Every work of art is a story, and Kentucky has many to tell. Our rich heritage of craftmaking goes all the way back to the pioneer days of the Commonwealth, when settlers living on the frontier learned to make the things they wanted or needed, and then passed those skills down through the generations. These traditions still thrive today, with a new class of Kentucky artisans crafting handmade music instruments, sculptures, intricate quilts, ceramics and pottery, textiles, paintings and many more objects of art.

Visit Berea, the “Folk Arts and Crafts Capital of Kentucky,” for charming shops selling some of the finest folk art Kentucky has to offer, and stop at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea to peruse the work of more than 800 Kentucky artists. Travel to western Kentucky to discover just why Paducah has been designated a UNESCO Creative City, from the historic floodwall murals along the riverfront to the eclectic studios of the Lower Town Arts District. And other arts destinations, including the Appalachian Artisan Center in Hindman and the annual Kentucky Crafted Market, provide even more opportunities for visitors to bring home magnificent art and a fascinating story or two. 

And if contemporary art is more your style, don’t miss KMAC and the 21C Museum Hotels in Louisville and Lexington, which showcase eclectic exhibitions from global artists. 

New: . The Stephen Rolfe Powell Memorial Sculpture Garden and Outdoor Classroom at Centre College in Danville, conceptualized and led by one of Powell’s former students, Brook Forrest White Jr., owner of Flame Run Hot Shop and Gallery in Louisville, features a 25-foot-tall sculpture that spectators can walk through, as well as a garden and an outdoor classroom. The memorial serves as an endearing reminder of the Kentucky artist’s legacy by creating a landmark where visitors can experience and appreciate his profound impact on glass art, not only as an arts professor but as a preeminent artist of world acclaim.

Trip Inspiration

5 Kentucky Made Ice Creams

State Wide

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Ice cream may not be the first food you think of when you think Kentucky, but the state does have several yummy ice cream flavors. Here are five Kentucky made ice creams with decadent regional flavors to make you say, “yum!”

 

 

Chaney's Dairy Barn – Bowling Green  

 

Rolling farmlands, Jersey cows and the best ice cream in Kentucky, according to USA Today, are all found at Chaney's Dairy Barn. Chaney's offers Summer Family Farm Tours on Fridays and Mondays during June and July at 1 p.m. The farm tour includes the hayride to the farm (weather permitting), a visit with a calf, a live milking demonstration, information about cows, dairy and farm life, plus a scoop of Chaney's Ice Cream in a cup. 

 

 

Crank and Boom – Lexington

 


Crank & Boom Ice Cream in Lexington

 

Toa Green launched this successful ice cream from the kitchen of her Lexington restaurant The Thai Orchid Café, and fashioned it after coconut ice cream sold by street vendors in Thailand. The result is a delicious ice cream treat with an array of savory regional flavors inspired from the surrounding Bluegrass region. There are 40 to 50 flavors that change seasonally including blackberry and honey bourbon. While you can find Crank and Boom ice cream for sale in several restaurants and retail locations, it’s worth a trip to the Crank and Boom Ice Cream Lounge located in the James Pepper Distillery property in Lexington. 

 

 

Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen – Louisville

 

Since 1982, this family owned restaurant in Louisville has upheld a family tradition of serving fresh-churned ice cream. Thirty-two flavors of this tasty ice cream are served in 10 locations throughout the Louisville area. Flavors range from traditional favorites like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry to coconut and birthday cake. Don’t leave without trying the signature sundae series, such as the American Pride, a slice of homemade cherry pie layered with chocolate icing, chocolate chip cookie and two scoops of Blue Moon (Smurf) ice cream – topped, of course, with fresh whipped cream! 

 

Generations – Stanford

 

As the name implies, this family-owned business is multi-generational and has the motto “Forget your troubles, bring your family and have some darn good ice cream.” Made in house, ice cream flavors include Big Red Rumble, white chocolate ice cream with red velvet cake swirl and Wow Now Brownie, chocolate ice cream with brownies, chocolate chunks and fudge swirl. 

 

 

The Comfy Cow – Louisville 

 

With four retails locations in Louisville and a number of stores throughout Kentucky that sell this Kentucky made ice cream, The Comfy Cow is a favorite among locals. Homemade creations include flavors as uniquely Kentucky as Bourbon Ball, Simply Southern, Blackberry Mint Julep, Kentucky Bourbon Glazed Brownie, Secretariat and Bourbon Maple Walnut. 

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