Tizzette

If you plan to stay in Lexington while doing Woodford Reserve qnd Maker's Mark, there are three all suite Hilton properties. The newest, the Embassy Suites, is near the I 75 and I 64 access but not much else but highway stuff. The Doubletree Suites are located on the outskirts of Main Street aka Richmond Road in a nice little shopping area with a Panera, a good Japnese steak house, and lots of chain restuarants close by. Ashland and the Mary Todd Lincoln House are also on Main Street. The Hilton Suites at Lexington Green is off Lexington's main shopping hub Nicholasville Road, walking across a parking lot to a great and large local bookseller with cafe, a seafood restuarant with water view, a Whole Foods and some other good stuff.

InkUnderNails

Good suggestions. However, do not think you are going to get anywhere fast on Nicholasville Road. Avoid it with a passion between 4 and 6.

This street has a very interesting center lane that switches directions at certain times of the day. It is really not good to see your lane change from a green arrow to a red X.

For some interesting shops and eateries, try the Chevy Chase area next to the campus. Jump on Tates Creek and head to the center of town. (By the campus many Kentuckians mean THE Campus. As in the only one that matters. Don't wear red. We are not all that way though.)

ACEDAD

Didn't realize you were including Lexington in your travels. Couple of restaurants I would recommend:

1. Ramsey's Diner. Local place with 4 locations. Very down home, the meat loaf is wonderful and save room for one of Missy's pies (I prefer the cocoanut cream). http://www.ramseysdiners.com/

2. Sal's Chophouse/Malone's/Harry's Bar: A bit more upscale, you can get quite a selection in these three places all located together in Lansdowne.
http://bluegrasshospitality.com/

3. Dudley's Restaurant: Used to be in an old school house downtown, but moved in 2010. The crab cake sliders and steak frites are excellent!
http://www.dudleysrestaurant.com/

Tizzette

Add Nick Ryan's or the Metropole if only because you might like to taste some small batch bourbons at the bar.

Crazyhotelguy

Oh you brought back some memories of my Kentucky College Days. Ramsey's Hot Brown. Mmmmmmmm

toomanybooks

Yeah, definitely try to find a good Hot Brown. Have a cardiologist on speed-dial. Not sure which are the best these days. I will ask my dad.

Forgot to mention Berea for a nice side trip. Boone Tavern has terrific food.

And genuine KY burgoo would be great to try if you could find it.

ACEDAD

At Boone Tavern, get the spoon bread.

aztimm

Been a while since this thread has been updated; I don't see anything about The Sire Hotel in Lexington. Does anyone have more information?
https://tapestrycollection3.hilton.c...tel-lexington/

Looks like it has been a Hilton property for about a year:
https://www.kentucky.com/news/busine...212559549.html

Has a decent location, and price is pretty good for when I'm looking.


Also looking at The Campbell House:
https://curiocollection3.hilton.com/...QQQ/index.html
The reviews seem a bit more mixed, and it is a bit further out from town.

shmom

Look at the Embassy Suites south of town. That is a nice one. Yes, those other two get mixed reviews. Lexington is not a big town. If you are doing Keeneland, the one I mentioned is convenient and near some good restaurants. The ES near 64 is not as nice. The Doubletree and the Homewood Suites west of town are just ok. The Hilton downtown is smack in the middle of downtown, near Rupp Arena and some restaurants. If you want to get out of the Hilton family try 21C.

aztimm

Thanks for all the tips!

Well back a month or so ago, I ended up booking something that I can cancel at the Sire, for a king suite. I'm just there one night, so figure I'll give it a shot. The rate for a king suite has more than doubled since i booked, so I'm glad that I did. And the downtown Hilton is now sold out.

I'll be visiting with a cousin (who I haven't seen in ages) and his family. They live about 10-15 min from the Sire, and when I asked, they said I should grab it. I'll try to remember to report back on how things go. This will be my first stay at a Tapestry property....but I have 2 others planned in the month after this.

SixAlpha

JAXPax

I stayed this week at the Hampton Inn & Suites Owensboro, KY (referred to as Downtown Owensboro-Waterfront, as opposed to the Hampton Inn South which is a cookie-cutter standard highway exit property off of US60).

I booked a King/Waterview room. The hotel is on the Ohio River in the middle of downtown Owensboro next to the convention center and the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame (on the Mitch McConnell Waterfront Plaza). The hotel seems to be a bit heavier on suites than most Hamptons and honestly was more like a hotel I'd expect to see from this brand in like Chicago's Miracle Mile to be honest.

I got an email notification that I received an elite upgrade 3 days before my arrival. I was upgraded to a room with a balcony - however, a room with a balcony facing the parking lot versus the river. I called the property the day before I arrived and asked if anything could they put me back in the room I was in as while perhaps this is a higher room category, I would not consider this an upgrade at all. The desk agreed with me and said she would put me back into a river facing room but with a balcony. When I checked in, I realized she put me in a King Studio Suite with balcony on top floor facing the river.

Property doesn't seem that old. It has a lot of meeting space (half of the 2nd floor, including Parlor room that looks like a Hilton HHonors lounge that was left open to sit in, just no food/beverage). Hotel restaurant is called Lure which seems to be well regarded locally and is more of a restaurant leasing space in the hotel versus the hotel having a restaurant. It's higher-end seafood. Also oddly enough was a tuxedo/suit rental shop by appointment off the lobby. I counted 10 Diamond-reserved parking spots in the ample free parking in front of the building.