With the high cost of gasoline making airline and long-distance automobile travel outside of many people’s budget, shorter trips are increasingly in demand. For those in the commonwealth and surrounding states who can’t make it to the South of France or even to South Carolina this year, we offer a solution.
Bardstown is worth the drive – whether you are coming for a day, a weekend or even a week.
What is it about this small town just a 45-minute drive from Louisville and 60 minutes from Lexington that makes it a desirable destination for so many travelers?
For bourbon and history lovers, the answer is obvious.
Bourbon enthusiasts can develop an entire itinerary around touring and tasting at the 11 major distilleries within 16 miles of downtown Bardstown.That means industry giants such as Maker’s Mark Distillery, Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience and James B. Beam Distilling Co. as well as more recent additions such as Willett, Lux Row, and Preservation distilleries and Bardstown Bourbon Company. We are, after all, known as the “Bourbon Capital of the World.”
Should you wish to delve deeper into our bourbon culture, you can sign up for a class at the Bourbon Academy or tour the Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History, both located in the historic 1826 Spalding Hall.
Speaking of history, Bardstown certainly has it. With frontier roots dating back to the 18th century, the city has nearly 200 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places.You will find the oldest stagecoach stop west of the Allegheny Mountains (Old Talbott Tavern) and the oldest standing cathedral in America (Basilica of St. Joseph Proto Cathedral).
We also have a plantation that was home to three governors (Wickland), and another (Federal Hill) that inspired songwriter Stephen Foster to pen the state’s anthem, “My Old Kentucky Home.”
In Bardstown you’ll find Kentucky’s largest collection of Civil War artifacts in the Civil War Museum of the Western Theatre, and an African-American Heritage Museum housed in an 1812 brick church – the first of its kind west of the Appalachian Mountains.
With a mix of settlers, outlaws, bourbon barons, Catholic priests, enslaved people bound for emancipation and incarcerated people bound for the gallows, you could say that Bardstown is one big history lesson waiting to be taught.
This rich history has led to an equally rich architectural legacy seen in the numerous beautiful buildings throughout the town. More than a third of the buildings in the downtown historic district feature Federal and Georgian architecture (circa 1780 - 1850), so make sure there’s plenty of film in your camera or storage on your phone.
The limestone and timber Old Talbott Tavern and the rustic stone of the Jailer’s Inn (once the Nelson County jail) represent pioneer-era architecture.
Wickland is a classic example of Georgian style, while Federal Hill plantation and the Basilica of St. Joseph represent Federal-style architecture at its finest.
But we also have Greek Revival (Bourbon Manor Bed and Breakfast dating to 1820); antebellum (seen in a number of private homes) and Victorian (the late 19th century Romanesque Revival Nelson County Courthouse in the town center).
Another reason Bardstown holds such appeal for visitors tired of big box stores and chain restaurants is the sheer number of locally owned and operated businesses (approximately 45 at last count). From shops such as Cactus Annie’s (Boho and Western-inspired fashion), Barrel Pick Confections (hand-made gourmet chocolates) and Boone’s Butcher Shop to dining and drinking establishments (Garage Coffee Roastery, Hadorn’s Bakery, The Rickhouse and Mammy’s Kitchen & Bar), the emphasis is on family – both the families that own them and the families they serve.
That’s certainly the case at Mammy’s Kitchen & Bar, according to owner Christy Clark, who says any visit to her popular downtown eatery “is personalized, not corporate.” Whether you’re getting their daily specials or their special pies, they prepare it just for you – “as if you’re company coming to visit an old friend or family member,” says Clark. She adds that this is a philosophy held not just by the staff at Mammy’s, but by every locally owned and family operated business, be it boutique or bakery, jewelry store or restaurant.
Aside from customizing the experience for their visitors, Clark insists that all merchants subscribe to the DOWNHOME touch. “Our story is part of the charm, and we work diligently to bring our history to the forefront,” she says, “and that makes for a memorable experience.”
While bourbon, architecture and a walkable downtown filled with one-of-a-kind businesses are tangible assets, other factors that contribute to Bardstown’s appeal are intangible, but just as important in making the destination a must-visit. The slower pace lets visitors truly relax and unwind. If you want to sit under a shade tree and listen to the sighing of the wind at My Old Kentucky Home State Park, that’s just fine with us.
If you want to stop in for a taste of our signature elixir in the bar of the Old Talbott Tavern, rest assured – no one will rush you. They are more likely to stop by your table and let you know you are having your Old-Fashioned in the oldest bourbon bar in America (serving satisfied customers from politician Henry Clay to outlaw Jesse James since 1779).
Bardstown also gets rave reviews for its Southern hospitality and welcoming atmosphere. Who would know more about hospitality than a hotel general manager? Tim Alsip, GM at the Fairfield Inn, dispenses a double dose of hospitality along with the hotel room keys. “We’re proud of what we have in Bardstown and equally proud to show it off to our guests,” he says, adding that “we treat you as if you were visiting your grandmother’s house, with that same cozy, comfortable feel.”
With bourbon, history, architecture, a walkable downtown filled with one-of-a-kind shops and family-owned businesses and the kind of hospitality only a small Southern town possesses, you may find that one visit is just not enough to take in all that Bardstown has to offer.
Just ask Stacey Phelps, President of the Bardstown/Nelson County Tourist Commission. “There’s always another story to be told and another experience waiting around the corner,” says Phelps. “We want visitors to come for the bourbon, stay for the charm, and leave already planning their next trip.”
For more information on Bardstown go to www.visitbardstown.com