2024's 6 Most Beautiful Small Towns in Kentucky
What do you think of when you think of Kentucky? Most would answer bourbon, bluegrass, cowboys, and horses but don’t overlook the Bluegrass state’s incredible natural beauty and small town charm. Where else can you grab a drink at America’s oldest stagecoach stop, see a dazzling "moonbow," or watch a freight train rumble up the main street? Only in Kentucky’s beautiful and charming small towns can you be sure of a warm welcome and a vacation full of memorable moments in 2024.
Bardstown
Named the Most Beautiful Small Town in America by USA Today and Rand McNally, Bardstown has a well-deserved reputation as an idyllic destination for the perfect Kentucky getaway. There is more to Bardstown than its beauty, however, the village is also one of just seven certified cultural districts in the state and one of the oldest settlements in Kentucky. The town is centered around Courthouse Square in the heart of historic downtown which boasts nearly 200 buildings listed on the National Historic Register. These include the Wickland Mansion, built almost 200 years ago and home to three governors, and the Old Talbott Tavern, built in 1779 and the oldest Western stagecoach stop in America.
Bardstown has one more claim to fame — it’s the Bourbon capital of the US. In 1789, a Bardstown’s Baptist Minister, Elijah Craig, was the first to age the spirit in oak barrels, kickstarting the town’s thriving bourbon industry. This is where the Kentucky Bourbon Trail begins, with six Bardstown distilleries along the route. Want a unique souvenir to take home? Pick up award-winning Gethsemani Farms bourbon-laced fruitcake at the nearby Abbey of Gethsemani gift shop.
Pikeville
Deep in the Appalachian Mountains, Pikeville is a nature-lovers paradise. It’s also an important destination in tracing the history of Kentucky’s Wild West - the town has many connections to the warring Hatfields and McCoys including its historic courthouse where members of the Hatfield clan stood trial in the late 1800s. Visit the Big Sandy Heritage Museum to view exhibits about the legendary feud as well as the history of mining in the Appalachian region and early Native American culture.
Pikeville is a gem of a town with quaint streets, cute stores, and lush green parks, but its real beauty lies in its surroundings. Located on the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River, there are lots of beautiful places to cool off in summer. Rent an inner tube at Bob Amos Park to idly float down the gentle river or spend a tranquil afternoon fishing for sunfish, catfish, and bass. You can’t leave Pikeville without exploring the mountains. Discover your inner cowboy on the trail with a horseriding excursion courtesy of Muddy Boots LLC, or hike the 25 miles of scenic trails at Breaks Interstate Park south of the town in Virginia.
La Grange
La Grange is a classic Kentucky small town that protects its heritage and is proud of its past. In 2004, First Lady Laura Bush designed the city a Preserve America Community for its work in maintaining the historic downtown. Today, it’s known as the only town in the state where freight trains regularly roll through main street. Over 20 trains a day pass straight through the heart of the shopping and dining district.
You can see the action from the train observation tower on East Main Street or call into the La Grange Railroad Museum and Education Center, housed in the original 1914 train depot, to learn more. Right by the railroad tracks is La Grange Springs Park, a welcoming green space in the heart of downtown that regularly hosts events such as farmers markets and concerts. For more outdoor fun, head to Falling Rock Park or "The Quarry" just outside town, a quarry with a deep spring-fed lake where you can swim, dive, float, or simply cool off on a hot summer day.
Greenville
Founded in 1799, Greenville is an inviting small town in Western Kentucky with a walkable downtown overlooked by a 100-year-old courthouse. Nearby Lake Luzerne on the west side of town is the perfect place to take a few vacation photos and stretch your legs. Visit Lake Luzerne City Park to pick up a 2-mile scenic walking trail that loops around the lake, wandering over three footbridges and by a large, shaded picnic pavilion.
Keen hikers will also enjoy the Rails to Trails 6-mile walkway that connects Greenville with neighboring towns Powderly and Central City. This route includes covered bridges and an antique caboose, making it suitable for walkers, cyclists, and even horseback riders.
Williamsburg
In the foothills of Daniel Boone Country, the scenic town of Williamsburg is known as the "gateway to the Cumberlands," meaning Lake Cumberland, the Cumberland River, and the epic Cumberland Falls. See the latter up close at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park where you can take a five-mile trail right up to the waterfall, an impressive 125-foot cascade into a rocky gorge.
Time your visit for the next full moon and you might just see an extremely rare phenomenon known as a moonbow. Cumberland Falls is one of the few places in the world that regularly produces moonbows, a white rainbow formed as the full moon waxes and wanes. See more outstanding natural beauty at Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area (on the border with Tennessee), the ideal spot to canoe the Cumberland River, go whitewater rafting, rock climbing, or take to the trail on horseback.
Somerset
On the northeastern shore of Lake Cumberland is the lively town of Somerset which boasts a historic downtown packed with period architecture and colorful murals. Visit Fountain Square Park, which dates back to the early 1800s, to get a feel for the town and check out the shops and eateries downtown. Somerset Peddlers Mall is a must-visit antique store, Charred Oak Grill is a hopping bar and grill, and Burnett Farms is a popular Farmer's Market.
Once you have explored the town, rent a boat to discover the serene beauty of Lake Cumberland, making a stop at General Burnside Island State Park, a beautiful 400-acre island containing an 18-hole golf course and campsite. For more adventure, head to the Wildcat Off Road Park, a 2,000-acre park outside of town where riders can race over more than 100-miles of trails through old railroad tunnels, past waterfalls, and along towering cliffs.
Making Memories in Kentucky’s Scenic Small Towns
From deep, primeval gorges to green rolling hills, and from the peaks of the Appalachians to the lush wide grasslands, there is a whole lot of jaw-dropping beauty in Kentucky. Amid the state’s natural splendor are its vibrant small communities that showcase Kentucky’s beauty, a blend of Southern charm and Western resilience. Civil War battlefields, enchanting main streets, picturesque parks, and family fun are scattered through these beautiful small towns to check out in 2024.
