Known just as much for its bourbons and bluegrass as its horse racing and food, Kentucky is a fun and fascinating place to live and travel about that certainly has a lot going for it. As the Upper South state lies at a geographic and cultural crossroads, both its landscapes and settlements are extremely diverse with rural areas, hills and mountains making up much of its landmass.
Most of its population resides either in its central Bluegrass region or in and around its largest city Louisville and the suburbs of Cincinnati in neighboring Ohio. The best cities in Kentucky boast their own distinct distilling and dining scenes. With a rich music, literature and folklore heritage, there is always something new to discover with Southern hospitality being a given wherever you go.
9. Henderson
A very peaceful and picturesque place, Henderson lies along the winding Ohio River, just a stone’s throw from Evansville in Indiana.
In addition to ambling along its gorgeous River Front, there are also all kinds of outstanding cultural events, fun festivals and exhilarating horse races for visitors to attend over the course of the year.
8. Owensboro
Just half an hour’s drive east of Henderson and Evansville is another fantastic city to visit in the Bluegrass State: the ever-growing Owensboro. Besides billing itself as the ‘Barbecue Capital of the World’, Kentucky’s fourth-largest city is famous for its packed schedule of fairs and festivals with sports also playing a large role in its culture and identity.
Just a short stroll from its wonderful waterfront along the Ohio River are dozens of great shops and restaurants with playgrounds, parks and a sublime arts and culture center also on offer. While many come to sample its delicious food, its brilliant Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum is not to be missed out on. In addition, the Owensboro’s fine art museum and beautiful botanical garden also count among its other main attractions.
7. Richmond
The largest city in the Bluegrass region after Lexington and Louisville, Richmond is an idyllic place to visit that is surrounded by some pristine nature spots and state parks. As it is home to the Eastern Kentucky University, it has a very lively yet laidback feel with the sizeable settlement also acting as a center for shopping in the south-center of the state.
Thanks in part to its large and diverse student population, countless restaurants and shops are dotted about downtown with lots of top-notch recreational and leisure facilities being located on campus. While the large and lovely Lake Reba Park is fun to visit, most tourists will be particularly interested in its well-preserved Civil War battlefield and replica of Fort Boonesborough.
6. Georgetown
Just to the north of Lexington you can find the city-suburb of Georgetown. Much calmer and quieter than the Horse Capital of the World, it also lies within easy driving distance of Frankfort and Louisville and their umpteen establishments, amenities and attractions.
As it is the site of a massive Toyota manufacturing center, G-Town’s population and popularity have risen considerably over recent decades with more restaurants and shops also having sprung up. Thanks to all its family-owned businesses and the fertile farms that surround it, Georgetown has a wonderful small-town feel with most people heading into nearby Lexington if they want to shop, dine or go out.
5. Elizabethtown
Lying just forty-five minutes’ drive south of the state’s largest city Louisville is another vibrant town that acts as a hub for the surrounding region: the enticing Elizabethtown. Very well connected to countless other cities in Kentucky and even Nashville in neighboring Tennessee, it is home to 30,000 or so souls.
As it was established in 1793, Elizabethtown has several nice historic houses and mansions for you to check out with its main claim to fame being the Confederate cannonball still embedded in the side of a downtown building. Besides numerous shops and restaurants, the town has a surprisingly lively cultural scene to delve into.
4. Louisville
As it is by far the largest city in Kentucky, Louisville is understandably one of the main places people want to visit in Kentucky. With a wide range of neighborhoods to choose from, the Derby City certainly has something for everyone.
You can find all kinds of enticing attractions with art galleries and museums, parks and architectural marvels all dotted about. While it is most known for hosting the exciting Kentucky Derby horse race and being the hometown of boxer Muhammad Ali, the city boasts lots of fantastic bourbon distilleries, a thriving dining scene and Southern hospitality.
3. Berea
If instead of a busy big city it is a simple small town in a scenic setting that you are after, then Berea might just be the place for you. Nestled amidst the rolling foothills of the Appalachians, it has a vast array of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy with both Berea College Forest and Daniel Boone National Forest being home to countless trails, campsites and viewpoints.
Despite its modest size, Berea is known for its historic buildings and happening arts and crafts scene which is showcased at several well-attended festivals over the course of the year. In addition, the well-regarded Berea College’s sizeable student population lends the town a lively and youthful feel though most people head into Richmond or Lexington if they want to shop or go out.
2. Lexington
After Louisville, the large and lively Lexington is normally the next city that springs to mind when people think about Kentucky. Renowned as the ‘Horse Capital of the World’, it acts as an important economic and cultural center for the rest of the Bluegrass.
Also known as the ‘Athens of the West’, Lexington is home to a myriad of interesting historic sights and impressive old buildings with grand mansions and atmospheric plantations lining the streets of its Victorian neighborhoods. While most of its attractions relate to horse breeding and racing, there are also plenty of terrific restaurants and distilleries to try with a trip to the famous Keeneland Race Course being the highlight of many visitors’ time in the city.
1. Frankfort
Lying in between both Lexington and Louisville, you can find the state’s small capital city Frankfort which straddles the banks of the winding Kentucky River. Asides from its pretty parks and gorgeous waterfront areas, its historic downtown contains attractive antebellum-style buildings with museums and public institutions set alongside trendy restaurants and distilleries.
Across the river is its stunning state capitol and countless governmental buildings with the East and West sides of Frankfort being more residential in nature. With fun recreation activities to be enjoyed on the river, a thriving cultural scene and close proximity to other larger cities, the capital is a great place to stay for a while.
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