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Sometimes the best destinations are hidden in plain sight. Take my recent trip to Portugal for example.
The Algarve has gotten a lot of hype in recent years (and rightly deserved), but how many times have you heard of Quarteira, a gleaming whitewashed town on a quiet stretch of coast?
Chances are you haven’t. Heck, I’d never heard of it before booking it on a whim either.
Well, the same goes for the US
Before you start making jokes about fried chicken and family trees missing a branch, Kentucky is teeming with small-town charm and timeless towns that are definitely worth a visit.
While Louisville may be your first thought, another city in Kentucky is not horse riding round and surprisingly defeated Austin, one of the trendiest cities in the South.
Sit number one on Southern Living’s list of the destinations that their experts visited for the first time and got their hearts racing, is none other than the historic city Lexington.
Charm and cheap stays: Lexington belongs on your bingo card for 2025
The end of a calendar year is a time for reflection, and if your life is anything like mine, then there are certainly many surprises on your 2024 bingo card.
While most 2024 travel plans are behind us, 2025 travel plans are all the rage right now.
Lexington makes for a great escape in the spring, summer and fall, as winters can be a bit icy, so it’s only right to venture further than the ball drops.
While many travelers, like myself, head to Europe to essentially go back in time, much of the South offers a similar experience, ranging from the hidden gems of Louisiana to the underrated cities of Kentucky.
Southern Living digital editor Mary Shannon Hodes visited Lexington for the first time this year.
She said, “The downtown area was definitely precious, and I saw plenty of nice restaurants and shops that I would like to visit when I travel back.”
You’ll discover pretty parks, Victorian homes, simple eateries, and just enough museums and galleries to bide your time, like the popular Mary Todd Lincoln Househome to the former First Lady and wife of President Abraham Lincoln.
You can spend hours browsing local boutiques and visiting local favorites, Chevy Chase Inn or hipper Blue Stallion Brewing Co.
Every city has breweries converted into warehouses these days, right?
But what about converted hotels? Check out 21c Museum Hotel Lexingtonhoused in a historic bank building that has been transformed into what has become a hybrid of a modern boutique hotel/art museum/restaurant.
Better yet, it is only $85 this spring. Remember what I said about planning ahead?
According to TripAdvisor, these are the top 5 hotels in Lexington: (based on total value)
- GLō Best Western Lexington
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Lexington Green
- DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Lexington
- Origin Hotel Lexington
- Elwood Hotel & Suites
But if you feel like splurging, Lyndon House Bed & Breakfast encapsulates all the infectious charm of Lexington in an 1883 mansion – well worth the $300 per night rates.
Whiskey flows like water
Luckily I’m not in Lexington at the moment, otherwise my article might look something like this:
‘Whsikey, buorbon, everywhere! Drown your sorrows, or celebrate my joys, in a sea of amber nectar…’
Luckily for you, I’m all the way in California, so I’ll be keeping my inner Hunter S. Thompson at bay.
Lexington isn’t shy about its bourbon heritage. There is even an entire district dedicated to it.
Of course you will also enjoy it in the city center Distillery districtwhere you find the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
This is how you can participate 5 different tours bee Buffalo Trace Distillery in nearby Frankfort, one of my personal favorite sips after a long day from a company older than America itself – impressive, huh?
Although, James E. Pepper Distillery holds one perfect rating on TripAdvisor. Not an easy task in this day and age of internet whiners.
Horse capital of the world
Louisville may be Kentucky’s claim to fame for having the “most exciting two minutes in sports,” but Lexington takes the cake as the “Horse Capital of the World.”
Although Ocala may have something to say about that…
Southern Living also highlighted this aspect of Lexington because you can visit horse farms such as Megson Farms, where you can stay overnight to spend as much time as possible with the largest herd of rare white thoroughbreds in the world!
Lexington is also home to the Breeder’s cup held at The Kentucky Horse Park, an extremely popular event. The park is still open to the winter season for other events, where admission starts at $14.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
