Things to do in

Lexington

Discover why Lexington, Kentucky is known as the Horse Capital of the World on this 3.5-hour narrated tour with transportation provided on a comfortable 13-person passenger van. The tour is not all on the van, though, as destination stops are made at world famous Keeneland Race Course (as available) and one or more of the beautiful Thoroughbred horse farms that combine to make the Lexington region the true epicenter of Thoroughbred breeding in the United States ... and beyond. All tours are given by very experienced local guides who share a wealth of stories about the history of the Lexington area, farms, bourbon production and the Thoroughbred breed of horse -- the most desired breed for winning the world's most important and valuable races. Tours are offered in two sessions per day. A Morning Session (8:30 am - 12:00 noon) and an Afternoon Session (12:30 pm - 4:00 pm). Tours are presented as 3.5-hour narrated tours with transportation provided on comfortable 13-person passenger vans. All guests are picked up at a pickup location (a local hotel) and returned back to the same location at the conclusion of the tour. Free Parking is available at the pickup location. Our pickup location is 1801 Newtown Pike (Embassy Suites at UK Coldstream) in Lexington, KY. 40511. Departure times are at 8:30am (Morning Sessions) and 12:30pm (Afternoon Sessions). These are hard departure times. The tour vans normally arrive 15 minutes before the departure time to begin accommodating guests (8:15am and 12:15pm). The destination stop at Keeneland Race Course features not only the world famous track but also filming locations for the major motion pictures Secretariat, Seabiscuit, and Dreamer. The destination stop (or stops) at Thoroughbred horse farms will allow seeing the horses up close and personal and often provide opportunities for interaction with the horses. That depends on the horses! If you love horses or just want to take in this beautiful region then this tour is for you! * NOTE: All tours can vary depending on changing venue and farm availability on the specific day the tour is given. This is true for all of the venues and farms. For example, Keeneland is generally available for both Morning and Afternoon Sessions throughout the year but is NOT available for selected Afternoon Sessions on the days it conducts live racing (which are approximately 17 dates in the month of April and 17 dates in the month of October.) On those afternoons another destination is substituted for Keeneland. Keeneland's availability for any tour is at their discretion. All Thoroughbred horse farms are subject to changing availability on the day of the tour with changes resulting from a wide range of factors including weather, farm construction projects, animal health initiatives, and other events. We work hard to bring together the very best possible tour experience on each and every day for our guests. Thank you for choosing Thoroughbred Heritage Horse Farm Tours!

Climb aboard the bus in Lexington and begin your trip to 3 different attractions. Allow your guide to share a wealth of knowledge and up-close experiences with you. Learn about horse racing and enjoy an exclusive look at how the horses are bred, raised, and prepared for their racing debuts. Visit different attractions depending on availability, with options including KatieRich Farms, The Thoroughbred Center, and other prestigious farms. See horses swim or visit a horse hospital. Stop at various locations for activities such as feeding horses peppermints and seeing the baby horses. Under the supervision of your guide, have a chance to meet the horses and feed them a treat. Finally, make your way back to Lexington and be dropped off at the starting point.

Make your way to meet your host at the shop in Ahuriri, Napier to pick up the shuttle at 10am. The shuttle will take you and your bikes to the start of your cycling adventure at Black Barn winery (arrival 10.30am). Te Mata Estate and Askerne Wineries are very close by, so you can start your wine tasting right from drop off. With your first winery visits under your belt, an option is to take a detour for a further 3 kilometers to reach Craggy vineyard and see for yourself why the winery was voted Best Winery in Australia. From here, get back on track and enjoy a 16-kilometer bike ride on the limestone cycle trail following the Tuki Tuki River, to the coastal communities of Haumoana and Te Awanga. Admire stunning views of the iconic Cape Kidnappers as you cycle the raised stop-bank trail and look out over orchards, vineyards and farmlands. Reaching the coast, be ready to taste some more fine wine at Elephant Hill, Clearview Estate, and Te Awanga Estate. If a local lunch is on your wish-list, Clearview Estate offers relaxed table dining. Te Awanga also offer the best pizzas in Hawke’s Bay - sit outside on their lawn. At the end of the day 4pm, you will be collected from Te Awanga winery and transferred back to Ahuriri, Napier (arrival 4.30pm).

Discover Ashland, the estate of Henry Clay, the "Great Pacificator” and one of Kentucky's most famous statesmen. Enjoy a variety of narrated tours through the grounds as you explore the 18-room Italianate-style mansion which was rebuilt as a testament to the former political leader by his family. Your guided tour will grant you access to Ashland and deepen your understanding of important events in American History. The theme of the tours varies depending on the day of the week. In addition to a guided tour,  have time to explore everything from the grand drawing room to the bedrooms all highlighting the life and legacy of Henry Clay. Learn about how slavery shaped the Ashland and Clay's America. Visitors will marvel at artifacts related to Clay's legacy as a horse-breeder and scientific farmer. After touring both floors of the mansion, take a self-guided tour of the grounds taking in the lush scenery of Lexington. Signature Tour: Enjoy a narrated 1-hour tour of Ashland, stepping back in time to the 19th century as you explore the 18-room Italianate-style mansion re-built as a testament to the former political leader by his family. End your visit with a stroll of the gardens and grounds, Civil War monument, and rotating exhibits, at your leisure. Women's Voices Tour:  This poignant tour focuses on 9 women of Ashland who span a century of social, cultural, and political evolution. As you visit the rooms they inhabited, hear their voices–the causes they championed, the challenges they faced, and the heartache they suffered. Also, find out about the changing role of women from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century. Traces: Slavery at Ashland Tour: Walk in the footsteps of the men, women, and children who were enslaved at Ashland on this indoor/outdoor tour. Learn about how historians use traces of evidence to uncover their stories. Listen to the voices of those who resisted bondage and honor the memory of those who were forced into labor. Art & Grounds Tour: Combine history, art, and nature as you explore Henry Clay’s lifelong interest in agriculture. Take a stroll on one of Clay’s walking paths and interact with John Henry’s Monumental sculptures while enjoying the beauty of this historic arboretum and home of Henry Clay. Ashland docents lead these 45-minute walking tours, offering historical background, tree identification, and stories about the people who lived and worked on these grounds. Combo Tour: With this option, enjoy the Signature Tour coupled with either Women's Voices (Friday/Saturday only) or Traces: Slavery at Ashland (Tuesday/Thursday only). Get an overview of the style and architecture of the estate alongside important historical context.

Enjoy a fun-filled outing at the Limestone Branch Distillery, home to Yellowstone Bourbon, Minor Case Rye Whiskey, and Bowling & Burch Gin. Join the local staff on a production tour where you'll get to explore a craft distillery that produces 10 barrels a day, Your distillery tour lasts one hour and includes a look inside the craft distillery including fermentation and distillation. Next you walk out to the cutest warehouse in Kentucky, where you can taste straight from the barrel. Finally, you'll finish with a tasting of your fine bourbon, whiskeys, and gin.

Start at the welcome center and meet your guides, get your gear on and learn a little about it. Then head down to ground school and practice your braking, this is an active participation course so you are in control of your own brake. After that, you get started on the actual course. Once you step on to the course you do not touch the ground again until you are finished. Starting off low and slow you work up to the larger zips building confidence and skill. Once you are comfortable you fly across the gorge, with incredible views there are not many things that can compare to this. Once you have completed the course you get picked up in a truck to return to the welcome center. A 2-hour adventure you won't soon forget.

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the haunted streets of Lexington with our spine-chilling walking tour, where history and the supernatural intertwine. Guided by expert storytellers, you will traverse a mile of the city’s most notorious haunted sites, each steeped in rich history and eerie tales. As you stroll past the Kentucky Theater, the Old Fayette County Courthouse, Cheapside, and the Sire Hotel Lexington, prepare to be captivated by the chilling narratives that bring these locations to life—or perhaps, to death. Each stop on the tour is not just a point of interest; it’s a portal into the past, revealing the ghostly legends that have haunted these landmarks for generations. This tour is designed for those who crave more than just a typical historical experience. As you walk through the dimly lit streets, the atmosphere thickens with anticipation, and the stories of restless spirits and tragic events unfold. You’ll hear about the ghostly apparitions that have been spotted in the Kentucky Theater, where the echoes of past performances seem to linger long after the curtains have fallen. The Old Fayette County Courthouse, with its storied past, offers tales of justice and injustice, where the spirits of those who once sought resolution may still roam. Each location is a chapter in Lexington’s haunted history, waiting for you to uncover its secrets. Whether you are a thrill-seeker eager for a hair-raising adventure or a history enthusiast fascinated by the darker aspects of the past, this tour promises to deliver an experience that is both entertaining and spine-tingling. As you delve deeper into the shadows of Lexington, you will not only learn about the city’s haunted heritage but also feel the palpable energy of the spirits that linger in these historic sites. With a perfect blend of local lore and supernatural intrigue, this walking tour invites you to step beyond the veil of the ordinary and into a world where the past is very much alive. Don’t miss your chance to explore the haunted side of Lexington—book your tour today and prepare for an evening filled with ghostly encounters and unforgettable stories.

Discover award-winning eateries, unique foodie items like the buzz button, freshly baked breads from family-owned shops, fresh Kentucky-farmed vegetables, and more! In between bites, learn about colorful characters from Lexington’s history and pass through landmarks like Skuller’s Clock, The Square, and Phoenix Park. On the Downtown Walking tour you will: Follow A Foodie Guide To Five Of Lexington's Award-Winning Local Restaurants Hear Tales From Lexington's Rich History Along The Way Sample Menu Highlights Include Bacon Macaroni Beignets, House Made Beer Cheese, Pittsburg-Style Hangar Steak, And More

James E. Pepper, a third-generation distiller and passionate horseman, constructed the largest and most technologically advanced distillery in the United States in 1879. He boasted that he used his grandfather's pre-Revolutionary War recipes to create Kentucky's finest and oldest whiskeys. During this era, whiskey was sold by the barrel, and regulations were non-existent, making counterfeiting a genuine concern. Pepper wanted to ensure the quality of his family's brand, so he persuaded lawmakers to allow whiskey bottling at distilleries to guarantee quality. He distinguished his bottles by sealing them with a trademark strip stamp that bore his signature. He also frequently traveled to New York in a private rail car, which was painted with his whiskey labels, to provide global exposure to his cherished brands. Today, the James E. Pepper Distillery District has been transformed into a lively campus filled with music, dining, and, of course, bourbon whiskey. Join us on a journey through time that you will never forget! We will indulge in traditional Kentucky cuisine, savor limestone-filtered bourbons and cider, and delve into the rich history of this revitalized piece of Lexington.

Fly fish the beautiful streams of Shenandoah Valley with a guided trip. Choose from a variety of settings on both private and public waters throughout the region, all a short drive from DC or Richmond. From half-day lessons, wade, and float options, trips are suited to your level of experience. Also available are fully customized vacation packages including lodging and catering. Fish for native brook trout in crystal clear mountain streams around Shenandoah National Park and George Washington National Forest. Enjoy your own private trout stream catching trophy rainbow and brown trout on an idyllic Shenandoah Valley farm. Float the famed Shenandoah River catching smallmouth bass while spotting bald eagles. All the equipment you need is provided, as well as lunches for full-day trips. Groups are up to four anglers for wade trips and two per float trip. Larger parties and corporate events can also be accommodated. Private locations include Luray, Staunton, Bath, and Nelson Counties.