Things To Do
In and Around Shakertown
Depending on when you arrive to Shaker Village, you may want to entertain yourself locally without venturing too far away. Here are some suggestions of activities, places to eat/drink, and landmarks in and around Harrodsburg.
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
I guess this one should be obvious, but we want you to know there is plenty to do at Shaker Village. Please pick up a schedule at the Welcome Center when you arrive to see both the daily and special events. You can catch a tour of the Village, listen to traditional Shaker music, experience the Village's working farm, and more.
The Trustees' Table
Located in Shaker Village, the Trustees' Table is truly one of the best farm-to-table restaurants in the state. They feature a seasonal rotating menu using ingredients produced by their own farm. While the chefs of the Trustees' Table will be catering our wedding, you are also welcome and encouraged to stop by the actual restaurant for a meal. I have been for both breakfast and lunch, and each was an incredible.
Downtown Harrodsburg
Nearby Harrodsburg has a charming Main Street, which we encourage you to explore for a close and easy getaway from the Village. Grab a cup of coffee at the Harvest Coffee Company, get some diner grub at the Olde Bus Station, wander through an antique shop or two, check out local art at the Mercer Arts Council's gallery, or sample some fudge at the Kentucky Fudge Company, featured in an old pharmacy and soda fountain.
Burgin Dairy Barn
You think Harrodsburg is a small town? Then you haven't seen Burgin. Check out this adorable dairy barn for delicious milkshakes, sundaes, and floats.
Lemons Mill Brewery
We love exploring Kentucky breweries, although there aren't too many outside of the big cities! Lemon's Mill is one of those breweries which grace our small towns. We recommend the Mango Habanero beer, but watch out, it's spicy!
Kentucky River Palisades
Shaker Village is located along a stretch of the Kentucky River known as the Kentucky River Palisades because of the steep, scenic gorges and limestone outcroppings that stretch for miles. If you have a kayak, you can launch it at Shaker Landing, one of the only launching points in the Palisades. You can also hop on-board the Dixie Belle, Shaker Village's paddleboat, for a one-hour narrated cruise. Make sure you reserve a spot at the Welcome Center.
The Preserve at Shaker Village
Shaker Village owns 3,000 acres which they have made into a natural preserve; the preserve conserves and shares native prairies, woodlands, watersheds, fields, canebrakes and diverse wildlife—all perfectly framed by miles of hand-laid rock walls. Bring your walking shoes and check out some of the 36 miles of trails around the property!
Old Fort Harrod State Park
This state park is only 15 minutes away from Shaker Village in downtown Harrodsburg. It features a reconstruction of Fort Harrod, the first permanent American settlement in Kentucky. Tour the fort to learn about military frontier life, and visit the Mansion Museum, a Greek Revival home that contains Civil War artifacts and Abraham Lincoln memorabilia.
Wallace Station Deli and Bakery
Located in the heart of Kentucky's bluegrass horse country, Wallace Station is a perfect scenic stop for lunch. Wallace Station was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, so you know it is Mike Brant approved. Plus, it is located right along Route 62, a Kentucky scenic byway. It is also a perfect addition to a distillery tour, since it is located right near Woodford Reserve.
The Bourbon Trail!
Did you know that, right now, there are now 6.7 million barrels of bourbon aging in Kentucky, which is 1.5 barrels for every person living in the state? A quintessential Kentucky experience includes touring and tasting at distilleries along the Bourbon Trail. The next cluster of suggestions include those distilleries which are closest to Shaker Village.
Four Roses Distillery
Four Roses is the closest distillery to Shaker Village, at only 25 minutes away. Located along the scenic Salt River, Four Roses features Spanish-style architecture, which is rare in Kentucky.
Wild Turkey Distillery
Wild Turkey is only 30 minutes away from Shaker Village, and just a 15 minute drive from Four Roses. While on this tour, you are also likely to meet Jimmy, the master distiller at Wild Turkey and the world’s longest tenured active master distiller.
Woodford Reserve Distillery
Woodford Reserve is an additional 15 minute drive from Wild Turkey, for a total of 45 minutes from Shaker Village. As the oldest and smallest distillery on the Bourbon Trail, Woodford Reserve feels both historic and upscale. Jesse says this is the most beautiful distillery in the state, and it's also Wanda's favorite bourbon.
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace is also about 45 minutes from Shaker Village, and only 15 minutes away from Woodford Reserve. It's also located in our state capital, Frankfort. This might be my favorite distillery tour, and while it does not have the scenery of Woodford Reserve, I love the architecture of the old rickhouses.
Maker's Mark Distillery
Maker's Mark is in the total opposite direction of the other distilleries listed here. But, as arguably the most famous Kentucky bourbon, we thought some of you might want to visit. It's often cited as the best distillery experience in Kentucky - you can hand dip your own bottle of Maker's, and you can taste the sour mash right out of the distilling vats. The property is also gorgeous.
Headed to Lexington?
If you are flying into Lexington, you may want to check out the "Horse Capital of the World" before heading to Harrodsburg. Even if you are not flying, Lexington is only about a 30 minute drive from Shaker Village, so it would also make for an easy trip to explore for a few hours on Saturday. You can also recreate our first date, for a true Jesse and Krissy experience!
Ethereal Brewing
With the next three suggestions, you can recreate our first date! Just west of downtown, Lexington has recently renovated a group of old industrial buildings to create the new Distillery District. This first stop is one of our favorite Kentucky breweries. We met up here on our first date - Jesse was sitting at the outdoor tables aptly reading "Modern Romance" by Aziz Ansari.
Goodfellas Pizzeria
After trying a few beers at Ethereal, we wandered over to Goodfella's for pizza slices that are bigger than your head. Goodfella's has long been an establishment in downtown Lexington for UK students, and Jesse had his fair share after late nights visiting his friends while in college.
Crank & Boom Ice Cream Lounge
On our first date, we had our fill of pizza and beer, but needed a reason to continue hanging around the Distillery District so we could keep talking! We grabbed some gourmet ice cream from Crank and Boom, which has delicious and unique flavors. They drive pints of this ice cream to our local market in Somerset, so it's a typical splurge for us.
Keeneland
The crown gem of the horse capital, Keeneland is an internationally renowned racecourse and the Thoroughbred industry’s leading auction house. It will also be the site of the Breeder's Cup, a famous November horse race, in 2020. Visit Keeneland for a guided tour if you're interested in learning more about Kentucky's horse racing tradition.
The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of KY
The Arboretum at the University of Kentucky is the state's largest public garden and a beautiful place to walk around while you are in the city. The Walk Across Kentucky is a two-mile paved loop featuring wild-collected native plants from the seven physiographic regions of Kentucky.
Headed to Louisville?
If you are flying into Louisville, lucky you! You get to explore a place Jesse called home for several years. We both love this city, and we've provided a few suggestions of the coolest landmarks. If you need recommendations of places to eat or drink as well, feel free to reach out to either of us, and we'll tell you about our favorite spots. Since Louisville is about a 75 minute drive from Shaker Village, this might be a little tricky for a Saturday day trip, but it's doable.
Churchill Downs
See the home of the Kentucky Derby! Book a walking tour to explore the historic grounds, visit the Kentucky Derby Museum located at Churchill Downs to learn about the history of horse racing in Kentucky, or sip on a mint julep at the Derby Cafe. Churchill Downs is located on the south side of the city, right near the University of Louisville campus.
Muhammad Ali Center
In addition to bringing us horse racing and bourbon, Kentucky also brought the world Muhammad Ali. The Ali Center is our favorite museum in Louisville, featuring the life and career of Muhammad Ali and the legacy he has left on both the sport of boxing and the world. It also features beautiful views of the Ohio River. The Ali Center continues to do incredible social justice work today, thanks to our dear friend, Morgan, who works at the center!
21c Museum Hotel Louisville
Located in downtown Louisville, 21c is a contemporary art museum, an award-winning boutique hotel, and home to acclaimed Proof on Main restaurant - all at once. It's always worth wandering around 21c to check out the rotating art exhibits. Plus, 21c wouldn't function without the leadership of Jesse's sister, Megan.
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
All of the Louisville Slugger baseball bats used across the world are still made at this factory, located in downtown Louisville. Visit the museum to learn about baseball history, or take a guided tour of the factory to see these bats being made. You can also take home a personalized Louisville Slugger.
The Speed Art Museum
The Speed is Kentucky's oldest and largest art museum, located right on the campus of University of Louisville. There are always really unique and interesting special exhibits, so make sure you check what is going on at the museum if you are in the city.