We will be flying in and out of Louisville airport. So far, we have planned either a 1 or 2 night stay at Maple Hill Manor B&B, and a 3 night stay at Shaker Village. We have a free night when we arrive (or possibly 2 nights if we stay at Maple Hill only 1 night).

Should we stay in Louisville the first night we arrive? We've already been to the Louisville Slugger Museum. Are the horse statues still in the city? I missed getting photos of them last time.

Or, should we stop and spend the 1st night somewhere between Louisville and Lexington, or just go straight to Lexington and spend more time there?

I'm not sure what to do the first two days of the trip. We will definitely plan a day at the Kentucky Horse Park. How would that work into my schedule? I don't know the area very well and need help!

Louisville and Lexington are only an hour apart, so there's not much between them. It is an easy drive along the interstate.

Kentucky Horse park is very nice and if you like horses, you can fill a day. There are several good films and museums on the property, plus the trail ride along the cross country course. If at all possible, bring a picnic lunch as the one restaurant is not very good...

Louisville's Speed Museum is excellent for art (life-sized resin model of a Renoir is cool) not cars as it's name might suggest, Churchill Downs has interesting museum. Distilleries near Louisville are interesting. Nearer Shakertown, Berea is fascinating. Agree with ChristieP that horse museum can easily take a day. Some nice restaurants in Louisville also-check locally. Enjoy!

Mammoth Cave and Corvette Plant would be on my list. Also, will you be going during Keeneland season (Lexington horse races)?

Bardstown - My Old Kentucky Home State Park, Whiskey Museum at Spalding Hall, old cathedral, pioneer village

Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace in Hodgenville

Louisville - Kentucky Derby Museum, Joe Ley Antiques

Lexington - horse farm driving tour. Also try to tour one of the farms. There are several statues of horses in town.

Frankfort - Frankfort Cemetery (Daniel Boone's grave, nice overlook of Kentucky River), tour the capital building, giant sundial Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Switzer Covered Bridge nearby.

Cumberland Falls State Park

Ft. Boonesborough near Lexington

On a day trip, you could go to Red River Gorge/Natural Bridge State Park near Slade. It's about 1 hour east of Lexington. Some of the best scenery in the country.

Thanks for the info. As you can tell, I don't know much about driving around the state as I didn't know that Louisville and Lexington were only an hour apart.

What would be the best plan (route) to see these things listed below? As mentioned, we will be based at Maple Hill Manor and Shaker Village during most of our stay. We have already visited Mammoth Caves and the Louisville Slugger Museum last year.

The horse park is a definite, and I would like to add a whiskey tour, anything on the civil war, and horse races. Corvette factory--a maybe if time permits,

Within 10 miles of Shaker Village is the Perryville Battlefiled State Park. The Battle of Perryville was the major battle in KY. The grounds are beautiful and there is a small museum. I would suggest you visit Woodford Reserve Distillery in Woodford County or Maker's Mark in Loretto. If interested, I can give you directions from Shaker Village to Loretto. Have a wonderful time in KY. When are you coming? There may some weekend events I can recommend if I know your dates.

What should we see in Berea?

The Wakefield-Scearce Galleries and Science Hill restaurant (same historic building) are an absolute MUST-SEE in Shelbyville, midway between Louisville & Lexington.

At the restaurant, be sure to try the Hot Brown or trout.

http://www.wakefield-scearce.com/

I don't know if you've considered spending any time in Northern Kentucky - maybe in a hotel overlooking the Ohio River? There is a really nice aquarium in Newport which is part of the Newport on the Levee complex full of restaurants, shopping, live theatre as well as movies. You would also be just accross the river from Cincinnati and the Freedom Center (underground railroad museum), Union Terminal (old beautiful train station w/multiple museums and Omnimax), and the new Contemporary Arts Center.

There's a nice little town called LaGrange not far (maybe 20 miles) from Kentucky. Antique stores, nice little restaurants, museum.

Just wanted to chip in to say that we stayed in the Maple Hill Manor last year on a trip to Kentucky from our home in California. We absolutely loved the Maple Hill Manor. During our time there we visited the Perryville battlefield and just outside of Springfield, the Lincoln Homestead State Park. Check this website www.springfieldky.org. There is lots of history in this area. We also toured the Makers Mark Distillery, visited the Shaker Village and Fort Harrod between Lexington and the Shaker Village. We had tickets for the Stephen Foster musical in Bardstown, but were too tired to stay awake that long. There is a dinner train out of Bardstown also, but we did not have time to do that. Maybe next time. We loved Kentucky. Have a great time.

Don't know if you like airplanes but in Middlesboro Ky. there is a P38 that was salvaged from a glacier in Greenland was restored there and is flying after 60 years of being buried in tons of ice.
Natural Bridge State Park in Slade is very nice also and has a lodge. slade is a decent drive from Lexington.

Berea: Lots of arts and crafts shopping, pottery, wood, quilts and other Ky. goods. Churchill Weavers has a seconds room filled with bargains on hand loomed blankets shawls etc. There is a fun pizza restaurant there can't think of the name starts with P though.
Just a beautiful little tree filled town
that has a college and fine quality shopping.

We still continue our quest for good BBQ and will do so again while in Kentucky. Anyone know of good BBQ they've had in Lexington?

Ah, this thread is bringing back fond memories. I grew up in southern Illinois and in the years my family didn't have a lot of money to spend on vacation, we'd go down to Kentucky, usually staying at one of the lodges in one of their beautiful state parks.

Honestly, Lexington has one of the best Japanese restaurants around! This is because of its proximity to the Toyota Assembly Plant in Georgetown, and all of the racehorse industry. The place is called Tatchibana, and it is off Newtown Pike just north of New Circle Road. They have excellent, authentic Japanese food!

There's also a very good Mexican place called Jalapeno's on New Circle between Newtown and Russell Cave.

One of the most famous BBQ restaurants in the region is in Owensboro Ky. The Moonlight. A BBQ just opened up on Broadway in Lexington run by a man and his wife from Tobago. Should be easy to find. Lexington has a Tony Romas
a chain that is reliable. Lots of people like Billy's BBQ in Chevy Chase in Lexington near downtown. Hope you have a great time in Ky. !

Eeeee! I love Japanese food! I will have to go there if it's not to far from where we are. Also, my husband is big on Mexican food. But we won't stop our search for that ever elusive finger lickin', bone pickin' BBQ.

Do try Billy's Barbeque in Lexington.It is much better than Tony Roma's chain.