Part of the draw to Kentucky is the quaint, beautiful towns that offer a slower pace of life and more close-knit kind of community. These are the kinds of towns where neighbors aren’t strangers, where folks still sit outside on their front porches and read the paper, and there are local activities in town that everyone attends. These places do still exist, especially in the Bluegrass State! Here are 10 of the most charming towns in Kentucky where you can experience a slice of small town life:

1. Midway
Midway, KY, USA
Wikipedia
This charming spot in the Bluegrass is home to the Scottswood Bed and Breakfast. Visitors can get a home cooked meal and enjoy the calming influence of the small town feel. Read more about this historic train town in this article.
2. Berea
Berea, KY, USA
Berea Tourism/Facebook
This beautiful little town snuggled into the folds of Kentucky has some great places to visit. The rustic Doctor’s Inn offers a comfortable stay and fantastic introduction to the community. Or if you want to enjoy the incredible landscape that Berea is known for, consider a stay at one of the most beautiful campgrounds in Kentucky, Homegrown Hideaways. Read more about endearing Berea, Kentucky.
3. Burkesville
Burkesville, KY 42717, USA
I, W.marsh/Wikipedia
This small town is home to Dale Hollow Lake State Resort and Golf Course. Go from a delicious meal in a diner to some golfing, boating, swimming, fishing or activities. The stay and play plan is one of the most cost efficient. In town, you'll be charmed by Burkesville, which features lots of old-school shops, including a delightful soda counter!
4. Catlettsburg
Catlettsburg
Tim Kiser/Wikipedia
This small town just gives you the feel of tradition and community as you stroll around the sidewalk. The town square has a great diner and plenty of local businesses. Read more about Catlettsburg, which is located in a beautiful area of Kentucky, in this article.
5. Lexington
Lexington, KY, USA
Britt Selvitelle/Wikimedia Commons
The Wildcat community is home to the estate of the renowned Henry Clay, and the Mary Todd Lincoln House. This town is filled with different historic sites. You can take a literal walk through Lexington’s memory lane. Lexington may be one of Kentucky's biggest cities, but it has a distinct small-town sensibility.

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6. Fort Thomas
Fort Thomas, KY, USA
Fort Thomas Mess Hall
This military community offers a small town feel that has parts safe enough to leave the doors unlocked at night. Not advising anyone to do that, but it's just got that kind of feel. Read more about Fort Thomas and its lovely amenities in this feature article.
7. Harrodsburg
Harrodsburg, KY 40330, USA
FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore/Wikipedia
This small town is near Shaker Village, Bright Leaf Golf Resort and several nice hotels. It is also a small community with a traditional feel and a wonderful little place called the Beaumont Inn B&B. Read more about Harrodsburg, the oldest town in Kentucky, in this article.
8. Hodgenville
Hodgenville, KY 42748, USA
Jamie/Wikipedia
This is the birth place of Abraham Lincoln and several historic landmarks are memorialized in his honor. This seemingly quiet town has some fantastic home cooking in a few country diners. Don’t miss an opportunity to indulge in some southern cooking. Read more about Hodgenville's acclaimed Lincoln Museum in this article.
9. Murray
Murray, KY 42071, USA
Visit Murray, Kentucky/Facebook
Murray is a pleasant town with a circular downtown area. Here visitors can find some tasty homemade food and local shops. Murray has a country feel with plenty of conveniences. Read more about Murray, Kentucky, in this article.
10. Prospect
Prospect, KY 40059, USA
Prospect Kentucky
This traditional community with both farming and boating was in the top 10 places to live according to safewise.com in 2014. It has lots of undeveloped land, along with plenty of history. It has that charming small town feel while still being close to all of the amenities of Louisville.

What’s your favorite small town in Kentucky? What towns should have made it on this list? If you’re lucky enough to live in one of these charming small towns in Kentucky, be sure to share your experience in the comments below!

Kentucky’s small towns offer great opportunities for memorable weekend escapes. Here are eight of the best small town getaways in Kentucky!

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charming small towns in Kentucky

Sarah | July 15, 2021

What is the best small town in Kentucky? 

Bardstown (where you'll climb aboard My Old Kentucky Dinner Train) is an absolute gem of a Kentucky town. Named one of the best small towns in America, Bardstown boasts acclaimed Kentucky distilleries, historic sites and museums, amazing shopping and dining, and loads of scenic beauty. One of our favorite things to do in Bardstown is tour the area via train or carriage. You can take a variety of rail excursions via Bardstown's My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, including murder mystery rides, moonlit rides, and scenic rides through the countryside. If horse-drawn carriage rides are your thing (and you're in Kentucky, so of course they are!), you'll be positively delighted by these tours. Around The Town Carriage offers narrated, horse-drawn carriage tours through the heart of Bardstown's Historic District.

What are the best small towns to visit for a weekend trip in Kentucky?

Kentucky's small towns all make for fun weekend getaways, each offering something different. Whether you’re looking for a beach retreat, a weekend of historical adventure, a mountain escape, or a getaway to one of the most beautiful small towns in America (more on that in a bit!), you’re sure to find exactly what you’re looking for right here, in Kentucky in towns like:

  • Cynthiana
  • Maysville
  • Paducah
  • Grand Rivers
  • Augusta
  • Greenville
  • Covington/Newport

 

What are some scenic day trips in Kentucky?

Well, you can't beat a scenic train trip in Kentucky, can you? Enjoy the best of the aboard one of these five excursions, all of which mark for great day trips in Kentucky. If you like to take the road less traveled, take a day trip on one of these scenic Kentucky byways. And if you're into chasing waterfalls, it really doesn't get much more scenic than our Kentucky Waterfall Road Trip!

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