This Is The Most Welcoming Town In Kentucky
A study from the American Psychological Association found that over half of US adults feel isolated often or some of the time. While disconnection appears to be on the rise, some communities are actively working to keep residents engaged, with today’s spotlight falling on La Grange, Kentucky.
Established in the early 19th century and developing into a major railroad hub, this town of around 10,000 sits about half an hour outside Louisville, today hosting chocolate crawls, farmers’ markets, and summer concerts that bring the community together. Complementing these events are its countryside inns, coffee shops, and farms that provide a remarkable level of hospitality. La Grange is waiting for you this year, and the following events and places are just where you will want to be.
Community Events On Main
People in La Grange know how to have a good time, and its numerous events throughout the year are proof. Chocolate lovers are going to want to pay attention to the first event of the year: The Chocolate Crawl. Taking place on February 7 this year, attendees will be able to pop into different businesses around town, receiving sweet treats in their goodie bag, and voting for their chocolatey favorite in the visitor center at the end!
Some events in La Grange are recurring, such as the La Grange Farmers’ Market & Artisans, which runs on Saturday mornings from April to October and features all kinds of local produce, meat, and crafts. For some free music, you can also plan your visit to La Grange when they host their Trackside Tunes concert series, which takes place on the First Friday of the Month from June through September.
There is no better way to wrap up the year than by joining one of La Grange’s holiday events! The festivities kick off around Halloween with the spirited Halloween MAINia festival and ghost tours. Come December, Light Up La Grange fills the town with holiday cheer, featuring gingerbread house competitions, mulled cider and hot chocolate sipping, letters to Santa, and, of course, a spectacular tree-lighting ceremony.
All Things Trains
La Grange’s community quite literally revolves around the rails, with up to 20 trains passing through Main Street each day. As such, no travel story here would be complete without a stop at its railroad attractions. The La Grange Railroad Museum & Learning Center is the best place to learn about the town’s railroad heritage, home to an intricate model railroad, a dining car, a caboose, and more.
The center also plays a key role in bringing families together, offering monthly educational programs for kids, including a weekly playgroup for children up to five and a story time on the second Friday of each month, featuring stories, songs, and crafts.
Dining And Sipping
Make sure to come hungry, because La Grange’s restaurants will definitely be serving up something delicious. If your mornings always start with a coffee, you will love LaGrange Coffee Roasters, a family-owned shop serving artisan-roasted specialty coffees, espresso, and homemade scones. For some hearty comfort food, grab lunch at One Nineteen West Main, where you can enjoy your meal while watching the trains roll by. The menu features burgers, Reuben sandwiches, smoked gouda mac and cheese, New York strips, and spicy ahi tuna steaks. Although not directly in La Grange’s city limits, you should also consider making the 15-minute drive out to Barn8. Located on Hermitage Farm, this incredible restaurant and bourbon bar serves seasonal dishes prepared with produce grown right on the farm.
Countryside Hospitality
Nothing feels quite as hospitable as a countryside inn, and La Grange happens to have a couple of great ones. Pillow & Paddock Bed and Breakfast is the first one to have on your radar, situated on a six-acre estate, among the rolling hills, just north of La Grange. A scratch-made breakfast is served at the inn each morning, and there are plenty of cozy spaces where you can relax on the property, including a 1920’s movie theater, a speakeasy, and a game lounge. Bluegrass Country Estate is another lovely option, similarly north of town. Visitors will have access to some fantastic amenities in this bed and breakfast as well, such as a swimming pool, hot tub, workout room, theater room, and game room. If you are traveling with a horse, you can even reserve one of the comfy stalls in the estate’s horse barn!
La Grange's Friendly Neighbor
As hard as it may be to move on after such a warm welcome, another worthwhile stop waits just down the road. If you have an extra day to spare, Crestwood is less than 15 minutes southwest of La Grange and has an excellent distilling and brewing scene to check out. The Kentucky Artisan Distillery is a perfect example, located along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and serving as the production facility for much of Jefferson’s Bourbon. Here, you can tour the facilities between Tuesday and Saturday and taste some of the phenomenal bourbons it produces.
For a cold beer, you can also stop by 3rd Turn Oldham Gardens, a beer garden spanning over 1.5 acres, home to all kinds of unique spots to sit and sip. For more time outdoors, plan a few hours at Crestwood’s Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, where visitors can explore an eight-acre arboretum, newly renovated castle gardens, a cottage garden, a cut-flower garden, and many more landscaped spaces.
A Warm Welcome Awaits
Regardless of the time of year, a warm welcome awaits you in La Grange. In the winter, you will find warm coffee shops and chocolate festivals, while the summer brings farmers' markets, concerts, and sunny days in the countryside. The town has some pretty friendly neighbors, like Crestwood, that would be happy to receive you, as well! All you have to do is pick your travel dates and get ready to have a lovely time.
