Activity suggestions for a Scotsman visiting Kentucky

[David Thornton]

Keeneland is not racing, but watching workouts at the track or over at the training center on Paris Pike is good stuff. The farms will be foaling and getting ready for the breeding season starting in February, several welcome guests. The Derby Museum at Churchill is nice, the Horse park is good and he probably will be familiar with the Alltech FEI world games coming to US soil for the first time in 2010.
Bourbon may be for wusses, but the tours and tastings are hard to top.
We could help organize a kilt night.
Trout fishing in the tail-waters of the Cumberland, the Corvette museum, lots to do here.
Hope that helps
David

[TJP33928]

I took the tour at Woodford Reserve, it is well worth the trip. It has since become my favorite Bourbon. They are owned by Brown & Forman who also owns Jack Daniels. J D produces more in a month than Woodford does in a year. Besides the Copper Kettles were made in Scotland. Plus it is smack in the middle of many beautiful horse farms.
Tim

[bikeolounger]

Many fans of good bourbon eschew Maker's Mark. MM is all about their marketing with the red wax... Go for Woodford Reserve or Four Roses.

It's been twenty years since I lived in Lexington, but the short drive list (under one hour) would include Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill, Boonesboro, and Harrodsburg. There was a fair-sized battle in the early 1860s in Perryville, a bit southwest of Lexington. As mentioned, there are many horse farms in the surrounding countryside. They aren't doing tours, but there is a castle out US60 from Lexington toward Versailles (say: "ver SAILS" if you are a local, or want a local to know where you mean). There is a FABULOUS little restaurant in Midway, a few miles west of Lexington, called Holly Hill Inn that serves multi-course meals. It isn't "in season," but Danville has Pioneer Playhouse, where many actors got a start on their careers.

As mentioned, the Horse Park in Georgetown, Georgetown College, and the Derby Museum in Louisville are worth seeing if one likes Thoroughbreds and racing.

And, yes, if you organize a kilt night in Lexington, I'd try to be there!

[Phil]

Whatever you do, don't let him play with matches - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/7176250.stm

[Big Paul]

Mammoth Cave is very cool!
Jim Beam Distillery is cool.
The Bourbon Museum in Bardstown is very cool. (be sure to watch the video of the Heaven Hill Distillery fire)
Makers Mark Distillery tour is a must do!
Perryville Battle Field
Churchill Downs (go see the ponies run)

My personal favorite/family favorite bourbon is Old Fitzgerald 100 proof. (It'a a taste thing, not a proof thing.)



Here is some info on distillery tours:
<H2>The Ancient Age Distillery

1001 Wilkinson Boulevard
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
502-223-7641

Tours are offered from Monday through Friday
From 9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
Jim Beam's Visitor Center and Distillery

Clermont, Kentucky 40110
502-543-9877
Heaven Hill Distillery

Highway 49, Loretto Road
Bardstown, Kentucky 40004-0729
502-348-3921

Tours on weekdays only.
The Labrot & Graham Distillery

7855 McCracken Pike
Versailles, Kentucky 40383
606-879-1812

Five tours every day: Tuesdays through Saturdays from April through October, Wednesdays through Saturdays from November through March.
Maker's Mark Distillery

Loretto, Kentucky 40037
270-865-2099

Six tours a day Mondays through Saturdays and three afternoon tours on Sundays.
The Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History
and The Bardstown Historical Museum

Spalding Hall
114 North Fifth Street
Bardstown, KY 40004
502-348-2999

A delightful museum that has much to teach those who are interested in the history of bourbon and American whiskeys.
The Wild Turkey Distillery

Highway 1510, Box 180
Lawrenceburg, Kentucky 40342
502-839-4544

Tours are available four times a day, Mondays through Fridays. It is closed to visitors during the last two weeks of July and the first week of January.
</H2>

[Cawdorian]

A list from a native Kentuckian:

There are several places around central Kentucky that are worth visting, Churchill Downs, the Derby Museum and the Riverfront in Lousiville, Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington and the horse farms surrounding Lexington, the distilleries, My old Kentucky Home at Bardstown, Fort Boonesborough, Mammoth Cave and the Corvette Museum. If you get as far as the Corvette Museum swing North through Owensboro and enjoy some of the best Bar-B-Q in the world, a Scot should love it, it is mutton, the very best can be found at the Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn.

In the extreme Western end of state Kentucky Dam, Kentucky Lake and Barkley Lake are a must see.

I hope your friend enjoys their visit to the USA.

[bikeolounger]

Shoot! I almost completely forgot one of my favorites!

Cumberland Falls! If you are there on a night with a full moon and no cloud cover, you can see the moonbow. It's sublime!

[string]

Wow, I had a ton of ideas before I saw it was central Kentucky, the area is chock full of state parks and stuff to do though. I would strongly advise coming East where there are cool things like actual hills and maybe a tree or two.

[fluter]

I was trying to remember the name of an old-time distillery near Lexington: is it not Labrot and Graham? I'd think that would be of interest, even to a jaded Scot.

[ozone]

Having lived in KY (lexington) for 4 years, i have some ideas:

1. The kentucky horse park is the smithsonian of all things horse....very cool even if you are not into horses. http://www.kyhorsepark.com/

2. The red river gorge in winter is REALLY cool. There's a pizza joint there called Miguel's that is worth a stop. Miguel is from portugal, and runs a pizza joint/car camp lot for climbers. He's world famous amongst rock climbers.

3. Near Miguel's is the State park with a nice restaurant with decent biscuits and gravy.

4. I second the motion on Berea....although you need to be warned: it's infested with hippies.

5. If you are a gun club member somewhere, contact the Lexington Gun club, AKA Bluegrass Sportsman's League (http://www.bgslinc.com/) for a tour of their 2500 acre property, you wont regret it. It's on a u-bend in the kentucky river and it is amazing! Here's an aerial photo: http://www.bgslinc.com/modules.php?n...facility_id=31

6. Check out downtown Lexington....it's a walkable area and lots of fun restaurants.

7. The Henry Clay Estate is also an interesting tour

Anyway, there's some of the places that I used to play around in when i lived in KY. Hope that helps.