Walk About Lexington

Need Ideas for Downtown Activities?

When I go to out-of-town meetings, I don't rent a car and am often faced with finding things to do within walking distance of my hotel. This 'Walk About' is provided for the pedestrian. Although some distances are quite a haul, all can be walked. Some might want to take a short taxi ride to the farthest destinations.

This is a very subjective list. It might not appeal to everyone. Because we do not have a 'spouse outings' program with the WOCA meeting, perhaps this will help anyone accompanying a significant other to the meeting.

Before beginning this jaunt, pick up a downtown map at your hotel's registration desk or download one from the web - Downtown Lexington Map. For more listings and addresses, phone numbers, etc. go to the Lexington Tourist Bureau site. -- mm

Horse Farm Tours
Kentucky Scenic Byways - a website that lists several of Kentucky’s designated Scenic Byway roads - (as taken from the federally funded America's Byway website). For more information contact: Kentucky Dept. of Travel, (502-564-4930).

You Are Here - in Lexington, Kentucky

Lexington Center (where the Hyatt is located)

Too busy to go outside? Or it's the last day of the meeting and you still need to buy something for the family? There are several shops in Lexington Center from which to choose. Artique has beautiful, one-of-a-kind gifts. In addition, there's Lafayette Galleries, with its fine crystal, china, and cloisonné items, and traditional clothiers Orvis, The Sporting Tradition and Parisienne offer many shopping choices. There is also an Old Kentucky Chocolates, Toy Shop, and Hallmark Shop. The UK Basketball Museum is fascinating for the sports-minded. There's a Kentucky-themed clothes and sports paraphernalia store (Kentucky Korner) to stock up on Big Blue items. There is also a food court located in the Center. If the weather is nice, eat your lunch outside at Triangle Park, a central city park that is located directly outside of the northside of Lexington Center.

NORTH

North - Located on the other side of Triangle Park is Victorian Square, a restored shopping area dating back more than a century. It has many retail shops and restaurants worth visiting. One of them is Hutchinson's Drug Store (859-252-3554) where you can enjoy milkshakes, sodas, phosphates and sundaes at an authentic old-time soda fountain.

Walk through Victorian Square and you exit onto Short St. facing the Lexington Opera House. The 1886 building is worth touring, even if a production is not running at that time. Behind the opera house is a thin, obscure alley called Saunier Ave., which houses both art galleries and the Lexington Livery Carriage Company. You will miss it if you aren't looking for it. The livery company provides horse-drawn carriage rides throughout downtown. Rides begin at the Radisson Plaza (corner of Vine and Broadway).

After exploring Saunier Ave., go back to Short St., and head west to Greentree Antiques and Tea Room (521 W. Short Street). To experience the elegant southern atmosphere of the tea room, you must have reservations.

A little farther north is the Transylvania University area and Gratz Park. This is the oldest, most genteel part of the city. Tour the campus, or go on a walking tour of the mansions on 2nd and 3rd streets, as well as those which surround the park (Market and Mill Streets).

Among these homes is: The Hunt-Morgan House (201 N. Mill St.), also the site of the Alexander T. Hunt Civil War Museum, which contains many Civil War artifacts and is a great resource for Civil War researchers and enthusiasts (859-253-0362). General Morgan was a famous (at least locally) Confederate War General, whose gorilla tactics caused his commanders great frustrations, but became the stuff dreams are made of. It is a lovely house to tour, full of legend and lore.

Across Gratz Park from the Hunt-Morgan House is The Bodley-Bullock House (859-259-1266), one of the most prominent and stately mansions in the Bluegrass. The home was built circa 1814 and has many unusual architectural features and is very similar in design to the Hunt-Morgan House.

The two mansions are separated by the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning (251 West Second Street, (859) 254-4175). Originally built as one of the famous Carnegie Libraries of the turn of the previous century, it outgrew its use as a public library, but mercifully was saved from demolition and serves as a nonprofit center that provides writing seminars, educational workshops, and adult literacy classes. It is worth visiting just to see the architecture.

Nearby, at the corner of Mill and Church streets is ArtsPlace (161 N. Mill, 859-455-9660) a multipurpose arts center that houses a gallery showcasing the works of Central Kentucky artists, and is also the site of free music and dance performances.

In the last few years, Limestone St. has experienced something rare, an urban Renaissance. Where there was previously little but old, run down buildings, there are now very interesting shops like the inappropriately-named Third Street Stuff, and a host of wonderful restaurants.

Area Restaurants

A La Lucie (159 N. Limestone) 859-252-5277
Anna Belle's (127 N. Limestone) 859-381-0900
Atomic Café (265 N. Limestone) 859-254-1969
Bistro (147 N. Limestone) 859-225-8883
Cheapside Bar & Grill (131 Cheapside) 859-254-0046
Courtyard Deli (113 Cheapside) 859-263-9090
Le Deauville (Corner of N. Limestone and 2nd St.) 859-246-0999
Greentree Tearoom (521 W. Short St.) 859-455-9660
Jonathan's at Gratz Park (120 W. Second St.) 859-252-4949

SOUTH

Dudley Square is located in a restored 1881 school building. It contains several shops, a superb restaurant Dudley's (called Cuddly Dudley's by some), and even a professional massage parlor.

Heading further south down Limestone and Rose Streets, the University of Kentucky anchors a major spot in central Lexington. Sites worth seeing there are the anthropology and art museums. Also, the south side of campus includes the Arboretum, a beautiful park next to Shady lane Woods (Walnut Woods), owned by the university, it is in-part an old growth forest, right in the middle of town.

The Red Mile (Broadway and Angliana) is Lexington's oldest racetrack, dating to 1875, as well as one of the nation's most respected harness tracks.

Area Restaurants

Bombay Brazier (102 W. High St.) 389-7107
Dudley's (380 S. Mill St.) 252-1010
Hanna's on Lime (214 S. Limestone) 252-6264 (Breakfast and lunch only)
Joe Bologna's (120 W. Maxwell St.) 252-4933
Pazzo's Pizza Pub (385 S. Limestone) 255-5125
India Palace (122 W. Maxwell St.) 255-4858
Kashir Indian Restaurant (341 S. Limestone) 233-3060

EAST

Going back to Triangle Park and heading east, you can stroll down Main St. Besides the empty store fronts that unfortunately plague most cities these days, there are some beautiful and worthwhile sites.

First there is the Lexington History Museum (215 West Main St., (859) 254-0530) where we will have our C2P2 Reception Wednesday night. This building is the former Fayette County Courthouse. Built in 1900, it is currently in the process of making itself the local history museum. It should provide an entertaining venue for our reception.

Main Street is sprinkled with eclectic shops including the Mad Hatter (152 Main St.) a hat shop that has been around at least 50 years and offers thousands of hat selections.

Then there is Lexington's Public Library (140 Main St., 859-231-5530) an atypical modern building that is both beautiful and functional. It includes an art gallery and uplifting, glassed-in reading room that affords a vista of the city, including the adjacent Phoenix Park.

The Kentucky Theatre (214 Main St., 859-231-6997) opened in 1922. In 1987 the building was damaged by smoke from a fire. After closing for two years the theater was taken over by the Urban County Government. With the government's help, the historic landmark was refurbished and opened in 1992. The theater provides a repertory format showing several films each week on a rotating basis as well as live performances.

Downtown Arts Center (141 Main St.) includes the Anne Tower Gallery and Alfalfa's restaurant.

At the end of the main drag is Heritage Antique Galleries (380 Main Street, (859) 253-1035). You will know you are there when you see the knight in armor in front of the building.

At the far end of Main St. is Thoroughbred Park, a 2.5 acre park dedicated to the thoroughbred industry. Thoroughbred Park contains seven life-size and life-like bronze racehorses streaking toward the finish line, while broodmares, foals and the great stallion Lexington "graze" in a nearby field.

If you want a hike (or a short cab ride) Ashland, (859-266-8581) the estate of famous 19th-century statesman Henry Clay (the great compromiser), is located on a beautiful 20-acre wooded park. The gardens are magnificent. The house, which was built by a son after Henry Clay's death, is a beautiful Victorian home worth seeing.

Area Restaurants

Alfalfa's (141 E. Main St.) 859-253-0014
High on Rose (301 E. High St.) 859-388-9999
Cafe on the Park (Radisson Plaza Hotel, Vine Center) 859-231-9000
Bellini's (115 W. Main St.) 859-388-9583
Portofino (249 E. Main St.) 859-253-9300
Cafe Jennifer (111 Woodland Ave.) 859-255-0709
Natasha's Café (112 Esplanade) 859-259-2754, along with Balagula World Boutique.

WEST

Next door to the conference site is the Mary Todd Lincoln House (859-233-9999). This late-Georgian-style brick house is the nation's shrine to a First Lady. In 1977, the home was restored to reflect the Todd family's residency. The first lady who overspent her budget so much while in the White House that she had to sell furniture to pay her creditors, and was finally committed to an institution by her son years later, started her days here.

If visiting on the weekend, head down Main Street to the Saturday-Sunday Market at 601 W. Main St. (859-255-7495). Not all antiques, you'll find reproduction English furniture and an eclectic selection of unique lamps, sculptures and candlesticks.

Kew Gardens, Central Park -- worth seeing. Lexington Cemetery -- on the same order. The Lexington Cemetery (833 W. Main, 859-255-5522) is nationally recognized as one of America's most beautiful arboretums and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for landscape design. The landscape includes lakes, ponds, formal gardens, ancient, towering trees, Monet-style bridges and winding lanes. On a beautiful day, it is peaceful and definitely worth touring.

Your final westward destination is McConnell Springs. It is about 21/2 miles from Lexington Center and therefore a short taxi ride. Be prepared to travel through the ugliest part of Lexington before arriving there. McConnell Springs is in the middle of a very industrial looking area. You will be sure that this can't be the place. Don't worry. It is. History played out so that industry built up around it, until it became a major project for saving in the 1980s. Supposedly, a campsite for the first settlers in the bluegrass, this 23-acre park features an array of historical and environmental elements. Trails through the park take visitors past natural springs and 19th century limestone fences. A naturalist is stationed at the Visitors Center, with tours scheduled regularly.

Children's Activities

The Lexington Children's Museum or now called the "Explorium of Lexington"
401 West Main Street,
Lexington, KY
The museum is a very short walk (one block) from the Hyatt and offers fun for kids of all ages. There is a special toddler area and arts and craft activities everyday!

Lexington Children's Theatre
418 W. Short Street
Lexington, KY
Contained in the same building as the Lexington Children's Museum, the theater offers performances that keep children's attention and provide enjoyment to the whole family.

Laser Quest
224 Bolivar Street, near the University of Kentucky campus
It's almost like being part of a living video game. Armed with laser guns and wearing vests with special sensors, players move through a dark labyrinth: The goal is to shoot enemies and avoid being shot; points are awarded for both accomplishments. Older kids, and many parents, will think it's a blast.

City Parks and Pools
Lexington's three Creative Playgrounds take swinging and climbing to new levels. The massive play structures (located in Jacobson Park, off Richmond Road; Shillito Park, off Reynolds Road; and behind Picadome Elementary School, 1642 Harrodsburg Road) include wooden towers, bridges, cars, even a lighthouse. They're perfect for when the younger kids want to run--and you want to rest. Also, there are several outdoor public pools in Lexington. Most were renovated two years ago and provide such adventures as a pirate ship to slide down (Woodland Park) or a frog's mouth (Southland Pool) to swim through.

Kids' Place
Lexington Athletic Center
3992 West Tiverton Court, off Nicholasville Road in Lexington.
Explore the great indoors. Kids Place is a two-story-high playground with slides, rope bridges, "ball baths" and other climbing and jumping activities.

Bluegrass Railroad Museum
Versailles, KY
Enjoy a nostalgic train ride through 11 miles of beautiful Bluegrass horse and tobacco farms, with a stop at a scenic overlook on the Kentucky River. 18 miles west of Lexington.

Hummel Planetarium and Space Theater Top
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY
One of the largest and most sophisticated planetariums in the United States, Hummel's videos, sound system, and special effects projectors create programs that take visitors on fantastic journeys into space. 28 miles south of Lexington.

Kentucky History Center
100 West Broadway Street
Frankfort, KY
The Kentucky History Center is a state-of-the-art museum, which preserves the memories of Kentuckians. It also helps to record the challenges faced by the people who built the commonwealth. Their stories intrigue and inspire those who tour the Center's quality exhibits, participate in creative educational programs and study its vast storehouse of collections. It is located in the state's capitol city of Frankfort, also the home for the state capitol building which offers scheduled tours. Frankfort is approximately 24 miles from Lexington.

Amusement and Theme Parks
King's Island
6300 Kings Island Dr.
Kings Island, Ohio
Lexington is within a 90 minute drive of two major theme parks: Paramount's Kings Island near Cincinnati and Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville. Their web sites contain all the details!

Kentucky Kingdom
Located in Louisville, Kentucky, a 60 minute drive from Lexington, this is Kentucky's answer to thrills, rides, attractions and fun.

The Aviation Museum of Kentucky
Located at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, the facility has 12,000 square feet of display area, a fully equipped shop for aviation restoration projects, a library/archive and a gift shop. The Museum is a dynamic entity which includes not only older restored aircraft and memorabilia, but also air-worthy, flyable aircraft for the public to enjoy.

Other "Family Fun and Activities" from the Lexington's Visitor's Bureau.

WORLD OF COAL ASH (WOCA) - May 4-7, 2009 in Lexington, Kentucky