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Other Things Worth Seeing Near Lexington

Archives 2018 World Equestrian Games
#1

Due to the price of WEG tickets, I will have “no event” days scattered here and there among my vacation. I’m sure others are in the same boat. I’ll spend one or two of those free days just looking around the KHP and Equine Village in general, but what are some cool but non budget-breaking other attractions and activities?

Already on my list:

Thoroughbred farms - Tour of Claiborne already scheduled. :cool:

Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville - not too much of a drive, if you have a car.

Find a good theater to see the Secretariat movie, which is premiering then.

Other ideas? Anybody got a good bookstore? I can never resist those. :yes:

#2

Joseph Beth bookstore. Definitely worth a stop.

#3

We are hoping to visit Shaker Village and Berea College (my traveling mate b/c she does college consulting, me to tag along and look at cool crafty things).

#4

Shaker Village is my favorite place in the world. The drive from Lexington on 38 (?) is quite lovely, as you will pass part of the Kentucky Palisades.

There will be an exhibition/trade fair in Georgetown as well as Lexington. Keeneland for breakfast and watching the horses train is something that is just about unique. There will also be the downtown festival and the other horse exhibition in downtown.

If you’re into history, Henry Clay’s home is in Lexington.

Agree about Joseph Beth, and you should also not miss The Liquor Barn if you enjoy shopping for excellent beer, wine, cheese, bread, assorted gourmet goodies, and deli meats. There are two Liquor Barns (that I know of) now. The original is on Richmond Rd. and there is now one on Man O’War way south.

#5

I saw Seabiscuit at The Kentucky Theater downtown. It was a great venue as the building itself will take you back in time.

KEENELAND! Get there at dawn for the morning works, have a gut-busting breakfast at the track kitchen, hit the library for all things historic, and don’t forget to stop by the gift shop.

A distillery tour is a must. I have only been to Woodford Reserve but it is a dandy. The drive there is lovely, and they have a great gift shop. (don’t mind the opening page - I think because the website is for “adult beverages” they have to ask your age. :smiley:

If you go to Louisville to see the Derby Museum (EXCELLENT, by the way), you might want to get a little more out of your trip and hit up the Speed Art Museum. Not horsey, and not particularly “Kentucky”, but a very good art museum.

For those knitters out there, there are a number of farms in the area that raise sheep or alpacas.

I would bet that either Rood and Riddle or Hagyard’s are giving tours during WEG. Might be worth a call in advance to find out.

Edited to add: How could I have forgotten THIS???!!!??? If you get here a few days early, it would be a perfect day out, don’t you think? Imagine the tee shirts! :smiley:

Hope this helps!

#6

Louisville? Why the Louisville Slugger factory/museum of course. It isn’t too hard to get to, or expensive, and standing there right next to the bats of all those famous players was remarkably moving.

And I like to walk, so McConnell Springs and Masterson Station Park and the Arboretum were on my list of places to go too.

#7

Legacy Trail

I agree with everything posted and would add…

If you happen to have access to bike (or don’t mind a little walking) there is the new Legacy Trail connecting the KHP and Lexington. Rode this on the bikes a couple of days ago and it is beautiful. If fact may use it to come to the games and avoid all that traffic, if the weather cooperates :slight_smile:

#8

They are going to have a festival in Downtown Lexington, which will also have live streaming from the games :slight_smile:

Also there are concerts at night all around the Bluegrass.

#9

fun stuff in Lexington

Try to get to Keeneland for the morning works…it’s really fun (and delicious!) to eat breakfast in the track kitchen and then watch the horses gallop. Get there before 9am.

The Legacy Trail is opening up soon, which is a long wide walking trail from downtown, through Coldstream park, out to the horse park. We biked it last week and it was BEAUTIFUL! Lots of cool bridges, some hills, winding around horse country. Lots of horses looked at us whizzing by on bikes like “Woah what are YOU doing here!” :smiley:

Do breakfast/lunch one day at Alfalfa’s downtown–really good food, lots of vegetarian dishes, and cool atmosphere.

For food, also try to get to DeSha’s downtown…YUM!
I’m sure there’s more but this is all I could think of now…

#10

Agree with the above posts; here’s the website for the Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau which has other suggestions:

www.visitlex.com

#11

Also Louisville Pottery while you are touring Churchill up that way.
http://www.louisvillestoneware.com/
http://www.louisvillestoneware.com/shop/Equine/

#12

After you visit Keeneland, take the Bluegrass driving route to Midway and back. There are some great lunch spots there, and some gifty shops, and the Freedman Harness boutique.

Another great place to eat is Joe Balognas. Unless of course, there is a college ball game on TV, then you won’t be able to hear yourself think.

There is also the Red Mile harness racetrack, and the life sized bronze throughbred sculputures in the park downtown.

#13

Oh, and if you like antiques, Shelbyville (an hours drive and on the way to Louisville where Churchill Downs is) has some nice shops downtown, and then high end English antiques at Wakefield Scearce galleries.

#14

Great tips, thanks! I hadn’t even thought of Keeneland, and I don’t know why not. I’m a big racing fan. Shaker Village sounds neat, too, and I love history, so I’ll definitely check out Henry Clay’s place.

#15

And please, everyone stop by the American Saddlebred Museum. It is on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park (to the right of the main gate) and doesn’t require Horse Park Admission to reach. They’ve remodeled the whole thing for WEG and added an outstanding gallery featuring their collection of original George Ford Morris horse portraits (my favorite horse artist EVER).

#16

[QUOTE=Good Choice;5066689]
Try to get to Keeneland for the morning works…it’s really fun (and delicious!) to eat breakfast in the track kitchen and then watch the horses gallop. Get there before 9am.

The Legacy Trail is opening up soon, which is a long wide walking trail from downtown, through Coldstream park, out to the horse park. We biked it last week and it was BEAUTIFUL! Lots of cool bridges, some hills, winding around horse country. Lots of horses looked at us whizzing by on bikes like “Woah what are YOU doing here!” :smiley:

Do breakfast/lunch one day at Alfalfa’s downtown–really good food, lots of vegetarian dishes, and cool atmosphere.

For food, also try to get to DeSha’s downtown…YUM!
I’m sure there’s more but this is all I could think of now…[/QUOTE]

Okay, I’m definitely putting the morning works at Keeneland on my list to do! Any important details to know about this? Just show up at the track and watch? No important details I need to know before just showing up?

#17

Local art to go see

Anyone into textile art don’t miss this - the Overbrook tapestry hanging in the U of KY library lobby.

http://www.uky.edu/Libraries/forms/tapestryfs.pdf

The Thoroughbred Park racing sculptures at the corner of Main St and Midland just east of downtown.

http://myoldkentucky.blogspot.com/2007/02/thoroughbred-park.html

And the COTH’s very own DLee has an art show opening “Living Bluegrass” starting Sept 10 at the Gallery B downtown.

http://www.dianasart.com/

http://www.galleryblexington.com/pages/viewPage.php?id=8

she’s modest! she mentioned the book store above!
enjoy :slight_smile:

#18

a couple of others

Most have been mentioned but if you get to Louisville, you might want to check out the Flame Run:
http://www.flamerun.com/

Don’t know whether you will be around for any of their shows but you might check this out:
http://www.nortoncenter.com/upcoming-schedule

#19

You don’t have to be a racing fan. Watching from the rail as those horses breeze by will bring tears to your eyes. And the pony horse folk are the nicest people - they’ll answer any questions you have. It is a very, very special place.

[quote=SmartAlex;5066893]And please, everyone stop by the American Saddlebred Museum. It is on the grounds of the Kentucky Horse Park (to the right of the main gate) and doesn’t require Horse Park Admission to reach. They’ve remodeled the whole thing for WEG and added an outstanding gallery featuring their collection of original George Ford Morris horse portraits (my favorite horse artist EVER).
[/quote]

I was at the opening and I am not a “Saddlebred” person (though I’m somewhat familiar with some of the old names) and SmartAlex is right, it is great. The artwork is fabulous. I learned a lot and appreciate the breed’s history MUCH more now.

#20

Keeneland in the am for sure!! It is fantastic!!

Nope, no special arrangements or instructions…just show up and don’t forget to bring your camera! I think it is the last “open” track in North America and you can stroll around the shedrows. Very cool.

If you like Mexican try Jalapenos on New Circle.

Spindletop is cool http://www.spindletophall.org/Home-1.html

Hill N Dale and Three Chimneys too!

I love KY!!

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