JohnR

I have very little to say about New Castle. I've only driven through the town a handful of times in the last couple decades, and there's no reason for me to start now. I don't much like the place. It's too small, with too few residents, and there's nothing to do here. My daughters used to call it Old Castle, because it feels older than some of the other towns nearby that are actually older. There's little to do, little to see, and few people to meet. That doesn't do a town many favors.

Want food? Good luck. There's a winery here, but not many restaurants. Hopefully you're a good cook. The same thing goes for bars, though I suppose you can hit up the winery for alcohol. Just don't expect to meet anyone there.

There is a country club that I believe you can golf at. I'm a big fan of golf, and I've never been to it. I suppose I just don't like New Castle enough to drive over to it.

The best thing about New Castle is that it's only about 35 miles from Louisville, so when you get super bored, which you will quickly, you can leave. Otherwise there's not much to do, see or enjoy. Sorry. I do not recommend it for anyone.

I don't know what the other reviewer was talking about, because I really like Leitchfield. I'll admit it's not quite as exciting a town as some others, and it's a bit isolated, but there's plenty to do here!

The population isn't abysmally low, so it ends up being a lot better area than many other small towns in out of the way areas. Yeah, it's a little far from some of Kentucky's bigger cities, but you can certainly have some fun!

First, as the other reviewer mentioned, there is some good golf in Leitchfield. Legacy Golf is in nearby Clarkson, and I've always loved it there. I don't get to enjoy this particular set of links very often, but when I do I always go home very happy to have made the trek. The course is fairly pretty and challenging enough without being too much of a struggle. It's great for a long day outdoors!

There aren't a ton of restaurants or bars in Leitchfield, but you have a handful of good smaller places, and B&B Brothers for Italian is quite good! I highly recommend it! For the most part I'm a Southern cooking kinda guy, with a great affinity for BBQ, but I will always have a soft spot for Italian, and B&B Brothers is some of the better Italian cooking I've had.

The one bad things about Leitchfield in my opinion is the schools. This is a great town for raising kids, but the lack of better schools and more options diminishes it. It's a safe town with reasonably priced real estate, but it's tough to get past the school system. It's not horrid or anything, but the average educational level in Leitchfield is fairly low as I understand it, and the schools aren't as much a focus as in some other areas.

Outside of that one caveat, I'd have to say Leitchfield is an absolutely stellar town. The population is big enough to keep you entertained for a good while, and the people are wonderful. You might be able to do better, but not a whole lot better. I recommend it!

Man, where to begin with Louisville! This is a big town with a ton to do. I don't think I can get terribly specific without missing the bigger picture of the city. Obviously, as this is the biggest city in Kentucky you're going to get a ton of different opinions about the place, and there are multiple sides to consider. For me, I like Louisville as a visitor/tourist. I'm in Lexington, which is one of the bigger cities in the state, but I wouldn't want to be in a city as large as Louisville. Not if I could help it.

My reasons are that I don't consider Louisville as friendly, though it's not super unfriendly, and there's more crime than I'd like. This is, of course, dependent on the neighborhood you live in, and should therefore be taken with a grain of salt. I've seen some rough areas, and while they're affordable, I wouldn't want to hang out there. The nicer areas are quite safe, but the proximity to rougher areas worries me. Cincinnati has similar areas, but not quite so bad as parts of Louisville.

The really interesting thing about Louisville is the nature of the town. It's both southern and northern. It depends on who you talk to. In some ways it's the hillbilly town of the north, and some will call it a northerner town pretending to be southern. This adds a lot of variety to the city, and makes it interesting to visit. You can experience a lot of different things in a single visit.

There are a lot of big sports fans in Louisville, and you will find a lot of people invested in the local minor league baseball teams, and many parents are super enthusiastic with their kids playing ball. This adds a lot to the city and makes it good for raising a family.

Of course, there are also good schools in Louisville. Not all are perfect, so make sure you check out you district before buying a place, but you'll find good public and private schools with ease. Simply put, there are too many people here to not have quality educational opportunities.

Likewise, the huge population breeds good restaurants. Not just in the city, but also in the surrounding suburbs, which I've heard referred to as Louisiana (it's on the border of Indiana, hence the name). You will find a ton of great places to eat in almost every style of food. Very good. Very eclectic.

I like Louisville, but I'm just a visitor, and a fairly infrequent one at that. I don't really suggest it, but that's more because I'm not a big fan of the size. If you're looking for an exciting place in Kentucky, this is the place to be!

Maysville is a nice little town about an hour from both Cincinnati and Lexington. I've driven up there on occasion, but it's not really directly between my home of Lexington and Cincinnati (which I have to visit for work on occasion) so I don't get here all that often. That said, the times I have visited have generally been successful. Maysville is clean, quiet and safe, with a fair amount to do, especially for a more isolated Kentucky town.

I suppose it's not completely fair to say it's isolated, as you're never too terribly far from Lexington or Cincinnati, but it's still out of the way enough to make you feel like you're not in some really loud, busy place.

I think one of the things I like most about Maysville is that it's such a physically lovely setting. The Ohio River is right there, and while I don't consider the town to be overly pretty because of the architecture, it's still quite a pretty place to visit, and no doubt this is a big help to those who live here. I find the town to be relaxing in general, and that's a huge benefit. Maybe I'm getting older, but I appreciate the laid back nature of the town.

When I visit I like to hit up Tumbleweed for some really good TexMex. I'm a big steak-eater, and they have some excellent steaks here. Nothing fancy, nothing out of the ordinary, but still very good. You see a few places like this around Kentucky, but there are far more BBQ joints, (which I love too, but they're more common and less exciting because of that) so I like to get a bite to eat here when I can.

I've also tried Pasquale's for pizza, but I've never been overly impressed. It's good pizza, but it's less special. I can't vouch for any other places in Maysville, but there are enough options that I don't think you'll go hungry.

There are a few good educational options in Maysville too, so if you're a parent or looking to continue your own education you won't struggel to find opportunities. I know there are a lot of online schools these days, but I still think getting in a classroom is important, so you can check out Maysville Community College to pick up a few new skills. If you're a parent the public schools are good, but the private schools are said to be better, especially St. Patrick's. Your mind has a good chance at developing in Maysville.

Overall I really enjoy Maysville. It's a bit out of the way, but it's also incredibly nice and there's both plenty to do and some great scenery to see! I recommend it for anyone, but especially families and retirees.

Lebanon is a little out of the way town with just enough of a population to give residents a fair bit to do while not being so big as to change the tone of the town or make it loud. You get a very quiet atmosphere here in Lebanon, but at the same time you also get a fair bit to do because of a population that's around 6,000. This makes me enjoy Lebanon more than some other out of the way Kentucky towns.

The first things I'll mention are the low cost of living and relative safety of Lebanon. It's a pretty isolated town, and while a few things go on with crime on occasion, it's a very safe place to be in general, and you'll be able to afford a nice place without breaking the bank. You can rent a place for less than $400 a month! That's super cheap and allows you to get a lot more bang for your buck! Try to find that in Lexington! No way!

Of course, once you live in Lebanon, you'll want to have places to eat and have some fun. There aren't a ton of options, but a few are available should you choose. Chasers is very nice, as is Stillhouse, but for me the place to check out is Myrtlebene B&B. I don't live in Lebanon, and it's far enough away for me not to visit very often, but I've spent a couple weekends with my wife at Myrtlebene and it's lovely.

If you're looking for some fun during a visit, check out the Maker's Mark Distillery Tour. Not only is Maker's Mark outstanding, the tour is very interesting and not like every other distillery tour. I highly recommend it.

In face, I recommend Lebanon in general. It's a bit out of the way, but there's enough to do to have some fun, and you can always get a good drink and find a place to eat. I doubt I'll ever live here, but I'll definitely be back!

The other reviewer had a lot right about Williamstown. This is a really fun small town a little ways north of my Lexington. This gives it a bit of traffic, though it's by no means busy.

I want to run through the basics first: Williamstown is very nice, very clean and safe as heck. Like most of the local small towns the cost of living is extremely low so you don't have to worry about hunting for a cheap place. There are plenty around, and most of your local amenities are pretty affordable. One thing that's really nice about Williamstown is that while the cost of living is low, people still make a decent living here. It's not a rich area by any means, but it's not half bad. The median household income is $33,000, and for families it's $44,800. That's not too shabby. You can get a whole heck of a lot with that kind of money.

Jim was right to say that Heritage Days are a lot of fun. I used to make the short drive every year for Heritage Days with my daughters, and it was incredibly fun. The community in Williamstown really supported it well. I've always been happy with Williamstown's great local flavor.

You would do very well with a family in Williamstown. It's a quiet, safe place to live, and while I don't think it's the most exciting place on Earth, you can build an incredibly comfortable life here.

Walton is between Cincinnati and Lexington, though far closer to Cincinnati. I'd certainly say it's a suburb of the biggest nearby city, and that's a good thing. I suppose the best thing about Walton is that it has plenty going on, and if you do become bored by the local bars and restaurants you're not too far from Cincinnati and can make a quick drive to a more exciting area.

What complements the amenities in Walton is the more rural look and feel of the town. You'll get the scenic country setting while not being truly isolated like some other parts of Kentucky. You're definitely going to enjoy the beautiful landscapes around you.

For amenities, you have a fair number. You can get some decent Chinese at Raymond's, above average Mexican at El Toro Bravo or Rio Grande, and pizza at quite a few different local pizza parlors. There aren't enough upper class restaurants for my tastes, but at the same time I really like the down home style of cooking and simpler foods that you'll find in abundance in Walton. You may not have the best possible options in Walton, but you won't starve either.

The Walton Community Park is pretty good, with soccer fields and basketball courts to help you stay active, and the local schools are decent. The local public school is in Verona, but the middle school and high school are actually in Walton, so that's a plus. I'm not in love with Walton, but it's a good place to raise kids, and parents won't be too bored. You'll be safe and comfortable.

I do not like Stanford all that much. I've only been there a few times, though my first visit was more than 20 years ago. Perhaps it was because I was a younger man and more interested in having a good time than finding a normal, safe place to live, but I was bored out of my mind with Stanford. In my subsequent visits I've never been impressed or happy with Stanford, and my initial feeling has been reinforced.

For food, there's very little to enjoy. The Kentucky Depot is fine, though it's boring and lacks both unique options and exceptional quality to separate it from much of what other Kentucky towns have to offer. Other than that there are a few basic pizza joints, but nothing else of much note. I've never been happy with the dining options in Stanford.

If the food seems scarce, the nightlife is worse. There's nothing to do at night in Stanford but sit at home and watch TV. Not a happening place at all. If you're single expect to struggle to find fun.

The one thing I'll give Stanford is that it's safe. Quiet as heck, but safe. You might get bored, but you'll get bored safely, and that helps quite a bit. Otherwise don't expect to love it here.

Versailles is a wonderful town about 12 miles West of Lexington and not too far south from Frankfort. This geographic location is a big part of why I visit here so often. As I'm a Lexington resident, I visit Versailles a fair amount, though not as much as I did when my middle daughter, Abby, was into competition riding. I had to have her horse transported to Versailles more than once over the years, and that's a bit of a pain. The one thing that made it easier was that I liked Versailles so much!

There are a few wonderful restaurants in Versailles, but the one Abby and I visited the most is Melissa's Cottage. It's a small town place. A simple cafe with quality food and an absolutely fantastic atmosphere. Abby mentioned that after a recent trip to Versailles she took with some friends. She told me that she visited Melissa's and wasn't as impressed by the meatloaf she's always had, but she had a great time because of the memories and feel of the establishment. I couldn't agree more.

I think in some ways this is true of the town of Versailles. I'm never overly impressed by any one thing, but I always leave thinking it's a phenomenal place. That's worth a lot in my opinion. You can't necessarily put your finger on it, but you can generally count on the town making you feel welcome and happy.

I've never really considered living in Versailles, though I'm sure I'd be happy if I did. The schools are good, and though I never had one of my girls study here, I have enough friends recommend the schools that I'm happy to report they're going to make parents happy! If you want a religious education for your kids you can try Woodford County Christian Church or St. Leo's, both of which receive high marks from parents and standardized tests.

You won't have trouble finding a nice place to live, and you will probably love your neighbors. It's hard to ask for more from a town in Kentucky!

Nicholasville is a wonderful town a little ways south of me. I'm a long time Lexington resident, and I visit Nicholasville fairly regularly. There are a fair number of restaurants and bars to check out, and between the Civil War reenactments and Kentucky Wine and Vine Festival there's a fair bit to bring in visitors.

The first thing I'd mention is the war reenactments. I think these are a whole lot of fun, and I recall taking my girls when they were young. This turned out to be a bit of a mistake for my youngest girl, as the reenactment upset her at first. It wasn't until later, when the fallen soldiers got up and started joking around with her that she understood it was all an act and no one was really getting hurt. I don't think nearly enough about the reality of these wars from the past, and seeing the way men died for our freedoms long before modern weaponry is very interesting. A fair number of people visit Nicholasville for these reenactments (not millions, but enough to mention), and I think the added traffic from tourism is a big help.

The Kentucky Wine and Vine Festival is also a big draw, with big crowds coming out every year. I visit most years, as do a lot of people from Lexington. I get my tickets early and nowadays I enjoy the festival as a father of three girls of drinking age (a strange occurrence for a father who still thinks of having 'little' girls). The wine gala and country bus tour are loads of fun for everyone, and I don't think it gets too rowdy. I'm a bit slower than when I was a young man, and I'm still able to keep up, so I don't think it's too rough a crowd.

Nicholasville is close enough to Lexington to supplement it's relatively small number of restaurants, though there are some good options, and it's close enough for parents to send their kids to private schools in my city. It's still separate from Lexington, but it's close enough to be fun and related in many ways.

I think you can have a lot of fun in Nicholasville and would be very happy living here. Stop by for a visit or stay, you'll likely be happy you did.

Hodgenville is primarily known for one thing, and that's that this is the birthplace of President Abraham Lincoln. This is very important to this little town, as it brings in some tourist traffic and helps define the town. It's no coincidence that the town has Lincoln Boulevard and Lincoln Parkway. This is a big part of their history and they don't mind reminding people of this fact. I had to look some of the history up, but it appears the actual cabin that Lincoln was born in was torn down at some point, so the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park is more commemorative than anything. The park is very nice and picturesque though, and there's a lot of history that can be gathered from it. This is where Lincoln spent the first years of his life and learned many of the principles that would guide him as a president. I know a lot of people come here just for that, and, honestly, it's enough to visit for.

As far as things going on in the here and now, Hodgenville has some decent restaurants like Laha's Red Castle for burgers Ruthie's Lincoln Freeze. Ruthie's is right by the birthplace and gets a fair amount of business due to the location. There's nothing particularly special in either location, but they're nice and give you a chance to get some good food.

Hodgenville is also a fairly safe town, so you shouldn't have to worry about any crime if you live here or are just visiting. This makes it decent for families, and the rich history helps for sure, but at the same time I don't hear too much about the schools, either good or bad, so take that for what it is. I don't want to be particularly negative here, but La Rue County doesn't appear to have the best schools in the world. I'm not calling them bad, but they're not really special or unique. I think your kids will be okay here, but if you're really concerned with education you might want to consider another town.

I like Hodgenville well enough, and I think it's a fantastic place to visit, for the culture, safety, pretty nature and quality restaurants, but I don't think I'd have very much fun living here, and many people would get bored quickly.

What a pretty town! La Grange is one of my favorite places in Kentucky because of how interesting it is with the train tracks. I know another reviewer mentioned this, but the train tracks are quite something. I remember taking my girls to La Grange when they were little, and they were so surprised by the train tracks running right down the street! What a cool town.

I don't get here a whole lot, as La Grange is a bit far away for me, but everytime I've visited I've been happy with it. The people are very friendly, and it's quite safe. You could definitely raise a family here. You have plenty of schools to choose from, like Immaculate Conception and the Oldham County Schools, which are above average. The welcoming nature of the town in general makes it quite a lot of fun to visit, and I'm sure to live in.

The close proximity to Louisville no doubt makes La Grange more successful, though I don't know that anyone would be commuting. I still think it helps give residents more to do. La Grange might even be considered a suburb of Louisville, but it would be an outlier.

When I've taken my girls, we've always gone to Q&A Sweet Treats, which makes a lot of great little cookies and rolls. My girls are a bit grown up now, but I still bring them treats and I know they love them because they are really good!

Clearly, I'm a fan of La Grange. It's a wonderful little town with plenty to do and a very unique feature with the train tracks. The schools are nice and the people are friendly. What more could you ask for?

There are a number of things I could talk about concerning Lawrenceburg (and I will!), but Wild Turkey is the place to start. Man, that is some good bourbon. The distillery is right here in Lawrenceburg, and you can definitely see a degree of pride in this from residents. Good bourbon and people happy to talk about it.

Lawrenceburg may not be as big as some other towns, but it's not shrimp. There are about 10,000 people here. Because of this you get a bit more fun from the town. There are a few good restaurants and bars (of course there's going to be a place to get some bourbon!) and a fair number of local events and festivities to keep you occupied.

For food, Tony's BBQ is certainly worth a look. The other reviewer mentioned it, and he's spot on to say it's awesome. Well, he didn't say awesome, but he should have! You get country music and good old fashioned BBQ! Great stuff!

The other restaurant I'd mention is El Maguey, which is a Mexican place that's not half bad. It's not the best Mexican food I've ever had, but it's very good.

The city of Lawrenceburg runs a fair number of local events that bring the people together fairly well. Sure, not everyone is going to show up when there's 10,000 residents, but those who like to socialize are likely to stop by on occasion. They show movies, have bands and there's some fun to be had! I like this kind of attempt at community building from a local government. It speaks well for the town. I'm a big fan because of this.

Lawrenceburg is certainly a safe place, and it's quite cheap as well. You can probably find a job at the distillery or one of the many businesses it upholds, and the people are just so friendly that I love it! I recommend Lawrenceburg very highly. It's a wonderful town!

Mount Olivet is a tiny little town about halfway between my home of Lexington and Cincinnati. I've been through on a handful of occasions, but it's not directly between the two bigger cities, so there's not much traffic that'll run through here. You'd have to go out of your way to get to Mount Olivet.

As far as population, there are very few people living here. Mount Olivet has less than 500 people, and the population has been shrinking over the years. I looked up some stats, and there were roughly 442 people in the early seventies, 346 in the eighties and presently 289. There are a few reasons for this, though I would suppose the main reason for the lack of population is the economy in Mount Olivet. There are few job opportunities. While the town has been around for nearly 200 years it's not nearly as historic as other nearby towns.

There is the Pioneer Museum, which tells the history of Blue Licks Battlefield. It's not the most exciting museum, but it does give you an idea of what life was like here before being developed. Again, nothing special, but at least it's here. The Blue Licks Battle was the last Revolutionary War battle in Kentucky, so that's a more interesting detail. Most of the battle sites are for the Civil War, so you can go back a bit further with Blue Licks.

For schools there is Deming and Robertson County schools, but they're like much of the town: not really remarkable.

I wish I could say more. Mount Olivet is a very small town with no real tourist attractions and hardly any restaurants.

Midway is another historic town in Kentucky, though this one has its own flavor as much of its history comes from railroads. The town was really started by a railroad company way back in the day, and much of the town is colored by this influence. The Lexington and Ohio Railroad gave Midway a distinct feel that really sets it apart, while at the same time the town feels very much like other parts of Kentucky.

To begin, I'll mention that Midway is close to my home of Lexington. This means there are a lot of horses nearby as well as breeders. Three Chimneys is located in Midway, and that's a major race horse breeder. I don't own race horses (I'm not made of money!) but my girls love horses and we've been here quite a few times over the years. It's really quite beautiful and certainly a tourist attraction.

Midway isn't the biggest town, but it is big enough for a handful of good restaurants. If you want a good cup o' joe, check out Quirk. The interior of the cafe is really neat, and while everything is relatively cheap it's also very good. My middle daughter used to drive to Midway to see her boyfriend at Quirk. She loved it.

If you want burgers, try the Grey Goose. It's very good, as is the Holly Hill Inn. Holly Hill is a special treat to be sure. Not expensive, but exceptional. Locally grown food (maybe not everything, but there's definitely some local food on the menu) and a great cook make Holly Hill a great place for food.

For education you have a couple options. Adults will like Midway College, which is definitely a big part of Midway. I wouldn't praise it too highly, but it's a solid option and right there to enjoy. Otherwise, dependent on where you live, you will be part of Woodford County or Scott County. Both are good, friendly places with a fair number of happy parents singing their praises.

Midway is also quite safe, friendly and fairly quiet. You may not find a ton of excitement, but you're not too far from Lexington if you want to find something a bit more fun to try out. I really like Midway and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, friendly place to live.

Lancaster is a small town about an hour south of me in Lexington. I'm not really the biggest fan of Lancaster, but not because of any particularly bad things. Rather, it's because Lancaster has very little going on overall. I believe the town's main claim to fame is the possibility that the Kennedy House, one of their landmarks, was supposedly used in Uncle Tom's Cabin. This is still only a possibility, so while it's an interesting detail, it's not defined well enough to really make the town a significant place to visit.

I don't really have a reason to visit Lancaster, but if I were to live here I would likely be similarly bored. There are a handful of restaurants, but I can't say I know any of them very well. I've been through Lancaster a few times over the years, and while I know I've eaten here, I honestly can't remember the name of the restaurant. Smith's Restaurant is here, and there's a China Gourmet but these aren't terribly memorable places to eat. You won't be completely out of dining options, but don't expect a ton of really fine dining options or to be kept busy for very long in Lancaster.

I wish I had more to say about Lancaster. It's just not the best town in Kentucky and there's too little to do here to keep outsiders entertained. On the plus side it's quite safe and the cost of living is low.

I'm going to have trouble finding much to say about Sparta, especially considering the other review. This is an extremely small town with almost no restaurants, schools, or entertainment options. The one thing people come here for is the Kentucky Speedway. Fortunately, that's a lot of fun and brings in a fair number of folks every year.

It doesn't really matter how much you enjoy racing, if you've ever been to the Speedway you know it's a lot of fun. I've always been a racing fan, but my girls aren't, and I worried this would make it difficult verging on impossible to get them to come to the races with me. I can happily say this is not the case. They all love to come by to check out all the festivities. People camp out, play volleyball, have some drinks and a fantastic time. While Sparta may not have anything else going on, enjoying a tailgating cookout with new friends is such superb fun that I don't think many people can really complain. If you open yourself up to a good time you are sure to have it.

Sparta is a very safe town, though sometimes fights break out at the Speedway. Otherwise you'll be fine and not run into any problems.

Likewise, Sparta is very affordable. I think the lack of businesses in the area makes it difficult to prop up home prices or the cost of living in general. The lack of schools also makes the taxes relatively affordable.

You will struggle to find work in Sparta, and outside of the races you will not have much to do. It's too bad the area has come more alive because of all the traffic from race fans. I feel Sparta could be a lot more fun if only there were more to do. Regardless, I like to visit, and would definitely recommend Sparta as a place to check out from time to time, but not as a place to live.

Most people know that Kentucky is the home of bourbon. We invented it. We perfected it. But Georgetown has a special relationship to bourbon. The town's founder, Elijah Craig, actually invented bourbon! This is a little detail, and it doesn't really define Georgetown, but it's one of the first things I ever learned about the town, so I think it's worth mentioning.

As a town, Georgetown is actually quite beautiful. There's a lot to see and do here. First, you're not far from Lexington, about ten miles, so you have plenty to see in Lexington if you run out of stuff to do at home. A lot of people commute from Georgetown to Lexington, but a fair number commute the other way as well. Over the years I've taken various freelance writing assignments in Georgetown, and the drive is no big deal, even during rush hour. If you can't find a job in Georgetown, most likely you will in Lexington, so don't worry to much about employment.

Georgetown is also open to local businesses, and the residents and town seems to do a good job supporting new opportunities.

The downtown area of Georgetown is easily the most attractive part of the town. It's very beautiful. Normally, when I talk to friends from far away about the picturesque beauty of Kentucky, I'm talking about the bluegrass and rolling hills. Nature itself. But downtown Georgetown is truly picturesque and is a tremendous feat as it's manmade. The Victorian style is lovely. You almost don't care about the shops and restaurants, but that would be a mistake, because there are quite a few businesses to take a look at.

For food, you can get great pizza from Fatkats, old-fashioned but excellent America cuisine from Galvin's, quality Mexican food from Mi Casita and unbelievable barbecue from Fat Boy's BBQ. There's even a Waffle House! I can't imagine you'll run out of dining options in Georgetown, and if you do you can make the short drive to Lexington for a lot more options.

Georgetown is also good for shopping. This is more unique in Kentucky. Outside of Lexington and towns closer to Cincinnati you don't get much shopping here, but Georgetown has a fair number of options, from consignment stores and sporting good stores to book stores and big department stores. So you can not only get a good bite to eat, but also have some fun shopping for the day.

There's a ton to do and see in Georgetown, and you have the great campus here as well, so there's education as well. If I had to give any one negative, it's that Georgetown is a bit more expensive than some other towns, and there's a little bit more crime, but nothing bad. It's generally fairly safe, but not perfect on that account.

Harrodsburg is about 45 minutes south of Lexington, and it's a nice, historic town with a lot of generous people. I wouldn't call it a bustling town, but Harrodsburg has a lot of charm, and it's a fairly well put together town.

The main street/downtown in Harrodsburg is beautiful. This is a small town to be sure, but the store fronts have an absolutely outstanding old time feel, and it's very clear and well done. Is it simple? Sure. Is it lovely? Absolutely. I love walking around, taking in the charm, and getting a bite to eat in Harrodsburg.

So let's talk food. You have options to be sure. Eddie Montgomery's Steak House is a fun place to get dinner. The atmosphere really fits Harrodsburg too, as it looks like a log cabin and they serve good old fashioned food like ribs and steaks. Much like the town, the food is simple, classic and good. My wife and daughters get annoyed that I always insist we eat here when in Harrodsburg, but I love it. There are other options, and on occasion I'll relent and go somewhere else, but Eddie Montgomery's is one of my favorite restaurants regardless of location.

Other things about Harrodsburg: it's quite safe. You don't hear about many crimes here. The schools are okay, but I do think they're a bit below average in terms of results. I know Mercer Elementary is friendly, as is Mercer High, but neither gets great marks. There isn't as much of a focus on education in Harrodsburg as I'd like. That's not to say there's no though of it, but it's not the focus. There are a few private schools like Central Kentucky Christian, but it also gets ho-hum reviews. I think parents are generally satisfied with the schools in Harrodsburg, but if you really want your child to excel you'll have to push them yourself.

I like Harrodsburg, and whenever I get a chance to visit I do. I hope to continue visiting for years and years to come, especially to get a bite to eat at Eddie Montgomery's!

Frankfort is a lovely town not too far away from my home of Lexington. It's also the state capital, so there is a fair bit going on here. Kentucky is a historic state, so it's fitting that it has a capital that is historic and has a fair number of attractions. These attractions may not be as exciting as bigger cities like Cincinnati or Lexington, but there's still enough to entertain.

First, the history. You can come to check out Fort Hill, which was an important site for the Civil War. The Union built a fort there, but it was occupied on occasion by the Confederate army and a fair amount of blood was spilt here. These days there isn't any blood being spilled, but there is a great view of the town from Fort Hill, and there's a fair amount of greenery to wander through on a pleasant Spring day. You can still see the remains of some Civil War forts, and you can find the Sullivan House here still as well. It's been around for about 200 years or more, and while it doesn't have a wide variety of things to see, you can still see much of the spirit of Frankfort. These interesting bits of history are sprinkled all around the town and give it a distinct flavor.

For those firmly planted in the present, Frankfort has a wonderful selection of restaurants, from Rick's White Light Diner for some good Southern Cajun to La Fiesta for Mexican. My little girl likes Ginza for a little Asian cuisine, and there are plenty of other options should you somehow get bored with these.

The same thing goes for nightlife, as there are a fair number of bars and pubs to have a few drinks. The Dragon Pub is a popular option, as is The Brick Alley. Lots of good options to choose from here.

I'm quite a fan of Frankfort. There's plenty to do and see, the people are friendly, and you have some good educational opportunities if you're a parent. I'd have a harder time coming up with negatives that positives. Highly recommended.