Updated Feb 1, 2023

The Sweetest Road Trip In Kentucky Takes You To 7 Old School Chocolate Shops

Discover a road trip through Kentucky that visits seven nostalgic chocolate shops.

Updated Feb 1, 2023

Written by

Published Oct 17, 2024

This Kentucky Literary Road Trip Leads to 5 Incredible Bookstores and Libraries

Looking to check out some of the best libraries and bookstores in the Bluegrass State? Here's a fun road trip adventure!

Published Oct 17, 2024

Written by

Lisa Sammons

There's something so addictive about getting lost in a good book, but one pleasure that's nearly as enjoyable is losing yourself in the shelves of an independent book shop. No matter how impossibly long my to-read list gets, I love stopping at local bookshops when traveling to check out the wares. It's so easy to feel at home in a cozy bookstore, and the aisles and aisles of reading material are like catnip to a bibliophile. If you've been searching for a fun afternoon road trip and love to read, you'll adore this easy trip to some of the best bookstores in Kentucky.

We're typically fans of lengthy road trips that take days and days, but for this one, we figure you want to spend as much time as possible in these wonderful bookshops, so you'll only have to be behind the wheel for about two hours. The trip is centered between Lexington and Louisville, though obviously, there are plenty of great bookstores in other parts of the Bluegrass State, too! You can check out the full itinerary on Google Maps. It's customizable, so feel free to add additional stops to really make the trip your own.

We'll start off our journey at Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville. There are actually two locations in Louisville, and the first opened up way back in 1978. This is one of Louisville's most iconic stores, and we love the focus on local authors. Neither branch of the store is particularly large, but there's an emphasis on quality, and it's a pretty good bet that if Carmichael's stocks it, it's worth a peek.

For our next stop, we'll head to Frankfort, where you'll find Poor Richard's Books. It's located across from the old state capitol building and features wall-to-wall books of every genre. There are thousands of books in this place, and bookworms can easily spend all day browsing the new and vintage selections. This is the type of quintessential stuffed-into-every-nook-and-cranny bookstore that comes to mind when you imagine an old bookshop.

Continue driving east to Lexington to come to our next stop: sQecial Media. This delightful shop is located near the UK campus and has a wide array of products that include gifts, candles, tarot cards, jewelry, and crystals, in addition to, of course, books. The store has been around since 1972 and loves to focus on the quirky and slightly off-the-wall, which makes it a perfect brick-and-mortar alternative for products you'd normally have to go online to find.

alt — Alexander Spatari/Moment/Getty Images

We'll remain in Lexington for the rest of the afternoon, and you'll definitely want to pay a visit to Friends Book Cellar. The store is operated by the Friends of the Lexington Public Library and operates out of the library's central branch. The library itself is also worth taking the time to explore, but make sure to head downstairs and check out the thousands of books available for purchase at the Book Cellar. They're organized by genre and all purchases go to support the library's operating costs.

Last but not least on this bookstore road trip is Joseph-Beth Booksellers. This popular shop has several locations throughout the Kentucky and Ohio area, but the Lexington branch was the first and remains a beloved part of the Lexington literary scene today. The two-story bookstore regularly hosts author readings and events and is also home to the Kentucky Book Festival, which takes place each November.

Have you ever visited any of these bookstores? Did your favorite not make the list? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Looking to support a local bookstore but not able to buy in person right now? Check out Bookshop.org, where a portion of each sale goes to your local independent bookshop.

Trip Ideas|Road Trips

Updated Jul 30, 2024

The Scenic Road Trip That Will Make You Fall In Love With The Beauty Of Kentucky All Over Again

A scenic road trip through Kentucky highlights the state's natural beauty and unique attractions.

Updated Jul 30, 2024

Written by

Sarah McCosham

There's nowhere in the world quite like Kentucky. Between the rolling hills of Horse Country, grandiose gorges of the Daniel Boone National Forest, riverfront vistas of northern Kentucky, Appalachian hills in our eastern region, and waterfront splendor of Lake Cumberland *and* Land Between the Lakes, you're guaranteed to find a scenic destination anywhere in the state. Today, we put together a scenic Kentucky road trip that visits some of our state's finest features, and it's sure to make you fall in love with the beauty of the Bluegrass all over again.

Our scenic road trip to some of the most beautiful places to visit in Kentucky visits several beautiful destinations in the Bluegrass State. While it can be done in a day, we suggest breaking it into a weekend, and we have suggested accommodations listed below.

Check out the Google Maps link and plan your trip along this Kentucky scenic byway!

On your mark, get set, go! We're kicking off this scenic road trip through Kentucky in the most Kentucky way possible: with the horses!

The Kentucky Horse Park is always a blue ribbon winner in our books, and it's the perfect place to stop and spend the morning. And honestly, it's one of those things to do in Kentucky that's a must!

We recommend going for a guided horseback ride through the equestrian park, which is one of the best ways to enjoy the rolling hills of the Bluegrass.

As the state is home to the famous Kentucky Derby, you can learn more about the horses by watching this video by @OnlyInYourState:

Next stop, Red River Gorge! Located within the state’s Daniel Boone National Forest, Red River Gorge is the Holy Grail of outdoor recreation and adventure.

alt — DanBrandenburg/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Known as the "Grand Canyon of Kentucky," Red River Gorge is a canyon system along the Red River in the eastern part of the state. The vistas here are out-of-this-world, and we recommend staying in your car and driving through a bit of the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway.

When you feel like getting out and stretching your legs, Natural Bridge is one of Red River Gorge's most spectacular spots and offers 10 hiking trails ranging from a half-mile to 7.5 miles in length.

Formed over millions of years, the park's eponymous sandstone arch stretches more than 75 feet long and 65 feet high and is truly a sight to behold. When you're tired and ready to rest your feet for the night, we suggest checking into the 35-room Hemlock Lodge, where each suite has a balcony for peak vista viewing!

Curious to explore RRG before you go? Check out this video from YouTube user Robert Zinn:

New day, new possibilities. First up: a hike at the Berea Pinnacles, the trail Outside Magazine called the best in Kentucky in 2019.

To get to these overlooks, however, you're going to need to lace up your hiking boots and set out on a 6.6-mile journey, but trust us when we say: it's worth each and every step!

Once you've explored the pinnacles, head to Bardstown for a late lunch. Hailed as one of the most charming and walkable small towns in the country, Bardstown is peak Bluegrass beauty!

We suggest stopping by The Old Talbott Tavern, the oldest bourbon bar in the country, for lunch.

Order a bourbon flight to sample some of the state's finest spirits, and dine on Southern favorites like beer-battered fried pickles, fried green tomatoes, and bourbon-glazed chicken.

Fortified, it's time to embark on the last leg of our trip, and it's breathtakingly beautiful.

Travel up through central Kentucky's rolling blue hills, through tunnels of trees and white picket fence-lined farms. Roll down the windows and drink in the sublime scenery of Horse Country.

Our final stop is as grand as it gets: the Kentucky Castle. It's a place that's truly as beautiful as it gets, and from its perch in Versailles, it almost doesn't seem real.

Luckily for us, it is.

Wander the grounds and then enjoy a scenic dinner whilst gazing out on your Kentucky kingdom.

Your trip can end here, but we suggest booking a night's stay at the Kentucky Castle and reveling in being real-life royalty for the night.

Oh, Kentucky, there's nowhere in the world we'd rather be. We hope you enjoyed this scenic Kentucky road trip to some of the state's most beautiful places and encourage you to get out and let yourself fall head-over-heels for the beautiful Bluegrass State!

Not sure what to bring with you on this or any other Kentucky road trip? Take a look at our Ultimate. Road Trip Packing List for ideas!

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This Kentucky Literary Road Trip Leads to 5 Incredible Bookstores and Libraries

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