8 Towns in Kentucky With Vibrant Downtown Areas
Kentucky is home to more small towns than cities, and even its Capital, Frankfort, has a population of less than 50,000. For this reason, the towns form the heart and soul of Kentucky, harboring its historical, cultural, and commercial highlights. Find these amazing elements and more in their unsullied forms on the main streets of these small towns, where everything intertwines to give visitors a taste of quintessential Kentucky. From the historic downtown of Frankfort, the beautiful capital, to the artsy downtowns of Berea and Paducah, find eight of the most vibrant downtowns in The Blue Grass State to visit as soon as possible.
Maysville
Maysville is a pretty small town in Mason County, along the Ohio River, with a charming downtown that easily courts the attention of tourists. To begin, the town center has a series of flood wall murals depicting various facets of the town, including its Underground Railroad. Visitors can admire these beautiful murals and then visit the EAT Gallery to admire and purchase artworks. Get entertained with captivating shows and performances at the Russell Theatre or Washington Opera House, one of the oldest-running theatres in the US.
Head outdoors late to have fun in the town’s biggest park - Maysville-Mason Co. Recreational Park, where the centerpiece feature is a 12-acre lake. This lake is great for fishing and the park also has a swimming pool, alongside picnic shelters, a variety of playgrounds, and a few trails for hiking. Meanwhile, history and art buffs can explore the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, home to more than 4,000 regional artifacts and an art gallery.
Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown is one of the largest towns in the state, with a population of around 33,000, making it ever vibrant. Naturally, much of the liveliness and bustling features of the town take place in the historic downtown, which is home to several establishments cutting across history, art, cuisine, and entertainment. Visit this town center and head to the Historic State Theatre to catch a show and then proceed to eat and have fun at Social on Main, featuring eight duckpin lanes, self-pour taps, and a fine selection of culinary indulgences.
Purchase gift items later at the Gift Box on Main, and delve into the hallways of history at the Hardin County Courthouse, built in 1933. Proceed to the Hardin County History Museum, where the region’s history comes alive in artifacts and exhibits. Afterward, enjoy the refreshing and soul-soothing aura of nature at Elizabethtown Nature Park, comprising 104 acres of green pastures, a creek, and a gravel trail to hike.
Berea
Berea is one town that stands out for its lively arts scene, hosting many creatives and their works in Madison County and beyond. Once here, stop by its many art galleries downtown, such as Gallery 103, Berea Arts Council, Top Drawer Gallery, and Kentucky Artisan Center, to see why the town’s motto reads: Where Art’s Alive. After exploring the fascinating art world in downtown Berea, enjoy lunch at Nightjar and grab antiques at Todd’s Antique Mall.
Afterward, hit the outdoors to bike on the nature trails in Silver Creek Bike Park. Alternatively, hikers can hit Brushy Fork Trail behind Berea’s College - one of the trails of the Berea College Forestry Research Center, leading into the woods where greenery is lush, and the sounds of birds are music to the ears. Wrap up with a little dose of history at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
La Grange
La Grange is a historic town in Oldham County notable for its beautiful and historic downtown where a train can be seen running right through. In addition, the downtown is a melting pot of various arts, history, and business activities, while hosting several restored buildings from the 19th century. Visitors here can start an unforgettable experience with some hearty meals at One Nineteen West Main Restaurant or a cup of coffee at La Grange Coffee Roasters.
Next, spend time admiring the stunning artworks and paintings at Gallery 104, and purchase knitted hats at Friends & Fiber. History lovers can feast their eyes on various railroad artifacts at La Grange Railroad Museum, including a dining car and caboose. After a satisfying downtown experience, storm the Wendell Moore Park to have fun with its fishing-only lake, picnic shelters, playground, basketball and tennis courts, and two miles of hiking trails.
Covington
Covington is one of the bigger towns in Kentucky, along the confluence of Licking and Ohio Rivers in Kenton County, with a bustling downtown. Visit and head straight to Madison Street, the heart of the downtown area to enjoy tacos or margaritas at Olla Cov or authentic German food at Wunderbar. Proceed to purchase handmade souvenirs at Alchemy Aesthetics and then step into the lanes of history at Behringer-Crawford Museum.
This museum houses the history of Kenton County in dioramas and diverse artifacts, including a train display. Afterward, unwind at George Rogers Clark Park along the Ohio River, with views of the Roebling Bridge and downtown Cincinnati. Otherwise, visit Doe Run Lake to fish and boat on the water or hike its nature trail into the woods and enjoy picnics afterward in secluded shelters.
Frankfort
Nestled along the Kentucky River, Frankfort is the esteemed capital of Kentucky and a thriving business hub with a historic downtown where visitors will be overwhelmed with an array of things to do and see. The State Capitol Building is a good starting point as it is home to the state's seat of power and is available for tours. Next, head to Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe to grab a cup of coffee or wine, and when the sun is up at noon, cool off with a bowl of vanilla ice cream at Hoggy’s Ice Cream. Also, find some impressive Kentucky artworks at Completely Kentucky and then go to Miss B’s Antiques & Such for rare antiques.
Visit the Capital City Museum, home to over 200 years of Kentucky’s history in several exhibits. Before leaving town, enjoy the charms of the outdoors at Cove Spring Park, featuring massive wetlands, forests, picnic shelters, whispering streams, creeks, and hiking trails.
Bardstown
Bardstown is Kentucky’s second oldest city, located in the heart of the state's rolling hills. Notably, the downtown area here is quite spectacular and embodies the quintessential Kentucky in terms of history, culture, and commercial activities. Start the day in this town center with coffee at Cafe Primo, and enjoy hamburgers at noon in the cozy interiors of Bardstown Burger. Stop by the Bardstown Art Gallery to browse through various creative works and paintings and proceed to find handcrafted items for souvenirs at the Artist’s Barrel. Delve into history at Old Bardstown Village & Civil War Museum, featuring ten colonial-era log cabins in the colonial village, an American Civil War museum, and a women’s museum.
Also visit Wickland, a historic mansion that was the home of three governors. Meanwhile, Kentucky is notable for its Bourbon heritage be sure to visit the Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History to find out more about the state’s relationship with this whiskey through rare whiskey artifacts.
Paducah
Paducah is a lovely town along the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers, with a bustling, picturesque downtown renowned for its beautiful art scene and galleries. One of the noticeable features of this downtown area is the flood wall murals along the Paducah Riverwalk, which make for a visual treat while exploring the town on foot. While admiring the designs, visit the National Quilt Museum to explore contemporary quilt exhibits and programs tailored toward fiber arts. Also check out the town's string of art galleries downtown, notably the PAPA Gallery, Art Guild of Paducah, and Bricolage Art Collective, to appreciate the beauty of art. Don’t forget to embark on a sensational culinary journey downtown by exploring some of the top food establishments in town, such as Grill 211, Gold Rush Cafe, and The Freight House.
For a dose of the past, head to the Paducah Railroad Museum to immerse in the town's railroad history through railway artifacts and memorabilia. For scenic recreation, walk or bike the 5-mile Greenway Trail that connects the Historic Downtown to Bob Noble Park and many other parks in the town.
These downtowns in Kentucky are incredible places to visit year-round as they reflect the state’s rich history, cultural relevance, culinary heritage, and general lifestyles in unique ways. So come with family and friends to these vibrant destinations to relax, shop, dine, socialize, and go back in time to the state’s early days and creation process. With each town featuring a distinct character and fabulous draws, it is impossible to get bored. Instead, visitors will naturally find it challenging to leave even after the vacation is over.
