Few travel destinations are as well-suited for social distancing as Lexington, Kentucky. When you’re surrounded by 450 horse farms in the Horse Capital of the World, there’s plenty of space to spread out. This area is home to hundreds of parks, trails, streams and cliffs to explore—from the Elkhorn Creek to the Red River Gorge. And our world-renowned bourbon distilleries have been hard at work crafting safer tour experiences for visitors. Plus, we’re within driving distance of 2/3 of the US population. Needless to say, we’re excited to welcome y’all back to Lexington. We’ve spent the last few months doing our best to keep each other safe, and we’ll do the same for you. All we ask is that you return the favor. Below are some friendly guidelines and resources to help you travel responsibly.
Small-batch experience at Woodford Reserve
Small-Batch Experiences
Lexington has always been a place for authentic, personal experiences. There are no tourist traps, crowded sidewalks or long lines. But now that our community has adapted to a post-quarantine world, we’ve embraced these “small-batch experiences” even more.
What do we mean by “small batch”? Just like small batch bourbon, these experiences are carefully crafted and unique, rather than mass produced. By nature that also means smaller group sizes, and therefore safer experiences for our visitors.
Here are some of our favorite small-batch experiences. Keep in mind, most tours are running on a limited basis and must be reserved ahead of time. Reservations are filling up fast, so hurry up and book!
Tour with Horse Country Tours Inc.
Horse Farms
Drive through the beautiful, fence-lined bluegrass countryside and pet a few horses on a horse farm tour. Horse Country Tours is your go-to resource for finding and setting up the best tours for your interests. The Kentucky Horse Park is also a great place to visit, offering educational demonstrations, horseback riding, and a chance to meet the park’s two resident Kentucky Derby winners.
Horse Country Tours
https://visithorsecountry.com/
(859) 963-1004
Kentucky Horse Park
https://kyhorsepark.com/
(859) 233-4303
Woodford Reserve
Gray’s Arch at The Red River Gorge
Outdoor Activities
Some of the safest activities can be found in the great outdoors. Go for a hike at the Red River Gorge or Raven’s Run Nature Sanctuary. Plan a picnic in one of Lexington’s many parks. Zoom through Boone Creek’s ziplining course. Or float down the Elkhorn Creek in a kayak through Canoe Kentucky.
Boone Creek Outdoors
https://boonecreekoutdoors.com/
(855) 494-7539
Face coverings are required for the duration of your visit.
Canoe Kentucky
https://www.canoeky.com/
(502) 227-4492
Raven Run
https://ravenrun.org/
(859) 272-6105
Guests must register to visit/hike.
Red River Gorge
http://www.redrivergorge.com/
No registration required for hikes.
21C Museum Hotel
Book Now for 20% Off
Our hotels have gone above and beyond to create safe, healthy and comfortable places to stay for our guests. Click here to book your trip and you could save up to 20% on select hotels.
