Lexington, Kentucky is one of the greatest cities in the South. It combines all the great things of a southern city, like first-class food, top-notch hotels, and shopping with small town charm, incredibly nice people, and rolling green horse farms. I don't believe there are many other places where you can reach backroads and farmland within a 20-minute drive of the city center. Lexington pulls in all the great things from Kentucky, which is an incredible state in itself.
While Lexington is great 12 months a year, the fall months are an especially great time to check out the Horse Capital of the World. These are just a few reasons why:
1. Keeneland is running in October.
Keeneland is regarded as one of the country's premier horse racing tracks, and rightfully so. The track is only open two months in the year, April and October, and it tends to rain a lot in April. During the fall meet, the leaves are changing, the weather is perfect, and there's not much better than a day at the track.
2. Downtown Lexington looks like a storybook.
Lexington isn't a huge city, but its downtown area is just big enough to be urban, but small enough to be quaint. Some of the city's oldest parts surrounding Transylvania University on the north side of Main Street are picturesque year-round, but in the fall when the leaves change color, there's no better time to take a walk downtown.
3. Basketball season is right around the corner.
Kentucky basketball and its storied tradition encapsulates the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky, but Lexington is the heart of the Big Blue Nation. Every October, Kentuckians from all over camp out on the campus of the University of Kentucky for the team's first public practice, and excitement is in the air, because that means basketball season is only weeks away.
4. It's perfect weather for street festivals.
Whether it be The Night Market off North Limestone, The Latino Festival in September, or any of the other gatherings happening in the city, fall provides the perfect setting for local food, hanging out with your friends, and taking in all of the city's culture.
5. There's no better time to explore backroads.
One cool thing about the way Lexington's laid out is the way the city's roads are set up. Downtown is the center, and then you've got several different spokes that exit the city and run out to other towns, like Harrodsburg Road, Richmond Road, Versailles Road, and Nicholasville Road. Take any of these roads past New Circle and past the interstate, and you'll run into some beautiful country with a whole lot of horse farms.
6. The Breeders' Cup is in town during October.
This October, the Breeders' Cup will be held at Keeneland, which is one of the largest horse racing championships in the world. During the last weekend of October, all eyes in the horse racing world will be on Lexington, and it's an exciting time to be in the Horse Racing Capital of the World.
7. The bourbon trail has never been better.
While the great parts of the Kentucky bourbon trail are definitely self-explanatory, part of their awesomeness also includes the scenery surrounding them. Something about touring a distillery in the fall just feels right, and it's the perfect time of year to take in some of the Bluegrass' treasured spots.
8. Kentucky football is in full swing, and you've got a month full of Caturdays.
Despite the fact that our state's football team has never been the best program at the university, the Wildcats still manage to bring out huge crowds for home games. It doesn't hurt that Commonwealth Stadium is newly renovated. Students at UK have dubbed these perfect days "Caturdays," where Keeneland is the move during the afternoon, followed by a tailgate and evening football game at CWS.
9. Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and haunted houses are open for business.
All over the surrounding areas, there are pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and haunted houses which make the perfect weekend activity for the fall season. Many times, the corn mazes will be themed like this Abraham Lincoln inspired one.
10. Local restaurants and coffee shops are great this time of year.
People go crazy when Starbucks releases their fall menu every year. Don't get me wrong -- there's definitely something awesome about pumpkin-flavored things, but I think a place like Common Grounds (pictured above) or any of Lexington's other local coffee shops put a homegrown spin on fall flavors that make them that much better. Local restaurants like Malone's, Pazzo's, and Ramsey's are great this time of year also.
11. Lexington is incredible year round. Throw some leaves on top of it, and what more could you need?
There's an old Daniel Boone quote that says, "Heaven must be a Kentucky kind of place." I agree with him wholeheartedly, but would add on that it must also be a Lexington in the fall kind of place.
This time of year, this part of the state is quintessentially Kentuckian. Come see it for yourself.
