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I'm currently planning a trip to the Lexington area, probably some time in May. I would love to just rent a car, pack up my dog, and take a trip to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the scenic, bucolic beauty.
Do you guys have any suggestions for me (what to do, where to eat, where to stay [pet-friendly])? I would love some input, as I've never been to Kentucky before!
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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What types of activities are you interested in? Hiking, biking, restaurants, etc? KY has varied scenery. Around Lexington is the horse farm country, to the east are the bigger hills and mountains of Appalachia, the rest of the state is a mixture of rolling farmland and forested hills.
What types of activities are you interested in? Hiking, biking, restaurants, etc? KY has varied scenery. Around Lexington is the horse farm country, to the east are the bigger hills and mountains of Appalachia, the rest of the state is a mixture of rolling farmland and forested hills.
Hiking and restaurants of those options!
But honestly, this just seems like paradise to me:
^If you like that, you will love the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky and all the beautiful horse farms.
(It has always been some of my favorite scenery to be sure.)
There are tours you can take in your own car, that have already been planned out, if you don't want to take one of the tour buses. Some of the horse farms will allow visitors (call ahead though).
Whether you are driving to Lexington, Paris, Versailles, Georgetown or Midway...or any of the other towns, you will find some wonderful scenery and horse farms.
^If you like that, you will love the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky and all the beautiful horse farms.
(It has always been some of my favorite scenery to be sure.)
There are tours you can take in your own car, that have already been planned out, if you don't want to take one of the tour buses. Some of the horse farms will allow visitors (call ahead though).
Whether you are driving to Lexington, Paris, Versailles, Georgetown or Midway...or any of the other towns, you will find some wonderful scenery and horse farms.
I noticed one tour on the first page, of the Kentucky Bourbon Tour, where you can tour several distilleries (Maker's Mark, Limestone Branch, etc) and, on page 2, is the Wine and Spirits Circle Tour.
I miss the rolling horse farms of central Kentucky every now and then.
Go drive down Pisgah Pike.
There's also Castle Post (now a bed and breakfast!). Right at the start of Pisgah Pike, actually.
From Pisgah Pike, hang a left onto Old Frankfort Pike. Take it until you reach the four way stop at Midway, then hang a left. Take it until it ends at US-60/62, and hang a left. Once you enter Versailles, turn right onto Elm Street (which turns into McCracken Pike). You'll pass Woodford Reserve Distillery. Afterwards, hang a left onto Watts Ferry (look for KY-1964). Following signs for KY-1964, you'll turn left onto Clifton Rd. Follow it down to the river, along it, and then back up the hill. Turn left onto Steele Rd. Continue on Steele Rd, across McCracken Pike and US-60. You'll dead end at Old Frankfort Pike. Hang a right and take it back into town.
Possibly one of my favorite loops west of Lexington.
North of town, you can't go wrong. Take Paris Pike north, and turn literally anywhere.
Pisgah Pike is a great suggestion. On the south side of town, just about anything west of Harrodsburg (68) and south of Versailles Road (60) will have beautiful tree lines roads along rolling green hills behind traditional fences filled with foals and fillies. Look for Parker's Mill Road, Fort Springs Pinckard Road, James Lane, Woods Road and Pauls Mill Road (one of my absolute favorites in the area).
I took a bit of a drive through these areas and behind Keeneland on Monday. Here are some shots from the drive, mostly barns but some horses as well: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk8JUXyL
Lastly, you might plan your trip for a little later in the spring as the trees are still without leaves and the grass isn't as green as it will get.
---Mark
Last edited by mar_kelp; 03-19-2015 at 05:47 AM..
Reason: Added Paul's Mill pic
Thank you everyone for your wonderful suggestions! I'll have to look into all of them!
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