Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bluegrass Country
Drive through northeast Kentucky's Bluegrass Country on a sunny day and glimpse
horses grazing in the brilliant-green hills dotted with ponds, poplar trees and handsome
estate houses. These once-wild woodlands and meadows have been a center of horse
breeding for almost 250 years - the region's natural limestone deposits, and you'll see
limestone bluffs rise majestic from out of nowhere, are said to produce especially nutri-
tious grass. The area's principal city, Lexington, is called the 'Horse Capital of the
World.'
Lexington
Even the prison looks like a country club in Lexington, home of million-dollar houses
and multimillion-dollar horses. Once the wealthiest and most cultured city west of the
Allegheny Mountains, it was called 'the Athens of the West.' It's home to the University
of Kentucky and is the heart of the thoroughbred industry. The small downtown has
some pretty Victorian neighborhoods, but most of the attractions are in the countryside.
Sights
Kentucky Horse Park
MUSEUM, PARK
(
www.kyhorsepark.com
;
4089 Iron Works Pkwy; adult/child $16/8, horseback riding $25;
9am-5pm daily mid-Mar-Oct, Wed-Sun Nov-mid-Mar; )
An educational theme park and
equestrian sports center sits on 1200 acres just north of Lexington. Horses representing
50 different breeds live in the park and participate in special live shows. Also included,
the international
Museum of the Horse
has neat dioramas of the horse through history,
from the tiny prehistoric 'eohippus' to Pony Express mail carriers. Guided 35 minute
horseback rides are offered seasonally.
Thoroughbred Center
FARM
(
www.thethoroughbredcenter.com
;
3380 Paris Pike; adult/child $15/8; tours 9am Mon-Sat Apr-
Oct, Mon-Fri Nov-Mar)
Most farms are closed to the public, but you can see working race-
horses up close here, with tours of the stables, practice tracks and paddocks.
Ashland
LANDMARK
(
www.henryclay.org
; 120 Sycamore Rd; adult/child $10/5; 10am-4pm Tue-Sat, 1-4pm Sun)
Just
1.5 miles east of downtown, part historic home of one of Kentucky's favorite sons, part
