Helen's Day TripsBluegrass Region | Helen's Day Trips | Harrodsburg & Old Fort Harrod | Centre College |
Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill | Bourbon Tour | Keeneland | Horse Farms | 400-Mile Sale |
Kentucky Horse Park | US 127 Corridor Sale | Perryville Battlefield | Outdoors | Lexington |
Frankfort | Events | 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games | Brass Band FestivalWelcome to the Kentucky Crossroads, where everything comes together! Through a match grant from the National Trust and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation this new region has been named. It is an eight county region, which includes Mercer County and basically goes west. The grant/initiative is one of only two awarded nationally with the intent to preserve rural heritage through economic development and education. I have been fortunate to be a part of this initiative. It is very exciting, but more important it has allowed me to travel though this region, seeing beautiful landscapes, visiting unique towns and trying new restaurants. I want to share this with you, but only after you have visited Old Fort Harrod State Park, Harrodsburg’s Main Street, taken the JHT walking/driving tour and enjoyed the restored Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill here in Mercer County!
DAY TRIP 1.
Go west, young man—take US 68(turn left at second light, after you turn onto US127 from Beaumont Inn) to Perryville. Perryville is most noted for the Battle of Perryville State Historic Site. During October the battle is re-enacted bringing spectators and re-enactors from all over the country for the “anniversary” of the battle. But if you don’t visit during October the battlefield and museum are fascinating. Perryville is fortunate to have received several grants to restore the pre-Civil War shops and sites on Merchants Row along the river. Be sure to walk along this street and visit the shops.
Now pick up US150 to Springfield. Take your time, it is a curvy road, but you will want to see the countryside. Once in Springfield you may want to stop at the Victorian painted coffee shop just off Main Street for cup of flavored coffee or a latté. As you stroll the street or drive by the beautiful architecture stop in the newly renovated Opera House to ask for a brochure/map of Washington County’s historic homes. Some may be a little hard to find but worth it. Springfield is the home of the Lincoln Homestead State Park, a 150 acre park on original land settled by Abraham Lincoln’s parents with a replica of Thomas Lincoln’s cabin and the original cabin of Nancy Hanks plus blacksmith and carpenter shops of the period. If you are hungry, try Mordecai’s on Main Street.
In Springfield pick up US55 to Lebanon. Even though General John Hunt Morgan come through Lebanon burning and destroying after his brother was killed in 1863 Lebanon is a beautiful little town, full of interesting architecture and landscaping. There are plenty of shops and restaurants to visit on Main Street. Or visit the Civil War Park and the National Cemetery, one of the oldest in the United States, 1867.
In Lebanon get back on US68 to Greensburg, which is about 30 miles but again wonderful landscapes and vistas. Greensburg is one of my favorite little towns. The town square was refurbished and landscaped when local students, interested in their community’s history, expressed their concern to the city government. The stone courthouse is the oldest courthouse west of the Alleghenies, est. 1803. The Foot Bridge built in 1923, connects the square with the railroad station, school and residential area. During October local talent, backup music by a local Bluegrass band, performs the play, Lincoln’s Other Mary. There are several antique shops to visit as well as a wonderful little restaurant called Lucy Tucker’s. Greensburg sits on the Green River if you have the time or inclination to fish or canoe.
Now you are little bit far away from “home,” so you might want to get back to Harrodsburg, rest up and start out tomorrow on another adventure.
DAY TRIP 2.
We are off to Bardstown and more. Take US127 to the Bluegrass Parkway West (directional sign to Elizabethtown.) But before you get to Bardstown, take the exit off the parkway to Bloomfield. Bloomfield is the home of Nettie Jarvis Antiques, a beautiful shop worth the stop in a neat little town.
As you come into Bardstown you will pass My Old Kentucky Home State Park. My Old Kentucky Home is a Georgian Colonial mansion, known as Federal Hill. Built in 1818, it was the home of Judge John Rowan, whose cousin Stephen Foster wrote Kentucky’s state song, “My Old Kentucky Home.” Guides in period costumes give tours of the newly restored mansion.
Be careful as you enter Bardstown and the Courthouse circle, I have ridden around it two or three times, looking at the architecture and deciding where I want to go. When you finally park visit the Talbott Tavern and the Jailer’s Inn, bed and breakfast establishments with great architecture. There are several restaurants in Bardstown’s downtown as well as wonderful shopping. You definitely could spend the day here and end up at the Kentucky Dinner Train, Kentucky Railway Museum or the Museum of Whiskey History.
OR you could pick up 31E to New Haven and Hodgenville. New Haven is a small, pretty crossroads town. Just beyond New Haven is the turn to the Abbey of Gethsemani, which is the oldest monastery west of the Alleghenies. It is a beautiful, peaceful site. In the welcome center watch the film about the Trappist monks. In the gift shop buy the cheese and fruitcake they make. Limited self-guided tours are available.
From the Abbey go back to 31E to Hodgenville, the home of the Abraham Lincoln National Historic Site, Lincoln’s childhood home, and the Lincoln Museum. Hodgenville’s town square is newly restored and renovated complete with a local restaurant, Mama Sonds.
DAY TRIP 3.
Today we head back to the Bluegrass Parkway West to the Makers Mark Distillery. Follow the “brown” directional signs to this beautiful, historic site. Sourmash whiskey has been made at this distillery since 1840. The Samuels family has been making bourbon here since 1953. Tours include the stillhouse, warehouse, and bottling operation. Beautiful setting.
After learning all about Kentucky bourbon take KY 49/52 through Lebanon to Bradsfordsville. Bradsfordsville is another fine, small town with plenty of history. Quantril and his troops went through here twice in 1865. Sue Mundy and Frank James, burning, pillaging, and murdering in the town, accompanied him. A Quantril driving tour brochure is available. Visit the Rolling Fork River, very scenic where the North and South Forks of the river join with a backdrop of the “Town Knob.” On Main Street you might try Patches’ for the plate lunch special, the Country Store for gifts and ice cream, or the Bradsfordsville Garage, home of the best fish dinner in the area on Friday afternoon and other meals during the week.
DAY TRIP 4.
This time go south on US127 (left at highway) to Danville, which is known as the “Birthplace of the Bluegrass.” As you enter Danville on Maple Avenue you are greeted by a variety of lovely historic homes. At the intersection of Maple and Main Street, is Centre College, a fine liberal arts college, which happens to be the alma mater of Chuck and Helen Dedman. (As well as Mr. and Mrs. T.C. Dedman and 4 of their 5 children and spouses.) Visit the Constitution Square State Historic Site, 134 South Second St. You will see a reproduction of the square including the meetinghouse, courthouse, jail, and the original post office. The early 1800’s Fisher’s Row homes house a museum and art gallery. Across the street are the Ephraim McDowell House and Apothecary Shop. Dr. McDowell performed the first successful removal of an ovarian tumor in 1809. If you need a snack about now Burke’s Bakery is across the street on Main Street, one of the best bakeries in the area! Or try the Hub, the bookstore and coffee shop of Centre College on Main Street.
Find your way back to US127S to US150 to Stanford. Follow the signs to the William Whitley House State Historic Site. This circa 1780’s brick house, the first west of the Alleghenies, has W. W. brick laid in Flemish bond pattern on the front of the house. The guides do a terrific job telling the William Whitley’s and his family’s importance to the early settling of Kentucky. The house is fascinating.
Stanford is diligently restoring and refurbishing their Main Street. You might want to see their progress and visit the shops.
DAY TRIP 5.
This trip is not in the Kentucky Crossroads region but a fun trip. (Plus our daughter, Becky, works at the Woodford Reserve Distillery as the guest services co-coordinator.)
Back to US127 north (turn right at the highway) to the Bluegrass Parkway towards Lexington. Follow the brown signs to the distillery that will take you through Versailles, another pretty town with a few shops you might want to visit. As you turn onto the road to the distillery you will pass several horse farms. It is beautiful any time of year. The Woodford Reserve distillery is one of Kentucky’s oldest operating distilleries. The majority of the buildings are made of Kentucky limestone. The tour guides offer a great tour and even a taste of the bourbon at the end.
If you are hungry the distillery offers a “picnic on the porch” during the summer and other seasonal events. Or you could go to Frankfort Pike (ask someone there for directions) to eat lunch at Wallace Station. Frankfort Pike is another old road full of horse farms and Wallace Station is a fun sandwich shop.
There are many other interesting places to see in our area. You just can’t see it all in one trip, you must come back, do some exploring, tell us what you liked, what you didn’t. Give us more suggestions for day trips and enjoy the Bluegrass and Crossroads of Kentucky!
Helen Dedman
Beaumont Inn
Located in the heart of Kentucky's famous Bluegrass Region
638 Beaumont Inn Drive / PO Box 158
Harrodsburg, KY 40330
Call for reservations, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EST: 1-800-352-3992 or 859-734-3381
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