Nicole Brown, Marketing Intern
In many ways, Lexington is a “college town,” ruled by the
University of Kentucky and its students.
Campus even bridges the gap between downtown Lexington and busy
Nicholasville Road, which is lined with restaurants, department stores, smaller
stores, movie theatres and entertainment, and home to both Lexington Green Mall
and Fayette Mall. So naturally,
when classes are in full swing, there are plenty of things to do to keep
busy. Campus may be quieter during
the summer, but there are still many activities in Lexington!
Whether you’re visiting for your summer advising conference,
living in Lexington, or visiting friends for a few days, take advantage of all
that this city offers with some of the following ideas:
Thursday Night Live—Free!
Every Thursday from April 26 to October 18, at the Fifth
Third Pavilion at Cheapside Park, you’ll find local food and music as part of
Central Bank Thursday Night Live.
Pets are welcome. Tents set
up at 4:30 p.m. but the music runs from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Check out the website
for a band schedule and more information:
Keeneland or The Red
Mile—$5 and up
Check out the horse races at the beautiful Keeneland Race
Track on the edge of town or The Red Mile closer to campus. “Meets,” or racing periods, run during
the spring and fall. Though the
spring meets ended in May, the fall meet at The Red Mile starts on August 5 and
at Keeneland on October 5. Until
then, take a free tour of the grounds, watch some of the horses work out, shop
at the gift shops, or keep your eyes out for special events on their websites.
Visit a Horse
Farm—Free, but tipping is recommended
Instead of watching the horses at the races, see them at
home by visiting one of the many nearby horse farms. You might even see a past Kentucky Derby winner! The Lexington Visitors Center can offer
suggestions and tell you which farms don’t charge for visitors. Call them at 859-233-7299 or
800-845-3959.
Enjoy a Legends Game
at the Whitaker Bank Ballpark—$4 and up
Catch a minor league baseball game, enjoy some ballpark
hotdogs, and “watch the stars of tomorrow, today.” Games are played multiple nights a week through
September. Buy tickets and see the
complete schedule online. Many
nights even have dedicated themes and deals, so you can find one that appeals to
you.
Lexington Cemetery—Free!
Take a stroll through the Lexington Cemetery, nationally
recognized for its arboretum and gardens, and visit the final resting place of many
famous Kentuckians, including basketball coach Adolph Rupp and Kentucky
politician Henry Clay.
Fourth Friday—$7
Every fourth Friday of the month from 6 – 9 p.m., enjoy this
Lexington Art League party, concert, and exhibit featuring different
activities: one to see, one to taste, and one to listen to. The next Fourth Friday is this Friday,
June 22. Visit their website for
specific activity information.
Parks and Hiking—Free!
Lexington offers many different parks for hiking, playing
with your dog, or just relaxing while reading a book. Try Masterson Station Park,
the fitness trail at Shillito Park,
historic McConnell Springs (where
frontier explorers named Lexington after the first battle of the American
Revolution in Lexington, Massachusetts in 1775), the 734-acre Raven Run Nature Sanctuary in the scenic Kentucky
River Palisades area, or the University
of Kentucky Arboretum near campus. To combine a park and the arts, shop the Woodland Art Fair at Woodland Park on Saturday and Sunday
August 18 and 19.
For other hiking areas, check out this website:
For
more information on the Woodland Art Fair, use this link:
Kentucky Theater—$5
and up
On days when you want to take a break inside, you’ll find
first-run films, independent films, and concerts at the historic Kentucky
Theatre. Located on Main Street,
the theater is close to campus and in the heart of the city. For a schedule and other information,
visit the website.
The Living Arts and
Science Center: Children and Community Programs
Just three blocks from Main Street, this non-profit offers
many activities from art classes and exhibits to discovery exhibits that
explore the relationship between art and science, and much more. Visit their website for offerings,
schedules, and pricing information.
Tours and Museums:
Find a museum that fits your taste and spend the afternoon
exploring. Check out their
websites for specific hours, pricing, and exhibits. Here are some options:
o Downtown Tours—Take a walking tour of
downtown and look around on your own, or contact the Lexington Visitor’s Center
for an official tour.
o Mary Todd Lincoln House—It’s $9 to tour
this fully restored house in downtown Lexington and explore the city’s history.
o Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate—Marvel
at this 18-room mansion with a
guided tour for $9.
o The American Saddlebred Museum—Explore
not only this interactive museum, but the Kentucky
Horse Park as well. The $16
(summer price) admission grants you access to the entire park.
o The Aviation Museum of Kentucky—Located
at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport, this museum is full of planes of every kind
to admire. Admission is $7.
o Old Kentucky Chocolates—Tour the factory and see how candy’s made or
just shop at the store.
o Ale-8-One Bottling Plant—This Kentucky soda has
been bottled in Winchester since 1926.
Call in advance to tour the plant on any Friday.
o 859-744-3484
o LexArts’ Gallery Hop—A self-guided tour
of many of Lexington’s art galleries, the next LexArts’ Gallery Hop is on
September 22 from 5 – 8 p.m.
Before September rolls around, browse some of the participating
galleries one by one.
Vineyards (must be 21
year or older)—Free, if you don’t buy any drinks!
Central Kentucky, site of the first commercial vineyard in
the U.S., is still home to many vineyards. Find a free tour or music
night or buy a wine tasting at nearby Talon Winery, Equus Run Vineyards,
Chrisman Mill Winery, or others.
Kentucky Bourbon
(must be 21 year or older)—Free, if you don’t buy any drinks!
Explore the Kentucky bourbon-making tradition by touring Buffalo Trace, Four
Roses, or Wild Turkey bourbon
distilleries. Or tour Four Roses and Wild Turkey distilleries near Lexington, then explore the Heaven
Hill, Jim Beam, Woodford Reserve (costs $7), and Maker’s Mark distilleries throughout Kentucky to complete
“The Bourbon Trail.” The
distilleries even have gift shops and bars.
Check out these links
for more information:
Two other blogs by The Study:
An iPhone app called “LexWalk” that’ll show you around
downtown:
More arts activities:
Top attractions lists (you’ll just have to filter through
the golf courses and spas, unless that’s what you’re looking for):
For special events, a list of free things to do, and more,
contact the Lexington Visitors Center:
o www.visitlex.com or (859) 233-7299
