9 Eclectic Small Towns In Kentucky
While some places are defined clearly by one attraction or attribute, others are more eclectic. Kentucky has many such eclectic landmarks that everyone can experience. For example, in one small town, tourists can find multiple bourbon distilleries, one of the oldest mansions in Kentucky, and forest giants hidden away in a park. In another, one can go tubing in a quarry or take a train right through Main Street. These are just a few of the fun experiences in these nine eclectic Kentucky small towns.
La Grange
This cute town, just a short drive from the metro area of Louisville, Kentucky, prides itself on being a kind place. In fact, La Grange was named the "Kindness Capital of Kentucky" for its Be Kind initiative. This kindness extends to sharing many cute experiences with visitors, such as the Main Street Train, which offers rides up to 30 times daily through the downtown area.
Train enthusiasts will appreciate this town even more if they check out the historic Train Observation Tower or the La Grange Railroad Museum. The latter is full of rustic exhibits, such as a 1952 steam engine and a 1929 dining car. La Grange also has several family-friendly attractions, such as a Sauerbeck Family Drive-In or the FRP La Grange Quarry, which has a spring-fed lake for kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding.
Corbin
When it comes to the culinary scene, Kentucky is best known for its restaurant chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken, or KFC for short. This fast-food giant had its humble beginnings in the charming town of Corbin. Colonel Harland Sanders first released his secret recipe for fried chicken at the Sanders Café in the 1930s. Today, this café is the Harland Sanders Café and Museum, a quirky place to learn a bit about restaurant history.
There's a lot more to see in Corbin than just fried chicken, such as the Pinball Museum, which allows visitors to play 56 machines across the decades. Corbin also hides one of the best outdoor experiences in Kentucky: the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. This park has a 68-foot waterfall along with 17 miles of hiking trails. Also, due to the mist of the water, during a full moon, one might see a rare moonbow, a rainbow formed by the moon's light.
Hodgenville
Presidential history buffs love this town for one obvious reason: it was the birthplace of one of America's most famous presidents, Abraham Lincoln. He lived in Hodgenville from his birth in 1809 until 1816, when his family moved across the Ohio River to Indiana. This town honors Lincoln in some traditional and eclectic ways. For one, the town has a Lincoln Museum with wax figures from throughout his life, along with a recreated log cabin of his boyhood home and the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park.
On another level, it keeps up the fun American spirit with The Lincoln Jamboree, one of Kentucky's longest-running shows featuring music, comedy, and variety acts. The small town is also rich in art, seen at Annie's Art Farm or at the Lincoln Days Art Collection within The Lincoln Museum, which showcases art inspired by the President in many different styles.
London
Located by the Appalachian Mountains, London prides itself on providing top-quality outdoor experiences for everyone who lives or comes to the town. For example, London is the Cycling Capital of Kentucky, with multiple trails that start in the downtown area and go through rural roads or into the forests of Appalachia, such as the scenic Honey Bun and Redbug Ride routes.
When exploring the area, one can find many historical spots, such as Camp Wildcat Battlefield, the site of a climatic struggle during the first year of the American Civil War. Another site is Boone's Trace Trail, which was used by explorer Daniel Boone in 1775. There are also plenty of fun activities within the town limits, from the London Children's Museum to the London Dragway, a drag racing track that's sure to excite racing fans.
Midway
As the name suggests, Midways sits in Central Kentucky and is a cozy town that has a strong Bluegrass spirit. The area was first explored in the late 1700s, with the town established in 1835 with the advent of the Lexington and Ohio Railroad. Nearby, Versailles preserves this railway history at the Bluegrass Railroad Museum, where one can ride on historic cars in the beautiful Bluegrass landscape.
Midway also partakes in the old Kentucky art of distilling Bourbon Whisky. In fact, the town sits on the world-famous Bourbon Trail, a network of distilleries across Kentucky, and hosts Bluegrass Distillers at Elkwood Farm. Drinking whisky will work up an appetite, and the historic 1865 Weisenberg Mill is the perfect place to get corn meal, bran, or grit mixes to eat later. For those wanting to get outside, Midway is a bike-friendly town in the middle of a 28-mile bike loop running from Midway to Versailles, which makes for a great adventure.
Bardstown
The Bourbon Trail's no. 1 stop is the small town of Bardstown. The town calls itself the Bourbon Capital of the World, and for good reason, as some of the best distilleries are here, from the Bardstown Bourbon Company to James B. Bean Distilling Co. and many more. The town is so proud of its drink that there's even a museum for it: the Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History, which has thousands of rare bottles. Bardstown is known for more than just Bourbon, however.
For one, it has some of the most historic structures in Kentucky, such as the My Old Kentucky Home State Park, which hosts an 1818 Greek Revival Plantation Home, the 1779 Old Talbott Tavern Restaurant & Inn, and the 1785 Cobblestone Path. Moreover, by driving to the nearby town of Clermont, one can see giants hidden in the woods at the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum. These giants were built out of recycled materials and inspired by Norse mythology.
Harrodsburg
This town is the oldest founded place in Kentucky, with its founding going back to 1774. Don't let its age fool you. Harrodsburg is by no means an old or tired place. It brings history to life at multiple attractions, such as the Old Fort Harrod State Park. This park has a replica of the fort built in 1774 and includes cabins, blockhouses, and artifacts for a blast to the past. There is also the 1810 Matheny Taylor House Mansion Museum and the Lincoln Marriage Temple, where Abraham Lincoln's parents were wed.
Many groups came to this area, including the American religious community known as the Shakers. At the nearby Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, one can see 3,000 acres of historic buildings, forest trails, and organic farms. Visitors can enjoy a meal at the village or at one of the diverse locally owned restaurants in the region, from the Burgin Dairy Barn to Casa Grande to the Family Affair buffet.
Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown (or E-town for short) is a picture book settlement in Kentucky. The town's claim to fame is the 2005 film Elizabethtown, starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst, which was filmed in E-town due to its quirky charm. Most of this charm comes from its historic buildings scattered throughout downtown and within town limits. These include gorgeous structures like the 1825 Brown Pusey House, a Georgian-style mansion that was once a family home. Other notable landmarks are the Historic State Theater Complex from 1942 and the unique two-story log cabin Lincoln Heritage House.
Etown also has a highly adventurous spirit, as it is home to Skydive Kentucky for those wishing to get a heart-pounding view from the clouds. For one who prefers a more traditional Kentucky pastime, the Wild Rose Equestrian Center offers horse riding lessons in a 230-acre facility.
Paducah
No list of eclectic towns would be complete without mentioning Paducah, the most creative town in Kentucky. It is one of 350 cities worldwide that has earned the title of UNESCO Creative City. This honor is given to cities that integrate creativity as a cornerstone value for their development. Paducah is creative in many ways, but its crown jewel is its quilting tradition.
At the National Quilt Museum, one can expect to find the best quilts from around the world or take a quilting class. Paducah also integrates art into the fabric of the town through the Mural Art Experience. There are dozens spread across town, but one of the most striking is the Wall-to-Wall Murals at the floodwall, depicting Paducah's history. The performing arts is another area where Paducah thrives, with the Market Houe Theatre and Paducah Improv both offering the best in Bluegrass performances.
Conclusion
The eclectic nature of these towns is apparent just by looking at the wide variety of experiences available. For example, a visitor can try the best Bourbon in Bardstown, get on a bike on the Bourbon Trail, and go to Midway to get some grits in a historic mill. Or one could go on a Lincoln tour of Kentucky, beginning in Harrodsburg at the Lincoln Marriage Temple and ending at his boyhood home in Hodgenville, and enjoy a show at the Lincoln Jamboree. These eclectic Kentucky towns are a great place for a weekend getaway for everyone.
