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!

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.

I'm going to break down my review of Paris into a few parts. It's not terribly far from my home of Lexington, about 20 miles or so, and only takes about a half an hour to get there, so I've been there more than once over the years.

The good: it's close to Lexington. Paris isn't terribly small, so they don't need Lexington as much as some other small towns, but this still helps quite a bit. The population is around 10,000, so there are a fair number of restaurants, but I have friends who commute to Lexington every day and love the wider selection of restaurants here.

In Paris, you can get a good bite to eat at Vardens Bistro, Clay's and Jerry's. Vardens is one of the main reasons I head over to Paris on occasion. They have a great menu, and it's one of the best restaurants within driving distance for me. I don't particularly like Perico's for Mexican food, and I don't think I've had any Chinese food here. I asked a buddy and he said there are Chinese restaurants, but he almost never goes to Great Wall. There are better options in Lexington.

Paris also has a bit of crime. Nothing alarming, but it's not one of the excessively small towns all around Kentucky. I don't have the exact crime statistics, but I know Paris has a bit more crime than other towns. That said, it's not like you have gang activity or organized crime running rampant. There's just more than I'd like.

You don't have a ton of job opportunities in Paris, but it's close proximity to Lexington helps a lot and I know a lot of people commute. It's not that bad a drive for a daily commute.

For attractions, Paris does have Hopewell Museum, which might not have any world famous art, but it does have a lot of great art from the area. It really helps set Paris apart and gives visitors and new residents a better idea of the town. Great stuff.

I'm not super negative on Paris. I don't think it's the safest place on Earth, but it's not super dangerous either. I like to check it out on occasion, and I certainly like getting a bite to eat here. I prefer it for a day visit, but you could make a happy life living here as well.

I've been in Kentucky forever, and I can't claim to have a lot of experience with Hardinsburg. It's not the most exciting town in the state. There are few things to come here. It's pretty far west, so you won't find many Kentuckians who head over here unless they're traveling through on their way west.

Some of the things Hardinsburg tries to get credit for, or to make them look special, are the world's smallest Walmart and McDonalds. This is a selling point? Come on. I feel like the world's biggest something is worth talking about, but not the smallest. At the very least you'll have a Walmart nearby for cheap shopping and a McDonald's for some good, if unhealthy, food. Other than that, you won't find a lot of restaurants. China King is a decent enough Chinese restaurant, but it's nothing special. I can't think of any other places (actually, I had to email a friend for advice beyond that he was stumped) to get a bite to eat here. Not a good sign.

Fortunately, Hardinsburg isn't too far from Louisville. Not really a commute drive (it's about 60 miles), but you can make the trip for a fun Saturday or even weekend experience. It's still a bit too far from Louisville for a real close relationship with the fun things the bigger city has to offer, but at least it's an option.

I'm just not that big a fan of Hardinsburg. I'm sure the people are nice, and I have heard it's super safe and quiet, so that's nice. I checked, and home prices are very reasonable as well, so there's a lot of good to be seen here, but don't expect to find much to do.

Carrollton is a town primarily defined by the Kentucky Speedway. This is something of a double-edged sword though, as it's 14 miles away, so it can't claim to be the 'home' of the Speedway, but it's still close enough that many who travel to the Speedway stop in Carrollton.

I know many residents are fans of NASCAR, so they enjoy the chance to take the short drive over to watch a race. I've been there on many occasions, and while I'm not as die hard as some racing enthusiasts, I do love to enjoy a day here. It's hard to find as fun a time as this in Kentucky. There are good people and lots of drinks. Just be careful driving home.

In the town itself you'll a small handful of decent restaurants, but nothing to write home about. Down on Main Street is a decent sports bar, and Mexico Lindo is a halfway decent Mexican restaurant, but they're hardly fantastic places or tourist attractions.

You don't get a lot of bars or clubs, as the population is a little small to accommodate much nightlife, so if you're a young guy or girl you might find it a bit boring here.

Carrollton is an in-between town, with it being placed almost exactly between Cincinnati and Louisville. This helps it by giving some residents something to do when they want to travel to a more fun loca, and the races are a lot of fun, but there's ultimately not a lot else to do here. It's a quiet small town. As it's not home of the Speedway, it's not terribly remarkable except as a nearby town to the Kentucky Speedway.

Falmouth is a quiet small town that's both isolated enough to stay quiet and safe while also being close enough to Cincinnati to give residents something to do on weekends and provide a few jobs. I know some people in Falmouth make the trip to Cincinnati for work, as it's about an hour drive, which isn't too bad, though I think more drive to Independence.

So what are the biggest positives for Falmouth? First, it's safe. There is essentially no crime in Falmouth, and I'm sure that's important to most of the people here. It's also very quiet, so if you're tired of a big city and want to get away from it all, Falmouth might be for you. That said, it's brutally quiet here. I'm a lifelong Kentuckian, and though I live in Lexington, I like the quiet and I dont' think I could live in Falmouth. It's almost eerily quiet here sometimes. I'm not saying you'll be bored out of your skull, but it'll be hard to find much to do after a few days or weeks. Maybe if you're working on that great American novel you'll like it, but I see Falmouth as more of a place to visit for a short visit than to stay.

You have almost no restaurants to enjoy in Falmouth, and the educational opportunities are likewise extremely limited. You will learn to cook for yourself if you live here. There are almost no bars to speak of, so unless you have someone in mind you might have trouble meeting that special someone in Falmouth.

I can't give Falmouth a terribly high rating. There's too little to do, and while it's quiet and safe, I think the population will decline in the future, as more people are likely to leave to look for work in larger markets and almost no one will move to Falmouth.

Elizabethtown belongs to an old school of Kentucky. I don't know of another town this size (around 30,000 people) that is also this tight-knit. It's a challenging mix to find. Usually you find bigger towns get to be less and less friendly, and fewer people know one another. I have never had that opinion of Elizabethtown. People really stay together here, and that leads to a warm, friendly town that is at the same time relaxed and exciting.

Because of the population size you get quite a few restaurants to choose from. I love the Texas Roadhouse for some excellent steaks and BBQ. It's a small town place that's excellent and very popular. You get peanuts with your drink at the bar, and if you want a good piece of meat cooked simply yet well, you can't go wrong here.

If you're looking for something more exotic, Namaste is a nice little Indian place. I'm not a fan of Indian food, but my wife enjoys it on occasion so we head over when she gets a craving. There's also a pretty good Mediterranean place, but I can't remember the name of it. It was actually excellent. My wife and daughters are always saying I have such limited taste, but I'm just a Southern guy who likes his BBQ. If you're like me, you have plenty in Elizabethtown, and if you like other foods you'll be covered there as well.

So I've covered there's plenty to eat. The same goes for bars. You'll find a decent amount of nightlife in Elizabethtown. Not as much as Lexington or Cincinnati, but it's not like you'll be entirely without a local bar or two to get a drink.

Elizabethtown schools don't rank terribly high, but there are a fair number of options there, both private and public, so no worries on that front. You'll also be able to find plenty of local high school kids to babysit when your kids are little and you want to enjoy one of the local restaurants. I've a friend in Elizabethtown who likes to let neighbor girls babysit, and because of how close everyone is, he doesn't worry about leaving his younger kids alone with a girl hardly old enough to be on her own. If there's a problem her parents and other trustworthy adults are right nearby. That's the kind of atmosphere you can expect in Elizabethtown.

Finally, Elizabethtown is a fairly historic place. The movie was filmed here, but there are also landmarks related to Abraham Lincoln (his father built a log cabin here), and there is the Schmidt Museum of Coca-Cola, which is a neat way to spend an afternoon. I took my family there when my kids were little, and while it took a bit of time before they warmed up to the history side of things, they ultimately had fun.

It's hard to beat Elizabethtown. I actually would love to live here someday, and I think it's combination of superb friendliness, safety and fun make it one of the top towns in the state.

Carlisle is about 40 miles from my home of Lexington, and it's a nice enough little town that, like the previous reviewer mentioned, is really lucky to be so close to Lexington. I wouldn't say it's exactly close to Louisville, but it's certainly close enough to Lexington for a daily commute for work, to get a bite to eat or just enjoy some time with friends.

Carlisle isn't a terribly large town, with less than 2,000 residents, and while it's very pretty and has a lovely main street, it isn't the best place to visit. Not because of safety or friendliness. Carlisle has both of those in spades. Rather, there's very little to do here. Ladobees Steak House is okay at best, EZ Riders Pizza is very common and there aren't any nightlife options available for residents. I like small towns, but this one is a bit too sleepy for me. I've lived in Lexington for many years, and I've visited Carlisle on occasion, but it has never really impressed me.

I have had lunch at the Jailer's Home once or twice, and that's fairly interesting and sets Carlisle apart from some other towns. But that's about it.

Carlisle is safe for sure, and it's an inexpensive place to live. The schools are adequate at best, but certainly nothing to write home about. Carlisle County High School isn't very big or impressive, and the same thing goes for the public middle school and elementary school. There is a private Christian school that has a few fans, but I've never considered that terribly good either.

I'd say Carlisle is extremely lucky to be so close to Lexington. Otherwise no one would ever visit or want to live there.

Berea is a wonderful and fairly famous town. You might not expect this considering its size (a little under 15,000 residents) but there's actually quite a bit going on here that's been noticed on a national stage.

The number one thing Berea is known for is Berea College. Much like the town it's not a big school, but it has more than one interesting and distinct features. First, it was the first Southern college to be racially integrated. This is a fact that many people in the area are quite proud. This school continues to be quite interesting on a national stage because it ranks very high, and charges no tuition! Students are required to work for their education. Not a high number of hours, but they still have to earn their keep. This helps make the school not only more successful academically, but also helps it churn out harder working people. The school is still ranked in the top spot of best comprehensive and liberal arts colleges in the South. You can be sure this translates quite well to getting applicants.

Just because I talk about the college a lot doesn't mean Berea is a college town. The student population is roughly 10% of the overall population, so this isn't the youngest, most fun place in the world, but it's still quite the happening place. Outside of the college, the thing Berea is best known for is their art. This may not be the art capitol of the world, but there are a wide variety of very nice local boutiques and art galleries to showcase the craftsmanship of residents. The Berea Center for the Arts is an especially interesting place to visit if you're ever in Berea. The Top Drawer Gallery is also a favorite of mine. These are smaller galleries, but they have a flavor you don't get in big cities. I was in an art gallery in Cincinnati a few months back and it felt so cold and, simply put, unartistic.

Between the historic school and art galleries Berea brings in quite a few tourists. I don't consider the tourist industry in Berea booming, but it does greatly help the town's economy. Fortunately, those who visit have plenty of places to stay and eat. The Boone Travel Hotel actually satisfies both lodging and food, as it's a lovely hotel with a fantastic restaurant included. It's not terribly affordable, but it's fun for the occasional visit.

If you're looking for something a bit more laid back and casual, try Papa Leno's for some pizza. It's hard to go wrong with a slice of pizza, and you won't be disappointed.

I could go on and on about the quality of Berea. It's an amazing little town. Not too far from Lexington, isolated enough to be unique, and definitely not afraid to blaze a trail (whether that trail be racially integrated schools or in the arts).

What a lovely town! Flemingsburg is one of my favorite parts of Kentucky. It's not as much fun as other areas, but it's truly lovely, and the extensive history makes it a great place to visit.

I think Flemingsburg is a great place to raise kids. It's extremely safe, fairly inexpensive to live in, and very welcoming for the most part. The schools are decent, with Fleming County Headstart being a well-spoken of place to get your kids a bit ahead before they really start school. My girls didn't go to school here, but I often wonder if it would've been good for them. They're all in college and doing well, but we went through a few tutors during middle school to help them prepare for high school and college entrance exams. I think having a preschool with such a focus on helping get kids prepped for school would be a great help. Fleming County Headstart is, based on what I've heard from a couple friends in the area, just the sort of place you'd want to use for your kids.

In many ways this is true of Flemingsburg in general. I don't think the schools get the world's greatest test scores, but they do well, as do the people. They turn out good people. People are friends. People get to know one another.

Flemingsburg is fairly small though, so you won't find as many restaurants or stores to shop in. Much of what you see are chain fast food joints, and while I have nothing against Pizza Hut or Subway they're aren't exactly fine dining establishments nor are they unique. That's a big downfall for Flemingsburg, especially for younger people who want to have more fun.

I'd kick myself if I didn't mention a bit more of the history in Flemingsburg though. This is really a big part of the town's identity. The town was started by George Stockton and John Fleming, two of the first explorers in the area. There are a lot of Baptists and Methodists in the area, including some older Baptist churches that are beautiful. They're not as big or majestic as some of the Cathedrals I've seen in major cities, but they have an outstanding small town feel while also being historic. You feel the past when you walk in. Freewill Baptist Church has been around a while, as has Flemingsburg United Methodist Church. My favorite church has to be the Flemingsburg Presbyterian Church, which really feels like a little rural cottage and brings a wonderful feel to the town.

Almost everywhere you go there's history in Flemingsburg, and I can't help but love that. Combined with the friendly nature of the people and quality schools, this is a town to check out!

Winchester is a fun town with a few cool activities and a nice atmosphere. It's not too big, yet at the same time it's not terribly small so you get a nice mix of what you need. It's not too far from my home here in Lexington, so I've been through Winchester on a number of occasions and always liked it.

The good stuff: The Beer Cheese Festival. Really, if you're going to talk about Winchester this has to be one of the first things you mention. The Beer Cheese Festival is held once a year in June and it has a lot of really fun activities. Of course, the main attraction is beer cheese, a tasty cheese spread that is put on all sorts of stuff. You don't see beer cheese very much outside of Kentucky, and it's been here for about 70 years. There's usually a beer cheese competition, and plenty of shopping from various vendors and lots to eat, so it's a lot of fun. The Beer Cheese Festival brings a ton of people out too, with something like 10,000 people attending most years. It's covered by local TV Stations and is a big event for this part of Kentucky.

Outside of the festival you have a few good restaurants to enjoy in Winchester like Don Senor, a pretty decent Mexican restaurant, DJ's Bar, which has really good American style food, and Great Wall Chinese for some really good Chinese food. There aren't a TON of options in Winchester, but you won't be struggling to find a place to eat out at like in some other small Kentucky towns.

If you're the active sort, there are some gyms to exercise like College Park Gym, though I'd prefer to go to College Park itself. The park isn't exactly picturesque, but there's a nice basketball court and tennis courts if you're interested in getting some good exercise through a sport. Not big. Not super nice. But it's there and gives you the option.

Winchester is pretty safe, and not expensive at all. With how close it is to my Lexington it's hard not to like Winchester. It offers plenty to do while at the same time giving you the chance to keep up with other things and travel to a bit bigger city to get some fun at different restaurants and bars.

Florence is another Northern Kentucky town fairly close to Cincinnati. Like my home town of Independence and Alexandria, there are a lot of benefits to being this close to Cincinnati, yet I think Florence does a nice job of being somewhat unique.

First, if you're in Florence you're right near Cincinnati Airport. This is a huge plus for anyone who works in a job where they have to travel a lot, but it's also good for those who love to go on vacations often. I travel more now that I used to, as two of my three daughters are in school far away (the third is only a little ways away so I can drive to her). When I need to get out to California I usually leave from this airport, and it's nice to have it so close. If I lived in Florence it'd be even better.

This close proximity to the airport and Cincinnati has led to a lot more job opportunities and more to do than many other Kentucky towns. There are plenty of restaurants to try out, and I've had some great food in many of them. Mai Thai is really good, or at least it is according to my youngest daughter, as she loves sushi. I'm not the biggest fan of sushi in general, but we've driven here a few times for birthdays and special occasions for her and I've always found something to eat. I'm sure if you like sushi it'll be your cup of tea.

I'm more of a fan of Mad Mike's Burgers, which serves very good, very large burgers in an old fashioned style. I love them! Get a side of fries and you're good to go!

There are also some higher quality pizza places and some fine dining options in Florence, so you're really covered regardless of what you're looking for.

The same thing goes for getting a drink. There are plenty of bars in Florence to wet your whistle or meet a girl. Saddle Club is very good, with great prices, and Turfway Park is a great race track with plenty of chances to get drinks and have some fun! Good place to stop by.

For recreation, my pick would have to be Boone Links Golf Course, a great 27 hole course with plenty of scenery to enjoy and a tough yet not impossible to complete course. I love to get out of the house on a Sunday morning and enjoy a quick 18, and this is a fantastic place to check out.

Obviously I have a lot of good things to say about Florence. I think it has a bit more crime than many other local towns, but it's not really bad by any means. I think the higher population and close proximity to Cincinnati means there's a bit more crime, but I wouldn't say it's dangerous at all. Florence is a wonderful place and definitely worth checking out.

Bedford is one of the smaller towns in Northern Kentucky, and this brings with it a handful of positives and negatives. First, the positives.

Bedford is very safe, quiet and clean. These are important things to remember. You don't come here for nightlife. You don't come here to shop. Most people come to Bedford to get away from the loud big cities. There's a fair bit of outdoor life to enjoy here as well, so when you need to get back to basics and partake in a bit of solitude, Bedford is a great place to check out.

If, on the other hand, you want to have a bit more to do or better amenities, Bedford is going to be woefully inadequate. There aren't very many schools, with Trimble County High School, Middle School and Bedford Elementary School being the main ones used. You won't have a lot of options as a parent, to send your kids to different schools if you don't like these. They're not horrible schools, and there's little crime or drug use in the area, so you needn't worry about those kinds of problems, but you also don't get the highest level of education.

You also won't find many job opportunities. Bedford hardly has any restaurants, let alone many businesses capable of employing large numbers of people.

One thing I really like about Bedford is the Trimble County Fair that comes around every June. These bring in quite a few people and help people get to know one another. It's not hard to learn most people's names in Bedford, with less than 1000 people living here, but it's still a good community-building activity.

I can't give Bedford a terribly high score, and that's because it just isn't the most interesting or active place. There are few places to find a job, and the schools are common. Nothing of note outside of the County Fair really stands out here.

Augusta is a small town with a lot of beautiful landscape. I'm actually surprised there aren't more people here considering how lovely the countryside is. I've considered living here when I retire, and maybe that's the issue with the town.

The population of Augusta is around 2,000, and there just aren't very many options for finding jobs, and meeting people is difficult with this small a population. I'd like to live here and enjoy the quiet and solitude, maybe do a bit of writing while looking at the river valley. You rarely see a valley with this much beauty. I'd call this a perfect retirement community if you can handle most things yourself and don't need any hustle and bustle.

I've been through Augusta a handful of times over the years and I swear I start walking, talking and even thinking slower when I get here. It's just a slow moving, comfortable town.

The schools in Augusta are actually pretty well above average, especially when it comes to instilling values and generating friendships. St. Augustine Elementary School is a Catholic School that has a great student-teacher ratio, with one teacher for every twelve students, and though it's a smaller school, you really can't go wrong here. The school has been around for over 100 years too, so your kids will get a sense of history when attending.

Augusta Elementary, Middle School and High School also get pretty good marks, especially for their warm, welcoming atmosphere and the way they do more than teach, but also help with getting kids involved. There are a fair number of activities, and this makes a big difference. Between the private and public options, Augusta has some excellent educational opportunities.

I would give Augusta a high score in general because the town has a great atmosphere, stunning location and while there isn't a whole lot to do, it's so peaceful I hardly mind!

I just recently reviewed nearby Alexandria, and in many respects Independence is similar to Independence. They're both quite safe, friendly and quiet places to live. They both have little nightlife.

That said, Independence is a fair bit bigger than Alexandria, and while it doesn't have a plethora of nightlife options, there are a few bars that are a fair bit of fun. Buffalo Wild Wings, while obviously not exclusive to Independence, provides and absolutely outstanding atmosphere and good food. I don't think it gets packed, but it's pretty busy most of the time.

Safety is a big factor for me, and though I live a bit South in Lexington, I travel through Independence on my way up to visit my youngest daughter in Covington, and I wouldn't stop in Independence if it wasn't safe. It's certainly one of the safer places I've ever been to.

While Independence isn't the biggest town in the world, it has somewhere around 30,000 people, which is pretty decent for Kentucky, and with this comes a fair number of options for getting a job or an education. Simon Kenton High School is pretty good and gets good reviews, as does Summit View Middle School. They're not glitzy or glamourous, but they get the job done.

Independence Park isn't very big, and there aren't a ton of options for doing things here, but it's clean and on a sunny day you could do a lot worse than have a picnic here.

Overall, I'd give Independence a pretty good review. There's a fair number of places to eat, a few places for drinks, a decent park, good schools and it's super safe. I'd say you can do much worse than Independence.

I'm going to partially agree with the other reviewer on Alexandria, though I can't say I feel exactly the same about all aspects of the town.

First, the town is definitely very friendly and quite safe. I've been through Alexandria numerous times over the years, even spending the occasional weekend here with my wife, and I've always been impressed with the people and overall environment. It's hard to put into words what you get from a large group of people at various places around a city, but if there was ever a city to make you feel at home right away, I'd have to say Alexandria might be it.

The schools in Alexandria are also excellent. Bishop Brossart High School gets fairly high marks, and not just from the testers, but also from parents. Campbell Ridge Elementary also serves Alexandria I believe, and while I haven't heard much about the testing standards (which doesn't mean they're bad, I just haven't had my ear as close to the ground about that lately) but the teachers are supposed to be very good. I actually called up a buddy before writing to ask his opinion, and he has a couple little ones at Campbell and he thinks it's a 'superb educational establishment.' I trust his judgement.

For food, JimE is right to say there are few options. The only one that really sticks out in my memory is Mima Mae's. It's very affordable, and they serve some absolutely outstanding breakfast all day long. They only take cash though, so don't just walk in with a credit card. My oldest daughter did that once and I had to listen to a frightened call about what to do. Fortunately, the owners were understanding and we were able to pay later.

Like I said, the people in Alexandria are amazing.

If you're a single guy, I think it can be a bit too slow in Alexandria, though you're not too far from Cincinnati, so you can just take a jaunt up there from time to time to get your kicks in. If you need constant excitement this might not be the place for you though.

All in all, I really like Alexandria. I think it's a bit better for a little older guy like me than JimE, but I still think you can have a lot of fun and get to know some amazing people here. Whole heartedly recommended.

Danville is another historic part of Kentucky, though unlike Cynthiana, which I just wrote up a review of, Danville isn't quite as focused on their history to give them an identity. Danville is a bigger town, with quite a few times the population (a quick search says there's about 16,000 residents, which makes it a fair-sized smaller town in Kentucky). This larger population makes Danville much better for singles looking to meet someone that other small towns around here. It also makes it better for younger folks looking to find a job. It's not as good as Covington or Lexington for job opportunities, but it's still not half bad.

A few things I really like about Danville are the Twisted Sifter, a local bakery that is absolutely outstanding for baked goods. I've had homemade bread and their cupcakes on more than one occasion, and it's worth driving out of your way for! It you want a good cup of coffee to go along with your roll, check out the Hub Coffee House. It's not the best cup of coffee I've ever had, but it's a good local place, and I can tell you Danville residents do their best to support local businesses, which is a great thing to see. The last place I'd like to mention in terms of food is O'Charley's, which is a really good American-fare place with a decent selection and really good service.

For education, you have a couple options, which parents will be happy to know. There are a couple elementary schools, middle schools and a high school, though there are also a couple private schools in the area. I'm not so sure about the Montessori style of education, though I have friends with kids in the Danville Montessori school who swear by it. I don't want to actually give it a full thumbs up, but it's at least another option.

Finally, the basics. Danville is similar to many other towns around here, as it's safe, reasonably cheap, and a friendly place to live. I like it for the greater population, which gives you a few more options than other towns in Kentucky.

Cynthiana has a lot of history that gives the town a distinct flavor, even amongst the many historic towns of Kentucky. This is an old state with a lot of history everywhere, but Cynthiana has taken their past to heart and really used it to their advantage. There were a few Civil War battles fought here and there are still tours today for these sites. I've been on one of these tours and it's actually really interesting to see hear what they had to say.

Other historic elements in Cynthiana include the Cynthiana-Harrison Museum, which has history of not just the wars and battles, but also the town itself and the many changes/advancements that have taken place there over the years. My daughters have all been through Cynthiana and seen the history, and while it was difficult to get them interested (they were teenagers at the time) I think they gained a lot from the experience.

Outside of their history, Cynthiana has some good restaurants, though not really fine dining options. One great place to get a bite to eat is Biankes. It's good old fashioned American style food, with friendly service and a good atmosphere. There aren't a ton of options, but the few around aren't half bad.

The schools in Cynthiana are also good, though I don't get the impression higher education is as important to Cynthiana residents, so you won't find a lot of people here with advanced degrees. Harrison County High School serves the town, and it's pretty good from what I've heard, and there's at least one private school with St. Edward School, though that's for younger kids.

Cynthiana is pretty safe, fairly cheap to live in and has some good restaurants, but overall you won't find a whole lot to do. In the long run you better be the type of person that likes to relax and enjoy a lot of quiet time with the history and calm of the town. For more to do, look elsewhere.

I'm going to write my Brandenburg review very much so in comparison with many other other nearby Kentucky towns. This is because I know of a few more crimes in the area and this leads me to believe it's a bit more on the dangerous side than other similar towns. This isn't true when compared with big cities like Chicago or New York and their surrounding communities, but compared to much of Kentucky there's a bit more crime in Brandenburg.

Funny enough, one of the things I like most about Brandenburg has something to do with crime too, as Jail House Pizza is absolutely outstanding. I don't think they named it that specifically because of the higher than usual crime rate, but I've had pizza here more than once over the years and have ALWAYS been very impressed. It's absolutely one of the better pizza joints I've ever been to.

Brandenburg is a bit of a fun place on occasion, and I've been lucky enough to visit the Meade County Fair, which was just recently held in Brandenburg last week, and that is more than a little bit of fun for the whole family! It's super affordable and you'll find so much to do that while you may not want to visit every day of the fair (it's about a week long if I recall correctly), you still could visit every day and not get bored! It's an old fashioned fair, and there's a lot of agricultural business in the business that supports the local economy, so you get that real small town fair from the Meade County Fair.

Otherwise I'm not the biggest fan of Brandenburg. It's the type of place I've visited quite a bit over the years on day trips such as to the fair, but I don't spend a lot of time here. There's certainly a fair amount going on, but it's pretty far West for me, and I'm not partial to driving far to it.

Bardstown is primarily known for one thing, and that is Bourbon. This is, after all, the famous Bourbon Capital of the World, and the residents are pretty proud of this fact. This gives Bardstown quite a bit to talk about, but it also gives a reason for the fair amount of tourism they have. I wouldn't necessarily call the tourism amazing, but it breathes a lot of life into the town and helps the economy immensely.

The boosted economy makes for more job opportunities than in many other Kentucky towns, though you may have a degree of trouble finding a decent job dependent on your field of expertise. To offset this, you'll be happy to know the cost of living is extremely low in Bardstown, and this has not affect the safety of the town. Sure, it's cheap, but it's not dangerous. I don't think you'll run across very many crimes after living two lifetimes here, and that's another thing residents are quite proud of.

If you're just visiting Bardstown I'd suggest coming during the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. It brings in thousands of people and is quite a fun time. I've been to it a few times over the years, and though I don't have as much fun now that I'm a (mostly) responsible parent, it's quite a fun time for younger adults looking to taste some amazing bourbon and meet great people.

I wouldn't say there's a ton to do in Bardstown outside of enjoying bourbon though. There are some pretty good restaurants and a few good bars, but it's not the liveliest place when there isn't a festival. Young singles might not love it to live in, but Bardstown is a heck of a place to visit!

I have to admit I have somewhat mixed feelings about Covington. My youngest daughter currently lives there while attending Gateway Community College. She's studying to be a practical nurse, and once she completes that part of her education she's going to transfer to another school for a four year degree.

Because of her involvement in the city I was extra careful to take a look around before she moved there. Covington is safe enough, though there are some rougher areas. She loves it because it's right across the river from Cincinnati, which she really likes because she's close enough to a bigger city and all the fun you can have there. This definitely gives Covington a different feel. Some think of it as a suburb of Cincinnati, which isn't terribly far off the mark, but if you're worried about having things to do it's not like you have the farthest drive to find something fun to do. Again, this is great for a younger person.

One big benefit of Covington, especially for a father paying his daughter's way, is that the cost of living is pretty low. We didn't have to look very long or hard to find a very reasonably one bedroom in a good area. I'm a big fan of not paying too much for an apartment, so this was a major selling point.

Covington is very nice in certain areas, with clean streets and a few parks, and you're never far from an excursion out of the city to the country. This is important for my daughter, as she loves horses and hiking. She grew up in Lexington, and I don't think she'd survive without the occasional excursion out of the city.

For me, Covington wouldn't necessarily be the best choice. I like Cincinnati well enough, but I think it's a bit loud at times and some parts look questionable. The good areas are clean and nice, but there's a fair bit more crime than in Lexington, and it doesn't feel like the relaxing Midwest that I love. A little too much crime for me.

Otherwise you'll find plenty of places to shop, eat out, get a drink, and all the gyms and hospitals you'd ever need. The amenities are here, but I don't find Covington to be nearly as friendly or welcoming as other parts of Kentucky.

I'm a longtime resident of Lexington, and I love it here. It's a great place to raise kids (I've raised three young ones here myself) and while every life and every city has it's share of problems, Lexington is certainly a step above the rest.

First, it's not a small thing that Lexington is often referred to as "Thoroughbred City." I have three daughters who all love horses and have since they were very young. You will find horse stables a plenty around Lexington. I don't love the animals as much myself, but my girls have never missed an opportunity to ride. This is really great in my opinion for families, because it teaches kids a lot about respecting nature, animals and being careful. It's also a smart way to teach them discipline, as horseback riding is not easy.

The safety and quality of schools in Lexington is also very high, with some very good schools and a lot of well educated people in the area. I'm the first of my family to go to college, but all three of my girls have gone to university and I know many parents around me are proud to say the same. Education is important here, and receives a great deal of attention from both parents and the government.

There's a fair bit of history to see in Lexington as well, so if you're inclined you can see buildings and monuments that have been around since the early days pre-1800. I'm proud of the history, and I think it adds to the focus many have on keeping the city clean, which it most certainly is. I wish there were more parks in the city itself, but it's not like you have to go far to a stable to get some nature.

The cost of living here isn't too bad, so anyone looking to find a reasonable apartment or house shouldn't have much trouble, and there are plenty of places to eat, drink and be merry, so young single guys and girls needn't worry about finding someone special and having a good time.

I've seen crime come and go over the years, but overall Lexington has remained a pretty safe place. I've never worried for my kids safety, and I've always found plenty of employment opportunities, so I've never had to worry too much about supporting them.

I highly recommend the place I call home. We'll be glad to have you if you decide to stop by for a short visit or a long stay.