A Weekend Trip in Shelby County Kentucky
About Shelby
Located in Kentucky's geographic center, Shelby County is a beautiful hour's drive from Lexington, past rolling pastures and horse farms. A great location, the county is known as the American Saddlebred Capital of the World while also a part of the infamous Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Shelby County is the most significant growth county in the Louisville metropolitan area.
This small town stays charming by offering an authentic Kentucky experience with continual economic growth.
Shelby is composed of many great towns that make this local community shine. Shelbyville is the largest in the county, making you feel right at home with a quaint Main Street filled with boutiques, shops, and restaurants. Simpsonville, the second largest urban area, reveals picturesque scenery on any drive and is home to the only designer Outlet Mall in the state.
Wake up to the smell of pastries baking when booking a night stay at the Saddlebred Suites. Offering a high-end boutique hotel lodging right in historic downtown Shelbyville. Great for a weekend getaway trip within the state, you can easily find it on Airbnb. The rental has four units, and the space provides two two-bedroom suites and two comfy studio apartments for the guests. The Airbnb also offers plenty of common area space with a sofa bed and three couches for any extra guests or family members.
Everything to do in the heart of Kentucky
Packing for my trip, I was most excited by the thought of getting back on a horse, and it fully lived up to my expectations and more. Upon arrival at the barn, Red Fern Riding Center was ready to go and had everything prepared, from a safety video for first-timers, knowledgeable guides and a demonstration of horse handling. Next, we had a lovely guided ride through the beautiful Shelby Trails Park, showcasing all Kentucky has to offer with big bluegrass hills and wooded forest trails. I can't wait to go back and take my friends!
After lunch, we saved the most infamous part of Kentucky for bourbon exploration. Jeptha Creed Distillery, located right inside Shelby County, is one of three female-owned bourbon distilleries in the state. Operated by a dynamic mother-and-daughter duo, the 64-acre farmland is home to the Bloody Butcher Corn, which they use in all liquor products.
Only four and half years old, the distillery is already ringing success stories with its ground-to-glass family business model and exceptional private tour event. In comparison, check out the brand-new glowing Bulleit Distillery, renovated during the COVID-19 pandemic. A different adventure altogether, with the luxurious, welcoming center and gift shop next to aesthetically pleasing Instagram-worthy backdrops (see below.) Book the Frontier Whiskey Experience with the Unlocking the Senses tasting at Bulleit Distillery. A fully immersive sensory encounter that explores the Bulleit portfolio using lights, sound, and scent bulbs and leaves you with that friendly, warm "Kentucky hug."
A must-see under-the-radar spot in Shelbyville is Lettleiki Icelandics, a comprehensive education center for the Icelandic Horse. The center consists of barns, stables, trails, arenas, tracks, and more for these friendly animals native to Iceland. Much like an American horse, the most significant difference is the smaller size, thicker fur, and calmer temperament. Fun fact two of the horses on their farm have won Breyer Horse Model of the Year. Icelandic horses are like large dogs and a fun comparison next to our winning racehorse thoroughbreds of Kentucky.
Food & Drink
Although small in size and charm, Shelby County does not lack in the culinary arts or spirits department. Grab coffee and breakfast downstairs from The Paddock after a restful night's stay at the Saddlebred Suites. The coffee and eats shop has a full coffee bar menu, small bites, and hand-made smoothies to satisfy any craving. If you are a coffee addict like I am, another good cafe to check out while you're there is Sixth and Main Coffeehouse, also on Main St.
Following a morning of aerobic activities around the county, check out Little Mount Lavender Company for a great shopping break meal. The cafe inside the shop has an excellent locally-sourced charcuterie, dish, and drink list. Make sure to order a lavender lemonade, frozen or with champagne! After lunch, peruse around the bakery and shop to get some treats to take home with you – I promise you won't regret it.
Another great spot to eat authentic-Kentucky, southern food right in town is at the Bell House. A historical time capsule, the building was built in 1902, and the bell out front was made in the mid-1800s. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Make sure to check out the Hot Brown if you visit. Then, try something different and grab a delicious dinner at Cafe 7021, a Vietnamese Bar & Grill serving authentic south Asian cuisine. Located in Simpsonville, you can't order wrong at this local-favorite restaurant.
Conclude your day with a nightcap right in town from The Red Lion at Science Hill. The history will enchant you just as much as the delicious food and drink there will too. Opening in 2017, Red Lion made its home as a pub and expanded into a formal dining room connected to the 200-year-old Science Hill building. The building was initially built to be a school for young women in the 1800s to learn, not the "sciences," something unheard of for women in that period. Today, you can find the Wakefield Scearce shops and the charming Red Lion bar.
Whether you’re a bourbon lover or horse extraordinaire ShelbyKY has it all for you to enjoy!