7 Best Towns to Experience Fall in Kentucky
Kentucky is blessed with abundant hardwood forests filled with sugar maples, white pines, dogwoods, sumacs, and oaks, which are known for turning beautiful shades of crimson, orange, and gold each fall. While peak color times vary throughout the state, the leaves are typically most vibrant in early November. If you're planning an autumn trip to the state, pick from its least-crowded towns to relax, unwind, and just focus on everything the season has to offer, from scenic hikes to festive fairs and other events. Following are seven of Kentucky's most interesting laid-back towns.
Shelbyville
Even though the charming town of Shelbyville is just under an hour away from bustling Louisville, it's the perfect place to escape for a weekend or even a week-long escape. The town and surrounding area offer many open spaces and natural attractions where you can enjoy autumn's beauty without dealing with crowds. The Greenway Trail runs through town, and its paved path is ideal for walking, biking, and rollerblading. The scenic trail winds past Clear Creek's banks, offering plenty of opportunities for colorful leaf-peeping. Lake Shelby Park and Campground is another destination for quietly immersing yourself in fall foliage. The park is available for hiking, biking, camping, fishing, and bird watching, among other outdoor activities. Visitors are welcome to pick their own apples and pumpkins or just relax in a rocking chair at Mulberry Orchard.
Berea
Known for its eclectic arts and crafts scene, the small town of Berea offers the best of two worlds. Berea College gives the town a young and modern touch, while the historic downtown and rich culture infuse it with a timeless appeal. While the town is thriving, it's also laid-back and not overcrowded, making it the perfect fall getaway destination. Berea kicks off the season each September with the Spoonbread Festival, which is free and offers something for the entire family. One of the best places to check out the vibrant autumn foliage and bask in the quietness of nature is the Berea Pinnacles hiking trails, which provide sweeping overlooks of the surrounding area.
Corbin
Although Corbin is located right between two bustling cities, its small-town charm and quaint, relaxed feel put it on the map as an ideal autumn escape. Corbin's claim to fame is it being the hometown of Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Sanders, so many tourists start their visit with a trip to the historic Sanders Cafe. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park showcases the stunning fall colors in all of their glory while also treating visitors to 17 miles of hiking trails in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Get away from the crowds at this nature retreat, where you can go fishing, gem mining, birding, camping, and horseback riding on a cool fall day.
Jamestown
If you're looking for a quiet Kentucky destination teeming with outdoor recreational opportunities to escape to this fall, quaint Jamestown may be your answer. Impressive Lake Cumberland, which encompasses more than 65,000 acres, is the crown jewel of the region and offers plenty of options for autumn leaf peeping. You can spend a perfect fall day fishing, kayaking, canoeing, or hiking one of the many trails. As you trek through the woods, you can take in the variety of mixed hardwood trees as they transform into vibrant shades of crimson, orange, and gold. The gentle Baugh Branch Trail will lead you to a stunning scenic overlook of the lake.
Middlesboro
The fact that the small, charming town of Middlesboro was built completely within an approximately 4-mile-wide meteorite impact crater is reason enough to visit. However, there are several other attractions that make this unique town a top place for a quiet autumn getaway. The town adjoins the Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, which borders Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, and is home to stunning overlooks, waterfalls, and an extensive trail system. The 24,000-acre park is the perfect place to immerse yourself in fall colors as you explore caves, tour the historic Hensley Settlement, and enjoy informative ranger-led hikes. Middlesboro also features the Eastern United States' oldest, continuously played golf course.
Murray
Blessed with a historic, uncrowded downtown, a thriving arts scene, exciting, year-round events, and plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures, the small town of Murray has it all. Autumn is an ideal time to visit charming Murray, as it plays host to a variety of fall-themed events, art exhibits, and a farmers market selling fresh, seasonal produce such as pumpkins and apples. Visitors can take advantage of the town's location on the Calloway County Quilt Trail, a mix of art, history, and scenic nature views. Murray is home to several parks, such as Chestnut Park and Central Park, where you can enjoy a walk or picnic amongst the vibrant fall foliage.
Pineville
The oldest town in Bell County, Pineville is known for its rich pioneer, civil war, and coal mining history, as well as its natural beauty. The Pine Mountain State Resort Park should be the first stop of every autumn visitor, as it showcases breathtaking fall colors in a quiet, serene setting. Kentucky's first state park is home to a historic mountain-view lodge featuring rooms with private balconies, rustic cabins, a gift shop, and a championship 18-hole golf course. Pine Mountain also features 12 miles of self-guided trails for viewing native wildlife and vibrant fall foliage. For those who prefer to leaf-peep from the water, you can paddle down the scenic Cumberland River.
There's nothing quite like immersing yourself in all that autumn has to offer from a charming, quiet town, and Kentucky has no shortage of them. What these destinations lack in population and crowds, they make up for with opportunities for relaxation, quaint downtowns, scenic parks and natural attractions, and family-friendly fall events. Think outside of the big city this fall and stay a night or two in one of these laid-back hometowns to truly get away from it all.
