11 Cutest Small Towns In Kentucky
Kentucky is commonly referred to as the Bluegrass state, both for the plant itself and its musical style, which combines folk and country. This reflects the fact that Kentucky isn't a particularly metropolitan state, but rather filled with small towns that provide a mixture of Southern hospitality, cutesy shops, and fun attractions. In fact, by going to these small towns, one can discover the arts and crafts capital of the state, try out Kentucky culinary delights, walk in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln's family, or go hiking through the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls of the West.
Berea
This beautiful Kentucky college town is one of the cutest places in the Bluegrass state due to its dedication to the arts and its picturesque Appalachian landscape. Berea is called the Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky, as students and artists make crafts, music, paintings, and other artwork.
The Kentucky Artisan Center sells the works of more than 800 Kentucky Artisans, alongside books and food. The Artisan Village in town features multiple small businesses making beautiful pieces, such as glass creations at the Fire and Fern Glass Studio. Many of the artists are inspired by the landscape of Berea, which includes gorgeous views of the Kentucky landscape atop The Pinnacles in Berea College Forest. These rock outcroppings are regularly ranked as the best hikes to go on in Kentucky.
Winchester
Winchester is a uniquely quirky town in Kentucky that's home to not one but two culinary traditions: Ale-8 and beer cheese. Ale-8 One was invented in 1926 during the heyday of Prohibition and remains a Kentucky classic, with the original Ale-8-One Bottling Co. open for tours. Another popular culinary tour is the Beer Cheese Tour, which takes one to multiple locally owned pubs and breweries offering their own spin on the popular dip.
History tours are also popular in Winchester, especially at the Civil War Fort at Boonesboro, which was built to protect the area from Confederate raids. In the nearby community of Richmond, one can visit Fort Boonesborough itself, which was built by none other than Daniel Boone himself in 1775 and today is a state park.
La Grange
At the east of Louisville is the small town of La Grange. This railroad hub is a quirky oasis just outside of the Louisville metro area, offering a mixture of train-themed experiences and family-friendly activities. Main Street has a rail line right through the middle, down which the Main Street Train takes visitors up to 30 times a day.
On Main Street, there's also the La Grange Railroad Museum, preserving its railway history and offering cute model train displays for visitors. Two of the most popular activities in La Grange are catching a movie at the Sauerbeck Family Drive-In or grabbing an inflatable floatie and relaxing in a spring-fed lake at the FRP La Grange Quarry.
Bardstown
Bardstown lies in the very heart of Bourbon country, a Kentucky tradition of aging whiskey in Bourbon barrels to create a highly potent beverage. There are a large number of bourbon distilleries in town to tour and sample their products, such as the Bardstown Bourbon Company and Willett Distillery. Bardstown also has a distinctly historic feel that's present throughout its architecture and attractions. For example, it's home to one of the largest collections of American Civil War artifacts from the Western theater at the Civil War Museum, and it preserves women's roles in the war at the Women's Civil War Museum.
One of the most charming historic destinations in Bardstown is the My Old Kentucky Home State Park. Named after the state anthem, this 1818 plantation home is the first state-owned park in Kentucky and regularly offers tours, Bourbon tastings, a golf course, and other activities.
Harrodsburg
First settled in 1774 as a military outpost, Harrodsburg is the oldest town in Kentucky. With such a long history, Harrodsburg has some of the best historic sites in the entire state. The most well-known one is Fort Harrod State Park, a replica of the original fort, complete with old log buildings and reenactors. Within the park, one can also visit the 1813 Matheny-Taylor House, also known as the Mansion Museum, which has an extensive collection of Revolutionary and Civil War artifacts, along with the Lincoln Marriage Temple, where Abraham Lincoln's parents were wed in a simple frontier ceremony.
Harrodsburg also attracted a new religious movement in the 1800s that was looking for a place to set up shop: the Shakers. Known for their celibate lifestyles, prophecies, and wild religious services(by the standards of the time), they set up a Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill. Today, visitors can see their places of worship, eat locally grown food, and go hiking through the peaceful woods of the village.
Hodgenville
For history buffs, Hodgenville is the best town in Kentucky. America's most famous President, Abraham Lincoln, was born in this town. Although he later said he didn’t recall much of his time in Kentucky as his family moved to Indiana when he was young, Hodgenville preserves his legacy through multiple museums.
The most noteworthy one is the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park, which contains the Birthplace Unit within a memorial building. By going a bit further down the road to the Lincoln Boyhood Home, one can explore several landmarks such as the Sinking Spring, where the Lincolns drew their water, and the 1808 Boundary Oak, which marked off their property. For a more holistic view of Lincoln's life, there's The Lincoln Museum in downtown Hodgenville, covering his entire life with an impressive collection of wax figures and Lincoln-inspired artwork. Speaking of the arts, visitors can enjoy a variety of eclectic live performances and skits at The Lincoln Jamboree.
Pikeville
Pikeville is a gorgeous Appalachian Mountain town with a not-so-pretty history. It stood at the heart of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud, which lasted from 1865 to 1891 and saw more than a dozen people die. It began in 1865 when Asa McCoy was ambushed and killed by Confederate guerrillas, but the McCoy family believed Devil Anse Hatfield was responsible. Then later on, the conflict escalated when the families disagreed over who owned a hog.
Pikeville keeps many of the feud sites preserved for visitors, such as the Hog Trial Cabin, where a trial took place regarding the aforementioned hog, the Randolph McCoy Homeplace & Well, and the Historic Pike County Courthouse, where several feuding members were sentenced to jail time and death for murder. Beyond these sites, travelers willing to drive a bit out of town can explore the Grand Canyon of the West at Breaks Interstate Park, located right on the Kentucky/Virginia state line, or they can stay in town and catch a show at the Appalachian Wireless Arena.
Corbin
Kentucky is most well known for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Fried Chicken(KFC for short). It was here in Corbin that Colonel Sanders himself first served his secret fried chicken recipe at a small diner. He later sold off the diner to start his restaurant franchise, but it still remains in town as the Harland Sanders Café & Museum, a unique place filled with old memorabilia from a bygone era.
Corbin is a lovely town for discovering old treasures, like at the Pinball Museum of Corbin, which houses machines made from 1969 to 2022. The town celebrates modern traditions as well, as artists regularly tour at The Corbin Arena musical venue. Corbin's best-kept secret is the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, featuring trails that crisscross around a 60-foot-tall waterfall known as the "Niagara of the West."
London
This adorable small town is easy for anyone to explore, especially cyclists. London is the Cycling Capital of Kentucky, with trails for both hardcore enthusiasts and casual hobbyists. Determined cyclists can try out one of the many gravel road trails in the area, such as the Cane Creek WMA, while those who want a downtown journey can go on the Yellow Route of the Redbud Ride, which begins and ends in downtown London.
While you're in London, you can explore an early civil war battlefield at the Battle of Camp Wildcat Battlefield, where Union and Confederate troops clashed in 1861. For those looking for a great deal, London has you covered with multiple flea markets, including Flea Land and The Scavenger Hunt.
Paducah
Paducah is renowned among Kentucky cities for having the title of a Creative City from UNESCO. It earned this prestigious honor for its rich art scene and culture of quilting. While commonly thought of as a quaint activity, quilting is alive and well in Paducah. The town honors both older and newer styles of quilting at the National Quilt Museum. For example, one of its current exhibitions is on Primal Forces of nature, such as earth, fire, and wind.
Paducah honors the arts through world-class performance facilities, including The Carson Center, Market House Theatre, and Clemens Fine Art Center. Beyond these attractions, Paducah features a charming Greenway Trail that stretches five miles from its downtown area to a disc golf course and dog park, making for a relaxing stroll.
Elizabethtown
Last but certainly not least is Elizabethtown(Etown for short), a historic, fun community featuring a range of attractions, both quirky and traditional. One such example is the Cannonball, a Civil War-era artillery piece left embedded in a building from a time when Confederate forces opened fire upon the city.
Etown is filled with fascinating historical artifacts, from classic cars at the Swope's Cars of Yesteryear Museum or the simple 1892 Summit One-Room Schoolhouse, once called the best school in the U.S. For anyone looking for an outdoor adventure, Etown has a wide range of activities. Go boating at Freeman Lake Park or enjoy a pleasant stroll at the Elizabethtown Nature Park. For anyone looking to cross an item off of a bucket list, there's tandem skydiving available at Skydive Kentucky.
Final Thoughts on Kentucky’s Small Towns
One common saying is 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder.' While that certainly is true, just about anyone would agree that these towns have some beautiful landscapes, art, and architecture. From the Old Kentucky Home of Bardstown to the Cumberland Falls of Corbin and the quilts of Paducah, these small towns radiate beauty and style. Whether you're travelling through or stopping in Kentucky, it's worth it to stay a while longer to see these cute towns for yourself.
