13 Most Peaceful Small Towns In Kentucky
Kentucky, a winsomely pretty, single-landlocked American Southeast state, makes an indelible impression on visitors with its billowing bluegrass fields, internationally acclaimed bourbon whiskey, the famed Kentucky Derby, and the one-of-a-kind Kentucky Fried Chicken. Strewn between the rolling hills, man-made lakes, navigable waterways, and lush woodlands are numberless peaceful small towns that are optimistic getaways where the pace of life slows down sufficiently to let you breathe. Fusing nonpareil natural beauty, storied heritage, distinctive cultures, warm Southern hospitality, and above all, stress-free living, these welcoming communities are some bona fide escape spots in the forthcoming Christmastime.
Berea
A placid, arts-driven small community in Madison County, Berea, is one of Kentucky’s expeditiously growing communities located directly on the margin of the Cumberland Plateau, roughly 14 miles south of Richmond. Apart from being home to the principal campus of Berea College, this ‘Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky’ is distinguished for its antiquated architecture, spirited artistic sphere, and outstanding culinary establishments.
Trek the endless miles of conspicuous trails at the Berea Pinnacles, proffering panoramic overlooks of the surrounding area, shop for artfully crafted woodworking items at the Cabin of Old Town Artisan Gallery in the Artisan Village District, and sample delectable regional specialties at the Historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant.
Somerset
Somerset, christened after its homonymous county in New Jersey, is an eye-catching Pulaski County town set on the Pennyroyal Plateau’s eastern tip. Seamlessly integrating small-town allure with an unruffled lake-country ambience, this 11,924-inhabitant town’s biggest draw and economic engine is the Lake Cumberland reservoir created by the Wolf Creek Dam’s construction on the Cumberland River. Throughout the year, this hydraulic bulk provides plentiful water-based recreational activities such as fishing, boating, swimming, kayaking, etc., not only for Somerset’s residents but for all those residing in and sojourning the entire south-central region of Kentucky.
Explore the revitalized Downtown Square’s gift shops like A Bazaar Universe, and eateries like The Urban Stillhouse Somerset, centered around the iconic Fountain Square Park. Spare time to discover the amazing river gorges, rock bluffs, natural arches, and peculiar hoodoos in the proximate Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area.
Bardstown
Nelson County’s administrative capital, Bardstown, occupies the Outer Bluegrass region in Central Kentucky, approximately 39 miles southeast of Louisville. Celebrated as the ‘Bourbon Capital of the World,’ wine connoisseurs who wish to see bourbon making first-hand must take guided tours of the three operating distilleries: the Barton 1792 Distillery, the Lux Row Distilleries, and Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., at this inaugural stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Wander through the town, exploring some notable sites of interest, such as the Bardstown Historical Museum, which displays American Civil War and Native American weapons and artifacts inside the Spalding Hall building. Also, pay a visit to the Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History, narrating the rich history of American Whiskey from Colonial days to the 1960s through the various Whiskey artifacts, and the Old Talbott Tavern, which was built in 1779 and is the nation’s still-operational oldest western stagecoach stop.
London
This delightful small town, titled ‘London,’ honoring the English heritage of the land donors, is the government seat of southeastern Kentucky’s Laurel County. Abutted by pristine wilderness and aqueous units, plus crosscut by plenty of trails, London gives visitors unrestricted access to the adjacent natural reserve of the Daniel Boone National Forest and the coves and cliff-lined shores of the Laurel River Lake.
In keeping with its catchphrase, the ‘Cycling Capital of Kentucky,’ London’s first-class cycling routes in the Appalachian foothills lure cycling enthusiasts from around the world. History mavens must not miss scouring the Camp Wildcat Battlefield, where one of the American Civil War’s earliest engagements took place. Trekkers get to hike the 354-mile-long Sheltowee Trace that spans both the Daniel Boone National Forest and the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area.
Danville
Dubbed the ‘City of Firsts’ for being the foundation site of Kentucky statehood, Danville, the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area’s chief town, is located about 36 miles southwest of Lexington in the Bluegrass region of Central Kentucky. Take a stroll through the quiet grounds of the 3-acre Constitution Square Historic Site, noting the carefully preserved historical monuments that inform visitors on the state’s early history. The scenic 152-acre campus of the neighboring Centre College, featuring foliage-lined pathways and Old Centre, the oldest continuously functioning academic building west of the Alleghenies, is ideal for peaceful strolls.
Furthermore, all year round, phenomenal visual and performing arts events are held in Centre College’s Norton Center for the Arts, whereas the antique residence of pioneer surgeon Dr. Ephraim McDowell, currently maintained as the Ephraim McDowell House Museum, remains open every day for personally guided tours.
Harrodsburg
Founded as ‘Harrod’s Town’ by James Harrod and his company of adventurers, Harrodsburg is the center of administration of Mercer County, honored by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the ‘oldest permanent US settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains.’ Travelers are especially drawn to Harrodsburg’s multitudinous historical sites, such as the Old Fort Harrod State Park, featuring a full-scale replica of Fort Harrod in addition to several other attractions. Close by, the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, spread over 3,000 acres, comprises 34 original Shaker structures.
Addedly, explore the peerless Kentucky River Palisades by riverboat, go see the Morgan Row - considered to be Kentucky’s oldest row house, and inspect the Downtown’s sundry classic treasures stores like Rags To Riches Antique Center & Flea Mall, and boutiques like Brooke’s Boutique.
Shelbyville
Established in October 1792, this 17,282-resident Shelby County seat sits on the U.S. Route 60 Highway to the north of Interstate 64, within close range of the county’s kernel. When in Shelbyville, soak in the equestrian heritage of the ‘American Saddlebred Capital of the World,’ at Red Orchard Park, a 131-acre park with hiking & equestrian trails, horse rings, a playground, and a rentable barn for hosting events. For a dose of local history, the Shelby County Historical Society Museum, housed in a 1872 Italianate Presbyterian Manse building, is a must-visit. Likewise, procure fine English antiques from the Downtown’s Wakefield-Scearce Gallery, and savor appetizing Southern-style fare served at the Claudia Sanders Dinner House.
Glasgow
The principal settlement of the Glasgow Micropolitan Statistical Area, Glasgow, named for the Scottish birthplace of the father of Senator William Logan, is the administrative hub of south-central Kentucky’s Barren County. Walk down this 15,014-resident town’s South Green Street, paying attention to the incalculable scrupulously conserved historic edifices such as the antebellum Theodosia Hall House, which highlights the architectural richness of the area.
Learn more about the interesting backstory of the Barrens region through the myriad quality exhibits exhibited at the Museum of the Barrens (South Central Kentucky Cultural Center). Have a good time while hiking, nature picture-taking, and birdwatching at the Brigadoon State Nature Preserve alongside the Barren River Lake. In the heart of the town, the 1,020-seat Plaza Theatre is an adored venue for live concerts by national, regional, and local performing artists.
La Grange
An attractive residential community, labeled for Marquis de Lafayette’s French estate, La Grange is the Oldham County seat, situated precisely 25 miles northeast of the state’s most populous city. La Grange’s central attraction is the CSX Transportation street-running main railway line that passes right through the Downtown core, where visitors can attentively watch the running freight trains every day.
Peruse the fascinating collection of railroad artifacts and interactive exhibits that tell stories about the great heritage of transportation at La Grange Railroad Museum & Learning Center. In the La Grange Historic District, check out the beautifully maintained historic properties like the Oldham County Courthouse and mind-blowing artworks in the Gallery 104 art gallery. Spend quality time with dear ones in the inviting picnic areas, serene fishing lakes, and the wonderfully kept playgrounds of Wilborn Park.
Grand Rivers
Home to just 345 inhabitants as per the 2020 census, Grand Rivers is an aesthetically pleasing lakefront community in Livingston County, set on a narrow strip of land between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Aside from the peaceful shorelines and copious outdoor activities at the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area, holidaymakers at Grand Rivers are fascinated by the Downtown’s antique stores like the Grand Rivers Antiques and homey restaurants like Patti’s 1880’s Settlement, serving gastronomes far-famed 2-inch pork chops and mile-high meringue pies. Likewise, watch live musical performances at the Badgett Playhouse, and enjoy magnificent views of the Kentucky Lake while rambling the Grand Rivers Walking Trail that takes one from the Grand Rivers Jetty at Lighthouse Landing through downtown and finally ends at the Little Lake Park.
Greenville
Baptized in adoration of Major-General Nathanael Greene, Greenville, is the shiretown of Muhlenberg County, situated in the hilly western Kentucky, bordered to the northeast by the home rule-class city of Powderly. Excursionists must begin their tour of this town at the Historic Downtown Square, developed around the Beaux-Arts designed Muhlenberg County Courthouse, and chock-full of quirky gift shops like On Main and restaurants like The Lantern Restaurant & Bar serving scrumptious cuisines.
Additionally, stop by the Ephraim Brank Memorial, the solitary sculpture in the state memorializing the War of 1812, at the Muhlenberg County Veterans Mall & Plaza. Hikers, horseback riders, and bikers should traverse the 6-mile-long multi-use Muhlenberg County Rail-Trail, and drive to the nearby Lake Malone State Park to access the quiet hiking trails, picnic areas, campsites, and swimming areas surrounding the 788-acre Lake Malone.
Hodgenville
Constituting a part of the Elizabethtown-Fort Knox Metropolitan Statistical Area, this town in LaRue County, named for the local miller Robert Hodgen, is located by the North Fork of the 104-mile-long Nolin River. Widely known as Abraham Lincoln’s native land, vacationers at Hodgenville can find out more about the legacy of the 16th US President while touring the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, which preserves two separate farm sites (the Sinking Spring Site and the Knob Creek Site) where the future President was born and dwelt during his early years.
The Downtown Lincoln Museum allows visitors to trace the life of President Lincoln through varied artifacts and an impressive assortment of wax figures. For families and outdoor enthusiasts, the CreekFront Park provides a tranquil space for leisurely walks by the creek, enjoying picnics, and appreciating the loveliness of the ambient scenery.
Brownsville
Set along the winding Green River in south-central Kentucky, Brownsville, the county seat of Edmonson County, and a certified Kentucky Trail Town, forms a part of the Bowling Green Metropolitan Statistical Area. Limited by softly curving hills and thick forests, the town is close to the western extremity of Mammoth Cave National Park, which covers portions of the planet’s longest known cave system, the Mammoth Cave, besides offering guided cave tours, boating in Green and Nolin Rivers, hiking and bicycling trails, and camping activities.
History buffs can survey the National Register-listed Reed-Dossey House, constructed around 1890 in the vernacular late Victorian architecture, and at present, maintained as a family-centered bed & breakfast. Sample specialty coffee drinks made with locally processed fresh organic beans at the BGB Café & Coffeehouse. Head to the Emo Meredith City Park for family gatherings, picnics, or just relaxing amidst the verdant greens.
From Berea’s artsy vibes to more than a century-old Shaker settlement in Harrodsburg, the most halcyon towns in the Bluegrass State are not mere geographical locations; they are invitations to blissful havens perfect for slackening and reconnecting with the simple pleasures of day-to-day life. If you are enthusiastic about sampling the best Bourbon Whiskey from the distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, behold President Lincoln’s homeland in Hodgenville, make purchases from an extensive repertoire of handcrafted items at Berea’s Artisan Village District, and experience joy with amicable townspeople in recreational areas, each of these thirteen quiescent communities in Kentucky prompts you to spend your relaxing break here.
