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View of Lexington taken from a helicopter.

Lexington [1] is the second largest city in Kentucky.

[edit] Understand

Known as the Horse Capital of the World, Lexington has traditionally been dominated by the horse industry and is also heavily influenced by the University of Kentucky, the flagship state university and largest employer in the city. The university sits immediately south of downtown Lexington. The horse industry has given Lexington an international reputation, a scenic countryside, and Keeneland Racecourse. UK has given it a college town atmosphere with a richer and more diverse culture than some might expect from its size and location. Lexington's compact central downtown district is surrounded by historic neighborhoods. Lexington (Fayette County) is in the heart of the Bluegrass region of Kentucky and is still home to hundreds of horse farms.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

• Blue Grass Airport (IATA: LEX, ICAO: KLEX), 4000 Terminal Drive; Phone: (859) 425-3114, [2]. A medium sized regional airport (with International facilities including Customs) which has service from all of the major American carriers and daily non-stop service to at least 13 cities. It deposits passengers directly adjacent to Keeneland Race Course and just a few miles from downtown. There is express bus service by LexTran, once per hour from 6 a.m. till 6 p.m. All major brands of car rental agencies have service here, and taxis and hotel shuttles are plentiful.

[edit] By train

The nearest passenger train service is Amtrak's Cardinal, with stations in Maysville, and in Cincinnati, Ohio.

[edit] By car

Travellers usually access Lexington via one of the two major interstates that arc around the northern and eastern borders of the city. I-64 runs from east to west, connecting Lexington with the largest city in Kentucky, Louisville, to the west. I-75 runs north-south, connecting Lexington with Cincinnati and Knoxville respectively. Neither interstate penetrates into the city. New Circle Road (State Route 4) forms a complete circle around the city with most major streets radiate from downtown in a spoke-and-wheel pattern. New Circle Road, an early experiment in urban circumferential expressways, was first built before current zoning rules, so that about 1/4 of it is developed with commercial usage, while the rest is 55-mph freeway with on/off ramps. The major roads often change names depending on which surrounding county seat they lead to.

The Lexington area is also served by the Martha Layne Collins Bluegrass Parkway, originating at I-65 in Elizabethtown, and the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway, which starts just east of Lexington and provides access to the Appalachian region.

[edit] By bus

The Greyhound station is on New Circle Road on the north side of town, ten minutes from downtown.

[edit] Get around

Bus service is provided by Lextran, which provides service from the downtown Transit Center to many parts of town and the airport. Downtown Lexington is compact and easily navigated by foot or bicycle, but the most typical way to get around is by car. Cars can be rented at the airport or at several locations in the city. Taxis should be called in advance as they are not easily hailed on the street. There is a taxi stand in front of the airport. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. a taxi stand operates at the corner of Main and Upper Streets, next to the old courthouse.

[edit][add listing] See

• Triangle Park, especially at night. Enjoy slipping off your shoes or sandals in the summertime and wandering in the step-like fountains that ring the backbone of this park. Get plenty of pictures of the illuminated fountains against the Lexington Convention Center. Cross the street and talk to the concierge at the Radisson Hotel to book a horse-drawn carriage tour of downtown.
• The Kentucky Theatre is a historic two-screen cinema with restored architecture and beautiful interior murals located downtown on Main Street. Its schedule tends to emphasize foreign, independent, and art films, plus occasional concerts and panel discussions at the premiers of controversial films. During the Summer Classics Series every Wednesday night a classic film is shown. The theatre has an offbeat side as well, and raucous midnight showings of movies like the Rocky Horror Picture Show draw crowds of nearby University students, adults, and teens every weekend. http://www.kentuckytheater.com/
• Ashland (Henry Clay Estate), 120 Sycamore Road, [3]. check website.. Home of the famous Kentucky Senator Henry Clay, set near downtown Lexington. Beautiful park surrounding the home accessible even if you do not wish to take a tour. $7 Adults, $4 children (ages 6 - 18), children 5 and under free..  edit
• Mary Todd Lincoln House is the two-story girlhood home of Abraham Lincoln’s wife. Located on Main Street in downtown, the 14-room house contains period furniture, furnishings from the Todds and Lincolns, and family portraits. The nation’s first shrine to a First Lady is open for visitors, call (859) 233-9999 for more information.
• Waveland State Historic Site was built in 1848 by Joseph Bryan, a grand-nephew of Daniel Boone. The Greek revival home preserves 19th century plantation life in Kentucky with acres of hemp and grain. The smokehouse, icehouse and slave quarters still stand as outbuildings. Call Waveland at (859) 272-3611 for information about tours.
• Hunt-Morgan House was built by the first millionaire west of the Alleghenies, John Hunt-Morgan. The house showcases early Kentucky furniture, 19th century paintings and antique porcelain. The Alexander T. Hunt museum featuring Civil War memorabilia is located on the second floor. The house was built in 1814 when Lexington was known as the “Athens of the West.” Tours of the house in historic Gratz Park are given on the hour and vary throughout the year. Call Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation for information about tours: (859) 233- 0362.

[edit][add listing] Do

Despite the relative small size of this South-North straddling city, Lexington offers a surprisingly delightful palette of interesting activities. Whether you choose to explore some of the world-class and stunning horse farms ringing the city, hit up some of the surprisingly upscale shopping venues, take in a play at the Downtown Arts Center or the Lexington Opera House, tour the oldest university west of the Allegheny Mountains (Transylvania University), catch an insanely popular UK basketball game (Rupp Arena) or sample one of the myriad great restaurants that have sprung up all over town, you can be sure your experience here will not be a bland one.

• Tour the Kentucky Horse Park and horse farms clustered north and west of Lexington. The horse industry is Lexington's traditional and most famous trade, and many beautiful old farms are worth a look. The Park is basically tourist-oriented and offers a museum, nice walks, views of famous racehorses, and lots of bluegrass, but it is also the host of some very large horse events. Probably the most high profile is the Rolex, Horse Trials, Three Day Event which takes place every Spring. These horse trials are also used as Olympic selection trials so you can expect to see some world class horses and riders. The park is located five miles north of Lexington off Interstate 75, exit 120, and driving tours can be arranged with companies or can be self-guided if you have a car. [4]

• Keeneland Race Course, [5]. Enjoy horse racing in a "days-gone-by" setting. Admission to the racetrack is only $3, but you are sure to put more money on a few horses of your choice. The only down side to Keeneland is that it hosts live races only a few months a year, with the Spring meet in April and Fall meet in October. The feature race of the Spring meet is the Toyota Bluegrass Stakes, a prep race for the Kentucky Derby. When its live races are not in session, you can still watch other races broadcast from around the world or attend events like the yearling horse sales, where some young stallions have commanded price tags in the millions. Buyers include local horse farms and bidders from Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai. Keeneland lies on Versailles Road, one mile outside (west) of New Circle Road. Recent movies "Seabiscuit" and "Dreamer" have been filmed at Keeneland. The tradition at Keeneland is to 'dress-up' a bit, no jeans and t-shirts.

• Kentucky Wildcats Basketball games are intensely popular with locals and are held at Rupp Arena in the Lexington Convention Center downtown. Tickets are $22 at face value, but expect to pay illegal scalpers far more if you seek tickets to games against quality opponents.

For more things to do in the "Horse Capital of the World," see visitlex.com

[edit][add listing] Buy

There are several major shopping areas in Lexington.

• Fayette Mall at Nicholasville and Reynolds Roads (just south of New Circle) is the largest mall in the state. Recent construction has added a new wing to the mall itself and created a more open commercial campus and doubled the number of stores offered.
• Nearby Lexington Green features Joseph-Beth Booksellers, an independent bookstore with an impressive selection of books in their cavernous, sunlit interior. Authors on book-signing tours are practically guaranteed to stop at Jo-Beth, and they often have extra copies of recently signed books available.
• Hamburg Pavilion is a new commercial area at the junction of Man o' War Boulevard and Interstate 75. Hamburg is an example of a "power center", an open-air, auto-oriented shopping district marked by the presence of large discount department stores, "big box" stores (large stores specializing in one category of merchandise) and smaller shops like Victoria's Secret and the Black Market. An accompanying residential area sprang up with the shopping complex just at the turn of the millennium. The area continues growing daily; expect plenty of traffic.
• Victorian Square is an small, upscale shopping area in the heart of downtown overlooking Triangle Park and connected to the adjacent motels and business complexes by raised pedways. Containing primarily upscale clothing, jewelery, and art boutiques, Victorian Square also connects via pedway to a second shopping center, the Lexington Shops, with a Hallmark store, the Kentucky Proud Market, a UK Memorabilia store and more, all in the belly of the Lexington Convention Center.
• Maxwell/High is streets bordered on the west and north by Maxwell and High streets respectively, containing a myriad of small, primarily youth-oriented independent boutiques as well as several restaurants. Small boutiques includes the Black Market Boutique, Helen's Boutique, Lucia's, Calypso, Mod Boutique, John's Walk Run Shop, and ILO.
• South Lime/Campus Area The bordering downtown campus area features many locally owned restaurants and small locally owned stores. Stop by CD Central for used CDs, new albums, DVDs, wall sized posters, t-shirts from major and local artists, and more. Sqecial's features many unique gifts from magazines, eclectic books, jewelry, candles, incense, trinkets, and journals. ReBelle is a one of a kind shop featuring all kinds of yarn, locally made clothes, and jewelry. Kennedy Book Store is one of the oldest locally owned college book stores in Lexington. Features sports memorabilia for all UK fans, souvenirs, and an Art Part that serves artists from all over central Kentucky.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Lexington is home to an astonishing number of independently owned restaurants at all price levels. The city's college town atmosphere and affluent lifestyle contribute to this relatively small metropolitan area's great culinary offerings. Chain restaurants, typical in most American cities and towns, can be found here, as well as a great number of privately owned and operated establishments.

[edit] Budget

• Charlie Brown's is a hip sandwich restaurant located at the end of Euclid Avenue just off the University of Kentucky campus. Patrons lounge in sofas and armchairs while chatting in the permanently low lighting. Bookshelves line all four walls and are crammed with old hardbacks; patrons may take any book they please as long as they replace it with another. Virtually all sandwiches are $6.50. Located off Euclid Avenue.

• Tolly Ho is a typical college town "greasy spoon" restaurant located just adjacent to UK's campus on South Limestone. Open 24 hours a day, "The Ho," as it is called by students, serves classic items like hamburgers, shakes, chili cheese fries, and the ever-popular cheddar tots. It gets extremely crowded when the bars close around 2:30 and the line stretches out into the front parking lot. Be sure to mention if it's your first time. Located off S. Limestone.

• Gumbo Ya-Ya It is Cajun like no other. Menu changes every week, but the standards like White Chile, Gumbo, Jambalaya are usually always on. Meals are cheap. $5.50 for a Small Plate. $6.50 for a Large and the hungry can get a super size for $8.00. If you are lucky, you can end up there on a day they are dishing up Pazole Stew or Jambalaya Ya-Ya. And there famous Yat-wich is something to suprise you. Sort of a Turkey based sloppy joe with a lemony kick. www.gumboyayaky.com

• Bourbon n Toulouse All plates are 6.50 (tax included) They dish up lots of great food at an affordable price and have a whole lotta fun do ’n it! The way Bourbon n' Toulouse works is quick and painless. You walk in and pick what you want from the day’s selections off of the chalkboard menu and then you order & pay at the register. Not sure what you want? Just ask them for some samples and figure out what you just. This place is that easy and serves some of the best food in Lexington....at any price! Located at 829 Euclid Avenue in the heart of Chevy Chase. (www.bntlex.com)

• Common Grounds Coffee House Housed in an historic brick building, this neighborhood coffee house attracts a wide mix of folks, from college students to professionals. The laid-back ambience is ideal for lounging, and chatting. Hot and cold coffee drinks are featured, along with teas, hot chocolates, and sodas. Located off E High Street.

• the Mouse Trap Serves up sandwiches, soups, and other delectable items avalible behind a huge glass display case. Always made right in front of you. When you're finished dining you can revel in the shopping part of the store that includes cookware, chocolates, homemade bread, and more. Located off Tates Creek Road in the Lansdowne Shops.

• Le Matin French Bakery A quaint little bakery that serves up fresh bread, and other items such as lunches, desserts, and more. Located off E. High Street.

[edit] Mid-range

• The Chop House, [6]. Great steaks and chops in a warm, friendly environment. Located off Richmond Road.

• Joe Bologna is a moderately-priced Italian restaurant near downtown and the intersection of Vine St and Limestone Ave. It is located inside an old synagogue, complete with stained-glass windows and raised pulpit (now a small bar). The square pizza at Joe B's is a tradition. Also, the bread stick is awesome - basically an over-sized breadstick accompanied by melted garlic butter.

• Ramsey's is a local favorite specializing in Southern fare. Its success has spawned many other branches in town, but try to go to the original, located in several locations including the intersection of Maxwell Street and Woodland Avenue, off Harrodsburg Road, and in Tates Creek Center. All ingredients at the original are obtained from local farmers, and the branches try to do the same.

• Columbia's Steak House is a long time favorite in Lexington. With several locations, the original one downtown is the place to be. Back in the restaurant's heyday, professionals and students would line the block waiting for a table. Columbia's is famous for their "Nighthawk" special, which includes an 8-ounce tenderloin smothered in garlic butter, generous baked potato, a Diego salad, and homemade rolls with honey butter. Two locations, one off Richmond Road and one off N. Limestone. http://www.columbiassteakhouse.com/

• Alfalfas The best meat/vegetarian combination to eat in downtown Lexington. The menu will satisfy both vegetarians and carnivores alike with innovative and eclectic homemade foods. Try their delicious Red Beans&Rice or an Avocado Grill Sandwich. Located off Main Street.

• El Toro A classic Mexicana restaurant with all your favorite dishes that serves up delicious food in which seems like mere minutes after you order. A friendly staff and quick service make this a enjoyable trip. Located off Nicholasvillie Road before the light at Southland.

• Oasis One of the best Middle Eastern places in town! Their Chicken Shwarma is served in a generous portion (that is great for leftovers) that is accompanied by your choice of salad. The hummus and pita is excellent as well. The lunch buffet is expansive with many dishes to choose from sure to satisfy anyone. Worth the trip! Located in Chevy Chase Center.

• AP Roots A menu that is strictly locally-sourced Kentucky ingredients, this well-received restaurant delivers both quality and taste. Located off Romany Road in the Chevy Chase area.

• Billy's BBQ Simple and laid-back, this local joint takes pride in its Western Kentucky-style barbecue, which is slow-cooked pork shoulder, pulled from the bone, chopped and sauced up, and often served on grilled bread. Also available are chicken and mutton. Located at the corner of Tates Creek Road and Cochran.

• Atomic Cafe Tropical flair colors this lively restaurant, which sports bright interior murals and rhythmic Caribbean music. The cuisine follows suit, from crisp sweet potato chips to zesty jerk chicken, tropically-flavored fresh fish, conch fritters, steaks, and Cuban pork. Located at the corner of Third Street and N. Limestone.

• Cheapside Bar&Grill Thanks to its great, two-level patio – which has its own bar, outdoor heaters, and plenty of greenery – Cheapside attracts frequent downtown crowds. Also accompanying the spacious bar is great food and lots of fun especially on summer nights. Located at 131 Cheapside.

[edit] Splurge

• The Merrick Inn Boasts a classy restaurant nestled within the ritzy gated community "Merrick Place". Reservations recommended. Located off Tates Creek Road.

• Malone's A steakhouse chain that "imports" its prime beef straight from Chicago. One of the most favored restaurants by Lexingtonians. There are three locations, one off Tates Creek Road, one in Palomar Center, and a newer location at Hamburg. All locations also have a sports bar and sushi restaurant.

• Dudley's, Maxwell Street (in Dudley Square). An old mansion that has been converted into a posh commercial complex. Dudley's occupies several rooms and serves American fare. Located off Maxwell Street.

• a la lucies, 159 N. Limestone. A romantic downtown restaurant with Parisian flair featuring Lucie's own inventive continental menu. Located off N. Limestone.

• Tomo, 848 E High St. A Traditional Japanese menu in a sleek modern atmosphere. Excellent dishes include tempura, hibachi chicken and steak. Of course best known for their sushi rolls. Voted a top sushi restauraunt by several publications over the past several years. Reservations reccomended for Friday and Saturday nights. Located off High Street.

• Portofino's Italian cuisine with a California accent. Try one of the fabulous pasta dishes in this renovated warehouse that also features local artwork and great atmosphere. Located off E. Main Street.

• Sal's Owned by the creators of Malone's.While Sal's bills itself as a chophouse, it also offers an Italian-inflected menu that does culinary double duty. Located off Tates Creek road in Landsdowne Shops.

• Jonathan at Gratz Park Named for chef Jonathan Lundy, this charming restaurant has a refined, Old World feel, thanks to its presence in the Gratz Park Inn. Deep, ochre-toned walls and polished woodwork surround diners, who delight in the kitchen's "redefined regional cuisine. Reservations recommended. Located off West Second Street.

• Le Deauville Lexington's downtown French bistro is a convivial place, given to conversation and good food. It shares a name with the city's stylish sister town in Normandy, and it's become quite a culinary destination for folks in the area. Located off N. Limestone.

• Natasha's Bistro Boutique Natasha's airy environs incorporate a medley of international influences, from Balinese artifacts to African carvings, masks to textiles, basketry to rusted Moroccan lanterns. The effect is worldly but comfortable, an easy place to indulge in unusual dishes from central Europe to North Africa and beyond. Located at 112 Esplanade.

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Atomic Cafe, Third and Limestone. A laid-back restaurant and bar that offers a screened courtyard and reggae music on the weekends.
• Cheapside bar/restaurant frequented by many young professionals.
• The Dame, Main St. It is the most popular venue for live local music as well as national acts which over the years has included everyone from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club to Kenny Chesney. Recently moved to 367 East Main Street.
• McCarthy's seems to be the default bar for a wide range of people. Sprawled across three storefronts, it has a back patio, absolutely no cover charge, and a charismatic old doorman named Miami Steve who usually sports interesting headwear.
• Redmon's, Main Street. A snug country bar with live music every night of the week. Very popular with the college crowd on Thursday nights.
• Saddle Ridge opened in 2006 and is not near the traditional downtown cluster of bars, but its spacious design, mechanical bull, and crowd-pleasing country/hip-hop music mix has quickly made it one of the most popular spots for twenty-somethings.
• Two Keys is the quintessential college bar, located straight across the street from UK's north campus and packed with Greek students (referring to fraternity and sorority members, not people of Greek origin) during the school year.
• Molly Brookes Irish Bar, 109 N limestone (Directly across from the new courthouse). Molly Brookes is an original Irish bar in downtown Lexington. Its owned by some Irish people and the staff there are Irish too. The drink prices are good and the crowd is fun.They have a nice old patio outback and sidewalk tables too.  edit
• Le Deauville, 199 North Limestone. 5:30-11. Outstanding food and an unmatched ambience--this restaurant is a must-visit for lovers of French cuisine...or excellent drinks. Reservations are strongly recommended.  edit
• the Tin Roof, 303 South Limestone, [7]. A brand new live music joint located at Maxwell and South Limestone that has a laid back atmosphere and has already created excitement among locals. In addition to drinks they also serve made from scratch food.  edit
• Soundbar/Blu Lounge, South Limestone. One of Lexington's newest and most exciting upscale and comfortable lounge, video and dance bars. By yourself or with friends, Blu Lounge and the new Soundbar concept offer a truly unique and fun entertainment experience.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

In Lexington accommodation rooms are taxes at a total of 13.4%

• Kentucky Horse Park Campground, 4089 Iron Works Pkwy, Lexington, KY, ☎ 888-459-7275, [8]. Our Campground offers 260 spacious sites with 50/30/20 amp electric and water. All sites are 55' paved back-ins with fire rings and picnic tables. Two dump stations are provided for your convenience as you exit the park. A full service facility, our Campground has many extras for your comfort including a grocery, gift shop and two bathhouses with modern conveniences. During your stay, be sure and take advantage of our planned recreational activities or catch a game of tennis or basketball on lighted courts, cool off in our junior olympic-size swimming pool, try your hand at pitching horse shoes, croquet, or maybe square dancing in the recreation pavilion. Your children are number one on our lists. In addition to planned activities and games led by our recreational leader,your children will enjoy swimming or playing in one of our unique playgrounds. The Campground also has electric primitive and primitive available for those wishing for a more rustic stay. Recreation and Entertainment Planned activities are available on most weekends beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Camp also now has Wireless Internet Available. First 15 minutes free, various paid time blocks availalble with 24/7 support. 27.00.  edit

[edit] Budget

• Microtel Inn Lexington, 2240 Buena Vista, [9].  edit

[edit] Mid-range

• Hyatt Regency Hotel, 401 West High Street. Integrated into the Convention Center and Rupp Arena.  edit
• Holiday Inn Express-Lexington Northeast, 1780 Sharkey Way, [10]. Located just 2 miles from the center of Downtown and 2 miles from the Bluegrass Airport, this hotel built in June 2008 is perfect for both business and leisure travelers.  edit
• Radisson Plaza Hotel, 369 West Vine Street. Basically identical in appearance, location, and amenities, the Radisson boasts a popular and stylish bar but is less-directly connected to the Convention Center.  edit
• Ramada Limited, 2261 Elkhorn Road,I-75 exit #110, +1 859-294-7375, [11].
• Ramada Conference Center, 2143 North Broadway, +1 859-299-1261, [12].
• Lexington Downtown Hotel & Conference Center, 369 West Vine St, [13].  edit

[edit] Splurge

• Gratz Park Inn, 120 West Second.  edit

[edit] Contact

[edit] Stay safe

In general, Lexington is an extremely safe city with a competent, courteous police force. As in any city, though, some places are safer than others. In particular, the neighborhoods north of downtown can be less than safe at night. In particular, the area east of North Limestone is dodgy after dark. If you find yourself on North Limestone it is highly recommended (this being a local resident writing this) that you do not travel past Third Street alone.

Downtown along Main Street is safer at night than in years past. But in the later hours, especially after midnight, you will be better off in a group of at least two or three.

The University of Kentucky campus is patrolled by the UK Police Department and is generally quite safe. But the campus is open, and so does offer a certain amount of temptation. As with downtown, late-night travel around campus is usually safer with a partner. Be aware of your surroundings and you should be fine.

There are other some other neighborhoods that we locals consider less than safe. When in doubt, ask us.

[edit] Cope

Like any city, Lexington's traffic can be challenging during rush hours. Nicholasville Road has "feeder lights" to help the flow. Be careful and aware of the lights as they change throughout the day to accommodate traffic and rush hour. A green arrow indicates appropriate lanes for driving; white arrows indicate a turn lane; a yellow "X" indicates a left turning lane; a red "X" indicates lanes in use by oncoming traffic. Be aware of driving near UK basketball or football days. Downtown can be quite congested when UK plays at Rupp Arena,and Tates Creek Road and Nicholasville Road both move very slowly when UK plays at Commonwealth Stadium.

It should also be noted that US Highway 27, Nicholasville Road, and Limestone are all the same street. The name changes as you get closer to downtown. When asking for directions, many locals may not know exactly what the street is called where you plan on going, so just remember that the same road may be called any of those three at your destination.

In addition, until July 2010 S. Limestone from the light at Winslow/Avenue of Champions up to Vine Street will be closed due to the construction and rehabilitation of the street. The lights at Avenue of Champions, Maxwell, and High Street are all open, however the street in between the lights is closed. This is subject to change in the future renovation process. All stores and local shops are still accessible to customers (Check southlimestonprogress.com for updates and a parking map)

[edit] Get out

Lexington's central location makes it the ideal base to explore the Bluegrass Region.

• Frankfort (Kentucky), Kentucky's capital city, is 25 miles northwest of Lexington.
• Harrodsburg, 32 miles from Lexington, is Kentucky's oldest city.
• Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, 30 miles from Lexington, is America’s largest restored Shaker community, with 34 carefully restored buildings and 3,000 acres of preserved farmland.
• Louisville, home of the Slugger Museum, is 79 miles from Lexington.
• Cincinnati is 82 miles to the north.
• Bardstown, 60 miles from Lexington, is Kentucky's 2nd oldest city.
• The Red River Gorge, an hour east of Lexington, offers numerous opportunities for hiking and rock climbing. Natural Bridge State Park features some of the largest stone arches in the eastern United States.