11 Of The Most Adorable Small Towns In Kentucky
If you're looking for an adorable small town, the Bluegrass state of Kentucky is just the place to be. This Mid-Southern state has cute communities with beautiful backdrops all throughout its borders. For example, there's a town where KFC was founded that also features the best waterfall west of the Niagara. Other towns here have other picturesque locales to explore ranging from an old religious community to the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln and the biggest canyon east of the Mississippi River. Here are 11 of the most adorable small towns in Kentucky that are worth checking out.
Corbin
Corbin is a hidden gem located next to two of Kentucky's unique attractions. First off, it was the birthplace of the recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken. Colonel Harland Sanders set up his first café here later in life, which is proof that anyone can reinvent themselves no matter how old they might be. Today, you can visit the site of the original café at the Harland Sanders Café & Museum and pick up your very own Kentucky Fried souvenir.
Another attraction is the awe-inspiring Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. Home to 17 miles of hiking trail and a 125-foot curtain of water, this park is worth exploring. In fact, on the night of a full moon, you might see a moonbow reflected in the mist of the waterfall. Other fun excursions are in town, such as the Pinball Museum of Corbin and Gerry's Roller Rink.
London
London is an outdoor lover's paradise, especially for cyclists. It's called the cycling capital of Kentucky for its several trails through both rural paved roads and off-road into the wilderness. Outdoor adventures abound in London, such as the Laurel Fork Trail, which runs along the Laurel River Lake and offers great views at the larger Sheltowee Trace National Recreational Trail. There is also an old Civil War battlefield from 1861 at Battle Camp Wildcat, where you can explore old trenches or see reenactments of the vicious battle.
Meanwhile, the Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park is another great spot for history lovers as it contains the Mountain Life Museum and McHargue's Mill, with one of the largest collections of historic millstones. Bargain hunters will want to stop in at one of London's flea markets such as Flea Land, which has more than 500 booths.
Georgetown
Georgetown is the fastest-growing town in Kentucky, and that's in no small part due to its adorable landmarks mixed with bustling industry. It got on the map due to the Toyota Factory in town, which offers tours through the Toyota Kentucky Experience Center, a tram ride that takes visitors through the plant and shows mint condition classic cars. The most adorable attraction in town has a lot more horsepower than Toyota at the Old Friends Retired Thoroughbred Farm. Here, guests can interact with retired Kentucky Derby Horses and feed these champs a snack.
There are plenty of other cute attractions in Georgetown such as the whimsical Ward Hall, an 1857 Greek Revival mansion home to the scandalous Sallie Ward. After, grab some locally squeezed apple cider from the Evans Orchard and Cider Mill.
Elizabethtown
Commonly called Etown, Elizabethtown has one of the most charming downtown areas in Kentucky, filled with equal parts historic curiosities and cutesy shops and restaurants. One quirky attraction is an old cannonball that was embedded in a building from the Civil War and has been kept in the same spot all these years later. Visitors can learn about this Civil War history at the Hardin County History Museum. Or, tour a beautiful 1825 Georgian mansion, the Brown-Pusey House, which is also home to a well-maintained garden and a genealogical library.
After a day of exploring, relax with gelato made from locally sourced milk at The Dreamery or take a gift back home from the Denizen shop, owned by two sisters. For outdoor activities, go for a leisurely stroll at the Elizabethtown Nature Park next to Freeman Lake.
Pikeville
One of the best areas of Kentucky is in the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern part of the state. Pikeville, in particular, is one of the cutest towns in that region, but it does hide a dark secret. Pikeville was the center of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud, where two families engaged in a murderous struggle over land, livestock, and honor. By taking a historic tour of the area, you can see many of the sites of the feud, such as the Randolph McCoy Homeplace & Well, the Hog Trial Cabin, and the Historic Pike County Courthouse.
Pikeville is also close to one of the most beautiful parks in Kentucky, Breaks Interstate Park, which contains one of the deepest gorges east of the Mississippi River. In town, you can see the very best of Appalachian-style plays and performances at The Appalachian Center for the Arts.
Hodgenville
Hodgenville is a cute town that lovingly preserves the birthplace of one of America's most famous presidents: Abraham Lincoln. The town has several Lincoln-themed experiences. One is the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace, which includes the Birthplace Unit and the Boyhood Home Unit. The latter has a log cabin and the Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center, with multiple exhibits of his family's time in Kentucky. The other is the Lincoln Museum, which catalogues the President's entire life from his birth in Kentucky to his death at Ford's Theater.
Other cute places in Hodgenville to explore include McDougal Lake and the trails of Knob Creek Conservancy. Lastly, visit one of the longest-standing traditions in Hodgenville: the Lincoln Jamboree, which hosts shows and events throughout the week.
Harrodsburg
Harrodsburg is the oldest founded town in Kentucky, going back to 1774. As such, it has multiple cute historic attractions that will enchant visitors of all kinds. As it was originally a fort, Harrodsburg has built a replica of the settlement at the Old Fort Harrod State Park. At this park, you can explore recreated blockhouses and cabins with authentic 18th-century furniture, or you can see the Lincoln Marriage Temple, where Abraham Lincoln's parents were married.
Another beautiful historic place in Harrodsburg is the Shaker Village. Originally inhabited by the celibate religious community who would go into "shaking fits" when under the Holy Spirit's control, today you can explore historic buildings, hike through a nature preserve, and enjoy farm-to-table food. Speaking of farms, you'll want to visit the Black Watch Alpacas to see these fascinating South American creatures up close and grab a free finger puppet from the farm's store.
La Grange
La Grange is a cute town just outside of Louisville, Kentucky that makes for a great day trip for anyone staying in the big city. This town was an important stop on the Nashville-Louisville Railroad, which can be seen all throughout La Grange at places such as the La Grange Railroad Museum, home to multiple vintage dining cars and massive model railroad lines. Another railroad attraction is the Main Street Train, which goes through the downtown area up to 30 times daily.
This town is filled with adorable classic attractions like the blast from the past Sauerbeck Family Drive-In or the FRP LaGrange Quarry, a spring-fed lake that is one of the best places to take a floatie out onto the water in Kentucky.
Paducah
Paducah is one of the most creative and adorable towns in Kentucky. You don't have to take our word for it; UNESCO named Paducah as a Creative City, an honor only given to a few around the world. This creativity can be felt all around Paducah, especially at The National Quilting Center. Here you can see classic and modern quilts or learn from experts during regularly held workshops. Paducah also regularly hosts Broadway productions, entertainers, dance acts, and more at The Carson Center.
From downtown, you can get on the Greenway Trail, a more than five-mile scenic hiking and biking trail that connects up to the Stuart Nelson Park's disc golf course. If you are looking for something more adrenaline-inducing, go to the 1/8-mile track at the Beacon Dragway, which is perfect for catching a drag race.
Cave City
Cave City contains one of Kentucky's greatest natural treasures: the Mammoth Cave National Park. With these majestic caves, there are a number of passages to explore and tours to take based on your interests. For example, those with a deep interest in geology can take the River Styx Tour to learn about how the caves formed, whereas those who want to see a unique frozen waterfall can go on the Frozen Niagara Tour.
There are a number of other intriguing attractions in and around Cave City, such as Kentucky Stonehenge, a loving recreation of the original in the U.K., or Dinosaur World, a fun place filled with life-sized dinosaur replicas and animatronics. There are also quite a few locally owned restaurants in Cave City with rave reviews, such as Bucky Bees BBQ of Cave City.
Berea
Looking for an adorable craft to take home with you? Berea is just the place to visit. This town is renowned as the Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky, and there's all manner of local artists and craftsmen happy to show and sell their wares at places like the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen or the Kentucky Artisan Center, which houses works from more than 800 artisans.
Much of the inspiration for these crafts comes from the beautiful Appalachian landscape that surrounds Berea, which you can explore yourself by going for a hike at The Pinnacles. These two overlooks give some of the best views of the Bluegrass Region, and are conveniently located within the Berea College Forest. By going to the John B. Stephenson Memorial Forest, you can see the 75-foot waterfall, Anglin Falls, along with beautiful wildflowers along the trail.
Big Adventures in Small Kentucky Towns
These adorable small towns will keep you entertained and enraptured by their variety of experiences. Enjoy a day of shopping in Etown or explore the best of local craftsmanship and quilting in Berea or Paducah. Of course, there's plenty of natural wonders to see here too, from the Cumberland Falls to The Pinnacles (one of Kentucky's best-rated hikes). Life never gets boring in these 11 adorable small towns of Kentucky.
