USPC Festival Bluegrass Tour Guide

By Elizabeth Moyer, USPC Fundraising and Marketing Coordinator

You’ll find some favorites listed in the Festival Guidebook and on the USPC website, but here are some ideas to get you started.

Equestrian Tourism

Lexington is known as the Horse Capital of the World for good reason. Located in the heart of Kentucky’s beautiful bluegrass horse country, it’s an equine paradise that’s home to more than 450 horse farms. 

Festival sightseeing begins with the Kentucky Horse Park. It’s like Disneyland for horse lovers, with museums and multimedia exhibits, plus live horses of all breeds to meet and greet, from draft horses to Thoroughbred champions. Take some time out from the Festival fun to explore all that the Horse Kentucky Park has to offer.

Kentucky is the center of the Thoroughbred world, and many of the area’s Thoroughbred horse farms welcome visitors by appointment. Local tour companies offer a variety of customized experiences and insider access that’s sure to be an unforgettable part of your trip.

Keeneland Race Course is high on the list of Lexington’s must-see local attractions. Race meets at Keeneland are held in the spring and fall, but horses train there year-round and the track is open to visitors. You can tour the beautifully landscaped grounds of this national historic landmark, watch morning workouts and enjoy breakfast at the track kitchen afterwards.

Looking for a great selfie spot? Life-size horse statues at Thoroughbred Park make a great photo op.  From there, follow this route for a scenic overview of Lexington’s horse country.

Other Activities

Although horses are sure to be the main attraction of your visit to Lexington, here are some other options to round out your trip and accommodate the whole family.

Kid-friendly museums in town include the Explorium of Lexington and the Aviation Museum of Kentucky. Get hands-on with interactive exhibits.

In the downtown Lexington area, there are several historic homes to tour, including Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, and the Mary Todd Lincoln House, the childhood home of Mary Todd, wife of President Abraham Lincoln.

Kentucky is famous for its bourbon, and adults may enjoy touring one of the many distilleries of the signature spirit along what’s known as the Bourbon Trail.

If shopping is your bag, The Summit at Fritz Farm offers a mix of national brands and local favorites, with a vibrant mix of restaurants and stores—including a flagship Ariat store. Antique lovers can scout out unique finds at the Georgetown Antique Mall.

Natural Attractions

There’s no shortage of natural beauty in Kentucky, and you’ll find plenty of places to  enjoy the great outdoors in and around Lexington.

The Red River Gorge, about an hour and a half drive from Lexington, is known for its stunning rock formations featuring sandstone cliffs and arches. Hiking, climbing, biking, zip-lining and underground kayak tours are just a few of the things to do in this area.  

Shaker Village is a historic location with a scenic preserve of 3,000 acres open to equestrians, with overnight stabling available.

For places to stay and other local amenities, read more on the blog: USPC Festival Travel Planning Tips

Tourism Information

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, go to kentuckytourism.com.