We always try to plan fun adventures when we have friends and family in town.
Over the years, we’ve visited distilleries and attractions throughout Kentucky with our friends from Michigan, who are also family.
The stories that unfolded in Georgetown, KY, provided several opportunities to connect the dots between bourbon, horses, and a surprising country, Japan.
Of course, the heart and soul of Georgetown is its people, whose warmth makes me proud to be a native Kentuckian.
I’m sharing more about our itinerary, which was from Friday morning until Sunday evening.
You can easily complete the full itinerary or pick and choose which adventures to try during your visit based on budget and time constraints.
These adventures could also be broken down into a few day trips over time.
Use the table of contents at the top of the article as an easy reference for going directly back to a specific section featuring an attraction, tour, or local restaurant.
Where is Georgetown, Kentucky, located?
Georgetown, Kentucky, is located in Scott County in Central Kentucky, north of Lexington.
Drive times to Georgetown, KY
- 1hr 5 min from downtown Cincinnati, OH
- 22 minutes from downtown Lexington, KY
- 1hr 9 min from Louisville, KY
Thanks again to Georgetown, KY, for hosting our visit. All opinions are my own. This article contains affiliate links.
Meet Racing Legends at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm
1841 Paynes Depot Rd., Georgetown, KY
Hands down, this was our favorite tour of the weekend, which says a lot because we really enjoyed all of our tours during our visit.
Our tour started at 10 AM, which is great if you’re trying to beat the summer heat.
You’ll want to arrive 10 minutes before your tour to check in. I recommend checking out their gift shop, filled with unique items with proceeds that help a great cause.
We purchased a photo of Mystic Dan… My husband’s name is Dan, so of course, we needed the photo and two colorful racing-themed bourbon glasses to display in our “Old Kentucky Home.”
This walking tour allows you to get up close to champion race horses.
There are three Kentucky Derby winners on-site: “I’ll Have Another,” “Big Brown,” and “Silver Charm.”
In addition to Kentucky Derby winners, the retirement horse farm is home to many horses that are in the Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
I can see why Silver Charm is a tour favorite. He nodded his head in agreement as our tour guide shared his accolades.
As the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner, it’s truly an honor to meet him.
He’s also got bragging rights and can stick his tongue out at us if he wants to. He actually has sensitive teeth now, but I think his new smile adds to his personality and charm.
The farm is also the final resting place for many champion horses.
This horse farm is truly a hidden gem and sacred ground honoring magnificent thoroughbreds, living and deceased.
The 240-acre farm is home to over 140 horses, and they try to provide each horse with 2 acres.
If you’re looking for a quintessential tour of Kentucky, I can’t recommend this tour enough!
Lunch at Hokkaido Ramen House
100 Ikebana Path Suite E, Georgetown, KY
In preparation for our Toyota plant tour, it was only fitting that we stopped for Japanese-inspired cuisine. We enjoyed authentic ramen and other made-to-order dishes at Hokkaido Ramen House.
We started with their Gyoza pork potstickers, pan-fried, and Chicken Karaage, a house-marinated chicken served deep-fried with sweet chili on the side.
The potstickers were our favorite of the two. Hindsight, I’d say to order two orders of potstickers because they were so good.
You can try your hand at chopsticks, but don’t worry, there are utensils available too.
It’s hard to narrow down our favorite dish because each one was so flavorful.
We’d recommend all of the following.
The Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen has an extra-rich pork bone broth with a light soy sauce base. The dish has a slice of grilled pork chashu, marinated egg, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and julienned green onions.
The Spicy Beef Ramen is made with a shoyu base. It’s topped with Daikon radish, scallions, cilantro, braised beef brisket, a large beef back rib, a housemade mild spicy paste, and lime. If you like things extra spicy, ask for additional oil.
The Tom Yum Seafood Ramen has a broth made with a tom yum base. The dish is topped with shrimp, crab stick, mussels, cilantro, jalapenos, and julienned green onions.
Have your spoon ready because the broth of each of these dishes is so delicious!
Take the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Tour – the Largest Vehicle Manufacturer in the World
1001 Cherry Blossom Way, Georgetown, KY, Gate #2, Visitors Entrance
You can tour the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer for free on a guided tram tour! Schedule your tour in advance here.
The Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant is over 9 million sqare feet. For context, that’s around the size of 156 football fields, which will make you grateful it’s not a walking tour.
You’re allowed to take pictures in the Toyota Kentucky Experience Center before or after the tour.
You’ll want to take a picture of the Camry in the lobby, the first vehicle made at the plant back in 1988.
Guests are not allowed to have cameras, phones, or any purses or bags during the tram tour. Complimentary lockers are available for guests to use in the lobby.
You’ll be provided with a headset and protective eyeglasses to wear during the tram tour, which lasts anywhere between 60 and 90 minutes.
The tram tour showcases how humans and technology are working in tandem in innovative ways.
You’ll need to arrive 15 minutes before your tour to check in. There is plenty to see in the Experience Center before the tour starts, including some interactive exhibits.
A valid photo ID is required for adults; it can be a driver’s license or a passport. Kids must be at least 8 years old and accompanied by an adult.
After the tram tour, you’ll have a greater appreciation for the brand, technology, and the company’s philosophy.
This plant produces over 550,000 vehicles annually and will also produce Toyota’s first battery-electric vehicle in the US.
Caffinate at Central Purrk Cat Cafe
401 Outlet Center Dr #260, Georgetown, KY
This was a spontaneous stop because we love coffee and needed a caffeine pick-me-up.
I’ll admit that my husband wasn’t super excited about going to a cat cafe, so I’ll share his stages of our visit.
Stage 1 – “Why are we here?”
The cat cafe provided access to caffeine and cats, and the ladies in the group appreciate a gimmick.
Stage 2 – “The drink was a gateway to the macaroons.”
Fun fact: The macaroons are from The Midway Bakery, and owner Ouita Michel is a 9-time James Beard Award semifinalist.
It’s also important to note that Cafe and Cat Lounge are two separate areas (which my husband didn’t realize), and food is not allowed inside the Cat Lounge area with the cats.
Stage 3 – “I guess I’ll go in for a bit.”
You can enjoy the cafe and view cats through the viewing windows, or purchase a timed amount of 30 or 60 minutes in the Cat Lounge, home to up to 10 adoptable cats.
Stage 4 – “I think we should adopt a cat.”
My husband had a complete 180 in his attitude or “catitude” about cat cafes.
We didn’t adopt a cat that day, but I think he would have tried harder if the cat cafe had been local and it wasn’t Day 1 of our road trip.
You can learn more about cat adoptions from the cafe here.
Take a Tour of Elmwood Stock Farm – An Organic Farm
3636 Paris Pike, Georgetown, KY
You can book a public group tour or a private tour of Elmwood Stock Farm, a six-generation family-owned working farm. These tours are rain or shine, except in severe weather.
This 400-acre USDA-certified organic farm has been certified organic since 2000.
As an extremely novice gardener, I’m craving simpler connections to the earth without all the toxins.
Our tour guide, farm manager, and co-owner, Mac Stone, shared that we were visiting a “solar-powered hamburger factory” and that farmers catch the “solar energy.”
I thought that was such a great way to reframe it. The cattle are rotated in the fields, and they sell meat by the cut.
The farm is also using creative ways to extend its harvests inside its greenhouses.
During the tour, I learned about a local connection to their CSA Farm Share program that has Summer, Fall, and Winter/Spring Sessions.
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Farmers in this program don’t need a bank loan for their future crops; instead, their customers help to commit to sharing in the farm’s harvest.
The program offers pickup locations and home delivery in Central and Northern Kentucky, in Louisville, and Cincinnati, OH. Customers can choose produce, pasture-raised meats, and grass-fed livestock, or eggs harvested and distributed throughout the week.
Each week, the variety can vary based on the season and bounty.
There is also a small store on-site where you can purchase products.
We really enjoyed meeting an organic farmer and learning more about the benefits of good food as preventative medicine.
Where We Stayed in Georgetown, KY
We stayed at “Cottage on Estill,” an adorable vacation rental in downtown Georgetown, for the weekend.
The 1920s American Four Square is located in a walkable neighborhood and has so much charm inside and out.
You’ll likely want to rotate between the front porch and the back deck with a hot tub and fire pit area with string lights overhead.
I loved discovering all the design elements in the home that beautifully weaved together old and new.
All the details in the vacation rental have been prepared in anticipation of guests’ needs during their stay.
We found the location to be very convenient, and the home was a cozy retreat between adventures during our stay.
The cottage has three bedrooms (1 King, 1 Queen, 1 full-sized bed) and two full bathrooms (one on the second floor and one on the first floor)
If you need any additional ideas, the host’s book has everything covered.
Dinner at Rodney’s on Broadway
222 N Broadway, Georgetown, KY
If you want a memorable meal and an elevated dining experience, you definitely need to make a reservation for Rodney’s on Broadway, located inside a beautiful restored 1840s home.
Chef Rodney Jones has been in the culinary industry for over 30 years.
We started with Fig & Goat Cheese Flatbread to share. It’s made with fresh-baked, crisp flat bread topped with a house-made fig chutney, crumbled goat cheese, & sautéed shallots.
For drinks, you’ll find a nice assortment to choose from, including craft cocktails and a large selection of bourbon and wine.
I ordered the “Get what you get” cocktail, where you challenge the mixologist to create a custom craft cocktail for you based on your preferred flavor profiles.
You provide your top two to three flavor profiles from smoky, tart, sweet, and sour, and then the mixologist works their magic.
I told our server that I loved really spicy margaritas, and I enjoy bourbon, and she reported back to the mixologist.
My first drink had a kick, but I let her know that it could be amped up even more, and the challenge was accepted.
The results were a fusion of many muddled peppers and spices from the kitchen, resulting in a wonderful one-of-a-kind drink for my happy taste buds.
You honestly can’t go wrong with any of the options on the menu, whether it’s seafood, hand-cut prime steaks, or southern-inspired cuisine.
The Grouper Picatta was made with Panko-crusted grouper, flash-fried and served with a sauce of white wine, lemon juice, capers & shallots.
Southern Living Magazine has featured Chef Rodney’s lamb chop recipe in two of their publications.
The three chops of free-range Australian Lamb are char-grilled with roasted garlic mint demi-glace.
These lamb chops were so good that they may even tempt you to bring home the bones…even if you don’t own a dog…just ask my husband.
One person at our table ordered the “Black and Bleu” special featuring a filet with bleu cheese.
I ordered the Woodford Reserve Shrimp and Diver Scallops made with Bristol diver sea scallops & chem-free shrimp sautéed with shallots, stacked atop toast points & smothered with Chef Rodney’s Woodford Reserve cream sauce.
The scallops were cooked to perfection, and the bourbon cream sauce was delicious!
Here me when I say you need to save for their carrot cake! The carrot cake, topped with cream cheese frosting and soaked in a bourbon sauce, was worth every bite.
If you’re not a fan of carrot cake, you can’t go wrong with a classic creme brulee.
Go Kayaking on Elkhorn Creek with Kayaking the Midway
445 South Weinsenberger Mill Road, Midway, Kentucky
Kayaking the Midway offers canoe rentals and solo and tandem kayak rentals.
Guests have the option to kayak on their own, or the owner, Issac, can join you to help you feel more comfortable on the water if you’re new to kayaking and/or provide more information about the area, history, and local ecology.
I always enjoy kayaking, and a guided tour with Isaac from Kayaking the Midway was such a treat in several ways.
Towards the beginning of our paddle, we were fortunate to see a lot of blue herrings and their babies in their nests.
On the way back to the landing, we also knew where to look to find them again.
Keep in mind that the Blue Heron typically migrates south in mid-September to late October.
South Elkhorn Creek was a scenic, easy paddle. We paddled in the morning before it got too hot, but we did notice a few turtles sunning on logs.
There was also an opening in the tree along the creek where we were able to view horses in the nearby pasture.
Isaac shared that he grew up near this creek, but his mom forbade him from going in it because he didn’t know how to swim.
He later learned to swim in a college class, and now, many years later, is full circle, with a business that helps show others the creek he previously couldn’t swim in.
Issac’s positivity and determination to face his fears and follow his dream are truly inspiring.
You could reach historic Weisenberger Mill, depending on how much time you have to kayak. Many local restaurants use products from the mill for their grits or fish batters.
You’ll want to wear sturdy water shoes or strappy sandals for the walk down to the kayak launch. The meeting spot/ parking is in the grassy area near the historic marker.
I’d also recommend a waterproof phone pouch if you want to take pictures or video along the way.
Kids can also kayak with adult supervision and may need to be in a tandem kayak or canoe if they are under 10.
Lunch and Tour at Country Boy Brewing
101 Innovation Way, Georgetown, KY
After spending a few hours on the water, there’s nothing better than an ice-cold beer and great food. Country Boy Brewing has you covered for both.
Their craft beer has creative names like “Shotgun Wedding Vanilla Brown Ale” and “Cougar Bait American Blonde Ale,” and their beer flights are even delivered in a fun truck-shaped holder.
I tend to like lighter beer, and I tried a mix of their beers and ciders: Cherry pie cider, Gold medal apple pie cider, Lemonade lager, and Hillbilly hustle.
For lunch, we started with the smoked nachos to share. You can choose smoked pulled pork or diced smoked chicken for the meat.
We chose the House Smoked Pulled served on a bed of house-fried tortilla chips, topped with queso, salsa, sour cream, and jalapenos.
Speaking of meats, their smoker can hold up to 1300 pounds of meat at once!
You can’t go wrong with any of these sandwich picks.
The Cubano is made with house-smoked pulled pork, thin-sliced ham, smoked provolone cheese, house-made pickles, and mustard on a toasted bun.
The Smoked chicken Philly, made with house-smoked chicken, onions, pepper, smoked provolone, and chipotle mayo on a toasted bun.
Fried Smoked Bologna Melt sandwich, made with 2 Slices of House Smoked Bologna and American Cheese, Sautéed Onions, Chipotle Mayo, and served on Texas Toast.
Country Boy burger, 1/4 lb smash burger with American cheese, house burger sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, house-made dill pickles, and served on a toasted bun
Country Boy Brewing has bragging rights as Kentucky’s largest production brewery and the first purpose-built brewery built since prohibition.
During the tour, our guide Sara shared about the process from grain to glass and about another tie to Japan. The founders, both Kentucky natives, met while teaching English in Japan and fell in love with craft beer.
Fortunately for us, they brought their passion for craft beer back to the States to found Country Boy Brewing.
Tours are available on weekends, Friday-Sunday, and can be booked in advance online or in person.
You’ll also want to check out their merch before you leave.
Try a Bourbon Ball at Rebecca Ruth Candy Tours & Museum
116 E 2nd St, Frankfort, KY (30 minutes from Georgetown)
When in Frankfort…you might as well try a bourbon ball where it all began. We can thank Rebecca Ruth for her sweet treat with sugar, bourbon, and chocolate, topped with a pecan.
You can sample a bourbon ball in the candy shop, but you’ll want to buy more to take home. My friend and I took their tour during a previous day trip to Frankfort.
Enjoy a River Tour & Taste Cruise with Kentucky River Tours
The Frankfort Boat Club – Head Boat – 101 Riverboat Landing, Frankfort, Kentucky
What better way to experience Kentucky bourbon than during a tasting on a river cruise on the Kentucky River?
Fun fact: The Kentucky River only flows in Kentucky.
The double-decker boat is designed for group tastings and has two large restrooms on board.
During the cruise, you’ll try 3-4 bourbons or spirits paired with light snacks and appetizers.
Nathan, Kentucky River Tours owner and our tasting guide, did an excellent job of fusing Kentucky bourbon history, bourbon education, and bourbon tasting tips.
He’s also a great resource if you’re looking for additional recommendations in the area.
The 1.5-hour tour is the perfect blend of bourbon tasting along with plenty of time to enjoy the scenic views along the Kentucky River.
You can also order additional drinks from the staff after the tasting.
During our tasting, we learned about The Ingram Distillery, which also has a river story.
They produce the only whiskey in the world that’s aged inside a floating barrelhouse on the Mississippi River, located in Columbus, KY.
I added it to my list of places to visit after hearing their story and tasting their bourbon whiskey.
If you’re looking for a rare and unique bourbon, you may want to take home a bottle of single-barrel whiskey exclusive to Kentucky River Tours in their gift shop.
Kentucky River Tours has bragging rights as the nation’s only bourbon-based boat tour. If you love bourbon, you’ll want to explore all of their speciality tour options.
They also offer history and sunset cruises and paddle tours if you want to kayak.
Experience Buffalo Trace Distillery
113 Great Buffalo Trce, Frankfort, KY
We didn’t stop at Buffalo Trace Distillery this trip, but it’s also in Frankfort if you want to stock up in the gift shop or schedule a tour.
Dinner at Local Feed
214 South Water St, Georgetown, KY
The Local Feed is located inside a former 1890s ice house across the street from Royal Spring Park.
This restaurant focuses on a scratch farm-to-table concept and offers a large selection of bourbon and craft cocktails.
We started with a skillet of cornbread served with sorghum butter to share.
Breakfast is served all day if you’re torn between menu options.
The Chicken n’ Waffles were a table favorite, providing sweet heat with shitios and chili maple.
Another standout was the Meatloaf with their potatoes that were incredible!
Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert this round, but I would have been tempted to try the brownie with ice cream and bourbon caramel sauce or the blackberry cobbler.
My husband and I have previously eaten here for breakfast and understand why it’s a popular option all day.
Did you know that Georgetown, KY, is the Birthplace of Bourbon?
That’s right. It’s believed that Reverend. Elijah Craig sourced the water for his first bourbon whiskey from the Royal Spring in Georgetown in 1789.
Elijah Craig also donated land to Georgetown College, the first Baptist college founded west of the Allegheny Mountains, founded in 1829.
Breakfast at Fava’s 1910 Diner
159 E. Main Street, Georgetown, KY
Fava’s has been a local favorite diner in Georgetown since 1910, serving comfort foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Breakfast is available to order all day in case you’re craving menu items later.
They serve breakfast burritos and classic menu items, including omelets, biscuits, and gravy.
If you’re feeling hungry, I highly recommend the Papa Dean’s Breakfast.
It consists of an 8-ounce ribeye steak served with 3 eggs, home fries or hash browns, toast or a biscuit, and a cup of sausage gravy.
If you visit Fava’s for lunch or dinner, you’ll find award-winning catfish with homemade tartar sauce and hush puppies on the menu, along with sandwiches and other homestyle favorites.
The pies in their display case are also enticing.
Explore Yuko-en on the Elkhorn
700 Cincinnati Road, Georgetown, KY
This scenic 5.5-acre park along Elkhorn Creek has free admission and is open daily from dusk to dawn.
Yuo-en on the Elkhorn is another connection to Japan as Kentucky’s official Japan Friendship Garden.
You can take a self-guided tour or schedule a tour in advance. We stopped here in the morning before we visited the Kentucky Horse Park.
Visitors enter the garden through the large Tokugawa Gates, built by local craftsmen, inspired by the era between 1603 and 1868.
Custom encourages them to leave worldly stresses behind as they pass through the gate and enter the garden.
We visited the four-season park in June, and I think it would be even more beautiful during cherry blossom season in the spring or in the fall.
It’s easy to see why this would be a popular spot for reflection or for photography with water features and winding paths.
Dogs are also welcome in the garden if you’re traveling with a pet.
Visit The Kentucky Horse Park
4089 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY (12 minutes from Georgetown, KY)
The Kentucky Horse Park is the best place for love and discovery of “all things horses.”
The 1,224-acre equine park is a working horse farm, equestrian event center, and boasts The International Museum of the Horse, the largest museum in the world dedicated to the history of horses and their relationship to civilization.
I’d recommend starting your visit with a horse-drawn trolley ride for an overview of the park and then attending as many equine presentations as possible.
Check the daily schedule for your visit and adjust accordingly.
The schedule does allow enough margin to move from program to program throughout the park if you want to watch back-to-back presentations.
If you only have time for one show, I recommend attending the Hall of Champions Show, where you’ll learn about horse racing legends and see them up close.
Kids of all ages will appreciate the interactive elements and the animals in the Kids Barn.
The Mounted Police barn and the Big Barn are also must-sees with incredible draft horses. We even got to watch the staff while they gave one of the horses a bath.
The Kentucky Horse Park also offers Horseback trail rides for ages 7 and up and pony rides for ages 2 to 10 for an additional fee.
I’d recommend planning 3-5 hours for a visit, especially if you’re a horse enthusiast.
A Scenic Ride With Rail Explorers: Bluegrass Division
175 Beasley Rd, Versailles, KY
Rail Explorers- Bluegrass Division is another great way to experience the beauty of Kentucky.
You’ll ride 10 miles round-trip on a tandem or quad rail bike.
There’s one brake on each railbike that must be operated by someone age 16 or older. Infants in a chest harness can travel for free. Toddler harnesses are available for younger riders.
During our ride, we kept a good distance from the other rail bike in front of us.
The rail bikes are ridden single-file and released within 100 feet of each other to start. We enjoyed feeling like we were the only ones on the track.
The ride is easy with custom-built electric motors that make the ride effortless, and every rider doesn’t have to pedal.
The turnaround point is located high above the Kentucky River, with a view of the decommissioned Young’s High Bridge, built in 1889, and Wild Turkey Distillery.
Guests can rest for a bit and take pictures while the other riders arrive and the staff turns the rail bikes around on the track.
You’ll ride by rolling hills, thoroughbred horse farms, and past deep cuts into the limestone cliffs.
Guests are allowed to bring drinks/coolers/backpacks on the rail bikes, and there’s also a small basket on the rail bike where you can safely store any loose items during your ride.
These tours are very popular, and you’ll want to book your tour in advance, especially if you’re only in the area for a specific day/time.
The tour duration is 2 hours, and several theme options and times of day to choose from.
Dinner at Chinkapin Brewing
149 E Main St, Georgetown, KY
We decided to try another restaurant in Georgetown after our rail bike ride before driving home.
In case you’re curious, a Chinkapin is a type of white oak tree found in eastern and central North America.
You’ll find their craft beer on tap along with selections from other breweries, including Country Boy Brewing.
I also want to note that they have a margarita draft cocktail on tap, and the bartender muddled additional jalapenos at my request to perfection.
We started with their delicious Potato Skins, filled with Cheddar Monterey Jack and topped with bacon, green onion, and served with sour cream.
Their wood-fired pizza was a great last meal/ final stop during our visit to Georgetown that weekend.
We ordered two pizzas so we could try half of each type.
Our selections were the Buffalo Chicken Pizza made with Buffalo chicken, mozzarella, alfredo, ranch or blue cheese, and the “Bee Sting” made with pepperoni, Marinara sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, basil, and their house-made hot honey.
Both were delicious, but the “Bee Sting” was the table favorite.
Explore Downtown Georgetown
If you visit on a Sunday, most retail shops are closed, but many restaurants/bars are still open.
We ran out of time for this trip, but I’d love to check them out on a future visit.
Be on the lookout for incredible murals in downtown Georgetown, too.
If you made it all the way to the end, congratulations! I know I included a LOT of places, but it didn’t feel right to leave any details out because we wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Now the big question is, “Which of these adventures are you trying next?”
