Downtown Lexington KY 2019
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IIDEA GGUIDE DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON Lexington Visitors Center Enjoy Sightseeing, Dining, Shopping and 215 West Main Street Lexington, KY 40507 Entertainment in the “City in the Park” (859) 233-7299 or (800) 845-3959 www.visitlex.com Unless otherwise noted, phone numbers are in the 859 area code. near Lexington Center, or along Main Street, and you’ll Lexington has been called “the city in the park” because find architecture spanning over 200 years. A few attrac- of its location at the center of hundreds of beautiful, park- tions of special note: like horse farms. But the nickname also seems an apt • The Mary Todd Lincoln House, adjacent to description of the cosmopolitan yet casual atmosphere of Lexington Center at 578 W. Main St. was a girlhood home the downtown area. of the First Lady, a member of a prominent early Lexington offers a charming blend of big-city amenities Lexington family. Guided tours are given Monday through and small-town friendliness. Before, after and between Saturday, mid-March through November. Admission meeting sessions at the modern Lexington Center conven- charged. 233-9999. tion complex, you’ll find plenty to see and do. Beautiful • The Hunt-Morgan House, northeast of the conven- historic office buildings, churches, and homes; many of tion center complex at 201 North Mill St., was built in Lexington’s finest restaurants, specialty shops and gal- 1814 by Kentucky’s first millionaire, John Wesley Hunt. leries; and major performance and sports arenas are with- The house includes the Alexander T. Hunt Civil War in easy and safe walking distance. Museum with items relating to Hunt’s grandson, A variety of excellent accommodations Confederate General John Morgan. Guided are convenient to the convention center Blue Note: Getting to and tours are available seasonally Wednesday from downtown Lexington is and downtown attractions, including the through Sunday. Admission charged. 253- easy. Blue Grass Airport is Hilton Lexington/Downtown (369 W. 0362. While in the historic Gratz Park about a 10-minute drive away Hyatt Regency neighborhood you might also want to stroll Vine St., 231-9000) and (as are those famous horse Lexington (401 West High St., 253-1234); farms, golf courses and major the campus of the oldest college west of the the elegant and historic The Sire (120 W. attractions such as the Alleghenies, Transylvania University, 2nd St., 231-1777); The Lyndon House Bed Kentucky Horse Park). Third and Broadway. At 176 N. Mill St. & Breakfast (507 N. Broadway, 420-2683); you’ll pass the 19th century law office of and the new 21c Museum Hotel (167 W. Main St., 899- Henry Clay, the famous U.S. Senator and one of early 6800). A Marriott and a Residence Inn are slated to open Lexington’s prominent citizens. in the City Center block within the year. • If you brought your family along (or are just a kid at heart), a must-see attraction is the Explorium of Attractions Old and New Lexington, located in The Square, a complex of 16 Looking at downtown Lexington today, it’s hard to restored 19th century commercial buildings at Main and imagine a town of log blockhouses and cabins, or the sight Broadway. The 14,000-square foot museum features a of horses racing down Main Street, but both were part of variety of hands-on activities, from an “archaeological dig” the city’s early history. Lexington was Kentucky’s first big to giant soap bubbles. Open Tuesday through Sunday all city — a bustling commercial, education and cultural cen- year. Admission charged. 258-3253. ter by 1800. Take a walk in the historic neighborhoods • That 30-story glass office building towering over visit Heritage Antiques located in the big white church Main Street is Lexington Financial Center (“Big Blue” to three blocks away. (154 N. Broadway 253-1035). Down locals) and the city’s tallest building. Main Street, browse through Ann Greely Interiors and For a self-guided down- Antiques (497 East Main Bluegrass Note: Lexington is also a city with parks. Try town walking tour options Street; 367-0200). these relaxing urban green spaces for an impromptu contact the Lexington If fashion is your pas- picnic or restful break: Just across Main Street from Visitors Center, 215 W. Main Lexington Center is Triangle Park, beautiful day and sion, you won’t be disappoint- Street, 233-7299. Tours at night with its stepped, lighted fountains.Gratz Park, 3rd ed at Lexington’s own Bella 321-2466. Caroline at Mill, is located in a lovely historic residential neighbor- Rose. Locals have headed to Hackworth operates Historic hood. Pause at Cheapside Park, historically the site of the corner of Maxwell and Downtown Walking Tours slave auctions, abolitionists’ speeches and “Court Days” Upper for over 30 years to with guided walking tours of trading. Phoenix Park is next to Lexington Public Library find out what is hip and chic downtown Lexington. Learn on Main Street. At the east end of downtown is this season. 255-2565. about the history of down- Thoroughbred Park, where life-size bronze horses town as reflected in historic “race” and “graze.” (On a walking or jogging regimen? Dining Out commercial buildings, From Triangle Park to Thoroughbred Park and back Downtown is home to along Main Street is about 1 1/2 miles.) churches and homes. Call many of Lexington’s most 321-5897. New culinary walk- popular and creative restau- ing tours are currently under development. Check with the rants: more than one hundred, in fact! In addition to the Visitors Center for the latest information. excellent hotel restaurants, Triangle Grill (Hilton), If you have a special interest in architecture, there is a BlueFire Bar & Grill (Hyatt Regency), Lockbox (21c) or free app for Android and iPhone that you’ll want to down- Distilled at Gratz Park, you can walk to a variety of deli- load before you arrive (search for “LexArch”). Enjoy pho- cious experiences, as fancy or informal as you desire. From tography, text and audio demonstrating many facets of the the more than 100 places to eat in downtown Lexington, design, construction and purpose of thirteen buildings here are a few suggestions: near, and including, Fayette County's Old Courthouse. In The Square, Tony’s offers elegant fine dining, Pies The courthouse has been renovated and is now home to and Pints offers tasty pizzas and lots of beer options, and the Lexington Visitors Center, business offices, Zim’s the new lunch hot spot Vinaigrette is hugely popular for Cafe and The Thirsty Fox. their salads. Saul Good occupies the corner space at Broadway and Short making it the perfect place to grab a Shopping cocktail or a meal before a show at the Lexington Opera Whether looking for decorative accessories, artwork, House. Hop Cats is also located in The Square. fine jewelry or distinctly -Lexington souvenirs, you’ll find For hearty burgers and other “bar food,” try Sawyer’s a small selection of stores at The Square and The Shops at Bar and Grill at the corner of Main and Broadway. The Lexington Center. Connected by covered ped-way, these new City Center complex across from Lexington’s reno- two complexes vated Historic Courthouse boasts a Jeff Ruby’s. Blue Note: An interesting used make a great rainy For sophisticated Italian dining with a California attitude, book store is located in the base- (or sunny) day try Portofino’s (249 East Main; 253-9300). Sublime tradi- ment of the Lexington Public destination! tional,Sicilian and specialty pizzas are found at Joe Library, 140 E. Main St. The library Bologna’s also offers an art gallery, You’ll find places , 120 W. Maxwell St. This local favorite also computers with Internet access to eat and drink as serves pasta and awe- well. Most shops some breadsticks Bluegrass Note: Early riser? and a good view of downtown from A variety of gourmet coffees are open 10 a.m. drenched in garlic but- the upper floors. 231-5500. and pastries are served at the to 6 p.m. Monday ter. downtown Starbucks on the through Saturday. A number of small corner of Main and Broadway. Duck in to Keeneland Mercantile next to Starbucks in bistros and fine dining They are open at 6:00 a.m. the new City Center complex. Their high-end merchan- establishments have every day. dise reflects the cultured lifestyle of the Horse Capital of opened across from the World with a curated selection of beautifully-crafted Lexington’s beautiful courthouses on North Limestone goods from throughout the South, (no, you’re not seeing double!) Dine at the very, very If hunting for treasures from the past is your passion, French Le Deauville, just up the street. 246-0999. At 155 North Limestone is Oscar Diggs, A popular spot, they Be sure to check feature a small but impressive seasonal menu. 523-8305. out an exciting new Bluegrass Note: Spring through fall, local farmers sell At Short and Market is another top Lexington restau- area of development vegetables, fruits, flowers and rant, Dudley’s. Located in the historic Northern Bank on the edge of down- more at the Farmers’ Market town: the Distillery Building built in 1889, this elegant spot features seafood (Saturdays in Cheapside Park and Continental specialties, with an excellent wine list and District. It is home to and Tuesdays and Thursdays Sunday brunch. Also on Short: Lexington’s gastro pub, the coffee shops, an ice on Maxwell at Broadway). Village Idiot, as well as Shakespeare and Co., a restaurant cream lounge, artist with great food and eccentric decor. studios, restaurants Jefferson Street is and bars, plus a brewery, a cidery, two distilleries and a Bluegrass Note: Weather Lexington’s newest bur- music hall.