Lexington, Kentucky Escape: Bourbon, Thoroughbreds & Beyond!
Perhaps not your first thought for a go-to spot when dreaming of your next vacation, but Lexington, Kentucky has a lot to offer both families and adults. And in today’s economy, a vacation here is an affordable way to enjoy fall or spring break as well as being a fun summer destination. So, in today’s article, I’m going to review some interesting and enjoyable things to do in and around the Lexington area.
When thinking Kentucky, your mind likely goes to horses and bourbon—as it should. Let’s start with the Equus breed, which are plentiful in Lexington and easy to spot with just a drive around the outskirts of town. But for a more in-depth experience, and one great for the whole family, check out the Kentucky Horse Park. Do not miss the actual grave site of Man O’ War which is down a lovely path to the left of the park’s entrance. If you don’t know who Man O’ War was (as we did not), you will quickly learn that he was a legendary horse deserving of a spot in the “who is the GOAT of racehorses” debate akin to the Lebron-Michael Jordan debate. We had a blast with this GOAT spirited debate even before we entered the park! I personally think Man O’ War edges out Secretariat since he was nearly undefeated and because he was so dominant in his time that to make it “fair” he was handicapped with extra weight to carry during races! In fact, his one loss was a debacle, and he had 15 more pounds of lead weights inserted into his saddle pads than the horse who won (look it up)! And…before anyone argues that Man O’ War never won the Triple Crown, the Triple Crown wasn’t even a thing at the time, so he never even entered the Kentucky Derby. But I digress.
The Kentucky Horse Park website states that they have been “celebrating (Kentucky’s) relationship with horses since 1978.” You can easily spend an entire day there as they offer live shows, horseback & pony rides, and a museum. You can also camp on the property and various events, such as equestrian championships, lectures, 5K’s and polo matches are also held there. The live shows on the daily schedule are interesting even to those of us who have had little exposure to horses, other than the old TV sitcom Mr. Ed. During these shows, you learn about different breeds of horses and their historical origins (you know I’m a sucker for history), the skills needed to bond with a horse, and the intricacies of harnessing a horse to pull a carriage. My favorite show, however, was at the Hall of Champions, which only houses retired racing legends. The day we were there we met Marion Marauder who retired in 2020 after racking up 3.39 million dollars in winnings. I was surprised to learn that each horse, like any athlete, had unique stories and challenges that they overcame.
If you are interested in actual horseracing, Lexington’s largest racetrack is the historic Keeneland. Races are held for several weeks, twice a year, in April and October. During the rest of the year, you can watch early morning workouts (free of charge) or take a tour. If interested, this is also the place where you can buy your own thoroughbred!
Lexington is also in the heart of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. First, a quick primer on bourbon. All bourbons are whiskeys, but not all whiskeys are bourbon. To qualify as a bourbon, by law, the product must be produced in the USA (not just Kentucky, though Kentucky produces 95% of the global supply), consist of least 51% corn, aged in a new charred oak barrel, distilled to no more than 160 proof, enter a barrel at no higher than 125 proof and then bottled at 80 proof or higher. Bourbon contains no added colors or flavors, only water. Now, even though I’m not a fan of bourbon myself, I still find the lore around it intriguing and visits to the various distilleries on the Trail quite enjoyable. The Bourbon Trail is comprised of over 60 distilleries around Lexington, Louisville and beyond. The Lexington area distilleries boast the smoothest bourbon in part because their naturally mineral- enriched water is filtered by Kentucky limestone, which reduces the iron content that gives bourbon a more bitter taste. It would be a major feat to visit them all as we’ve found you can spend hours at each one. And while the distilleries obviously produce an adult beverage, many distilleries are family friendly with some having playgrounds and picnic areas.
Two of our favorite distilleries are Woodford Reserve and Buffalo Trace, both located on lovely campuses, surrounded by rolling hills and Kentucky bluegrass. Buffalo Trace is also precariously situated on the Kentucky river, which last year flooded their facility (over 49 feet) leading to extensive damage and a period of closure. But now there is no indication of any damage and recent improvements have left it “new and improved.” Buffalo Trace offers free tastings, not only of their starring product line, but also their bourbon lemonade and my fav, bourbon cream and root beer. Tours are also free there and, as a result, book up quickly (reservations are required). There is also a full-service café that serves cocktails, outdoor seating, and of course a gift shop. Woodford Reserve offers a slightly more elevated experience. Their cocktail bar menu is extensive and includes some very tasty mocktails and their outdoor patio is beautifully situated with a picturesque view of foliage and their factory. They do not at this time have a full food menu, but they do offer snacks, including a small, but well-appointed, charcuterie board. Tours and tastings are available for a fee, and there are several different ones to choose from. I’m always amazed at the complicated process that goes into bourbon making and how people have the ability to discern whether a batch was aged in a single barrel, or for an additional nine months in a second barrel. To me it all gives off notes of turpentine!
If you’re a rebel and prefer wine to bourbon, this region has several wineries to visit as well. The Talon Winery offers a full menu of wine options, including a half-dozen fruity wines (like mango and peach). This winery is near Lexington and can be reached by way of beautiful tree-lined country roads. The winery itself is on the smaller side and does not serve food (other than snacks—though they have an awesome wine cheese spread with crackers). My favorite winery is a little further away, just south of Lexington. Chenault Vineyards is a definite destination with lovely indoor and outdoor seating and very reasonable prices. They offer a wine flight, wine spritzers and mocktails. They also have a full menu with interesting options such as Blackberry Ricotta Flatbread and Bourbon Pineapple Burger. While there you can enjoy the grounds and walk among the vineyards, which are situated a top a hill. Walk out to “The Point” and you can see Eastern Kentucky University in nearby Richmond, Kentucky. Chenault also hosts various weekly events such as open mic and trivia nights.
Another fun, out of the ordinary, thing to do in Kentucky is to visit the Peddlers Mall. While there are several locations throughout the area, the flagship shop is off New Circle Road. Inside you will find booth after booth of crafts, antiques, packaged food items, unique items, collectibles, and some junk! Many booths offer “surprise” bags ranging in size and price ($5 to $20). We each bought a $10 bag and then took turns pulling one item out at a time from our bags (there were 10-15 items in each bag). The items ranged from hilarious to awesome to just plain strange! But it gave us about an hour’s worth of entertainment and laughter. We each got at least one item that made the bag worth it (like a Nightmare Before Christmas drinking glass).
A short drive west of Lexington is Kentucky’s capital city, Frankfort. The Kentucky State Capital, which is typically open to visitors and is full of Kentucky history and exhibits, is currently being renovated. However, the grounds remain open to the public, including access to the Floral Clock which is located behind the State Capital. The Old State Capital Building, which served as Kentucky’s seat of government from 1820 to 1910, is open and free to visit. While in Frankfort, candy lovers will enjoy the famous Rebecca Ruth Candy Store and Museum. They are famous for their Bourbon Chocolate Balls (the way I like my bourbon). Finally, a short drive up a hill to the Frankfort Cemetery you'll find Daniel Boone’s grave and his final resting spot’s awesome view of the city and Kentucky River below.
Just about an hour north of Lexington is Cincinnati, which is also well worth a day visit. Cincinnati is home of Skyline Chili (a sweet savory chili with clear notes of cinnamon poured over spaghetti and topped off with a mountain of cheddar cheese) and Graeter’s Ice Cream (made with the “French Pot Process” that does not pump air into the ice cream, so it becomes dense and creamy). There is so much to do in Cincinnati that you may even want to spend the night (but that’s another blog article). However, the Cincinnati Zoo is a great day trip from Lexington. This zoo is different from others because it is also a botanical garden—truly one of the prettiest zoos I’ve ever visited. Also, the zoo’s cafeteria serves both Skyline and Graeter’s in case you cannot get to their original storefronts. (Hint: if you don’t make it to Cincinnati, you can get both Skyline and Graeter’s in Lexington). Many people are unknowingly familiar with the Cincinnati Zoo given that it has been in the national news several times, for the happy birth of the cute hippo, Fiona, and for the sad death of the gorilla Harambe, who was shot and killed by zoo officials after a boy fell into his pen.
Another day trip option from Lexington is Louisville, though Louisville actually also deserves its own visit (and its own blog post). There you can find Churchill Downs (home to the Kentucky Derby), the Louisville Slugger Museum, the Muhammed Ali Center as well as even more stops along the Bourbon Trail, including several that have a “speakeasy” type of experience.
Of course, there is so much more to Lexington and this article only scratches the surface of interesting things to do in and around this region. So the next time you are considering a weekend or family trip, ask yourself, “why not Kentucky?”
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