Nicknamed the “Horse Capital of the World,” Lexington, Kentucky is known for its thriving thoroughbred industry. But this mid-sized city also brims with history, arts, culture, food and outdoor adventures. Lexington offers an appealing blend of Southern hospitality, small-town charm and urban amenities.
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Visit Horse Farms | Explore prestigious horse farms around Lexington. |
| Tour the Kentucky Horse Park | Experience Kentucky’s horse heritage with shows and museum. |
| Learn at Aviation Museum of Kentucky | Discover Kentucky’s aviation history with aircraft displays. |
| Tour Downtown Lexington | Walk through historic areas with shops and restaurants. |
| Taste Local Bourbon | Sample bourbon at local distilleries. |
| Bike or Walk Legacy Trail | Enjoy a 21-mile trail showcasing heritage and nature. |
| Experience Art at the University of Kentucky | Explore galleries and performance art centers. |
| Tour Historic Homes | Visit 19th-century residences like Ashland and Hunt-Morgan House. |
| See Racing at Keeneland | Watch thoroughbred racing at a historic racecourse. |
| Hear the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra | Attend concerts by Central Kentucky’s premier symphony. |
| Play Disc Golf at Shillito Park | Enjoy a disc golf course in a green park. |
From unique local attractions to picturesque natural escapes, here are the top 12 things to do on your next visit to Lexington, Kentucky:
Visit Horse Farms
Name and Location: Horse farms around Lexington, Kentucky.
History and Significance: Lexington is known as the “Horse Capital of the World” with over 400 horse farms in the area. Farms specialize in breeding, training, and housing champion racehorses.
What to Expect: Guided tours to see stables, breeding facilities, and horses in pastures. Meeting expert staff and learning about horses. Some farms offer horse riding.
Visitor Information: Tour rates start around $15. Reservations required at most farms. Comfortable shoes recommended.
No trip to Lexington is complete without experiencing the surrounding prestigious horse farms that drive the local economy. Many farms allow visitors to see training areas, breeding operations and champion racehorses. Top picks include Coolmore Ashford, WinStar Farm, Lane’s End Farm and Shadwell Farm. Arrange a guided tour or do a self-guided driving tour along the scenic back roads passing white plank fences, lush bluegrass and elegant barns. For an added treat, book a horse farm dining experience or sunset tour and dinner.
Tour the Kentucky Horse Park
Name and Location: The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.
History and Significance: Opened in 1978, this leading horse tourist attraction has museums, events, and over 50 breeds of horses.
What to Expect: Horse shows/performances, horseback rides, museum exhibits, and exploring the grounds. Shopping, dining, and interactive learning.
Visitor Information: Open daily 9am-5pm. Admission is $20 for adults. Guided tours available.
This leading horse tourist attraction provides a well-rounded look at Kentucky’s horse heritage. Walk the halls of the International Museum of the Horse housing art, artifacts and exhibits on the history and significance of horses around the world. Daily shows feature equine demonstrations and riding performances by the masters of various disciplines. Say hello to retired champion racehorses in the Hall of Champions and pet Thoroughbreds in the Breeds Barn. Other activities include farm tours, horseback riding, carriage rides and exploring the scenic grounds.
Learn at Aviation Museum of Kentucky
Name and Location: Aviation Museum of Kentucky in Lexington.
History and Significance: Opened in 1995, this museum preserves KY’s aviation history through exhibits, artifacts, and aircraft on display.
What to Expect: Viewing vintage planes and interactive exhibits. Experiencing flight simulators. Educational programs on aviation. Gift shop onsite.
Visitor Information: Open Tues-Sat 10am-4pm. Admission fee charged. Tours available.
Located at the Blue Grass Airport, this museum collects, preserves and displays a wide range of aircraft along with artifacts highlighting Kentucky’s aviation history. Visitors can enter the cockpits of planes like a British Aerospace Harrier, Soviet MiG-21 fighter jet and 1937 Stinson Reliant. Exhibits spotlight pioneers like Dr. Elisha K. Kane who made the first controlled heavier-than-air flight in Lexington in 1910. Kids can climb on a red 1955 Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star. The museum hosts special events like airplane fly-ins, seminars with astronauts and open cockpit days.
Tour Downtown Lexington
Name and Location: Downtown Lexington, Kentucky.
History and Significance: Lexington’s downtown features historic architecture, unique shops/restaurants, and cultural attractions centered around Courthouse Square.
What to Expect: Exploring museums, historic sites, and public artworks. Shopping, dining, and engaging in the city’s culture and energy.
Visitor Information: Free trolley available. Guided walking tours offered. Visitor info at Downtown Lexington Partnership.
Lexington’s revitalized downtown has plenty of attractions within walking distance to fill a day or weekend. Stroll through historic Gratz Park with its charming gazebo, walking paths and monuments. Visit the Lexington Visitors Center housed in a converted historic building. Admire Victorian architecture on South Mill Street and stop into local restaurants, boutiques and antiques shops. Other downtown highlights include the Lexington Public Library, Victorian Square, Cheapside Park, Triangle Park and the Lexington Farmer’s Market held year-round.
Taste Local Bourbon
Name and Location: Bourbon distilleries in Lexington, Kentucky.
History and Significance: Lexington has urban bourbon trails with distilleries producing Kentucky’s famous spirit. Town Branch and Barrel House are centrally located.
What to Expect: Distillery tours explaining bourbon history and production. Tasting flights to sample different bourbons. Gift shops.
Visitor Information: Tours average $10-15 per person. Reservations recommended. Must be 21+ to taste.
No trip to Kentucky is complete without sipping some of its world-famous bourbons. Lexington has several distilleries located in the vicinity offering tours and tastings. Learn about the bourbon making process at Town Branch Distillery before sampling their handcrafted small batch bourbon and beer. At Barrel House Distillery, tour their underground limestone aging cave and try products like their bourbon cream liquor and Devil John Moonshine. Stop by the James E. Pepper Distillery to taste varieties like their 1776 bourbon and rye whiskey.
Bike or Walk Legacy Trail
Name and Location: The Legacy Trail in Lexington, Kentucky.
History and Significance: This multi-use trail runs through downtown Lexington, tree-lined neighborhoods, and horse farms on a former railroad line.
What to Expect: Walking, jogging, cycling, or skating the paved trail. Enjoying scenic views of bluegrass countryside. Picnicking and playgrounds along the way.
Visitor Information: Free trail access. Parking at trailheads and access points. Open daily dawn to dusk.
Lexington’s popular 21-mile multi-use trail extends from downtown to the Kentucky Horse Park showcasing local heritage and nature. Now a rails-to-trails route, the historic railway corridor passes through downtown Lexington, historic farms and horse country landscapes. Visitors can walk, run, bike or skate the paved trail while enjoying interpretive signage along the way highlighting local history and ecology. Picnic areas, restrooms, parking lots and water fountains make the route easily accessible and family-friendly.
Experience Art at the University of Kentucky
Name and Location: University of Kentucky campus in Lexington.
History and Significance: UK has an art museum with a collection of over 4,800 objects and rotating exhibits. The campus has over 100 art installations around its grounds.
What to Expect: Viewing diverse artworks from ancient to contemporary. Taking a guided campus art tour. Temporary exhibits and public programs/events.
Visitor Information: UK Art Museum open Tues-Sat free of charge. Guided tours by request.
Even if you’re not a student, the University of Kentucky campus holds some renowned galleries and performance art centers open to the public. The university’s Singletary Center for the Arts hosts concerts, dance performances and Broadway touring shows in a state-of-the-art facility. The Art Museum at UK presents rotating exhibits by acclaimed contemporary artists along with a permanent collection ranging from old masters to cutting edge works. The cavernous UK Chandler Hospital lobby displays dramatic glass art ceilings.
Tour Historic Homes
Name and Location: Historic homes and estates in Lexington, Kentucky.
History and Significance: Lexington has preserved 19th-century plantation houses and estates that exemplify Kentucky architecture and design.
What to Expect: Guided tours of majestic historic homes like Ashland and Waveland. Seeing period furniture, artifacts, and decorative details. Learning about history.
Visitor Information: Home tour times and admission costs vary. Some tours by appointment only.
History buffs enjoy touring Lexington’s well-preserved historic residences showcasing 19th century architecture and decorative arts. Ashland is the stately Italianate home of influential statesman Henry Clay. Moved to a new location, the Hunt-Morgan House demonstrates Gothic Revival style. Other grand homes open for tour include Liberty Hall, Dudley’s on Short, Pilgrim Hall and White Hall State Shrine. Costumed guides provide insight into Lexington life during the antebellum period when these regal homes were constructed and inhabited by elite citizens.
See Racing at Keeneland
Name and Location: Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky.
History and Significance: Founded in 1935, Keeneland is an iconic racing facility and auction house for Thoroughbred horses and hosts live racing meets.
What to Expect: Watching exciting horse races while wagering and cheering. Mingling amongst lush grounds. Dining, shopping, and tailgating.
Visitor Information: Race days in April and October. Tickets from $5. Guided tours available year-round.
Even non-horse enthusiasts get caught up in the thrill of watching thoroughbreds pounding down the dirt track at Keeneland Racecourse. This National Historic Landmark hosts live racing meets in April and October that are popular with locals and tourists. Founded in 1936, Keeneland’s racetrack and facilities embody the historic heart of the Bluegrass horse country. From the Jockey Club suites to the Grandstand and Trackside lounge, there’s something for every horse racing fan’s budget.
Hear the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra
Name and Location: Lexington Opera House and other venues around Lexington, KY.
History and Significance: Founded in 1961, the Philharmonic is Lexington’s professional orchestra ensemble giving concerts year-round.
What to Expect: Attending concerts featuring classical music performances by talented musicians. A refined, cultured experience.
Visitor Information: Concert schedule varies. Tickets $25-50. Performances at Opera House, local churches, etc.
Central Kentucky’s premier symphony and largest performing arts organization, the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra has been delighting audiences since 1961. Attend one of their concerts at venues like the Lexington Opera House, Singletary Center or Southern Lights amphitheater at the Kentucky Horse Park. The orchestra presents classics along with Broadway tunes, movie scores, pops selections, family and holiday concerts. Upcoming 2023 programming includes Tchaikovsky Spectacular, The Legend of Zelda and Star Wars movie music.
Play Disc Golf at Shillito Park
Name and Location: Shillito Park in Lexington, Kentucky
History and Significance: Shillito Park features a 27-hole disc golf course, rated top in the state. The park also has swimming, tennis, and green space.
What to Expect: Playing disc golf while enjoying fresh air and nature. Bring your own discs or rent them at the pro shop. Other amenities like pool and playgrounds.
Visitor Information: Park open daily dawn to dusk. Free to use the disc golf course. Discs rent for $5/day.
Dating back to 1915, Shillito Park offers a nice green space with playgrounds, swimming, tennis and more in the heart of Lexington. Along with its walking trails and athletic fields, the park holds one of the city’s top disc golf courses. The free 18-hole course takes players through meadows and wooded areas, across creeks and past historic features like the Bowman fountain. Bring your own discs or rent them at the Clubhouse. Shillito Park provides an affordable recreational option for families and friends.
Conclusion
With picturesque horse farms, storied bourbon distilleries and family-friendly cultural attractions, Lexington offers an accessible Southern city getaway. Learn about local history and culture while enjoying the outdoors and arts amenities of a mid-sized city. From historic homes and vibrant downtown to university happenings and idyllic landscapes, Lexington provides plenty to see and do. Visitors find it easy to fill a weekend enjoying this unique blend of Bluegrass horse culture combined with urban living in one of Kentucky’s most welcoming cities.