Kentucky skies, never disappoint.
So yeah, I want to move around and travel the world, but I do have to admit that Kentucky has some pretty gorgeous getaways. From horse farms to mountaintops, let me take you through a quick journey of my hometown.
1. The Red River Gorge
Okay, so I may be a little bias about making this my favorite spot because Andrew and I had one of our first dates here, but it really is gorgeous! I love going on hikes through the gorge, because it offers about 500 miles of natural hiking trails, with many challenging trails that keep me fit (during the warm months of course). There are other activities offered here such as camping, rock climbing, picnicking, spelunking and tons more, too many to list. It is also home to Natural Bridge which is a mesmerizing wonder of nature. Just FYI if you’re doing the natural bridge trail there are no doggies allowed here if your fur baby likes to hike with you. Oh and if you’re in the area go get a piece of pizza from Miguels Pizza. Promise it’s worth the extra calories before or after your hike!
2. Horse Racing
Bourbon. Gambling. Bowties and Dresses. Enough said. No really, if you’re from the states there is no reason you haven’t heard of the Kentucky Derby, hosted in Louisville, KY at Churchill Downs. People from all over the world come to watch and bet on the horses in hopes they will win hundreds to millions of dollars and possibly even witness the win of a future Triple Crown Winner.
Keeneland is a beautiful horse track located in Lexington, KY. I know you’ll probably think I’m playing favorites since I’m from Lex, but our track is pretty astounding, spring meet or fall meet is sure to please. There is so much excitement going on everywhere, whether you are making bets or just tailgating with friends. We do it big in Kentucky! When there are not races going on Keeneland it is one of my favorite spots for running or bike riding. It is just a stunning overabundance of farmlands and estates. And not to mention the horse buddies you will meet on the way!
3. Orchards
Fresh picked fruit, animals and picturesque farmland makes for a perfect spring, summer or fall day. There are fresh orchards all over Kentucky and they are one of my favorite spots to head on a lazy day. There’s seasonal fruit that you pick yourself and take home; now that’s farm to table service. And in the fall there are the pumpkin patches, which offer GINOURMOUS pumpkins for carving. Even if you’re not doing anything and just walking around they are all simply beautiful!
Plus you make some pretty cool friends…
4. The Pinnacles
This one is a hidden gem tucked away in Berea, which by the way is an adorable little Kentucky town with handmade craft shops everywhere, so go spend a day there. The Pinnacles are another hiking spot that is just perfect; there is a hard course and an easy course. The hard course is a definite work out, completely straight up a mountain but it offers irreplaceable views! The only complaint I have is the trails are not marked, so it is pretty easy to get lost, which I am fairly sure happened to me the first time I went there! Other then that its great, there are plenty of places to sit and rest on cliffs overlooking the mountain on one side and the farmlands of Kentucky on the other.
5. Downtown Lexington
Triangle ParkOkay, so we have to brag on our hometown for a little bit. Downtown Lex is not a city that you would expect to find in Kentucky, it is full of trendy bars, restaurants and shops. One of our streets even made it in the New York Times this past month as a “new, happening” place to go. It has really been built up in the last few years and it truly is a beautiful hidden treasure in the state of Kentucky. There is Clay Avenue which is home to adorable little shops! Some of our favorite restaurants to look out for if you wander through KY; Village Idiot ($$), Cheapside ($), Shakespeare and Company ($$), Table Three Ten ($$$), Portofino’s ($$$), the list could go on and on. As for bars definitely check out the pavilion it is the spot on a Friday or Saturday night. During the summer months they have Thursday Night Live, when all the pavilion bars open up their patios and there is live music and vendors, it’s a really great time. If you’re a beer snob, Lexington is your kind of place, because of its craft beer selection. There’s practically a new brewery on every corner. All in all, Lexington is just a big surprise hidden in this state that travelers should take time to explore. Pass through and check out our hometown!
P.S. We are super, super excited to begin our countdown to our very first international trip together! We are going to be exploring the southeast coast of Mexico, resort free. Wish us luck as we finalize the planning, let us know if you’ve been there and have any adventure suggestions!
37 days!
One Response
Very nice guys!