eccentric motels? (Lexington, Louisville, Covington: relocating, house, rent)

[BigPaddle]

My wife and I are traveling to kentucky next week. We just want to see what exactly 40 acres looks like out there, and get a feel for the countryside in winter, as we will be relocating from Chicago. We are done with the snow.

We are looking for a place with plenty of land to grow vegetables and food for our family, and that is private, rural, and relaxed. We are thinking eastern KY because we love the mountains, well, anything but the plains! we want out!

But, I digress.. to the point of the post...

we'd love some reccomendations of places to stay in small towns or medium sized towns that have some character or are fun. We don't have kids, so it does not have to be kid friendly.

Also, we will be doing alot of driving in eastern kentucky, if you have any suggestions for towns or other things to see along the way, we'd appreciate it!

Thanks!

[tomocox]

Wow, you are in a candy store and there are 1000's sugar packed choices. Almost anywhere outside the golden triangle (Lexington-Louisville-Covington) will offer you a place. Union/Henderson/Daviess/McLean/Webster are not your place as they are the flatest, but I would likely push you towards the triangle of Covington-Lexington-Ashland. While the hills are not as mountainous as the Ashland-Lexington-Corbin triangle, you'll like the area based solely on your OP.

[kygman]

Union County and area aren't that flat! True you don't have to have one leg longer than the other to stand up straight like in eastern ky. but it's pretty hilly.

[censusdata]

I you're asking about small towns with a lot of historic structures and sites... I'd recommend Danville, Bardstown, and Berea.

Both are in or near what is known as the "Knobs" Region, an area of hilly, almost mountainous land formed when the Bluegrass and Pennyroyal Plateaus pushed up against one another. The offer small town charm but are not far from KY's major cities.

Bardstown is home to "My Old Kentucky Home" state park which features a playhouse, and several historic distilleries are nearby. Berheim Forest offers 35 miles of hiking trails in the Knobs.

Danville was the first capitol of Kentucky and is home to Constitution Square.

Berea is known as the "Arts and Crafts Capitol of KY". It is home to historic Boone Tavern (which is CLOSED for renovation until MAY) and several artisan villages. There are some nice hiking trails just 5 miles away on Indian Fort Mountain

Berea, Kentucky Official Web Site! Berea, Ky

Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest
http://www.bernheim.org/images/shady_forest.jpg

The 2007 Community Art Show sponsored by the Berea Arts Council
Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant

[Off Topic]

If you are feeling wild and crazy:

Wigwam village #1: Horse Cave, Kentucky
Built in 1933 by Frank Redford and 6 more wigwams to be used as guest rooms. The central building and gas pumps are visible on undated postcards. Reportedly closed in 1935 when the nearby wigwam village #2 was opened. This wigwam village was lost in 1982 when it was razed. It is located on US-31E, Horse Cave, Kentucky.
Wigwam Motel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But they must have built another one!

Wigwam Village No. 2, Cave City, Kentucky

[RuralGuy]

If you're anywhere near Northern Kentucky, there's a motel with themed rooms (caves, polynesian, safari, etc.) in Florence right off of I-71/75. You can see some examples here: Wildwood Inn.

[tomocox]

Originally Posted by kygman

Union County and area aren't that flat! True you don't have to have one leg longer than the other to stand up straight like in eastern ky. but it's pretty hilly.

Kygman... you are right. There is no such thing as a flat Kentucky county, but considering where the writer is coming from, Union County is "flat".

It was the context that I was writing about, not the actual situation. I think I know Kentucky geography very well, especially Union Co as I was a livestock feed salesman there back in the 70's and grew up in McLean Co, farmed in Daviess, traveled often to Hopkins, Webster, and lived in Henderson Co for 11 years.

I apologize for any confusion.

[jcm1986]

Originally Posted by Off Topic

If you are feeling wild and crazy:

Wigwam village #1: Horse Cave, Kentucky
Built in 1933 by Frank Redford and 6 more wigwams to be used as guest rooms. The central building and gas pumps are visible on undated postcards. Reportedly closed in 1935 when the nearby wigwam village #2 was opened. This wigwam village was lost in 1982 when it was razed. It is located on US-31E, Horse Cave, Kentucky.
Wigwam Motel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But they must have built another one!

Wigwam Village No. 2, Cave City, Kentucky

This is exactly what I think of when I hear "eccentric motel."

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by BigPaddle

My wife and I are traveling to kentucky next week. We just want to see what exactly 40 acres looks like out there, and get a feel for the countryside in winter, as we will be relocating from Chicago. We are done with the snow.

We are looking for a place with plenty of land to grow vegetables and food for our family, and that is private, rural, and relaxed. We are thinking eastern KY because we love the mountains, well, anything but the plains! we want out!

But, I digress.. to the point of the post...

we'd love some reccomendations of places to stay in small towns or medium sized towns that have some character or are fun. We don't have kids, so it does not have to be kid friendly.

Also, we will be doing alot of driving in eastern kentucky, if you have any suggestions for towns or other things to see along the way, we'd appreciate it!

Thanks!

Its not a motel, but it is truly one of the nicer boutique hotels I have ever had the priveledge to stay in. I am speaking of 21C Museum/Hotel. It would be worth a stayover in Louisville for a night on the way to more rural locales. Its picture is in the dictionary next to ECCENTRIC :

21c Museum Hotel | Louisville Kentucky's Premier Hotel, Museum and Restaurant Property

[missymomof3]

Originally Posted by Off Topic

If you are feeling wild and crazy:

Wigwam village #1: Horse Cave, Kentucky
Built in 1933 by Frank Redford and 6 more wigwams to be used as guest rooms. The central building and gas pumps are visible on undated postcards. Reportedly closed in 1935 when the nearby wigwam village #2 was opened. This wigwam village was lost in 1982 when it was razed. It is located on US-31E, Horse Cave, Kentucky.
Wigwam Motel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

But they must have built another one!

Wigwam Village No. 2, Cave City, Kentucky

I don't think they are two different ones, I think that it is two websites for the same place. There is another wig-wam village in another state (I don't remember where)