BEREA - Located 35 miles south of Lexington just off I-75 where the Bluegrass meets the mountains in northern Madison County, Berea is known as the "Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky." With a variety of unique restaurants, along with its blend of Southern hospitality and Appalachian tradition, Berea is the perfect place for visitors to relax, visit with the area's many craftspeople and gallery owners, or learn about the city's rich Black history, which dates back to the beginning of Berea College in 1855. Read more about Berea College in the Higher Education Section. For more information, visit www.berea.com.
GEORGETOWN - Located just ten miles north of Lexington, Georgetown in Scott County is noted for its profusion of historic houses and perhaps the finest antique shopping in the state, it is also one of Kentucky's fastest growing communities and the American home of Toyota's Camry, Solara, and Avalon production facility. Each August, Georgetown is also host to the Cincinnati Bengals' training camp. For more information, visit www.georgetownky.com
Midway - The city Midway in Woodford County was built by the Lexington and Ohio Railroad in 1831. The site was also known as Middleway. Midway is the home of Midway College. Chartered in 1847, Midway College is an independent liberal arts college for women. Railroad Street, centered around railroad tracks, features Victorian-style antique shops, gift boutiques and restaurants. In 2001, Midway had a population of 1,620. For more, visit www.woodfordchamber-ky.com.
Nicholasville - Located less than two miles to the South of Lexington, Jessamine County was formed in 1798 when it was separated from Fayette County. Its county seat, Nicholasville, also was formed in 1798, and was named for Revolutionary War Col. George Nicholas. Another one of the state's fastest-growing places to live and work, over 41,000 people call Jessamine County home. Meanwhile, nearby Wilmore (population 5,905) is home to Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary. For more information, visit www.jessamineco.com or www.nicholasvilletourism.com.
ParisAbout 17 miles Northeast of Lexington, Paris is the county seat of Bourbon County. The main connecting road between Paris and Lexington is Paris Pike (KY 68/27), which was recently expanded to four-lanes. Bourbon County was one of nine counties that made up Kentucky when it became a state in 1792. Downtown Paris is filled with shops and restaurants utilizing the historic buildings that line both sides of Main St. The downtown area, which includes one of the most intact Victorian-era Main Streets in the state, recently underwent a million dollar facelift and now sports antique lighting and brick sidewalks. For more information, visit www.parisky.com.
Richmond - Founded in 1798, Richmond is now one of Kentucky's fastest-growing cities with nearly 30,000 people inside the city limits and 71,000 within the county. Located in Madison County, Richmond is home to Eastern Kentucky University, two major industrial parks, Fort Boonesborough State Park, and Richmond Raceway. With over 100 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and three National Register Historic Districts, downtown Richmond is considered one of the state's finest restored 19th century commercial districts. For more information, visit www.richmond-ky.com.
Versailles - The seat of Woodford County, Versailles is located on U.S. 60 and U.S. 62. The town was established in 1792, and later incorporated in 1837, on the site of an earlier community called Falling Springs. Versailles offers a wealth of historic southern homes and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's population stood at 7,511 in 2001. Versailles was also the home of Albert B. "Happy" Chandler, twice governor of Kentucky (1935-39, 1955-59). For more information, visit www.versaillesky.com or www.woodfordchamber-ky.com.
Winchester - The city of Winchester in Clark County sits in the middle of Daniel Boone country just 20 miles to the East of Lexington. The legendary pioneer founded Fort Boonesborough in 1775, and the city of Winchester commemorates the occasion annually during its Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival held during Labor Day weekend. Winchester features one of the nation's few intact Victorian downtowns, complete with antique shops and restaurants. For much more, visit www.winchesterky.com.