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Sometimes, the most effective locations are hidden in plain sight. Take my latest journey to Portugal, for instance.
The Algarve has gained (and rightfully earned) a ton of hype in recent times, however how usually have you ever heard of Quarteira, a gleaming whitewashed city set alongside a tranquil stretch of the seaside?
Chances are you have not. Heck, I hadn’t heard of it both earlier than reserving it on a whim.
Well, the identical goes for the U.S.
Before you start cracking jokes about fried hen and household bushes lacking a department, Kentucky is teeming with small-town appeal and timeless cities positively price a go to.
While Louisville could also be your first thought, one other Kentucky metropolis is not horsing round, surprisingly beating out Austin, one of many South’s trendiest cities.
Sitting primary on Southern Living’s checklist of locations their consultants visited for the primary time and left their hearts throbbing is none apart from the historic metropolis of Lexington.
Down-Home Charm & Cheap Stays: Lexington Belongs On Your 2025 Bingo Card
The finish of a calendar yr is a time to replicate, and in case your life has been something like mine, then absolutely there have been a variety of surprises in your 2024 bingo card.
While most journey plans for 2024 have wrapped up, 2025 journey plans are all the fad proper now.
Lexington will make for an ideal escape in spring, summer time, and fall, as winters could be a bit frosty, so it is solely proper to forge forward previous the ball drop.
While many vacationers, corresponding to myself, enterprise to Europe to primarily return in time, a lot of the South gives the same expertise, starting from Louisiana’s hidden gems to Kentucky’s underrated cities.
Southern Living’s Digital editor Mary Shannon Hodes was a first-time customer to Lexington this yr.
She was quoted as saying, “The downtown was absolutely precious, and I saw plenty of cute restaurants and shops I’d want to visit on a trip back.”
You’ll uncover fairly parks, Victorian houses, down-home eateries, and simply sufficient museums and galleries to bide your time, corresponding to the favored Mary Todd Lincoln House, residence of former First Lady and spouse of President Abraham Lincoln.
You can spend hours perusing native boutiques and bar-hopping between native favorites, Chevy Chase Inn or extra stylish Blue Stallion Brewing Co.
Every metropolis has warehouse-converted breweries now, proper?
But what about transformed resorts? Check out 21c Museum Hotel Lexington, housed in a historic financial institution constructing remodeled into what’s change into a hybrid of recent boutique lodge/artwork museum/restaurant.
Better but, it is solely $85 this spring. Remember what I stated about planning forward?
According to TripAdvisor, these are the highest 5 resorts in Lexington: (primarily based on total worth)
GLō Best Western Lexington
Embassy Suites by Hilton Lexington Green
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Lexington
Origin Hotel Lexington
Elwood Hotel & Suites
But, in case you’re up for a splurge, Lyndon House Bed & Breakfast encompasses all of Lexington’s contagious appeal in an 1883 mansion – nicely definitely worth the charges pushing $300 per night time.
Whiskey Flows Like Water
Thankfully, I’m not in Lexington proper now, or my article may look one thing like this:
“Whsikey, buorbon, everywher! Drown yurr sorows, or celebreat my joys, in a sea of amber nectar…”
Lucky for you, I’m sotally tober in California, so I’ll maintain my interior Hunter S. Thompson at bay.
Lexington is not shy about its bourbon heritage. In reality, there’s a complete district devoted to it.
Downtown, you will additionally discover the clearly enjoyable Distillery District, the place you may comply with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
As such, you may participate in 5 totally different excursions at Buffalo Trace Distillery in close by Frankfort, one in every of my private favourite post-long-day sips from an organization that is older than America itself – spectacular, huh?
Although, James E. Pepper Distillery holds an ideal score on TripAdvisor. Not a simple feat nowadays of web whiners.
Horse Capital Of The World
Louisville could also be Kentucky’s declare to fame with the ‘most fun two minutes in sports activities’, however Lexington takes the crown because the ‘horse capital of the world’.
Although, Ocala may need one thing to say about that…
Southern Living additionally highlighted this side of Lexington since you may go to horse farms, corresponding to Megson Farms, the place you may truly keep in a single day to take in on a regular basis you may with the most important herd of uncommon white Thoroughbreds anyplace on the earth!
Lexington can be residence to the Breeder’s Cup held at The Kentucky Horse Park, a vastly standard occasion. The park remains to be open for the winter season for different occasions, the place admission begins at $14.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed here are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, permitted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the submit.