Scenic Horse Farms and other Lexington, KY Things to Do Tips

Take a driving tour and view the famous horse farms surrounding Lexington. You can order a map with a good loop driving tour from the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau (800-845-3959)or pick up one at the office at 301 East Vine Street downtown. Two of the best drives for viewing farms are Paris Pike (located off I-64/I-75) on the Northeast side of Lexington and Old Frankfort Pike (located off New Circle Road). See photos on my Versailles web page for pictures from some of the farms.

See web site below for useful information about arranging private tours or taking a package tour of some of the famous farms.

Leave a Comment

Address: All around Lexington and surrounding counties
Directions: Recommended routes are old Frankfort Pike, US 60 between Lexington, Versailles and Frankfort and Paris Pike
Website: http://www.visitlex.com/quick/tours.html

The Kentucky Horse Park will host a special exhibit called "All the Queen's Horses" April 26th through August 24, 2003. This will depict the role of the horse in the British Isles. The Kentucky Horse Park offers the opportunity to see various breeds of horses, ride a horse, or attend one of the many horse shows or other events scheduled at the park. See my Kentucky web page for a photo from the Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event, arguably the most prestegious U.S. horse jumping event. It is used as a selection for the Olympics and the World Equestrian games. See www.rk3de.org for information about the Rolex 3 day event or www.kyhorsepark.com for general information about the Kentucky Horse Park.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 800-678-8813
Address: 4089 Iron Works Pike
Directions: Take I-71 North of Lexington and exit on Iron Works Pike.
Other Contact: See www.rk3de.org for informatio

A few years ago we enjoyed a 'Horse Mania' public art event. The horses were auctioned at Keeneland to raise money for charity. Successful bidders may leave a few of these horses on display around Lexington. This year doors from an old demolished public housing project have been painted by local artists and are found throughout the downtown area.

Leave a Comment

Go see a horse race. Even people that don't enjoy wagering on horses usually enjoy Keeneland because it is a great place to take pictures and watch people. Keeneland has live racing in the Spring and Fall. The Spring meet is always in April just before the May meet of Churchhill Downs and the Kentucky Derby in Louisville--always the first Saturday in May. The Red Mile race track is famous in Harness Racing and hosts one of Harness Racing's Tripple Crown events. Watch for Keeneland in the new Sea Biscuit movie (carefully disguised to look like a 1930's track in the east). Sea Biscuit never raced in Kentucky.

Leave a Comment

Directions: Keeneland is located accross from Bluegrass Airport at Versailles Road and Man o' War Blvd. The Red Mile is on Red Mile Road between Harrodsburg Road and Versailles Road.
Website: http://www.keeneland.com/

Visitors who enjoy looking at historic houses have several to choose from. Visitors can tour the Mary Todd Lincoln house located on Main Street near Rupp Arena from April to November. The home of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan is open for tours. This is in the Gratz Park Historic district near Transylvania University. The Henry Clay house, known as Ashland (pictured below), and grounds is in a park like setting with a garden and several outbuildings located South of the central business district on Richmond Road has a house and garden that is worth visiting because it has much of the original furnishings.

Leave a Comment

I usually do not enjoy shopping, or recommend shopping, but Lexington has perhaps the finest independent book store in the country--Joseph Beth Booksellers, located in the Lexington Green off Nicholasville Road and New Circle. It is huge and has a great travel section and a travel agency located in the store. You can listen to compact disks, drink coffee, have lunch, and have a great time browsing through the large selection of books, magazines, compact disks, cards and more. (See picture left at back of the store overlooking lake). Joseph-Beth also has locations in Cincinnati and Cleveland.

Also, the victorian shops located downtown on Main across from Rupp Arena at Triangle Park has several businesses worth visiting--including local artists selling paintings and an old fashioned drug store with soda fountain. (Note the Talbotts outlet, which is a great place to buy clasic styled ladies clothing at very low prices--especially when they have a clearance sale, has moved from the Victorian Square to the Hamburg mall).

The Lexingon Chamber of Commerce web page lists other main places to shop. See, http://www.visitlex.com/quick/shopping.html

Leave a Comment

Address: Lexington Green, and Downtown
Directions: Lexinton Green is at the intersection of New Circle Road and Nicholasville Road on the South side of Lexington.
Website: http://www.josephbeth.com/