Lexington, KY and I

October 23, 2005 2:07 PM

One day left in Lexington, Kentucky, and I am looking for something to do.

I have been here a few days and the business is over. I have one full day to go around, with a car, and a modest amount of money.
I have already been to Keeneland, Woodford Reserve, I have tried a Kentucky Brown (and just about went into cardiac arrest), a very good restaurant in Louisville, a sushi joint in Lexington, and a lot of backroads driving looking at the gajillion-dollar farmland.
I have not had any burgoo.
I intend to hit Chowhound later tonight to plan the day out a little, but I am looking for some more suggestions. I am up for anything, and the cold and rain here doesn't bother me.

posted by oflinkey to travel & transportation (5 comments total)

1. The Bardstown Road area in Louisville is worth checking out.

2. Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington is a very nice, huge, independent book store.

3. Joe Bologona's is a great pizza place near the UK campus

4. You're not too far from the Red River Gorge
posted by JeffL at 2:40 PM on October 23, 2005

Fark party
posted by pieoverdone at 3:25 PM on October 23, 2005

If you want to stay in or near the county, I highly recommend the Lexington Cemetary. There's also the Kentucky Horse Park, or Whitehall, which is worth it just for the stories. For a short but pretty hike, Raven Run is worth a look and not too far.

Or really go hiking. It would be an all-day trip, but head out to the mountains or maybe even to Mammoth Cave (if you have the entire day free and don't have to catch a plane in the evning or anything). There are several websites that evaluate hiking or areas and nature preserves, but the Red River Gorge would probably be the easiest for you to get to, if a little crowded this time of year.

(Note: I grew up in Lexington, and am now living in Louisville).
posted by dilettante at 3:27 PM on October 23, 2005

I grew up in Louisville and went to school in Lexington. Now I live in the Detroit area. When I lived in Lexington, I used to drive down to Shakertown and back with friends. If you aren't vegetarian, you can get a terrific meal there. Sushi is good in Lexington, due to the large Toyota facility.

I just went to Lynn's Paradise Cafe in Louisville last weekend visiting my parents. You can just walk around Bardstown Road, as suggested, as it's near Lynn's. I also like to go to the Irish Rover on Frankfort Avenue in Louisville.

You could visit the campus of my alma mater, Transylvania University. Gratz Park, next to it, is nice, as well. Kashmir is a good Indian restaurant on the north end of Limestone there in Lexington.

Central Kentucky is mostly good for hiking and other outdoor activities, and not so great on tourist/urban things.

If you are going to be returning to Kentucky for more business / school trips, I'd suggest checking out the schedule of Actor's Theatre of Louisville. That's one of the best cultural institutions in the state.

(I assume you meant a Kentucky Hot Brown, which very few people actually eat... I don't know anyone who has had burgoo, either, or even a mint julep for that matter. Now, bourbon, thought, that's another matter...)
posted by Slothrop at 7:34 PM on October 23, 2005

I dug the historical society, but I'm a bit of a dork that way.
posted by stet at 8:12 PM on October 23, 2005