmill distillery, Maker’s Mark is the oldest working distillery on its original site—and a National Historic Landmark. The historic charm is not the only reason to visit the Maker’s Mark distillery; the beautifully manicured grounds are a functioning arboretum; hosting more than 275 species of trees and shrubs and making for an ideal picnic spot.
Tours allow guests to experience the entire bourbon-making process first-hand from the processing of the grains to the rotating of the barrels to the purposely inefficient process of hand-dipping every bottle in signature red wax (visitors even get the chance to dip their very own!). Maker’s Mark promises a truly unique, intimate experience that sheds light on the specialness and tradition of making Kentucky bourbon.
Maker’ss Mark is located 20 miles south of Bardstown in Loretto.
The picturesque town of Georgetown is often noted for providing “pure small town charm” within Scott County’s country setting of rolling hills. This charming area offers a diverse assortment of things to do for both visitors and locals alike, both indoors and outdoors. From taking in history and art to getting up close and personal with Thoroughbred horses to sampling some of the best bourbon around, Georgetown and the surrounding Scott County is home to a variety of interesting things to do in the Kentucky horse country.
The Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm is a farm for retired Thoroughbred horses that encompasses nearly 140 acres. The unique home for horses offers an opportunity for guests to get up close to several Thoroughbreds including winners of the Kentucky Derby like War Emblem and Silver Charm and Breeders’ Cup Champions Amazombie and Alphabet Soup as well as stakes winners Ide and Game On Dude. The Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm offers daily public tours for a fee, private tours by appointment, and a visitor center.
Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm is located at 1841 Paynes Depot Road, Georgetown.
The Yuko-En on the Elkhorn is a symbol of friendship between the nation of Japan and Kentucky State. As a four-season garden, travelers and locals alike are welcome to visit the Yuko-En on the Elkhorn all year round. Access to the park is via the Tokugawa Gate along Cincinnati Pike which will lead visitors into the lush 5.5-acre garden.
Yuko-En features gorgeous Bluegrass landscaping that is presented in the style of a Japanese stroll garden. Stroll along the garden’s many pathways to explore Japanese-style bridges, a serene pond, and several other elements that make the Yuko-En a unique and enjoyable recreational destination.
Yuko-En on the Elkhorn is located at 700 Cincinnati Pike, Georgetown.
Located just off the Martha Layne Collins Blue Grass Parkway, the charming town of Versailles in Kentucky is the beating heart of Woodford County. Surrounded by magnificent rolling farmlands and world-renowned bluegrass horse farms, Versailles offers a range of attractions and activities from the impressive Stonewall Farm to the Woodford Reserve which produces one of Kentucky’s finest bourbon whiskeys. Versailles’ beautiful landscapes also offer excellent hiking, horseback riding, and fishing.
The Bluegrass Railroad and Museum is a traveling museum dedicated to the history of the Bluegrass Railroad and the rail transport industry in the region. Based in Woodford County Park, the mobile museum was founded in 1976 by members of the Bluegrass Railroad Club and offers visitors a unique experience that delves into the history of the railroad on an 11-mile round trip excursion. The train journey travels through the beautiful horse farms of Kentucky to Young’s High Bridge in the town of Tyrone where passengers can disembark and soak up spectacular views of the Kentucky River valley area.
Bluegrass Railroad and Museum is located at 175 Beasley Road, Versailles.
Woodford Reserve Distillery is an award-winning distillery that produces a range of whiskeys including limited-edition releases like the Kentucky-only Distillery Series. Established by Elijah Pepper in 1812 the distillery is one of the oldest distilleries in Kentucky and is listed as a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.
Formerly known as the Old Oscar Pepper Distillery and later the Labrot & Graham Distillery, the distillery produces several whiskeys including Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Woodford Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, and Woodford Reserve Wheat Whiskey. Visitors can enjoy guided tours and tastings at the facility which is eight miles from Versailles.
Woodford Reserve Distillery is located at 7785 McCracken Pike, Versailles
Historic Midway was the first town in Kentucky founded by a railroad. Electricity was introduced in 1911. During the railroad’s heyday, the 1930s, and 40s, up to 30 trains, a day rumbled through the middle of town. Revitalization and rebirth began in the mid-1970s when several antique shops and galleries were established. In 1978, 176 buildings in Midway were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Now, Historic Midway once again thrives and enjoys its present reputation as one of Kentucky’s favorite spots for antiques, crafts, gifts, restaurants, and clothing.
The Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky, Berea is ranked among the top art communities in the U. S. Nestled between the Bluegrass region and the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains, Berea offers visitors over 40 arts and crafts shops featuring everything from handmade dulcimers and homemade chocolate to jewelry stores, art galleries, quilt-makers, and glassblowing studios.
Sculptures of mythical beasts, vibrantly painted open hands, and historic architecture are a few of the delights as one wanders the town and college. Berea offers a public art experience on multiple levels. You can enjoy the sculptures, architecture, galleries, and shops, or you can enter the studios of working artists and watch art being created.
Nestled up against the rugged Cumberland Plateau, Berea is a town with a deep soul and the artwork to prove it
The Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky, Berea is ranked among the top art communities in the U. S. Nestled between the Bluegrass region and the foothills of the Cumberland Mountains, Berea offers visitors over 40 arts and crafts shops featuring everything from handmade dulcimers and homemade chocolate to jewelry stores, art galleries, quilt-makers, and even glassblowing studios. Sculptures of mythical beasts, vibrantly painted open hands, and historic architecture are a few of the delights as one wanders the town and college.
The beating heart of the folk arts and crafts scene in Kentucky, Berea is also home to more than 8,400 acres of closed canopy forest and a well-maintained trail system. Designated as one of Kentucky’s Trail Towns which are billed as a “home base for outdoor expeditions,” Berea is full of festivals, trails, parks, and performances.
The town is known for Berea College with its commitment to interracial co-education and service to the Appalachian Region. Berea is the “Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky—Where Art’s Alive.” Berea is situated in southern Madison County near the edge of central Kentucky’s Blue Grass Region. The town is located 39 miles south of Lexington, 113 miles southeast of Louisville, and 132 miles north of Knoxville, Tennessee.
The Berea story began in 1853 when abolitionist John G. Fee with the help of local supporters and other missionaries established a church, a school, and a tiny village. The school’s constitution specified that it would be interracial and co-educational—radical concepts for the time. Fee called the settlement Berea after the Biblical town where the people “received the Word with all readiness of mind.”
Today the one-room school has evolved into a college that is world-renowned for its dedication to social justice, community service, and the preservation of Appalachian culture. The tiny village has grown into a town with a thriving population of weavers, instrument makers, furniture artisans, jewelry designers, glass workers, potters, painters, sculptors, and musicians.
Both the town and the college take pride in their contemporary Appalachian identity. Known as the “Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky,” Berea offers a public arts experience on multiple levels. You can enjoy the sculptures, architecture, galleries, and shops, or you can enter the studios of working artists and watch art being created. Best of all, you can join right in with events like Jammin’ on the Porch or the Festival of Learnshops.
Here are 15 of the best reasons to visit this historic Kentucky town.
1. Berea Welcome Center in the historic L&N Train Depot
Set the scene for a perfect visit to Berea by starting in the charming welcome center located at 3 Artist Circle. Staffed by, arguably, the most well-informed people in the county, they can tell you everything you need to know from what events are happening to who has the best pizza in town. Make sure you give yourself time to look around the restored brick railroad station where the center is housed in.
Sculptures of mythical beasts, vibrantly painted hands, fountains, stained glass, and historic architecture are a few of the delights on the Berea Public Art Tour. Go to BereaPublicArt.com and hear the voices of artists and local historians telling the story behind the art. Plus you can experience live art by visiting one of several studio artists, who invite you to watch them at work, or by joining local musicians at a weekly jam festival.
Look for mythical beasts, fountains, and historic architecture on the Berea Public Art Tour. It’s a great way to get the lay of the land while experiencing the artistic process firsthand. The Student Craft Program at Berea College keeps Appalachian craftsmanship alive. Stop by the College Visitor Center and Shoppe to arrange a tour.
Owned by Berea College, the Indian Fort Mountain Trail System is located within one of the oldest managed private forests in the country. There are many trail options for hikers ranging from a short 2-3 mile outing to a longer 6-7 mile trek with plenty of vantage points highlighting the famous pinnacles. Open all year and in all seasons, the trails are particularly lovely in the spring when everything is blooming and when the fall colors are at their peak.
Known as an artistic epicenter, shopping for unique handmade goods doesn’t get any better than in this artsy town. Start at the Kentucky Artisan Center and watch a weekly demonstration or performance before walking through the gallery featuring the work of numerous Kentucky artists, craftsmen, and authors. Next, browse the Appalachian crafts at the Log House Craft Gallery. Finally, check out the Artisan Village where there are enough interesting shops to keep an art lover busy all day.
There are several well-established cycling trails that the whole family can enjoy including bike paths in Berea City Park, the 3-mile Mayde Beebe White Trail, and the 1-mile John B. Stephenson Memorial Trail. In addition, Berea is a stop on the TransAmerica Trail spanning more than 4,225 miles from coast to coast, 600 miles of which roll across some of the most beautiful parts of the Bluegrass State.
A visit to Berea is simply not complete without visiting the Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant. It all began in the summer of 1908 when Nellie Frost, the wife of Berea College President William G. Frost, provided lodging and meals at her home for some 300 visitors to the College. As the final visitor departed, her husband was told in no uncertain terms that it was time to build a guest house.
The award-winning restaurant serves up both traditional favorites and exciting reinterpretations of Southern Cuisine. Fresh, flavorful homemade dishes that are as locally sourced as possible and classically decorated rooms make for a romantic weekend or much-deserved getaway. The graceful white columns and airy verandas nestle among the vibrant galleries, cafes, shops, and studios.
Kentucky has more miles of navigable water than anywhere else in the Lower 48 and the areas surrounding Berea in Madison County have plenty of it. The local outfitters can help you find the right fit no matter what your experience in the water might be, and many offer paddling trips for all levels.
It’s hard to plan a visit here without being in town for one of the many festivals this vibrant community plans each year. The festival offerings range from arts and music to a Spoonbread Festival (September 17-19, 2022) to the annual Geocaching Weekend (3rd weekend in October).
It’s Thursday in Berea—time to get together and jam! It’s not just for music. Storytellers, poets, and everyone is invited to come and share. Father and daughter Donna and Lewis Lamb, musicians from nearby Paint Lick host the free festivities beginning at 7:00 pm. The jam happens all year round but the location does vary based on the weather. When the weather is fine Jammin’ on the Porch is held on the porch of the log cabin on the lawn in front of the L&N Depot/Welcome Center. When it is too cold to be outside they move indoors usually to one of the local churches. Call the Welcome Center at 800-598-5263 to find out where they will be during your visit. It’s an authentic evening of entertainment and fellowship. Anyone of any age or skill level is welcome and encouraged to participate.
The Berea Farmers’ Market is a year-round market that offers fresh and local fruits, veggies, plants, honey, eggs, and more. With a growing community of small farmers aimed at providing fresh, local products it should come as no surprise that this “growers-only” market continues to, well, grow. Open on Saturdays year round expect to find prepared foods, canned goods, homemade jams, fresh-baked breads and cakes, and handmade artwork and crafts (not to mention seasonal fruits and veggies!).
Artisans here love to share their skills and offer different ways to learn about their respective crafts. Through a program called Hands-on Workshops (or HOW), students can take a range of classes from culinary to arts and crafts workshops. If you’re looking for some great holiday gift ideas what better way to show someone love than with a handmade gift? In the months leading up to the Christmas season, take a class from the expert artisans and master craftspeople in the “Make It, Take It, Give It!” workshop series.
As the saying goes, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. The “US 25 Yard Sale” runs across more than 500 miles of US 25 and US 25W through Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. It’s usually held in the summer and this is one unique event worth checking out.
From newly renovated historic buildings to one-of-a-kind dining there is a brand new crop of fine eating coming to town. A few include Happy Jacks, Noodle Nirvana, Brandi’s Bakery, Native Bagel Company, Becky’s Breads, and Apollo’s Pizza.
The community’s love of culture extends beyond the visual arts into the performing arts with two main venues for live theater: The Spotlight Playhouse and the Berea College Theater Laboratory. There is also the annual Celebration of Traditional Music (49th annual; October 13-16, 2022) hosted by the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center at Berea College.
Traveling by RV? Then make your home at Oh! Kentucky Campground & RV Park. The park is easy-on, easy-off I-75 at Exit 76. Our pull-through site was in the 75-foot range and level with utilities centrally located. The park offers 71 sites (all pull-through) with 50 and 30-amp electric service, water, and sewer.
Worth Pondering…
I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music.
Midway, Kentucky is the place that time forgot—but in a good way
Some of our most pleasant moments always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else. So it was when we unexpectedly came upon the historic town of Midway. Located midway between Frankfort and Lexington, Historic Midway was the first town in Kentucky founded by a railroad.
But the town’s history began long before that when the area was inhabited by Indian Mound Builders. Two large Indian mounds have been identified on farms nearby Midway, as well as several smaller such structures in the outlying areas where they still exist today.
Settlers visited the area as early as 1771 when Kentucky was still part of Virginia. Many of them were surveyors and liked the land so well that they stayed. By 1788, residents successfully fought to break off from Fayette County to form Woodford County.
Nearly 45 years passed before the town of Midway came into existence. Then, when the Lexington and Ohio Railroad was incorporated in 1830, the town became a hub of activity with the accompanying construction. Lodging was needed for the railroad workmen as well as food, supplies, and other dry goods.
By 1832, the railroad carried its first passengers from Lexington with horse-drawn cars. The line was completed to Frankfort in 1834 and by January 1835 the first steam locomotive passed through Midway (also known as Middleway) from Lexington, bound for Frankfort.
Both cities celebrated the successful journey of the “Iron Horse” with a grand ball. Many accounts of those early years of the railroad-related tales of the engineers not only stopping for water and wood but also to open and shut farm gates since the train traveled through private pastures.
It was around this time that the town of Midway was surveyed and laid out by the railroad company. In honor of their work, many of the streets in Midway were named after the railroad company directors. These streets continue to exist today.
Midway continued to prosper along with the railroad. Electricity was introduced in 1911. In 1915, a fire destroyed a large part of the south side of Railroad Street. During the railroad’s heyday, the 1930s, and 40s, up to 30 trains, a day rumbled through the middle of town.
The passenger trains dwindled until the old depot (located where the caboose now stands) was closed in 1963. The last passenger train traveled through in May 1971.
Midway’s downtown followed the railroad’s fortunes and by the late 1960s and early 1970s, the few remaining businesses primarily served the local agricultural community.
Revitalization and rebirth began in the mid-1970s when several antique shops and galleries were established and the Midway I Village Guild was formed. In 1978, 176 buildings in Midway were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Now, Historic Midway once again thrives and enjoys its present reputation as one of Kentucky’s favorite spots for antiques, crafts, gifts, restaurants, and clothing. Several freight trains still make use of the active tracks running through Railroad Street, preserving Midway’s unique history and atmosphere.
Today, Midway continues to be a uniquely friendly and quaint town with a noticeable spirit. Among the cheery storefronts that line Main Street, you’ll find an array of antique shops, specialty boutiques, and restaurants with a little something for everyone.
The town is a hangout for local and visiting horse enthusiasts who fill the tables at the Grey Goose bar and restaurant, come happy hour. So it’s no surprise that you’ll find lots of equine gifts and gear in the stores especially at Freedman’s leather shop. If bridles and bits aren’t your things, Freedman’s leather accessories—belts, wallets, and handbags, for example—are a notch above Ralph Lauren’s in both materials and workmanship.
Embellished with local shops, cozy tea rooms, restaurants, and beautiful local architecture, the streets of Midway offer visitors an exceptional, relaxing experience. Because of its special charm and small-town appeal visitors always leave Midway in high spirits and vow to return.
Experience the flavors, sights, and traditions that define the Bluegrass State—bourbon, horses, and history
COVID fatigue and the cabin fever it has produced will surely boil over Memorial Day weekend. This year, 37 million Americans are expected to hit the road and travel 50 miles or more from home, according to AAA. That number is about 60 percent more people than traveled last year when only 23 million traveled, the lowest on record since AAA began recording in 2000.
“As more destinations open and vaccines are administered we’re seeing an increase in consumers who are ready to get out and enjoy the unofficial start of the summer travel season,” says Bevi Powell, senior vice president, AAA East Central. “The pent-up demand for travel could also be a sign of things to come this summer as more people feel comfortable hitting the road.”
If you’re looking to get out of town for a much-needed vacation, Kentucky has plenty to offer. Outdoor adventure, history, horse farms, mouthwatering eats, bourbon, culture, arts, and the sweet sounds of bluegrass music (all with some Southern hospitality!) make the Bluegrass State the perfect place for a Memorial Day weekend road trip.
From the world’s longest known cave system and thundering waterfalls to impressive sandstone arches and the “Grand Canyon of the South,” there’s a lot to discover across Kentucky.
“The tourism and hospitality industry plays a critical role in helping generate revenue for Kentucky’s economy,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. “As our nation continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of safe vacations and travel has become critically important. Kentucky is fortunate to have an immense landscape of outdoor recreation and beauty which has positioned our tourism industry at advantage to recover from these unprecedented times.”
With that in mind, here are a few places to visit in Kentucky as you plan your Memorial Day getaway starting with a short and picturesque drive to Lexington.
There are many reasons to make Lexington your warm-weather Memorial Day weekend getaway destination. The second-largest city in Kentucky, Lexington is known as the “Horse Capital of the World.” For starters, the folks at visitLEX.com have created country/bluegrass, hip-hop/R&B, and rock playlists for you to listen to as you explore the city and beyond.
If you’ve never toured a horse farm, now is the weekend to do it and Lexington is the place. Explore Horse Country by touring the homes of champions, seeing new foals frolic in their pastures, and learning about the care of Kentucky’s signature athletes. There are more than 400 horse farms in the area with over 25 offer tours (by reservation).
Or take the self-guided tour of Keeneland Racecourse’s historic grounds. A historic racecourse Keenland is the world’s largest and most prominent Thoroughbred auction house. Morning Work tours and Backstretch tours are also available by reservation. Because of concerns surrounding COVID, Keeneland continues to limit the number of guests in each tour.
Trot over to the Kentucky Horse Park for an enjoyable, educational experience for horse fans of all ages and disciplines. Take in a show, wander the grounds to visit horses in the barns, and be sure to stop in at the International Museum of the Horse which catalogs the history of the Thoroughbred industry.
Just north of the crossroads of I-75 and I-64, the city of Georgetown is home to one of the most picturesque Victorian downtown areas in the state, retired racehorses, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, a Japanese friendship garden, and Ward Hall—one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the South.
In a little more than a decade Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Georgetown has put a new face on the concept of equine aftercare. Founded in 2003 by former Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen, the organization has grown from a leased paddock and one horse to a 236-acre farm with a herd of over 200 rescued and retired horses. A variety of tours are available; due to public health COVID guidelines reservations are required.
Bourbon Capital of the World
Bardstown, known as the Bourbon Capital of the World is one of the most beautiful small towns in the U.S. Bardstown offers small-town charm paired with delicious bourbon. Serving as an Official Gateway to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail the town is the perfect spot for a bourbon excursion. Consider starting at the Bourbon Heritage Center at Heaven Hill Distillery to learn about the story of bourbon in the area then continue the journey at Barton’s 1792 Distillery, the oldest fully operating distillery in town, as well as Willett Distillery.
From Bardstown you’ll head 25 miles southeast to Lebanon and Maker’s Mark. Maker’s Mark is quite possibly one of the most recognizable whiskey brands in the world thanks to the six-generation Samuels family recipe and its distinctive wax seal on every bottle. On the tour, you’ll have the option of sealing your very own bottle in wax which is a unique experience you can’t find anywhere else.
Travel back in time at My Old Kentucky Home State Park, a 19th-century estate with costumed tour guides that was the inspiration for Stephen Collins Foster’s song which later became the state anthem. The three-story portion of Federal Hill was commissioned by the Rowan family in 1812 and completed in 1818. Visitors can tour the home and learn about the Rowan family history. The state park also offers 39 RV camping sites.
State Capitol + history + Bourbon + Bourbon Balls in Frankfort
Perfectly positioned on the shores of the Kentucky River between Louisville and Lexington, Frankfort is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The State Capitol building rises above the city and overlooks the river as the waterway ambles to the north making a unique S shape through the historic downtown. The Capitol is on the National Register of Historic Places and is noted as one of the most impressive Capitols in the nation. Then, explore the grounds and find the Floral Clock located on the West Lawn of the Capitol Grounds. The face of the clock is 34 feet across and planted with thousands of plants that are changed out seasonally.
For more Kentucky history, go downtown and visit the Old State Capitol building and the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, a museum and educational complex operated by the Kentucky Historical Society. While downtown, take a tour at Rebecca Ruth Candy Tours & Museum honoring Ruth Hanly Booe, the “Mother of Bourbon Balls” then venture over to Buffalo Trace Distillery, the oldest continuously operating distillery in America that offers free tours.
Looking for More Kentucky Getaways?
Looking for more getaway ideas for Memorial Day and beyond? Right this way!
From our home base at Whispering Hills RV Park, we spent an
enjoyable week exploring historic Georgetown and the local area. A generally
pleasant campground in a pastoral setting, Whispering Hills RV Park is located
approximately 2.5 miles off I-75 at Exit 129 and 7 miles north of Georgetown on
U.S. Highway 25.
Using our tow-along, we drove several of the scenic back roads including the Buffalo Gals Homemakers Barn Quilt Trail near the small community of Stamping Ground, named for the buffalo herds that waited impatiently to drink from its spring.
On another day, we drove the scenic back roads past immaculate horse farms with manicured fields of bluegrass and miles of white and black plank fencing that are characteristic of central Kentucky. Another distinctive fence is the fieldstone or dry laid stone fencing. Although it’s almost inconceivable, no mortar of any kind was ever used. On this road trip, we ended our scenic drive at Keeneland Race Course, one of the most genteel, beautiful racetracks in the world.
Some of our most pleasant moments always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else. So it was when we unexpectedly came upon the historic town of Midway. The first town in Kentucky founded by a railroad, Midway once again thrives and enjoys its present reputation as one of Kentucky’s favorite spots for antiques, crafts, gifts, restaurants, and beautiful local architecture. The railroad running through the middle of the main street with a one-way street on either side of the tracks, creates much of the special charm and appeal of this friendly and quaint town.
Our visit to Wild Turkey Distillery began and ended in the new
visitor center with a gift shop and tasting room. Inspired by the silhouette of
Kentucky tobacco barns, the two-year-old visitor center has an unbeatable view
of the Kentucky River and its bridge and unique railroad trestle (the
turnaround point for the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad). The tasting room houses
the original copper still from the old Wild Turkey distillery. A delightful
tour, led by a well-informed and articulate tour guide.
Another day and another road trip to Woodford Reserve
Distillery. Set amid horse farms, Woodford Reserve was a scenic drive via
Historic Midway. This small, picturesque distillery is nestled along Glenn’s
Creek at the site where Elijah Pepper, one of the famous early Bluegrass
distillers, set up his distillery in 1812. Re-opened in 1996, Woodford Reserve
gives visitors a sense of what bourbon making was like in the 1800s. With its
small-scale production, old-fashioned copper pot stills, and hand-bottling,
Woodford Reserve bourbon is made much as Pepper’s bourbon was in the 1800s.
On our final day we toured Frankfort visiting Rebecca Ruth Chocolates, Kentucky State Capitol and Floral Clock, Old State Capitol, Kentucky Historical Museum, and Buffalo Trace Distillery.
In Kentucky, buffalo carved a pathway that was followed by
America’s early pioneers. On the spot where the buffalo migration route crossed
the Kentucky River, bourbon whiskey has been distilled for over 200 years.
Buffalo Trace is the oldest continuously operating distillery in America. The
distillery sprawls over 130 acres and is home to four centuries of architecture—all
still fully operational.
The Trace Tour began at the gift shop and included a
warehouse and small bottling house where the distillery’s
“single-barrel” bourbons are bottled and sealed by hand.
Downtown Frankfort with Old State Capitol
The Trace Tour offers a glimpse into the history of the
Distillery and the different stages of the bourbon-making process and begins
with a video of the history of Buffalo Trace Distillery. We walked the path of
rolling bourbon barrels and were captivated by the alluring smell and
atmosphere of bourbon aging inside the warehouses.
We found Georgetown to be the perfect location to discover
genuine Kentucky treasures. We enjoyed
our week but have left numerous attractions for another visit—Kentucky Horse
Park, Old Friends, Danville and Shaker Museum, Ark Encounter, and Toyota Auto
Plant Tour.
