Idiot’s Guides: RV Vacations

The Bourbon Trail, established in 1999, is a roughly 60-mile (97km) journey that stretches from Louisville to Lexington and then down to Bardstown. Grab your official passport, start your journey at one of the many “trailheads,” and visit all nine distilleries if you can.

Watch employees bottle and label cases of Blanton’s by hand at Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Choose your two tasting bourbons, regardless of price point, at the Jim Beam Distillery.

Visit during the spring or fall because most distilleries reduce or shut down production in the summer.

Just 9 miles (14.5km) from downtown Lexington, this campground is a great option if you want to tour the bourbon trail and visit the Kentucky Horse Park, where you get free parking and a discounted admission rate when staying on-site.

All sites are spacious, paved, and furnished with a picnic table and fire ring. There are no pull-thrus. Plenty of outdoor recreation activities are available, including multiple recreational courts, a walking trail, and a bike trail.

This state park campground only has 39 sites, so book as early as you can. The area is well maintained and clean, offering full hookups and access for larger rigs. No extra amenities are offered on the campground, but My Old Kentucky Home State Park provides plenty of recreational and educational opportunities. The grounds are beautiful, and you’ll want to spend a fair amount of time walking and biking the trails.

Take a guided tour of the historic Rowan Estate memorialized by Stephen Foster, America’s great composer, who wrote classics like “Oh! Susannah” and “Camptown Races.” If possible, attend a performance of The Stephen Foster Story live at the park amphitheater on scheduled dates throughout the summer.

This KOA is just minutes from downtown Louisville and is a great place to stay when exploring the Urban Bourbon Trail and other visitor attractions in the area, such as the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, Churchill Downs, and the Muhammed Ali Center.

Large pull-thrus make this campground big-rig friendly, and the staff gets consistent high marks for customer service. Although the facilities are kept clean, they’re a bit older and in some need of updating. The pool is open Memorial Day through Labor Day, along with an adults-only hot tub. Many activities are available for kids on the weekends throughout the summer, such as tie-dye, outdoor movies, and organized games.

113 S. 7th Street, Louisville, KY 40202. stcharlesexchange.com; 502-618-1917. Monday to Friday 11:30 A.M. to 2 P.M.; Monday to Saturday 5 P.M. to 10:30 P.M.; closed Sunday. $15 to $40. New American.

This restaurant is located in a historic downtown building, where the swanky atmosphere, classic cocktails, and classy service transport you back in time. Where else can you get a daily deviled-egg special? Or an appetizer called “Elvis on horseback” that includes bacon, peanut butter, dates, and bourbon?

Whether you order the salmon prepared with pork belly or the vegetarian-friendly beet risotto, be sure to include some family style sides with your meal.

116 W. Stephen Foster Avenue, Bardstown, KY 40004. btownmammys.com; 502-350-1097. Monday to Saturday 6:30 A.M. to 9 P.M.; Sunday 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. $15 to $30. American.

Mammy’s serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and does them all well. If you want to fill up in the morning before heading out to the distilleries, try the hot brown sandwich, a Kentucky original invented in Louisville. If you’re stopping in for lunch, order the bourbon dog or bourbon burger with crispy fried onion straws. The supper menu offers all the family style favorites, such as fried catfish, Southern-fried steak, and country ham. Also try the bourbon chops and bourbon chicken.

Bourbon can only be produced in America, and 95 percent of America’s bourbon comes from Kentucky.

Holly Hill Inn

426 N. Winter Street, Midway, KY 40347. hollyhillinn.com; hollyhillmidway@aol.com; 859-846-4732. Wednesday to Saturday 5:30 P.M. to close; Sunday brunch 11 A.M. to 2 P.M. $31 to $60. New American.

A foodie’s paradise, Holly Hill Inn prides itself on using local agricultural products to create dishes that highlight this Kentucky region.

This restaurant is regularly featured in newspaper and magazine articles, so you definitely need to make reservations. This is a fine dining experience you won’t soon forget.

Louisville Visitor Center, 301 S. Fourth Street, Louisville, KY 40202. gotolouisville.com; info@gotolouisville.com; 888-568-4784. Monday to Saturday 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.; Sunday 12 P.M. to 5 P.M.

Often referred to as the Official Gateway of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Louisville is the perfect place to start your trip. Pick up your passport and start your bourbon education at the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience. Then head to Evan Williams, located on the historic Whiskey Row in downtown Louisville, where you can watch whiskey being made. A $10 tour gives you a great introduction to American whiskey produced in this region.

In 2012, USA Today called Bardstown “America’s Most Beautiful Small Town.” You’ll want to spend some time meandering down the picture-perfect streets lined with interesting shops and boutiques.

The Kentucky Bourbon Marketplace isn’t officially on the trail, but it offers a great tasting experience. On the outskirts of town is the Bourbon Heritage Center, the largest family-owned producer of bourbon. A short drive away is the Jim Beam American Stillhouse, offering one of the most unique tours full of interactive multimedia exhibits. A highlight in this area of the trail is the Maker’s Mark Distillery. The beautiful property and warm family welcome are legendary.

Lexington Visitor Center, 401 W. Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507. visitlex.com; vacation@visitlex.com; 800-845-3959. April to October. Monday to Friday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.; Saturday 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.; Sunday 12 P.M. to 5 P.M.

Start in downtown Lexington with a visit to Town Branch Distillery, the only distillery built in Lexington in more than 100 years. It also brews beer, and your tour ticket includes sampling four of its five beers and three spirits. Then it’s off to the Woodford Reserve, the oldest and smallest distillery in Kentucky. Basic tickets are $10 for a tour and tasting. Enjoy beautiful scenery as you drive to the Wild Turkey Distillery, set against the backdrop of the Kentucky River. Master distiller Jimmy Russell has been crafting bourbon here for more than 60 years and still poses for pictures. Many people particularly enjoy their time at the Four Roses Distillery, soaking in the Spanish mission-style architecture and gardens of sweet-smelling roses.

ITINERARIES

If you have 1 week …

Use Bardstown as your launching point, and visit the Kentucky Bourbon Marketplace, Bourbon Heritage Center, and the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History. Tour Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark distilleries. Eat at Talbott Tavern.

If you have 2 weeks …

Consider staying in two different campgrounds to explore different locations along the Bourbon Trail. Louisville and Bardstown make good base camps. Do all the above, plus tour the Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Experience and the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience. Take in the Urban Bourbon Trail in downtown Louisville. Visit the Kentucky Derby Museum.

If you have 3 weeks …

Consider spending a week in each main area, Louisville, Bardstown, and Lexington, so you can fully explore each distinct area of the bourbon trail. Do all the above, plus visit all nine distilleries on the trail and receive a free T-shirt when you hand in your fully stamped passport. Then you can begin your Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour.