Getting Around
Rose Hill Inn, Versailles
Central Kentucky's Bluegrass Heartland offers lots to see and do in a relatively
compact area. We'd suggest a 200-mile loop: Louisville to Frankfort to Lexington
(and/or neighboring Versailles) to Harrodsburg to Bardstown, and back to Louisville.
Try a different B&B every day, or choose one as your home base.
When to Go
Spring and fall are among the loveliest times to visit central Kentucky, with lots
of outdoor activities if the weather is good, balanced by plenty of indoor
attractions if it's not. Unless you've inherited tickets to the Kentucky
Derby, avoid visiting anywhere in the Louisville area the first weekend
in May (the 128th running of the Derby is May 4),
when prices shoot up faster than a racehorse leaving the gate. The rest of the
year, a Kentucky getaway is as affordable as it is entertaining.
For information on special events,
check the state
calendar of events for the Bluegrass region. Craft lovers
will enjoy the 20th anniversary of Kentucky
Crafted: The Market, March 2-3, in Louisville, while quilters
should visit Bardstown from
March 21-24, for My Old Kentucky Home Festival of Quilts. Music
fans, take note of the bluegrass music festivals
in Lexington, June 6-9, and in.
Bardstown, June 21-22.
Sights & Activities
Bluegrass Horse Country: Bluegrass thrives on the limestone plateau of central
Kentucky, and horses thrive on both bluegrass and the calcium-rich water of
the underlying aquifer. (The grass is really green--but in the spring,
bluegrass produces bluish-purple buds that give a blue cast to fields of grass.)
Start your equine exploration with a
visit to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington,
a 1200-acre complex with two museums, twin theaters and lots of
horses. Several working horse farms welcome visitors,
including Three Chimneys Farm,
Calumet Farm, and
Claiborne Farm. To see thoroughbreds racing,
visit the Keeneland track. You can
watch early morning workouts year-round, and watch the races during the
April and October meets.
Bourbon tasting: Bourbon whiskey has been made in central Kentucky
since the 1700s, and tours of the more distinctive small-batch distillers
are rich in local history. Labrot & Graham
in Versailles is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, and is an
especially good choice for a tour; from April-October, stay for a picnic
lunch, served on the porch. Nearby is the Wild
Turkey distillery, another favorite of Bourbon aficionados.
The Buffalo Trace Distillery is
near Frankfort, and famous Maker's
Mark is just 17 miles south of Bardstown. Bardstown itself is
home to the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History and
the Bourbon Festival
in mid-September. For a complete list, go to Kentucky
tourism, and type "Bourbon Trail" in the "Search Kentucky" box.
History: Located 25 miles southwest of Lexington and seven miles east
of historic Harrodsburg, Shaker Village
of Pleasant Hill is a completely restored Shaker community and living
museum, with 33 original 19th-century buildings. This National Historic
Landmark offers a wide variety of activities, including self-guided tours,
riverboat excursions, hiking trails, and special events, plus dining and
overnight accommodations. Kentucky was the "western frontier" in the 18th
century, as a visit to Old Fort
Harrod State Park will illustrate. Visit Kentucky
Tourism and click the "History & Culture" tab for many other historic sites.
Sports: To explore the full range of options,
visit Kentucky Tourism,
and click the "Trip Planner" tab, then "things to do." Our first
choice in warm weather is Canoe Kentucky offering
rafting, kayaking and canoeing all over the state.
B&Bs and Inns
Inn at Woodhaven, Louisville
Kentucky's B&Bs are a great
value. Even on weekends, you'll find queen-bedded rooms with private baths
in the $100 range including an ample country breakfast and afternoon snacks.
Louisville: Architecture buffs should not miss the amazing Victorian
homes of Old Louisville's historic district.
Two fine examples overlooking Central Park are the Central Park B&B,
with glorious stained glass windows, and the Inn at the Park, a
Richardsonian Romanesque mansion. Innkeeper Marsha Burton warmly welcomes vacation and business
travelers alike to the Gothic Revival Inn at Woodhaven, conveniently
located in Louisville's east end. A delightful combination of country charm and big-city convenience
is the Tucker House Bed & Breakfast, an 1840s Federal-style farmhouse,
exceptionally attractive with Colonial and Shaker-style antiques.
More Louisville B&Bs.
Versailles: An ideal base for touring the Bluegrass country's
many charms is the historic town of Versailles (think "fer sale")
and the 1823 Historic Rose Hill Inn.
You'll love innkeeper Sharon Amberg, her golden retrievers, and the
inn's ideal balance of privacy and hospitality. Guest rooms in the
1823 Victorian mansion are decorated in period, while the historic
cottage (pictured above) is ideal for a private getaway.
Lexington: Swann's Nest, the main
house on Cygnet Farm, is set in the heart of thoroughbred country,
just a mile from Keeneland Racecourse. Owner Rosalie Swann offers
warm greetings to all; smokers are welcome.
More Lexington B&Bs
Harrodsburg: Located on Harrodsburg's main street, the Queen-Anne
style Bauer Haus welcomes
guests with warm hospitality and the great applesauce.
The Beaumont Inn served as a school
for its first 72 years, and has been operated as an inn since 1917
by the Dedman family. Highlights include the quiet park-like grounds,
antique furnishings, gracious staff, and traditional Kentucky food.
Bardstown: The Arbor Rose has an ideal
location in the heart of historic Bardstown, steps from shops, restaurants,
and museums. A RoseMark Haven is a 1830s mansion
with a dramatic three-story oval spiral staircase, high ceilings, and elegant,
uncluttered décor.
More B&Bs.
More Bluegrass region B&Bs.
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