Stuck between Louisville and Cincinnati, this small city serves up music and bourbon in a big way. Bluegrass music, a blend of country and rock and roll, put Lexington on the map and helped it become one of America’s best places to visit for music and entertainment. Taking a backseat is the horse trade, but plenty of the 450 farms in the vicinity can still be visited.
Everywhere you go in Lexington, the atmosphere is lively and exciting. Most of the restaurants and bars offer their patrons the best in bluegrass music, with many local artists giving performances in the local parks as well as the nightclubs. Bluegrass is definitely a cult-like experience with its lyrics and melodies that come from the heart.
Lexington is also the country’s hub for bourbon manufacturing, housing most of the country’s biggest distilleries such as Wild Turkey, Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill. Each distillery offers tours of their facilities as well as samples of their best bourbons. A heaven on Earth for any bourbon lover!
Highlights
Mary Todd Lincoln House: get a glimpse of life in the 1800s with a tour of the home of President Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln’s wife.
Mammoth Cave National Park: just outside of Lexington are acres of hiking, biking, camping, boating or horseback riding through deep hardwood forests and pristine lakes. The city is also home of the world’s largest cave system, offering miles of opportunities to explore.
Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum: here’s one good way to enjoy the rhythms of bluegrass legend, Bill Monroe. A tour will highlight the history of bluegrass and the local artists who made names for themselves with this music that is uniquely Kentucky.
International Bluegrass Music Museum: located in Owensboro, discover how bluegrass music developed into a worldwide affair and how international influence made bluegrass what it is today.
State Historical Society: the state capital, Frankfort, is nearby Lexington and has some excellent historical monuments. The society gives daily tours that are rich in detailed accounts of Kentucky’s history and culture.