Things to Do in Lexington, Kentucky

By Miranda Donnelly, USPC Activities and Marketing Intern

Lexington, Kentucky. The very name evokes images of rolling green pastures, sleek Thoroughbreds, and the clatter of hooves on a crisp morning. Known as the “Horse Capital of the World,” Lexington offers an immersive experience for equine enthusiasts and casual admirers alike. Looking for things to do while you are in Lexington outside of the Kentucky Horse Park? Look no further! There are a lot of options, so let us guide you through them! Here are some suggestions to plan your trip.

Barn Tours

You are in the horse capital of the world, so let’s talk about barn tours! Most barn tours that you will find will be Thoroughbred racing barns. The barns come in all kinds and sizes, but some are multimillion-dollar breeding and training facilities that hold the most expensive Thoroughbred racehorses in the world. A few of the most well-known include:

Coolmore Farm at Ashford Stud—Home to American Pharoah, Tiz The Law, and Uncle Mo. Visit www.coolmore.com/farms/america/pages/farm-tours-1.

Spendthrift Farm—Home to Into Mischief, Authentic, and Beholder. Visit www.spendthriftfarm.com/visit.

Taylor Made Farm—Home to Idol, InstaGrand, and Not This Time. Get tickets at www.visithorsecountry.com/book-your-tour/#id=taylor-made-farm-nicholasville.

Stonestreet Farm—Mares and foals are featured on this tour. www.stonestreetfarms.com/about-us/tours.

WinStar Farm—Start at the stallion facility and then continue to the nursery, or just focus on the stallions with your option of tours. Learn more on www.winstarfarm.com/tours but purchase tickets from www.visithorsecountry.com/book-your-tour.

Keeneland Race Course

Another great place to visit for those interested in horse racing is Keeneland Race Course. Not only is it a national historic landmark, but it also a beautiful place to experience racing up close and the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction company. Get there early to watch morning workouts and then head up to Track Kitchen for an amazing breakfast. Or take a behind-the-scenes tour—from the Morning Works Tours, Backstretch Tours, Owners Experience Tour, to Behind the Scenes Sales Tours—to learn about the inner workings of a Thoroughbred racetrack. Visit www.keeneland.com.

Non-Horse Things to Do in Lexington, Kentucky

While horses are always a main attraction, Lexington has plenty of other other options. Get hands-on science at the Explorium of Lexington or the Living Arts and Science Museum. While these museums are targeted towards younger kids, parents will enjoy watching their kids’ imaginations soar. Visit https://lexingtonchildrensmuseum.org and www.lasclex.org.

Want to get out of the city? There are plenty of gorgeous trails to explore the Kentucky wilderness! Visit Raven Run Nature Sanctuary to see a beautiful overlook of the Kentucky River.

Want to cool off on a hot day? Visit Suffoletta Family Aquatics Center in nearby Georgetown, Ky. With pools, slides, climbing features, and more, it’s a great spot to cool off after a hot day of competing.

Malibu Jack’s Family Fun Center is a great place to have fun in the air conditioning. With go-carts, arcade games, mini golf, bowling, a play area, a roller coaster, virtual reality games, and food, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

While Lexington, Kentucky, is known for bourbon and horses, there is still plenty of fun to be had and things to do outside of that. The staff here at USPC wishes you a fantastic stay here in Lexington. Good luck and have fun!

For Lexington tourism and travel information and a preview of all that the Horse Capital of the World has to offer, check out visitlex.com. To get to know Georgetown, visit georgetownky.com. For attractions in the Bluegrass State, check out kentuckytourism.com.