10 Nicest Small Towns In Kentucky

Kentucky is a Mid-Southern state with an underrated reputation. Although millions of tourists come to Louisville, Kentucky, in May for the Kentucky Derby race, the rest of the state itself is often ignored. This should not be the case, as one can find many nice towns here that are worth stopping by. These nice towns have all sorts of places to explore, from a folk arts capital, the home of Bourbon, one of the most creative places on Earth, and even the site of the Hatfield and McCoy feud. Read on to learn about 10 of the nicest towns in Kentucky.

Paducah

Paducah always ranks high on any list of underappreciated Kentucky towns. After all, it's one of the most creative places in the state. UNESCO named it a creative city, an award only given to places with a deep dedication to the arts. Paducah takes this honor very seriously, as can be seen at The National Quilt Museum. Here both local and international quilters display their craft as well as teach classes on how to start quilting or learn advanced techniques. Art classes aren’t just limited to quilting in Paducah; one can also learn how to paint pottery and wooden crafts at Better Than Ever. Paducah uses art in all aspects of life, including storytelling. You can learn the history of the area by exploring the Paducah Wall to Wall Murals by the waterfront, designed by world-famous muralist Robert Dafford. Another intriguing way to learn its history is to explore an 1876 Drug Store at the William Clark Market House Museum, which includes many artifacts like chairs used by Abraham Lincoln.

Berea

Berea is well known as the Folk Art Capital of Kentucky. From such a reputation, you're sure to meet nice folks who will gladly show you their creations, whether that's at the KY Artisan Center, which displays the works of more than 800 artisans, or within the many local shops in the Artisan Village like Fire and Fern Glass Studio. Art is everywhere in Berea, such as the Appalachian art collection within the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center in John B. Stephenson Hall. This cute town also has lovely hiking trails like the Pinnacles through the Berea College Forest. This hike in particular has been ranked among the very best in Kentucky due to its wonderful Appalachian views.

Elizabethtown

This fun-spirited town is called Etown by locals. One of its best features is its historic downtown area and the many quirky things visitors can find there. One such spot is a Cannonball, which lodged into one of the buildings in town during a battle in the American Civil War and has stayed in its original spot ever since! Also downtown is the Hardin County History Museum, which is an official part of the Lincoln Trail and the 1825 Brown Pusey House, a Georgian-style mansion home to both a genealogical library and a stately garden. The past is everywhere in Elizabethtown, including at the lovely Freeman Lake Park. Here, you can spend a day paddling on the lake as well as exploring an 1892 One Room Schoolhouse,

Bardstown

Bourbon drinkers everywhere should be familiar with Bardstown. It is the Bourbon Capital of the world and the center of the Bourbon Trail, a network of distilleries that run throughout the Kentucky countryside. Visitors can tour these distilleries, such as the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, and sample local whiskey. Bardstown is also one of the best towns in Kentucky for history buffs of all stripes. You can learn about the history of whiskey at the Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History, see how women contributed to the Civil War at the Women's Civil War Museum, or explore one of the most beautiful Kentucky plantations at the My Old Kentucky Home State Park. Constructed in 1818, this Federal style mansion offers tours alongside one of the best golf courses in the state: the My Old Kentucky Home Golf Course.

Maysville

This charming Ohio River town has a deep history going back to the 1700s when explorer Simon Kenton built a fort in the area. The town was officially founded in 1787 and would serve as a major Ohio River port. However, the town's role in the slave trade would inspire abolitionists to fight against the institution, including Harriet Beecher Stowe, who included a scene from Maysville in her book Uncle Tom's Cabin. Today, this town keeps the stories of all of its residents alive through many places, including the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center & Gift Shop and the 1828 home of abolitionist John Rankin, overlooking the river on a bluff. Maysville preserves beauty in all of its forms, including the classic Dover Covered Bridge from 1835, one of the last of its kind, along with gentle parks like the Cummins Nature Preserve located close to downtown.

Georgetown

Georgetown is the fastest-growing town in Kentucky due to its career opportunities and beautiful attractions. The biggest employer here is Toyota, and it also delights visitors with the Toyota Kentucky Experience Center tour. Here, visitors can take a guided tram tour of the facility and see a mint-condition 1988 Toyota Camry. Georgetown is also known for its gentler attractions where people and animals can relax, such as retired Kentucky Derby horses at the Old Friends Retired Thoroughbred Farm. At this wonderful place, visitors can interact with old race horses in a unique experience. If you'd like to try riding a horse, the Whispering Woods Riding Stables is right in town, or if history is more up your alley, then visit the Greek Revival 1856 Ward Hall mansion, home of the scandalous socialite Junius Ward, a favorite of Queen Victoria herself.

Greenville

This Western Kentucky town is a hidden gem that is easy to miss but sure to delight. Founded in 1799, Greenville is one of the oldest towns in Kentucky and was home to War of 1812 hero Lt. Ephraim Brank, one of the most famous Kentucky marksmen. Visitors can learn about his fascinating life at the Lt. Ephraim Brank Memorial & Trail right on Main Street. The name Greenville itself fits due to its many outdoor attractions that will guide you on long, picturesque paths. One such trail is the Rails to Trails, which transformed an old railway line into a paved trail that goes by a covered bridge, a caboose, and wooded areas. You can also enjoy a gentle woodland stroll at the Brizendine Brothers Nature Park, which hides a chainsaw-sculptured bear sculpture called Yogi. Lastly, you'll definitely want to visit the many antique shops in town, such as Treasure House, located in a historic 1930s home.

Pikeville

Some of the nicest towns also have the most tumultuous histories. The Appalachian town of Pikeville is one of the most beautiful areas in Kentucky and was at the very center of America's most infamous feud between the Hatfields and McCoys. Pikeville preserves the many sites of the feud for folks to explore. These include the humorously named Hog Trial Cabin, where a trial was held over a stolen pig, the Randolph McCoy Homeplace & Well, and the Historic Pike County Courthouse, where the feud met the law. Pikeville loves to entertain as well, such as a theater performance at the Appalachian Center for the Arts or even a circus at the Appalachian Wireless Arena. Lastly, if you're willing to go for a drive through larger Pike County, you can see one of the biggest canyons in the U.S. at the Breaks Interstate Park.

Hodgenville

Hodgenville is regularly listed as a top spot to see in Kentucky while you're on a road trip for one reason: it was the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. This president had deeply humble roots, which are preserved in three spots. First is the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, which contains the exact spot where he was born, along with hiking trails. Second, you can explore the Knob Creek region and a recreated log cabin where his family lived and lastly you can get a fuller picture of his life at The Lincoln Museum in the heart of Harrodsburg. After a day of learning about Lincoln, relax with a burger at the local treasure Laha's Red Castle or enjoy a musical performance or variety act at Joel Ray's Lincoln Jamboree, which has been entertaining locals and travelers since 1954.

Harrodsburg

Harrodsburg is one of the most beautiful areas in Kentucky to visit. As the oldest founded town in Kentucky, with a history going back to 1774, visitors can learn a lot here. For example, visitors can learn how the early settlers lived within a recreation of the town fort at the Old Fort Harrod State Park. This facility has blockhouses, cabins, and reenactors to explain how people lived and the tools they used. Within the park, you can also see the spot where Abraham Lincoln's parents were wed at the Lincoln Museum or even find exhibits from the American Revolutionary War at the 1830s Mansion Museum. The most beautiful attraction in Harrodsburg is the gentle Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, which was home to the religious community called the Shakers from 1805 to 1910, who lived celibate lifestyles and expanded through adoption. Today, the village features picturesque hiking trails, historic buildings, and even a fully active farm that provides fresh food at the Trustee's Table restaurant.

You're never far from adventure in these nice Kentucky towns. However, you can also have laid-back experiences as well, because folks here appreciate the simpler things in life. Within these nice towns, you can see the very best of Bluegrass art in Berea and Paducah, or walk in the footsteps of the Lincoln family from Harrodsburg to Hodgenville. In Georgetown, there's even the option to skip the huge crowds of the Derby and see the retired racehorses up close and personal. These nice Kentucky towns should definitely be on your list the next time you're in the Mid-South.