6 Towns in Kentucky That Are Ideal for Seniors
Kentucky is a gateway. Retiring to the “bluegrass state” means retiring to the rest of America. Kentucky borders Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Missouri. Shuffle into the gateway of America, where goldenrod grows riot to the delight of Western honeybees and highway travelers. Find out why Kentuckians of every age are smiling.
Paducah
Learn a new skill and make new friends at the Paducah Senior Center. The Center serves all of McCracken County and is free to everyone sixty years and older. Paducah grew in 19th century America along with rail, brick construction, and steamboats. The town’s extensive waterways are today a source of joy for people and waterfowl alike. Weave into inspiration at the National Quilt Museum. Catch a show at the volunteer-driven Market House Theater (MHT). MHT is an inclusive arts community programming plays at eleven different historic sites in Paducah.
Shelbyville
Feel the palpable kindship during an outdoor gathering in Shelbyville’s Stargazer Plaza. Stargazer Plaza is the ultimate meeting place for friends and family after a saunter through Shelbyville’s historic downtown. The town’s UofL Hospital includes the Frazier Rehab Institute for recovering patients. Clear Creek’s circuitous route embraces the town to the north, south, and east. Book a tee time at the 6548-yard, par 72 Shelbyville Country Club Golf Course. The course has a pond that was diverted from Clear Creek on the town’s eastern outskirts. Taste the local terroir with the help of local produce from the seasonal Gallrein Farms, as well as the region’s many year-round distilleries and wineries.
Berea
Find the next conversation-sparking art showpiece in old town Berea artisan’s village. Berea is known regionally as the Folk Arts & Crafts Capital of Kentucky. Get lost in the outdoor beauty that made settlers fall in love with the bluegrass state in the first place. The John B. Stephenson Walking Trail is part of the first road ever into Kentucky. Discover the beauty of Silver Creek by peering southwest from the trail’s bridge. Treat the eyes to a feast with Berea’s twenty-stop public art tour. The list prepares for all weather possibilities with indoor art galleries and an outdoor sculpture park.
Bardstown
Spoil the nose and tongue in the self-proclaimed bourbon capital of the world. Bardstown backs up its claim with six bourbon distilleries in town and several others within driving distance. The town maintains its history as it evolves. Discover a sample of the countless contributions people of color have made to the region at the Bardstown-Nelson County African American Heritage Museum, housed in the town’s red-brick Old Union Church, built circa 1812. Make new friends, sharpen a new skill, and enjoy a hot lunch at the Bardstown Senior Citizens Center, which is open Monday-Friday, 8:30-2:30. Meals are free, but donations of $2 or more are welcome.
Fort Thomas
Be dazzled driving through Fort Thomas, a town with over 160 homes that are more than a century old. Bring friends to one of the six pickleball courts at Tower Park. Tower Park comprises 86.6 acres of forest meeting places, as well as a collection of fields, courts, and courses for various sports and activities. Stand in awe of the 102-foot Kentucky limestone tower that gives the park its name. Join the 1500+ seniors registered with the Campbell County Seniors Center in Fort Thomas. Over 150 are involved in a roster of daily (closed on weekends) activities, including Bingo, cards, and chair volleyball.
Covington
Get lost in history in the state-border town of Covington, just a stone’s throw across the Ohio River to Cincinnati. The historic downtown is just a taste of Covington’s assets. The neighborhoods of Licking-Riverside, MainStrasse Village, and Wallace Wood are all baskets of eye candy for history/architecture enthusiasts. Rest easy knowing there are options in place for when money is tight. The Housing Authority of Covington operates two complexes for housing needs, Golden Tower and Academy Flats. Covington’s congregate meal program runs Monday-Thursday. The town also programs health and wellness classes for seniors and organizes outings with transportation provided.
Freshwater churns forever in Kentucky. The state has the Big Sandy River and Tug Fork in the east, the Ohio to the north, and the mighty Kentucky River running through it. The bluegrass state is, in fact, the only state in the union with a continuous flow of rivers on at least three of its borders. Help keep Kentucky beautiful by reporting invasive species to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Consider acquiring goods from Native American-owned businesses in Kentucky whenever possible. It is important to remember that the history of human settlement in Kentucky dates back at least 10,000 years before the arrival of Europeans.
