Six Small Towns in Kentucky
At Rathbone Mansions we appreciate the beauty, charm and diversity found in New Orleans, Louisiana and all over the South. Many of our guests enjoy exploring the city of New Orleans from the comfort of our historic hotel as well as areas all over the south to experience what each unique spot has to offer. Our blog highlights many of these stunning places so you can design the best trip to suit your needs.
This part of the American South is rich in history and full of gracious charm. Overall, the “Bluegrass State” as it’s called, is home to some of the most interesting towns in the entire U.S. From what’s known as Bardstown, “The “Bourbon Capital of the World,” to arty communities such as Berea.
1. Bardstown: This picturesque town of 13,164 friendly folks is located in the heart of Kentucky’s bluegrass region, where distilling is definitely a fine art. You’ll find ten distilleries within 16 minutes of downtown Bardstown – some date back to 1776. Be sure and pay a visit. This awesome history and tradition is celebrated every fall with the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival.
This is a drink called “Black Dog” that I found in The New York Bartender’s Guide. It’s made with 3 oz. of bourbon, 1 oz. of dry vermouth and a 1/2 oz. of blackberry brandy. Pour over ice and stir.
The town of Bardstown is also home to “My Old Kentucky State Park” in honor of Stephen Foster – who wrote the state’s national anthem in 1852. It can be heard every year when sung by the crowd at the Kentucky Derby. Be sure to explore the downtown area of Bardstown: it’s a mix of historic buildings, boutiques and great restaurants. Louisville is only 35 miles away.
2. Berea: You’ll find this spot nestled in the outskirts of Bluegrass Country or, just 40 miles south of Lexington. And guess what? Berea is totally dry. The nearest town that allows purchases of alcohol is Richmond. Berea is home to painters, musicians and weavers as well as Berea College, a liberal arts school founded in 1855 – the first interracial and coeducational school in the South.
And while we’re on the subject, there’s a restaurant across from the school that gets raves. Take note, “We love eating at Papaleno’s restaurant – there’s something for everyone to eat – including kids.” Another satisfied diner says, “The garlic bread alone is worth a trip here.” They serve beer (the town is not as dry as I thought) and you can get refills of soda (that’s a new one for me).
3. Harrodsburg: This town has a population of 8,492 (somewhat smaller than Berea with 15,787). Harrodsburg’s claim to fame is that it’s the oldest city in Kentucky. If you’re looking for a new experience check out the Black Watch Alpaca Farm that features prize-winning Huacaya alpacas. (I thought they only existed in the Andes of Southern Peru!)
You can also go canoeing and kayaking on the Chaplin River. For more fun take the Dixie Belle riverboat cruise on the Kentucky River with Captain Bruce who is entertaining and knowledgeable. Tickets are sold at the Shaker Village Welcome Center on the day of the cruise. Lexington is a short 29 miles away by car – and it’s 60 miles to Louisville.
An ad for the state of Kentucky that appeared in the May 2020 issue of the Smithsonian magazine
4. Paducah: This is a city of 24,850 residents that is known as Quilt City USA. It is also home to The National Quilt Museum and the annual Quilt Week Festival. Quilters and art lovers from all 50 states and over 40 countries visit the Quilt Museum in the average year. The museum rotates their exhibits so every time you visit there will be something new.
Since I was writing about Paducah, Kentucky I decided to send away for their Visitors Guide – it’s very good. Here’s the info: Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau, 128 Broadway, Paducah, Kentucky 42001 – 1-800-PADUCAH – www.paducah.travel
There are 20 blocks of a picturesque downtown district to explore in this town that was settled in 1821 and is near the Tennessee border. Paducah is a river town because it was built where the Ohio and Tennessee rivers meet. When you come, don’t forget to take a stroll on Paducah’s scenic riverwalk.
Shots of quilting, tours & trails, festivals & annual events – courtesy of the Paducah Visitors Guide
5. Danville: This historic town, that sports a population of 16,804, is in the geographic center of Kentucky. It has two well-known museums: (1) The McDowell Museum that honors surgeon Ephraim McDowell, the first physician to perform a successful abdominal surgery and (2) The Dollhouse Museum that showcases over 200 miniature buildings in remarkable detail and features tiny people at work and play.
There’s also Danville’s Constitution Square that is the location of the first post office built west of the Alleghany Mountains. You can also be adventurous here and try Tut’s, an Egyptian restaurant that one patron described as “a surprising café where the food is made fresh every day and is really good.” Another says, “We love Mediterranean food and this place is a winner!”
6. Glasgow: Now, we’ll hop from Egypt to Scotland! The south central Kentucky town of Glasgow was founded in 1799 and is named after the Scottish birthplace of one of its early settlers. Once a year this town of 14,424 folks holds the Glasgow Highland Games – they have been doing this since 1986 (the first Highland Games in the United States took place in New York in 1836).
This small, peaceful town is a 25-minute drive via State Highway 2189 to Mammoth Cave National Park. To read our recent write-up about this fascinating spot please CLICK HERE.
CLICK HERE to listen to a song about Kentucky sung by Travis Tritt.
Shaun Nelson-Henrick