Typically the good cities can fly beneath the radar. Take Lexington, Ky.: the hometown of Richard Hell has quietly been probably the most attention-grabbing and entertaining locations on the map for no less than just a few a long time now. It’s a metropolis outlined by its area’s absolute dominance of two distinctive industries, bourbon and racehorses, and likewise by the College of Kentucky and its faculty basketball dynasty. Nevertheless it additionally has the spirit of a school city, with the scholars at UK ensuring it’s dwelling to each a big bar and celebration tradition in addition to a thriving arts and music scene. From the races at Keeneland, to the distilleries on the Bourbon Path, to the bizarre and sudden sounds you’ll hear on WRFL 88.1 FM and within the metropolis’s golf equipment and DIY areas, Lexington will fascinate all method of holiday makers, from first-timers to the tremendous acquainted. Right here’s what it is advisable to expertise there no less than as soon as in your life.

It feels mistaken to select between bourbon and horses, however one thing has to go first, so let’s begin with the booze. The official Kentucky Bourbon Path runs all through the state, and though the one biggest focus of its 18 foremost member distilleries might be present in Louisville (which is about an 80 minute drive from Lexington), yow will discover 4 official Path distilleries in and round Lexington, together with three further distilleries which might be a part of the Path’s Craft Tour. There are additionally Lexington-area distilleries that aren’t formally a part of the Bourbon Path, so there’s loads of recent bourbon to drink on this city. The most important title among the many bunch is Woodford Reserve, whose distillery in Versailles sits lower than 15 miles away from Lexington. With a historical past that dates to 1812, and buildings that also stand from way back to 1838, this Nationwide Historic Landmark will transport you again in time as you get pleasure from a few of the greatest bourbon on this planet. After over a century of manufacturing bourbon, the location was closed within the late ‘60s, earlier than the Brown-Forman Company purchased it within the early ‘90s and reopened it as the house of the then-new Woodford Reserve. Immediately you may tour the grounds and see the enormous vats of mash, the massive copper stills within the nonetheless room, and the rows upon rows of barrels within the rickhouse, all inside buildings from the nineteenth century. (The tools is usually new, in fact.) One other historic distillery that has gained a second life might be present in Frankfort, about 27 miles from Lexington. Fort & Key sits inside a castle-style constructing that bears an indication proclaiming it “The Previous Taylor Distillery Firm.” Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr., constructed the power in 1887, and it was in operation all the way in which as much as 1972 (aside from a, uh, compelled closure between 1920 and 1933). It sat empty for over 40 years, and regardless of its historical past and distinctive structure it confronted demolition till it was purchased in 2014 by two companions who rechristened it as Fort & Key Distillery. (The “key” comes from a key-shaped properly that gives the distillery with a few of its water.) It’s a lovely property that totally embraces its age, and a must-visit for anyone who likes cool outdated buildings or ingesting.

One factor you’ll rapidly discover round Lexington are the horse fences. They’re in all places exterior of downtown—a system of four-tiered, darkish brown woodwork operating parallel to virtually each street. It’s tempting to name them the veins of Kentucky, as horses are positively its blood. There are properly over 400 horse farms within the Lexington space, and people horses need to be protected, not simply from roaming exterior of their paddocks however from any autos that may come flying off the street in direction of them. These farms are dwelling to mares, stallions, present racehorses, adorned (and extremely profitable) studs, retired legends, and extra, and a few supply official excursions. Lane’s Finish, one of many high breeding farms, is dwelling to virtually two dozen stallions who can be found to stud for costs starting from $7,500 to $200,000; on a current tour they introduced just a few of their high horses out for us to get a close-up view, after which launched us to all of the stallions of their stables. Should you’ve ever needed to get an inside glimpse on the unknowable high-dollar world of Thoroughbred breeding, it is best to look right into a tour of Lane’s Finish Farm.

They don’t simply breed, elevate, and prepare Thoroughbreds in Kentucky, in fact. They race ‘em, too. Keeneland, a Nationwide Historic Landmark, has been internet hosting meets for over 80 years; the monitor is dwelling to races for over two weeks each April and October, a convention that began in 1936. Though not as giant or well-known as Louisville’s Churchill Downs (the house of the Kentucky Derby), Keeneland is a beautiful race course with a wealthy historical past of its personal, and an ideal place to get your toes moist when you’ve by no means been to a race or guess on horses earlier than. This 12 months it was dwelling to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, probably the most prestigious races within the sport, and which, just like the Tremendous Bowl, doesn’t have a set annual dwelling. Typically referred to as “the richest two days in sports activities,” each race on the Breeders’ Cup has no less than 1,000,000 greenback purse, so that you’re assured to see a few of the highest horses in motion. The people-watching is nearly as thrilling because the races, in fact; ladies put on their flashiest hats whereas most males costume as much as the nines with swimsuit and tie. The Breeders’ Cup gained’t be again at Keeneland for no less than just a few years, however every single day at Keeneland is charming and thrilling—and doubtlessly very profitable, when you play it proper.

At the same time as a lifelong Tar Heels fan who earnestly believes that the ACC is the best possible faculty basketball within the nation, I’ve to acknowledge the historic greatness of the College of Kentucky’s crew. Hell, they’ve the very best successful proportion in NCAA Division I historical past, and till earlier this 12 months had spent over twenty years because the document holder for whole wins. You don’t get that accidentally. Any fan of the game ought to see the Wildcats of their native surroundings no less than as soon as, on the huge Rupp Enviornment within the coronary heart of Lexington. Certain, UK has different sports activities, together with a soccer program that always performs the spoiler towards perennial SEC powerhouses, however basketball guidelines all at this faculty and in Lexington itself. And when you don’t care about basketball however nonetheless need to try the legendary Rupp Enviornment, it hosts quite a lot of occasions all year long—together with my niece’s highschool commencement. As a lot as I beloved watching our future take its first steps into the grownup world, I believe it most likely would’ve been extra enjoyable to observe John Calipari’s crew whip up on some unprepared SEC squad.

Throughout a current journey to Lexington I balanced subtle farm-to-table eating places in and out of doors town with gloriously shaggy burger joints and dive bars which have been serving UK college students for many years. One night time featured a implausible dinner at Epping’s on Eastside, the place yow will discover scrumptious dishes like a pan fried fish marsala and a lamb shank birria and a wealthy number of wines and bourbons. Hours later, after elbowing as much as the lodge bar for a bit too lengthy, and properly previous the purpose of constructing sound judgments, I discovered myself on the notorious Tolly-Ho, an all-hours burger and breakfast diner with low cost beer, chilly milkshakes, and a 50-year historical past of winding down the night time for native college students and drunks. It’s now not within the charmingly ramshackle constructing wherein I first encountered it over 20 years in the past, however Tolly-Ho nonetheless hits the spot, irrespective of how dangerous a choice it could be. The perfect meal of the journey got here simply exterior Lexington, within the small, one-block downtown of Halfway. A restaurant referred to as Heirloom combines conventional downhome favorites with French inspiration, leading to entrees like a elegant buttermilk-brined fried hen, a hearty pork chop, and a duck breast with potato gnocchi that was my culinary spotlight of the entire journey. Heirloom is a brief drive from Lexington, however definitely worth the journey. And no go to to Lexington is full with a cease on the Chevy Chase Inn, a wonderfully rumpled little dive that has been allotting beer and bourbon for over 80 years. Anticipate low cost drinks, dwell music (a guitarist performed nation originals and basic covers on a current Friday night time), two nice outdated pinball machines in numerous states of disrepair, and the comforting embrace of a bar that has presumably modified little or no since my grandparents’ era drank there.

There’s extra to Lexington and its surrounding areas, in fact, however that is what I can personally vouch for after a current journey to the Horse Capital of the World. And though I sadly wasn’t capable of finding no matter constitutes the city’s present underground music scene, I’m positive the outsized faculty city that gave us noise icons Hair Police and the Elephant 6 band Ulysses, amongst others, has quite a few nice bands enjoying in properties, basements, and DIY areas all through town. Whether or not you’re most fascinated about exploring the world of bourbon, seeing Thoroughbreds up shut and in motion, catching a basketball sport, or consuming some nice meals, Lexington, Ky., can have what you’re in search of.

Senior editor Garrett Martin writes about videogames, comedy, journey, theme parks, wrestling, and the rest that will get in his method. He’s additionally on Twitter @grmartin.