8 Most Neighborly Towns In Kentucky
Just think of the stunningly beautiful singly-landlocked state of Kentucky and zillion images of its extolled horseracing spectacle, globally reputed bourbon whiskey, Kentucky Fried Chicken, nectareous Southern cuisines, and the tuneful symphonies of Bluegrass music are the first to cross one’s mind every time. Howbeit, the numberless neighborly towns speckling this mid-sized American Southeast state bordered by the Appalachians on one side and the Ohio River on the other, charms vacationers with their distinctive personalities. Those wishing to have a well-rounded experience in The Bluegrass State do not look any further than these intimately connected towns to spend your sabbaticals.
Glasgow
Barren County’s seat of government and the main city of Glasgow Micropolitan Statistical Area, Glasgow, labeled after the Scottish native land of US Senator William Logan’s Dad, is set at the core of Barren County. The South Green Street in this 15,014-inhabitant town is lined by unnumerable scrupulously maintained time-honored buildings in distinct architectural styles tracing back to the early 19th century. When in town, the Museum of the Barrens (South Central Kentucky Cultural Center), Historic Plaza Theatre, Veterans Wall of Honor, and Fort Williams are must-visits, while outdoor enthusiasts should explore the Brigadoon State Nature Reserve, Mammoth Cave National Park, Diamond Caverns, and Barren River Lake.
Danville
Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area’s principal town and the shiretown of Boyle County, Danville occupies the Bluegrass region of Central Kentucky, precisely 36 miles southwest of Lexington. More popularly known as the ‘City of Firsts,’ Danville, named as a tribute to the town founder Walker Daniel - the state’s first district attorney, is home to 17,234 inhabitants as per the latest US Census. Regarded as the birthplace of Kentucky statehood, the Constitution Square Historic Site features an agglomeration of painstakingly maintained buildings inclusive of a courthouse where close to 10 constitutional conventions were held between 1785 and 1792. Danville’s rememberable tourist highlights include the Art Center of the Bluegrass, Warrenwood Manor, Danville National Cemetery, Norton Center for the Arts, Ephraim McDowell House Museum, Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, Great American Dollhouse Museum, Pioneer Playhouse, Jones Visual Arts Center, and Wilderness Trail Distillery. Festivalgoers must join in seasonal events like the Perryville Battle Reenactment, Kentucky State BBQ Festival, Great American Brass Band Festival, and Forkland Heritage Festival.
London
A portion of the Corbin, Kentucky Micropolitan Area, this adorable town in the southeastern part of the state serves as the seat of Laurel County. Crosscut by lots of pathways and abutted by untainted forests and waterbodies, London is indubitably the ideal base for scrutinizing the proximate natural areas including Laurel Lake, Daniel Boone National Forest, Rockcastle River, etc. The world-class London-Laurel County cycling routes are apt for cyclists while trekkers can trek the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail. History buffs get to acquire knowledge about one of the foremost battles of the American Civil War at the Camp Wildcat Battlefield, while merrymakers must not miss the World Chicken Festival hosted on the final weekend of September every year in Downtown London.
Somerset
An attention-grabbing Pulaski County town titled after Somerset County of north-central New Jersey, Somerset, sits on the eastern edge of Pennyroyal Plateau. Tourism is the primary driver of Somerset’s economy owing to its closeness to the 65,530-acre Lake Cumberland reservoir created by the construction of Wolf Creek Dam on the Cumberland River. At all seasons, the aqueous entity offers pleasure seekers ample water-based recreational activities such as fishing, swimming, boating, and kayaking, besides operating as an economic powerhouse for the entire south-central Kentucky. Supplementarily, pay a visit to the adjacent Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area and show up at the annual Master Musicians Festival of Somerset Community College.
Bardstown
Branded as the ‘Bourbon Capital of the World,’ Bardstown, the administrative seat of Nelson County, is situated in the Outer Bluegrass region of Central Kentucky, approx. 39 miles southeast of Louisville. Called after the colonist Bard brothers, this inaugural stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail comprises three functioning distilleries: Barton 1792 Distillery, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., and Lux Row Distilleries where tourists can witness bourbon making first-hand. Drop by the town’s well-known tourist lures like the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey, Old Talbott Tavern, Basilica of Saint Joseph Proto-Cathedral, Wickland Mansion, My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Bardstown Historical Museum, Spalding Hall, Bardstown Historic District, and Bardstown Tourist & Convention Commission housed in the 1892 County Courthouse.
Harrodsburg
Mercer County’s seat, Harrodsburg, founded in 1774 as Harrod’s Town by James Harrod and his team of pioneers, is regarded as the oldest continuing American settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains. Heritage enthusiasts are especially attracted by the town’s incalculable historical points of interest such as the Old Mud Meeting House of the Dutch Reformed Church, Morgan Row Houses, Old Fort Harrod State Park, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, etc. Furthermore, leaf through the miscellaneous antique stores like Rags To Riches Antique Center & Flea Mall, boutiques like Brooke’s Boutique, event spaces like Memories On Main, restaurants like Old Owl Tavern, and accommodations like Beaumont Inn in Harrodsburg’s restored downtown; take a boat trip through Kentucky River Palisades as well as survey the disparate biking, pony-trekking, and hiking trails.
Berea
Berea, one of Kentucky’s speedily developing communities, sits right on the borderline of the Cumberland Plateau, along Interstate 75 highway in Madison County, around 40 miles south of Lexington and 14 miles south of Richmond. Other than housing the main campus of the prestigious Berea College, this “Folk Arts And Crafts Capital of Kentucky” is renowned for its vibrant artistic realm, antiquated structures, and first-rate restaurants. Located on College Square at the town’s core is the famed Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant which besides exhibiting prize-winning amenities serves mouthwatering regional dishes. Also, trek miles of conspicuous trails at the Berea Pinnacles, and try to show up at yearly festivities like the Berea College Celebration of Traditional Music, Spoonbread Festival, and an array of crafts festivals.
Greenville
This administrative capital of Muhlenberg County, christened in honor of Major-General Nathanael Greene, occupies the Bluegrass State’s hilly western portion, rimmed in the northeast by the home rule-class city of Powderly. Initially settled on a piece of land presented by native landowner William Campbell, holidayers on a visit to Greenville must tour the hundred-year-old courthouse anchored Historic Downtown Square chock-a-full of one-of-a-kind shops like The Crystal Gallery by House of Onyx, trendy boutiques like On Main, and restaurants like Corner Piece Café. The paved Muhlenberg County Rail Trail, Muhlenberg County Veterans Mall & Plaza, Thistle Cottage, Lake Malone State Park, Summerhouse - an idiosyncratic gazebo, and Brizendine Brothers Nature Park are some of Greenville’s noteworthy sites of interest. Annually, merrymakers can take part in fun-filled events like the Squash & Gobble Arts Bazaar & Fall Festival, Saturdays on the Square, and Twilight Antique Car Show.
From Berea - a picturesque college town plus the ‘Folk Arts And Crafts Capital of Kentucky’ to Bardstown - the ‘Bourbon Capital of the World,’ the tight-knit settlements in the 26th most populous and 37th most-extensive state of the nation are flawless for both short trips and extended breaks. Regardless of the season of your visit to The Bluegrass State, these affable towns will doubtlessly mesmerize you with their wondrous settings, historical landmarks, inexhaustible recreational activities, shops selling unique artisan goods, and first-class restaurants serving savory cuisines.
