This is an incredible scenic route that will knock your socks off! You'll be traveling through Kentucky's dairy and tobacco farms mixed with beautiful thoroughbred horse farms outlined in black or white plank fences. As the route takes you up into Kentucky's rugged Red River Gorge you'll be able to enjoy spectacular views of the surroundings from some of the valley's 300ft sandstone cliffs.
Towns/Cities You'll Pass By/Through
Wilmore Kentucky is my favorite town along this drive. It has a nice historic main street that you want to take some time checking out the historic architecture. Other than that, Pleasant Hills (Shaker Village) is a must stop and there are other nice small towns along the path. Also if you like curves, keep in mind that many of the roads have sharp turns and steep climbs. You will be traveling through the Kentucky River Gorge lined at many points by 300-foot bluffs. Some portions of the route lead you up a path scaling these bluffs giving you fantastic views. The route finishes of in some great rolling hills.
Attractions & Points-of-Interests Along the Way
Traveling 10 miles or so south of Lexington will bring you to Almahurst Farm, an extremely historic farm for both standardbreds and thoroughbreds. It is neatly outlined with a white picket fence and decorated with some well groomed barns and stables. Continuing on, the route will take you to the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill also known as Shakertown, that once was one of the largest Shaker communities. The town is on display and there are tours of the restored buildings available for visitors (606-734-3314). If you drive eight miles to the south you come upon the small town of Harrodsburg, Kentucky's oldest permanent settlement founded back in 1774. It was the first white settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains and was built as a "palisade village" to provide protection from Indians. At Old Fort Harrod State Park (606-734-3314) you can see a full-scale replica of the original fort and the log cabin that Abraham Lincoln's parents were married in. The cabin, known as the Lincoln Marriage Cabin, was moved to the park from its original setting several miles west of Harrodsburg.
