Kentucky Horse Park

After nearly ten years in Lexington, I finally visited the Kentucky Horse Park...

The Red Mile

The Red Mile is known for its red clay and mile long race track. Harness racing has been taking place at this Lexington track for over 130 years.

Bourbon County Fair

Tractor Pull at Bourbon County Fair, June 30, 2007

Bourbon Country Drive-In Theater

The Bourb0n County drive-in theater is a great way to mix a retro scene with a modern movie. It's a great place to take the family or to have a romantic evening. While you are there, try some good old fashioned hamburgers and deep fried pickles.

Hutchinson's Drug Store in Lexington

Established in 1926, the Hutchinson drug store is a great place to sip a malt or shake. Inside you will find mosaic tiled floors, metal ceilings, and antique glass cabinets filled with vintage apothecary equipment. And, incredible as it may seem, it is still a functioning drug store.

Hutchinson's is located at the corner of Broadway and Short in Lexington, Kentucky.

A little Kentucky trivia...

According to Ask Yahoo, Lexington resident Henry Earl (A.K.A. James Brown) holds the record for being arrested more times than any other person. As of January 2007, Henry is said to have been arrested 937 times. The What's up with Earl web page keeps tabs on his arrests and claims that Earl has spent almost twice as much time in jail as he has out of jail. An article in Newsweek says that Earl has achieved an almost cult-like following and has even been on various talk shows because of his disgraceful record.

Lexington Legends Baseball

Lexington has their own baseball team called the "Lexington Legends". Elly (left) is Big L's wife, one the Legends mascots.

Lexington Farmers Market

During the summer, Lexington has a farmers' market each Saturday on Vine Street. Early spring brings vendors with flowers and exotic heirloom vegetable plants. Later in the season, you will find locally grown vegetables and fruits. Cheeses, wines, and meats can be found all season. You may also see an occasional street musician.

Louisville Zoo

For more pictures of our trip to the zoo, click here.

Valley View Ferry

(click on image to enlarge)

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This ferry, opened in 1780, is the oldest continuing business in Kentucky. It is located on Tates Creek Road, South of Lexington.

Cattle Under Tree

I took this picture from my car window just outside of a small town called Paint Lick, Kentucky.

Big Bone Lick State Park

Big Bone Lick State Park is located in Northern Kentucky, 22 miles southwest of Covington on Kentucky Highway 338. At this site, in 1739, pioneers discovered fossilized remains of giant mastodons, woolly mammoths, and giant sloths. Some of these fossilized remains are on display at the park's museum. The unusual name for the park is a reference to these giant bones located at a place where animals gather to consume salt (called a "salt lick"). The suspension bridge pictured below is located in the park's play ground area.

Big Bone Lick is also the home of a small heard of Bison. The American buffalo is the biggest of all North American land mammals. Great herds of bison once roamed this part of Kentucky and provided food, clothing and shelter for Native Americans and early pioneers. Bison were hunted to near extinction and the last wild buffalo was seen in Kentucky around 1800. This park’s herd is an effort to reestablish these animals at Big Bone Lick.

Click here for more information on Big Bone Lick State Park.

Old McHargue’s Mill in London

In Levi Jackson State Park, McHargue’s Mill was built on the banks of the Little Laurel River where it intersects Boone’s Trace. This mill is a working reproduction and has authentic interior works, including millstones. It is surrounded by what is said to be the largest display of millstones in the country. I visited here in hopes of getting a pretty picture of a water wheel. But, the wheel lays flat, hidden under the building.

Red Bird Petroglyph in Clay Country

#89001183 on the National Register of Historic Places, is the Red Bird River Shelter Petroglyphs (15CY52) which are located in the Stinson-Rawlings Park of Manchester, Kentucky. This stone is said to display ancient text in 8 old world alphabets. Nobody is certain of its origins.




A sign at this site reads:

This is the famous Red Bird Petroglyph known since pioneer days and enrolled on
the National Register of Historic Sites.

On December 7, 1994, this historic stone fell from a sandstone cliff and rolled onto Highway 66 on Lower Red Bird. On December 9, 1994, it was transported here and set up in its home.

At least 8 Old World alphabets are engraved on it. These alphabets were extinct when Columbus arrived in the New World in 1492.

The alphabets are first century Greek and Hebrew, Old Libyan, Old Arabic and Iberian-Punic which probably dates from the 9th century B.C. Ogam, Germanic Runes, and Tiffinag-Numidian are also on this stone.

Of all the hundreds of important, translatable, and published inscriptions in the U.S.A, this is the first one to have been given official protection. Clay County and the City of Manchester have granted protection to this Stone. In doing so, they have obtained a good name and public esteem worldwide.

More information:

New Discoveries Related to the Red Bird Petroglyph

Thoroughbred Park, Lexington

I have lived in Lexington for almost 9 years. I have driven past these awesome bronze sculptures a hundred times. On Sunday, I decided to take a closer look. Never before had I realized that there was more park just over the wall, behind the fountains. Just out of sight from the road, are several more beautiful bronze sculptures. A paved walkway through the park is dotted with bronze plaques memorializing notable people in the horse industry. There is also a small bronze statue of "Lexington", the famous 19th century racehorse.

Thoroughbred Park is located at the corner of Main and Midland Streets in Lexington , KY

Click here to learn more about the artist Gwen Reardon.

Click here for a funny look at Thoroughbred Park!