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Four great Kentucky destinations recognized in travel and lifestyle rankings

Stories by Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of stories highlights notable Kentucky destinations recognized for their unique appeal in travel and lifestyle rankings. Newport, a historic small town notable for its transformation from a Prohibition hotspot to a family-friendly community, earned a spot in USA TODAY’s 10Best list. Maysville, known for its bourbon history, is celebrated by Country Living as an American hidden gem.

Elsewhere, Kentucky's lakefront beaches offer affordable getaways, with places like Laurel River Lake providing scenic escapes. Fall foliage in Bardstown captures attention in Country Living’s roundup of small towns with spectacular autumn colors, paralleling its bourbon legacy.

Read the stories below.

Horses graze in a field before sunrise at Mill Ridge Farm in Fayette County, Ky., on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 1: COUNTRY LIVING NAMES KENTUCKY CITY WITH RICH BOURBON HISTORY A 2025 AMERICAN HIDDEN GEM

The magazine credits the city as the “birthplace” of bourbon, and no, it isn’t Bardstown. | Published February 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Autumn colors are on display near Lookout Point at Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade on Monday. Fall foliage in Kentucky is nearing its peak and is expected to do so by Oct. 30, according to the Smoky Mountains annual fall foliage prediction map, which sources its data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The map can be accessed online at https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/.

NO. 2: THIS KENTUCKY TOWN OFFERS SOME OF THE BEST FALL FOLIAGE IN THE US, COUNTRY LIVING SAYS

The city earned a spot among the magazine’s top 55 picks. | Published November 6, 2023 | Read Full Story by Matt DiSanto

As the sun sets, sailboats bob in the tranquil waters of Kentucky Lake at Land Between the Lakes.

NO. 3: NEED A LOW-COST SUMMER GETAWAY? THESE KENTUCKY LAKEFRONT BEACHES ARE TRUE HIDDEN GEMS

Reviewers contend the water at one spot rivals the Caribbean. | Published June 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Newport on the Levee and the Purple People Bridge seen from Mt. Adams Sunday, May 26, 2023. By Cara Owsley/The Enquirer

NO. 4: A KENTUCKY SPOT IS AMONG THE NATION’S ‘BEST HISTORIC SMALL TOWNS,’ RANKING STATES

It was once known as “Sin City” and a hotbed for Prohibition-era gangsters. | Published April 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.