Traveling to Bardstown (Frankfort, Lebanon, Marion: home, live, restaurants)

[prowler]

We loved our motorcycle stay in Bardstown during the H.O.G. Rally of 2004. In a couple of weeks, we plan to revisit and spend a day in that area shopping and touring. We remember Bardstown as a relaxed sort of place in which to spend a couple of days.

When we leave Bardstown on our Harley this time around, we hope to find some backwoods areas to check out as we loop further south and then head east/north as we head back home to southern Indiana. We pretty much live the backwoods style in Indiana are love the quiet, removed areas of any State, Kentucky included. Small town restaurants, small town bars, small town values are all good (IOHO).

Any recommendations for our trip? Thanks, one and all.

[beilart]

Try the Lake Cumberland area, specifically the Country Cafe on Highway 76 going towards both Aligator Docks. If you get there on a Friday night, it is all you can eat catfish night.

[prowler]

beilart - Sounding good! Thanks for the info.

[Cattknap]

Keep traveling down Bardstown Road to Lebanon - the drive is gorgeous and Lebanon is a nice town.

[notthatgirl]

Head south on 31E and you will drive through some backwoods areas. There are several country stores along this road, where locals hang out and everyone knows everyone else. Stop at Culver's store in Culvertown and get a chipped ham sandwich; fill up your tank while you're there (they even pump the gas for you). The Abbey of Gethsemani is right off 31E (on Monks Road, appropriately). Very peaceful out there. You will hit New Haven about 15-20 minutes south of Bardstown on 31E; there are several little restaurants and bars there. Long Branch usually has live music on the weekends. You could travel on south to Hodgenville, another small town hometown. When you leave New Haven, you will see the Last Chance bar/liquor store; LaRue County, where Hodgenville is, is a dry county. Its also the birthplace of Lincoln. Laha's Red Castle Hamburgers are supposed to be delicious, but I've never tried them. I know the Hodgenville Grill has good food; their chili is great, just like my mom makes. Loretto is in between New Haven and Lebanon (on 52) and is the home of Makers Mark. If you like bourbon, its a great stop; you can hand dip your own bottle! Cozy Corner there is Loretto is your typical small town bar; they have music across the street at Hawks on the weekends.

All of the roads in that general area (southern Nelson, Marion and LaRue counties) are great for bike riding and are quiet, relaxed country areas. That's about as far out as my experience goes but I would guess you will find that feel throughout central Kentucky, as long as you stay off the highways and out of the cities.

[prowler]

notthatgirl - Great info. Thank you. I had to do a "search" in order to find Culverton. That little stop in the road must be about the same size as the town where I'm located (Solsberry). Your suggestions sound even more like what we're looking for next week than some of the other excellent ideas.

We did the popular and routine "distillery" tour beginning in Frankfort a couple of years ago and were continually wanting to break away and head down some of the less traveled roads. We need to give Garmina (feminine for Garmin) a chance to prove herself once again.