If you’re looking for a true small town experience, why not go straight to the best? Bardstown, Kentucky, has long been considered one of the best small towns in the U.S., named The Most Beautiful Small Town in America by Rand McNally and USA Today. The town regularly rakes in other accolades, and it’s easy to see why. This little slice of Kentucky might as well be a movie set. It’s quaint, lovely,, and quiet.
Bardstown was established in 1780 and is named for the Bard Brothers who originally purchased the land and surveyed the town.
Ryan Hoel/ iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection via Getty Images
The charm begins as soon as you cross the town line. You can stroll the historic streets or better yet hire the Around the Town Carriage to tour you through in a whimsical horse and buggy setup.
Visit Bardstown/Facebook Around the Town Carriage, 223 N 3rd St, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA
Bardstown is perhaps most famous for its bourbon distilleries. When people talk about Kentucky bourbon, they mean Bardstown. This tiny town is the bourbon capital of the world and almost all of the 11 distilleries in town offer tastings and tours.
Visit Bardstown/Facebook
After a few bourbon tours you might be in a pensive mood. That’s when it’s time to head to the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Center, a natural preserve and forest showcasing beautiful wood sculptures handcrafted by Danish artist Thomas Dambo.
Visit Bardstown/Facebook Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd, Clermont, KY 40110, USA
Be sure to add My Old Kentucky Dinner Train to your itinerary in Bardstown. This experience harkens back to more glamorous days of travel, when coiffed upper crusters would dine in a railcar en route to a fabulous vacation. On the train you can enjoy a gourmet meal while winding through bourbon country.
Visit Bardstown/Facebook My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, 602 N 3rd St, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA
Even the historic jail in Bardstown is charming. You can take tours of the original jail, a more somber affair revealing derelict conditions, but you can also stay at the Jailer’s Inn Bed and Breakfast. That’s right, the home of former rough criminals has been re-envisioned as a well appointment inn with nine guest bedrooms and private baths.
jailersinn.com Jailer’s Inn Bed & Breakfast, 111 W Stephen Foster Ave, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA
History abounds in Bardstown and there are countless fascinating historical sites to visit. One of them is Old Bardstown Colonial Village and Park, which gives a peak into early life in the settlement. The cabins on site are 150-200 years old and reveal the depth of Bardstown’s lineage.
wanderluster/ iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection via Getty Images
Bardstown, Kentucky lives up to its accolades. The small, beautiful town offers peace and quiet, a rich history and as a bonus, a whole lot of bourbon.
Ryan Hoel/ iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection via Getty Images
Visit Bardstown/Facebook
Around the Town Carriage, 223 N 3rd St, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA
Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest, 2075 Clermont Rd, Clermont, KY 40110, USA
My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, 602 N 3rd St, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA
jailersinn.com
Jailer’s Inn Bed & Breakfast, 111 W Stephen Foster Ave, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA
wanderluster/ iStock / Getty Images Plus Collection via Getty Images
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Bardstown, KY 40004, USA
