From June 21st to June 23rd, I spent a packed-filled time in Lexington, Kentucky, arriving on Wednesday around 1 pm and leaving that Friday around 1 pm, which left my boyfriend, Fletcher, and I only around 48 hours in Lexington together. We were there mainly for the Thomas Rhett concert on Thursday, but besides that, everything else was up to us. Being the planner that I am, I made sure we had a jammed packed trip doing everything we wanted to in the city of Lexington, from sightseeing to local restaurants and even visiting a castle!
The Kentucky Horse Park
The main thing I wanted to do when going to Kentucky was to see a horse, and at The Kentucky Horse Park, there are plenty of horses to see! This park is filled with horses from retired racehorses, police horses, and ponies. There are many live shows throughout the day you can experience. We saw a horse show where they showcased a wide range of horse breeds, and we even met them at the end. There were many different barns throughout the park with all different themes; my favorite was the police barn, where all the police horses are kept. We even met a retired Kentucky Derby racing horse, which was so cool! I could tell the horses live a good life here, and I was so happy I got to see some horses!
Crank n Boom Ice Cream
This was hands down one of the best ice cream scoops I have ever had! Crank n Boom Ice Cream is located in a cool area called the distillery district in Lexington. This district is a walkable area filled with diverse food and drink options. This ice cream shop had unique flavors like bourbon & honey, Kentucky blackberry & buttermilk, blueberry lime cheesecake, banana & chocolate, and more. Fletcher and I both got one scoop of ice cream. I got the salted caramel, a blend of their homemade salted caramel blended with their sweet cream base, giving it a flavorful and creamy taste. Fletcher got the fresh strawberry made with strawberries from a local farm in the area. The whole district was a fun experience and made for a perfect date night. I would love to go back and visit again sometime soon!
The Kentucky Castle
I am telling you right now I am getting married at this castle. Visiting this castle was my favorite part of our trip. We went on a 45-minute tour of the castle to learn about its rich history. Out on the farms of Lexington lays this 50-year-old castle. In the 60s, Rex Martin and his wife started constructing this castle after they went on a honeymoon in Europe and saw all the European castle agriculture. After a few years of construction, Martin and his wife got a divorce leaving the castle unfinished, and Martin refused to sell it. After, it sat untouched for thirty years. After Martin died in the early 2000s, the castle was bought by Thomas R. Post, who turned it into a bed and breakfast but was only open to guests. Then in 2017, it was bought by its current owners and turned into The Kentucky Castle. This beautiful castle is now available to the public for tours, hosting private/public events, eating in a farm-to-table restaurant, or even booking a room in the castle. They also offer glamping tents, mini homes, and a cabin on the grounds. After the tour was over, we could walk the grounds of the castle and farm grounds freely. I fell in love with this incredible part of Kentucky and need to return to this castle again!
Wallace Station
The Wallace Station Deli and Bakery was a great place to stop for lunch. Located outside Lexington, this restaurant is worth the scenic drive. The menu includes hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, baskets, salads, and soup. They also have a huge bakery section filled with homemade baked goods. The Wallace Station had great local Kentucky sandwich favorites and an even better cookie selection. This local restaurant is a must to stop by if you want to get a taste of Kentucky.
Rupp Arena
The whole point of our trip to Lexington was to see Thomas Rhett perform at Rupp Arena. This arena is home to the University of Kentucky plays basketball. Rupp Arean is also home to all local concerts, events, and more. The arena was a perfect size for a concert, where I felt close enough to Thomas Rhett without having to pay for expensive tickets. The area is located downtown, making walking distance from the parking deck easy and letting us explore downtown a little bit. Thomas Rhett was a fantastic performer, and I would love to see another show at this arena again.
Lexington was such a great city, and there is so much more I want to do with more time, and I need to go back!
