travelinjo

Thanks for all the recommendations! Hope to try them all!

Any great Mexican restaurants in Lexington, Louisville or Elizabethtown? They don't have to be totally 100% authentic, just tasty

And in Louisville, the Fourth Street Live! area. It looks like a blast. Any specific recommendations?

Thanks everyone!

SAnParis2

I am partial to Louisville since I used to reside there....I'd also consider Bardstown over Elizabethtown. Even if you are not a bourbon drinker these also merit a stop - www.makersmark.com, www.jimbeam.com

travelinjo

SanParis2, I was just checking into the bourbon tours. There seem to be so many in addition to those you mentioned and reviews are mixed for all of them. Which do you think is the best tour?

LLindaC

Hi ! I live in Louisville. I suggest you go to www.tripadvisor and pull up the Louisville page. I have a "golist" with many good ideas (it also won an award!) The Lincoln birthplace has some interesting things, but it is by no means "real". The cabin is a replica. Kind of disappointing, IMO. Mammoth Cave, however, is loads of fun. Research the tour you want to do the make a reservation. If you don't, you have about 0% chance of getting in. Bardstown and My Old KY Home are definitely worth a visit. The Ky Horse Park is easily doable as a half day trip from Louisville. Try to stop off at Midway along the way (I-64). It's a quaint little town with some VERY good restaurants! When will you be here? On Sundays our historic steam paddlewheel boat, The Belle of Louisville, has really fun Bluegrass cruises. She also cruises on Saturday afternoon (with a DJ) and Friday nights. I play the calliope while people board. We often have festivals downtown on the Belvedere and on the giant waterfront lawn.
How many of you? I think you'd enjoy staying in downtown more than off Hurstbourne. The traffic out there is horrible. If you use priceline and bid $50, you will get either the Galt House, Marriott or the Hyatt. If you want to do something REALLY unique, take a look at 21C Hotel.
For restaurants, there are dozens of gems here. We have some of the best anywhere. Uptown is a good choice, so is North End Cafe on Frankfort Ave. Both of those are on "restaurant rows" of Bardstown and Frankfort Ave. August Moon is good for Pacific Rim. Varanese for splendid food and jazz.

SAnParis2

Makers Mark is the best, because they do everything by hand + it is out in 'God's Country'. Jim Beam is the polar opposite but I think they do the best job of any of the big distillers. I have a barrel @ Maker's Mark w/my name on it as a member of their club, lol. Too bad they don't give those away.

SAnParis2

www.shakervillageky.org Something to add to your list, couldn't recall the name.

travelinjo

Thanks for the continual information all, I appreciate it!

LLindaC, the tip about making cave reservations early was very helpful. We got some of the last tours available!

Getting excited for this trip. Keep the tips coming. Thanks again!

Skedaddle

Chiming in from Lexington.

I don't think anyone replied about Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate, and Mary Todd Lincoln's home. Ashland is very good with well-done tours. Unless you are a big Lincoln/history fan (and you may be, if you are going to the birthplace), you'll probably find the MTL home small and a little bare.

A nice distillery near Lexington/Frankfort is Labroe & Graham where Woodford Reserve is made. It also has the advantage of being set in the middle of tons of horse farms, so the trip out is much more scenic than to Maker's Mark, in my opinion. That would combine well with a lunch stop in Midway.

Two recommendations for Mexican in Lexington - Celito Lindo on Main St. and Jalapeno's on Broadway/Harrodsburg Rd. However, you may not be aware that Lexington has a boatload of sushi places (courtesy of the Toyoto plant in Georgetown). If you like sushi, you'll be surprised at the quality.

Also, Keeneland, Lexington's racetrack, is well worth a visit, even if it isn't running. You can watch a morning workout at any time of year (call for approximate times), but you have to be an early riser. It is really a beautiful track with a nice setting.

BTW, Lincoln's boyhood home isn't too far from the birthplace, if you'd like to complete the Lincoln circle.

If you are traveling as a couple, I'd second the vote for 21c Hotel in Louisville. My fave hotel there - no contest.

travelinjo

Skeddadle,
I didn't see your post until after we returned. We loved Ashland and Mary Todd Lincolns home. We loved the entire northern part of KY. We enjoyed many places in the area. I will write some sort of a trip report that might help future travelers to the area.