The 9 Most Underrated Places In Kentucky That You Must Check Out
By Jenn Shockley|Published July 26, 2015
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
In almost every town there’s a place we pass by without a second look. We might even be thinking to ourselves, “eh, what a lil’ hole in the wall building”. This might be a preserve, café, an art studio, or just a corner store. The building might look like an average warehouse, or decaying antique construction…Whatever the case, Kentucky has many misunderstood venues that are really well worth a visit.
Here are 9 places well worth checking out, though they don’t look like it:
This beautiful 115 acres in the Palisade region of Kentucky began in 1995, when Jim Beam Distillery joined forces with a conservation team to help keep the Bluegrass beautiful. This portion of land is protected, and though it doesn’t look like much on the outskirts, the inner woodlands take you on a journey through Tulip, Poplar, Beech, and Hickory Trees, along with beautiful plants and wildlife.
This little hole in the wall has been serving some of the coldest beer and stoutest drinks in Kentucky since 1932. The service is always friendly, the drinks well mixed, and the beer cold. This is not somewhere one goes to get a fancy frozen drink with an umbrella, but if you want a rum and coke, beer, or a Cape Cod, this is the place. The owner is also known to have the occasional chili cook off or pot luck too, which are always fun.
This is a little hole in the wall spot in Lexington has mismatched furniture, cookware, and plates. However, they will serve you a Dagwood size sandwich that you'll never forget.
This Frankfort restaurant offers some of the freshest seafood in the state, cooked and served up with perfection. The fried green tomatoes are a local favorite. The outside doesn’t really impress, but the view and the food are great.
This looks like a warehouse on the outside, but inside you will feel like your in an old Dr. Who episode. State of the art medical equipment from the 18th and early 19th century is on display, along with a wax corpse made from over 200 different cadaver wax moldings.
This Bardstown museum doesn’t get the credit it deserves. There's a lot more to Kentucky bourbon then just picking up a bottle at the store. This will be both an enlightening and entertaining visit.
When you think Shakers… a quaint village of hardworking individuals creating sturdy furniture and healthy products should come to mind as quickly as salt or pepper. This Auburn area is where a Shaker community was founded and built well over 100 years ago. In 1922 the village went broke, but now visitors can see what things were like when the original folks lived here.
At 33 West Maple, in Fort Mitchell sits a museum dedicated to something most people do not see often, ventriloquist dummies. If you ever wondered where the dummies' retire, this would be it. There are a multitude of unique, hand carved puppets that were used in shows, or purchased at some point… It may not look like much, but it is a really unique and somewhat creepy place to check out.
This Louisville sanatorium has been standing for around a century. On the outside it appears as just a creepy old building. The inside can be a real thrill for those who appreciate hauntings and history. This site has seen quite a few people draw their final breath over the decades, some from TB, others from their own hands or other incidents.
Never underestimate the possibility of the unknown when in the Bluegrass State pondering what to do. There is always somewhere to go and enjoy. Whether you’re in the mood for some great country cooking, an unusual collection, or just some all around fun. If there are any places you have been too that don’t look like much but offer a great time, please tell us about them in the comments below.
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