We are from Toronto and will be visiting Atlanta in September and are looking for suggestions for the drive home. Trip down to Atlanta is planned but we need to find something new for the drive back. We were thinking about a couple of days in Lexington Kentucky. Any comments about Lexington or suggestions for other places? It is just under 20 hours of driving time and we have 6 days to get from Atlanta before we have to be back in TO. Would love to hear from anyone who can recommend some interesting places in between.

I live in Lexington and it's a 6 hour drive from Atlanta to Lexington. I think you'll enjoy a couple of days in Lexington - there is the Kentucky Horse Park, horse farm tours, Shaker Village, historic houses, good food. September is usually a beautiful time of year here. If you have 6 days to go back to Toronto from Atlanta you might want to spend a day or two in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee or North Carolina. While Gatlinburg is a tourist trap there are other parts of the National Park that are really nice. You could drive up 85 from Atlanta then head over to Asheville, NC (a really nice town in the mountains) and spend a couple of days there and then head north. Nashville, TN is another option, not too far out of the way and has a lot to see.

MarySue, thanks for the info. We have also been looking at the Ashville area.

Lexington looks like a nice city (from what I can see on the internet). Can you recommend any hotels? We're not really B&B types but we do like inns as well as hotels. Would really like to see what Kentucky is like and sometimes the bigger hotels (Sheraton, Hilton, etc.) make a place seem like every other major US/CDN city. Looking at Gratz Park Inn and some others like that (forget the names right now). Also, any golf resorts near town?

Thanks again!!!

The Gratz Park Inn is very nice , in a pretty part of downtown and has a good restaurant that is popular. I think that is where I would want to stay. I know what you mean about the big chain hotels but the Marriott resort is nice and has a golf course - it used to be a horse farm and the grounds are really lovely. It's a public course so you don't have to stay at the hotel to play. All the bigwhigs in the horse business stay there when they come to town. They have one of the best (and THE most expensive) restaurants on their property - The Mansion. A definite splurge but worth it.

Shaker Village is in Harrodsburg - about 45 minutes from downtown Lexington - but is very interesting and a beautiful area that has been preserved. Rooms are available in the inn there and they have good food. There is another place in Harrodsburg called Beaumont Inn that has delicious food - Kentucky specialties. Fort Harrod - the oldest settlement in Kentucky - is also in Harrodsburg and is interesting. It's a pretty drive too.

If you're interested in horse farm tours there is a company that does pick-ups at hotels and takes you on a half day tour around the area. Have heard it's a really good tour - sorry can't remember the name off the top of my head, but when you make a hotel reservation they can probably tell you. Unfortunately our racetrack won't be in session in September but you can go out there and look around - it is the most beautiful track in the country. There is a big thoroughbred sale there in September (can find out the dates for you) and it is very interesting to go out there and watch the sheiks and others bid millions for the horses. It's free and good entertainment if nothing else.

The KY Horse Park is worth a half day, probably, maybe more if there is something special going on like a horse show or rodeo. Also of interest may be the Mary Todd Lincoln house (where Abe's wife grew up) and Ashland, home of Henry Clay.

We have all the usual chain restaurants but some really good places are Merrick Inn (KY specialties), Emmett's, the Homestead, deSha's, a la lucie. We are lucky to have a lot of good restaurants.
Let me know if you have any other questions.

Definitely plan a stop around Asheville, NC. The Biltmore Estates is very pretty any time of year; tour the house, adjoining gardens, and the winery. A hotel will have just opened at the Estates; haven't heard much about it yet. The Grove Park Inn is historic- it just added a swanky spa. Lots of excellent small shops and art galleries in Asheville. Since we're more into having an outdoor experience when we head to western NC, we stay in Bryson City at a great B&B, the Folkestone Inn (www.folkestone.com, I think). If you want to concentrate your time in Asheville, you may want to stay in the town. An excellent side trip from Asheville is Black Mountain; for great old-fashioned cooking, eat at the Red Rocker Inn B&B/restaurant there- make reservations. Depending on the weather, you may see a little leaf color. Be glad you're not coming in October- the "leaf people" traffic can drive one to distraction. Have a safe trip.

Thanks to you both for the great info!!! I can do some searching now based on your helpful suggestions.

We already love NC but are looking forward to adding Kentucky to our experiences!!

MarySue,

If you are still out there, I would like the dates of that horse sale. Sounds like good entertainment! I did see it on one of the tourism sites but now I can't seem to find it again.

Thanks!!

The yearling sale starts September 10 and goes till the 23. They usually start in the morning and go through the evening. Let me know if you have any other questions. And have fun!