Lexington, Kentucky

The "Horse Capital of the World," surrounded by Bluegrass horse farms, with the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland, the Bourbon Trail, Shaker Village and Red River Gorge nearby.

Lexington sits in the Bluegrass region of north-central Kentucky. The state's second-largest city, it calls itself the "Horse Capital of the World." The city is ringed by bluegrass pastures nourished by limestone soil, where hundreds of Thoroughbred farms are scattered among black plank fences and white barns, and many Kentucky Derby winners have been raised here. It has four distinct seasons: spring (Apr–May) and fall (Sep–Oct) are the most pleasant, coinciding with Keeneland's spring and fall race meets and the farms at their most beautiful; summers are hot and humid, and winters bring occasional snow. Sightseeing breaks into three areas. First, the city and close-in suburbs: the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland, The Red Mile, Ashland (the Henry Clay Estate), the historic Gratz Park neighborhood and Thoroughbred Park. Second, the Bourbon Trail to the west: Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Castle & Key, Wild Turkey, Four Roses and other distilleries are all within a 40-minute drive, and you can stop at the Capitol in Frankfort, the state capital, along the way. Third, nature and history: Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill to the southwest, and Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge State Resort Park about 1 hour east for hiking. Getting there: Blue Grass Airport (LEX) has flights to major U.S. hubs, or you can drive about 1–1.5 hours from the Louisville or Cincinnati airports. Public transit covers only the city, so seeing horse farms and distilleries generally requires a car or a tour. Plan on 3–4 days: one day for the racetracks and the Horse Park, one for distilleries, and one for Shaker Village or Red River Gorge. Distillery tours and farm visits usually need to be booked in advance online; you must be 21 or older to taste and should bring your passport. Lodging is tight and pricier during racing season, so book early.

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