Located 70 miles east of Louisville in central Kentucky, Lexington has long attracted horse lovers. There are more than 450 horse farms here, surrounded by miles of rolling hills and pastures covered in the lush bluegrass. But there’s more than horses on the brain here.

Kentucky’s second biggest city is also home to a thriving arts scene, including numerous galleries, theatres, music venues. Some of the performance spaces have a long history, such as the Lexington Opera House, which dates back to 1886. Lexington’s universities add to the city’s robust arts calendars at venues like the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre and the Singletary Center for the Arts at the University of Kentucky College of Fine Arts.

You’ll find numerous parks to explore around town and an eclectic range of dining and drinking options, including several wineries and bourbon distilleries. Lexington is also part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which highlights notable distilleries around the state.

Spring and fall offer pleasant temperatures, making these great times to look for vacation rentals in Lexington. From April through October, the warm weather permits plenty of events to occur, such as a bluegrass festival, one of Kentucky’s oldest music festivals featuring three music stages and a music camp for kids. The Fourth of July celebrations are lively in Lexington as well and include several days of events with musical performances, a parade, food, and a firework display.

As the temperatures drop in late fall and winter, pack a warm coat and boots; however, it’s still a perfect time to tour one of the many distilleries in the area.

Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

Located just outside of Lexington, Raven Run is a 734-acre nature sanctuary on the border of the Kentucky River. Miles of hiking and biking trails of varying difficulty levels pass through woodlands, meadows, and streams and provide you with scenic views of the native flora and fauna.

The Arboretum

The State Botanical Garden of Kentucky, also known as the Arboretum, offers 100 acres of green space and tranquility in the middle of busy downtown Lexington. You can wander along two miles of paved pathways and past manicured landscapes that include a Fragrance Garden of roses. Check out the Home Demonstration Garden to gather inspirational ideas for how to best make use of personal green space.

Aviation Museum of Kentucky

Located at the Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, the Aviation Museum of Kentucky covers 20,000 square feet with different aircraft, aviation artifacts and equipment, simulators, and interactive displays. You can watch from the observation area as they work on the airport’s planes or experience a jet taking off from the outdoor viewing area.