LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY

Thursday morning, May 16, we left the Sevierville, TN area and rolled about 221 miles north to the "horse capital of the world", located in the heart of Kentucky's bluegrass region, also known as Lexington, KY.  We quickly found a very comfortable spot in the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park Campground which is adjacent to the largest tourist attraction in Kentucky, the Kentucky Horse Park, which spans over 1200 lush acres.  A gentle drizzle of rain on the roof of our coach started mid-afternoon and made it possible to get a most restful sleep that first night.   ....Think rain on a tin roof.

Entrance Kentucky Horse Park

Blue Grass Country

Horses of the World 

Horses of the World Stalls

Grave Sites of Famous Horses

Arena for Hunter Jumper Event

Secretariat

Horse Farms and Countryside

You don't have to be a horse lover to enjoy the natural beauty, culture and history of Lexington....but it helps. There are over 500 horse farms in the area with some very interesting names....  Elmendorf Farm, Spendthrift Farm, Calumet Farm, Walnut Hall Farm, Spindletop Farm, to name a few.  It seemed to us that just about every ride took us through a scenic area more beautiful than the one before.

Lexington Horse Farm Countryside

Horse Farm Countryside

Lexington Horse Farm Countryside

Driving through Lexington Horse Farms

 We spent our first full day at the Horse Park and enjoyed it thoroughly.  We were in the Arena for the first part of a 3 day hunter jumper competition.  The Park offers 2 museums, nice walks, views of celebrity horses, restaurants and lots of bluegrass.

Getting ready for Hunter Jumper Competition

Blue Ribbon Competitor

Blue Ribbon Competitor

Hunter Jumper Competition

Traveling to downtown Lexington you can't miss the state's flagship university and largest employer in the area, the University of Kentucky.  RV made lots of commotion when we passed Rupp Arena.  I didn't have a clue, of course, but now I know how important Adolph Rupp was to the University of Kentucky and Kentucky basketball history.

Rupp Arena - Downtown Lexington

University of Kentucky Library

Commonwealth Stadium - University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky - College of Agriculture

Scenic Walk - University of Kentucky Campus

We took an interesting side trip to the Capital of Kentucky in Frankfort, about 20 miles from Lexington.  Almost in the shadows of Kentucky's state capitol building is the Rebecca Ruth Candy Factory.  The original "bourbon balls"  are as delicious as the famous "Mint Kentucky Colonels".  RV said I looked like Lucy in the chocolate factory.  Friends had warned us not to go there, to turn around, don't stop, stay away...but we walked away with lighter pockets as well as some of the most delicious chocolate candy, and now my RV chocolate reserve is returning to normal. 

State Capitol  - Frankfort, Kentucky

Franklin County, Kentucky

Rebecca Ruth Candy Company

Chocolate candy at Rebecca Ruth Candy Company

Handmade chocolates - Rebecca Ruth Candy Company

We will return to Lexington again.  Several famous people from this area include Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of President Abraham Lincoln, as well as Henry Clay, who ran unsuccessfully 3 times for President of the U.S., and was former Secretary of State for President John Quincy Adams as well as a former U. S. Senator and Congressman in the 1800's. 

Thanks again for all your comments about our blog and for being interested in following us as we discover America.  Tomorrow, Monday morning, we'll be rolling north about 82 miles and will be staying in Cincinatti, OH several days.   Like RV says, "Life rocks when your living room rolls!"