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Suggested itineraries for trips in Central Kentucky

By Patti Nickell | Contributing Travel Writer

Stop in for lunch at Jonathan at Gratz Park, before heading to Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate. The former home of statesman Henry Clay, the 18-room Italianate-style mansion is a National Historic Landmark and houses a rare collection of Clay family memorabilia. The beautiful, English-style formal gardens are worth a visit.

After your visit to Ashland, drive through the Lexington Cemetery. Lauded for the beauty of its landscape design, it has been officially designated as a national arboretum and is the burial place of many notable Kentuckians, including John Hunt Morgan and Henry Clay.

In the evening, take a stroll through Lexington's historic downtown before dinner at one of the city's fine restaurants, such as Portofino, a la lucie, Le Deauville, Bellini's or Metropol.

Day 3: You've done your "horse whispering" and you've had your history lesson, so today is just for kicking back and having fun. Begin by communing with nature at one of Lexington's beautiful nature sanctuaries. McConnell Springs — a 26-acre nature preserve with underground springs, hiking trails and the "Blue Hole" — is, legend has it, on the site where Lexington was founded. Some say that it was on this spot in 1775, when frontiersmen, camping in the area, heard about the Revolutionary War battle of Lexington, and were moved to name their campsite after the battle.

The Arboretum on the campus of the University of Kentucky is the state's official botanical garden and invites visitors on a "Walk Across Kentucky," where they can see the flora of the state's ecosystems, from the bluegrass to the cypress swamps. In rural Fayette County, Raven Run Nature Sanctuary is more than 700 acres of scenic beauty, with 10 miles of hiking trails, one of which ends at the palisades of the Kentucky River.

After a hike at Raven Run, stop in for a tasting at Jean Farris Winery. Kentucky was the site of America's first commercial vineyard, planted by the winemaker of the Marquis de Lafayette in the 18th century, and the Lexington area is home to several boutique wineries. You can also make this your lunch stop, as the winery has a bistro serving French country cuisine.

If the kids have allowed the grown-ups morning recreation time, the afternoon is reserved for them. Snap their pictures with the bronze horses at Thoroughbred Park and let them splash in the dancing water formations of Triangle Park before heading over to the Explorium of Lexington, with its nine interactive "Discovery Zones.".

What could be more fun than taking the whole family out to the "old ball game"? If the Lexington Legends, the Class A South Atlantic League affiliate of the Houston Astros, are playing at Applebee's Park, it makes for an evening of "peanuts and Cracker Jack" all around.

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Five days in the Bluegrass

Days 1, 2 and 3: See the one-day and three-day itineraries for days 1-3.

Day 4: This morning, drive out beautiful Old Frankfort Pike, past miles of rolling horse farms to the Headley-Whitney Museum. Situated on a former horse farm, the museum is a showcase for the genius of late jewelry designer George Headley. Your ticket allows entry to the Jewel Museum, with its fantastic collection of bibelots in precious and semi-precious stones, the Shell Grotto, Library and Decorative Arts Museum.

In the afternoon, take a drive to neighboring Woodford County and stop for lunch at The Glitz at Irish Acres Antique Gallery (reservations necessary). A converted schoolhouse has been turned into an antique collector's paradise and the food at The Glitz has to be eaten to be believed. Follow lunch with a tour and tasting at Woodford Reserve Distillery. The picturesque bourbon distillery on the banks of Glenn's Creek is a National Historic Landmark.

After tasting Woodford's award-winning small-batch bourbon, make the short drive to Midway before the shops on Main Street close. The town is known for its eclectic collection of shops and galleries in brightly painted cottages. Book a table for dinner at one of Midway's excellent restaurants: The Black Tulip, Heirloom or Holly Hill Inn.

Day 5: Another day trip is in order, this time to Mercer County. A scenic drive along the palisades of the Kentucky River will take you to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. This 3,000-acre National Historic Landmark set amid pastoral rolling hills is the largest restored Shaker community in America. Take the self-guided tour of the village, watching costumed interpreters as they showcase Shaker life and crafts of a century-and-a-half ago. For lunch, dine on authentic Shaker fare in the dining room of the Trustees' House.

After lunch, stop in Harrodsburg for a visit to Old Fort Harrod State Park to see a full-scale replica of Kentucky's oldest fort, built in 1774. The park also features the George Rogers Clark Federal Monument and the oldest cemetery west of the Alleghenies.

Before heading back to Lexington, enjoy dinner at Beaumont Inn, formerly a girls' finishing school and now a country inn offering the finest of Kentucky food and hospitality in a setting rich in history.