25 Places to Go in 2025 Spotlight: Lexington, Kentucky

The city is the capital of horseracing in the United States with 450 thoroughbred horse farms. The highlight for travelers is often the historic Keeneland racetrack and auction house. Try your luck with a bet on a race, or just enjoy the $93 million renovation to be completed in the fall that will unveil a new Paddock Building that puts racing fans close to the horses and jockeys as they go to the saddling paddock, as well as a rooftop bar that looks over the track and a speakeasy-style bar in the former Keeneland Library.

Stray from the horses for a spell and get outdoors at the new Gatton Park, also to open in the fall, that covers nine acres downtown. Play some pick up games on the recreational lawn, or catch a live performance in the amphitheater after a café stop and family adventure playground. Music lovers should check the 2025 schedules at Manchester Music Hall and The Burl. The newly completed, 5.5-mile Town Branch Commons trail will pass through Gatton Park and connect downtown to the 25-acre Distillery District.

Speaking of the Distillery District, the 14 bourbon distilleries in Lexington are destinations in themselves — think James E. Pepper Distillery and Barrel House Distillery. Or stay in the center of Lexington to visit the Fresh Bourbon tasting room, one of the state’s first Black-owned bourbon distilleries, or sip selections from one of the largest bourbon collections in the world at Bluegrass Tavern. You’ll need food to fuel up for both the outdoors and the drinking, and both traditional and innovative Southern food is easy to find among the city’s 120 locally owned restaurants, including at places like the elevated dishes at OBC Kitchen or the Sri Lankan-Southern food at TukTuk Snack Shop run by James Beard nominated chef Samantha Fore. For a completely food-focused trip, plan your dates around the SoulFeast Week festival in June dedicated to Black-owned restaurants.

There are hotels to choose from in Lexington that have a longstanding reputation of catering to the horse and bourbon audiences, but also a new addition in 2025: The Manchester, central Kentucky’s first luxury boutique hotel that draws guests in with a bespoke bottle shop, private distillery tours, polo lessons, the 1960s-inspired rooftop bar Lost Palm, and classic Appalachian cuisine at Granddam.