Lexington is known for horse farms and thoroughbred racetracks like Keeneland, there are a wide range of things to do in Lexington, KY and the surrounding area. Browse our list for inspiration and enjoy exploring Lexington’s history, horses, arts and culture!
Kentucky Horse Park
The Kentucky Horse Park celebrates the history of our relationship with horses through education, exhibition, engagement and competition. Admission to the Kentucky Horse Park includes tickets to the International Museum of the Horse which is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution as well as the American Saddlebred Museum and the park’s beautiful grounds. During the summer, guests can also enjoy Horse-Drawn Tours and live equine presentations throughout the day. Many additional horse shows and special events take place on their grounds throughout the year, but may require a separate or additional ticket. Food concessions are available, picnicing on the grounds is welcomed and the park is leashed-dog friendly. If you are looking for horse-related things to do in Lexington, KY the Horse Capital of the World, this is a great place to start!
4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington KY 40511, 859-233-4303
Visit Historic Homes
Lexington has a number of historic residences of prominent people in our country’s history. If you are a history-lover, checking out the historic childhood home of Mary Todd Lincoln (wife of President Abraham Lincoln) should top the list of things to do in Lexington, KY during your visit. Today the house is operated as a museum with filled with period furniture, portraits and artifacts from both the Todd and Lincoln families. Ashland, the plantation of the 19th-century Kentucky statesmen Henry Clay is also located in Lexington. A highlight of a visit to Ashland is the guided Signature Tour of the 18-room mansion. You can also take advantage of the outdoor areas – outbuildings, formal garden and walking trails as well as a Civil War monument. The grounds are open to the public and free to visit year-round. Other historic homes in Lexington include the John Hunt-Morgan House and the Waveland State Historic Site – former home of Joseph Bryan (grand-nephew of Daniel Boone).
Mary Todd Lincoln House: 578 W. Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507
Ashland – The Henry Clay Estate: 120 Sycamore Road, Lexington, KY 40502
John Hunt-Morgan House: 201 N. Mill Street, Lexington KY 40507, 859-253-0362
Waveland State Historic Site: 225 Waveland Museum Lane, Lexington, KY 40514, 859-272-3611
Explorium of Lexington
The Explorium of Lexington is a fun and dynamic hands-on museum and one of the top-rated things to do in Lexington with kids. A number of exciting, educational and interactive exhibits will keep your children entertained for hours. In the Kentucky Gallery, you’ll take a journey down the Kentucky River and learn about hydroelectricity, nocturnal animals, caves, horses and more. Other exhibits include the Healthy Me Gallery which teaches kids all about the human body, Explorium Way where kids can role-play various professions, a Physics and Space exhibit, the popular Bubble Zone where you can get inside a bubble, and many more. There is also a dedicated play space for ages 3 and under.
440 West Short Street, Lexington, KY 40507, 859-258-3253
Keeneland Race Track
When you think of Kentucky and horse racing your mind automatically goes to the Kentucky Derby. However, Kentucky has much more to offer beyond the first Saturday in May or even the famed Churchill Downs. Less than 80 miles from Churchill Downs, on 147 acres of beautifully landscaped farmland, sits the lesser known Keeneland Racetrack. Keeneland’s grounds offer breathtaking views, and aside from the two months of racing (April and October), and multiple thoroughbred sales throughout the year, the grounds are open daily to the public year round. Tours are offered for every interest whether you would like to learn more about the history of Keeneland or you want to get a behind the scenes look at the course’s racing and/or sales operations.
4201 Versailles Road, Lexington, KY 40510, 859-254-3412
Tour a Horse Farm
Beautiful horse farms are an integral part of Lexington and the surrounding area and horse farming has been popular in Kentucky for centuries. Visiting a horse farm in Lexington is a uniquely Bluegrass kind of experience that you’ll remember for a long time. There are about 450 horse farms in the region and approximately 150 in Lexington and Fayette County. The farms are all working horse farms and you should never stop by unannounced. However, many welcome visitors by appointment or through various arrangements with tour companies. Children are usually welcome on tours but should be closely supervised for their own safety. Book a 3-hour, small group Thoroughbred Horse Farm Tour in Kentucky HERE. Or, if you are short on time, check out this 1.5 hour tour of the Thoroughbred Center to get an exclusive look at how thoroughbreds are trained and cared for.
Savor Kentucky’s Bourbon Country
Lexington is located right in the heart of Kentucky Bourbon country, and was actually the home of the state’s first registered distillery – Ashland Distillery of which the only remaining building is today used as as the Manchester Music Hall. As such, touring a bourbon distillery is at the top of most people’s list of things to do in Lexington, KY. Within a short drive of Lexington, you can enjoy tours and tastings a a number of different working distilleries. You can plan your own visits or use a tour company like Horse and Barrel Tours or Bottled in Bond Tours if you’d like to join in on a group tour. Some of the most popular distilleries near Lexington are listed below with links to easily contact them:
Buffalo Trace Distillery: 113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY 40601, 502-696-5926
Four Roses Distillery: 1224 Bonds Mill Road, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342, 502-839-3436
Wild Turkey Distillery: 1417 Versailles Road, Lawrenceburg, KY 40342, 502-839-2182
Woodford Reserve Distillery: 7855 McCracken Pike, Versailles, KY 40383, 859-879-1812
James E. Pepper Distillery: 1228 Manchester Street #100, Lexington, KY 40504, 859-309-3230
Glenns Creek Distillery: 3501 McCracken Pike, Frankfort, KY 40601, 859-552-3296
Take a Driving Tour
Taking a driving tour of the Bluegrass Region surrounding Lexington is a fantastic way to spend a day. Rolling pastures, beautiful stone and plank fences, horses, farms and more are all waiting for you to explore. Lexington Tourism produces a large format map that’s available by calling 1-800-845-3959. Alternatively, if you are already in Lexington, stop by the Visitors Center to get a copy or ask the front desk of your hotel as many keep the map on hand. The Bluegrass Country Driving Tour on the map has three different routes where you can learn about the history and geography of the Lexington area and of course, about the world-famous horse industry.
Explore Lexington’s Downtown
Downtown Lexington is a fantastic place to explore with its art galleries, restaurants, parks, murals, bourbon bars, historic architecture and more. A couple of companies offer walking tours including these Historic Downtown Walking Tours, Lexington History Walks and those offered by the Old Lexington Tour Company. If you’d prefer to do it yourself, then it’s simple. Just as with the driving tour, Lexington Tourism offers a map of The Lexington Walk which features 33 points of interest in downtown Lexington. It’s a tour that’s best enjoyed on foot and will pass many places to stop and have a rest, or enjoy a meal along the route. Along the way you’ll be able to enjoy the charming mix of old and new buildings that make up Lexington’s downtown.
Alternatively, download the LexArch Tour: The Inquisitive Walker’s Guide to Lexington’s Downtown Architecture from the AppStore which will guide you through downtown on your Apple device. Let’s Roam also offers an app-led scavenger hunt of Lexington that visits the best landmarks and hidden gems while you solve challenges and answer trivia questions. It’s loads of fun!
Book a Hotel for Your Lexington Getaway!
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