Arts & Crafts Shopping In Kentucky

Beginning with the earliest days of English settlement, handicrafts have been a beloved art form in the Bluegrass State. While many Kentucky arts and crafts are rooted in tradition, others are on the cutting edge of contemporary art. You can find it all on your visit, and even bring home a piece or two as a gift or souvenir.

Berea, known as the Folk Arts & Crafts Capital of Kentucky, is home to a thriving community of artisans with shops and studios scattered throughout town. The city’s craft heritage is tied to historic Berea College, the first integrated and coeducational college in the South. Paducah, home to the National Quilt Museum and Lower Town Arts District, has been designated a UNESCO Creative City, one of only nine in the United States. Inspiration awaits visitors to this city’s many vibrant galleries and workshops.

The Kentucky Artisan Center, Appalachian Artisan Center and KMAC Museum all display and sell works of hundreds of Kentucky artisans. Kentucky Arts Council maintains directories of Kentucky Crafted Artists and Retailers that have met the Council’s criteria of artistic excellence and professionalism as judged by independent panels of arts professionals. Plus, handcrafted wares are the centerpiece of many festivals throughout the Commonwealth, large and small.

Trip Inspiration

How to Spend a Day in Maysville

Northern Kentucky River Region

 

Prepare for a picturesque and immersive experience in Northern Kentucky that will leave you wanting more. Start your day off at Parc Cafe, where you can taste the regional specialty of goetta, a combination of sausage and oats that you can only find in this part of the state. The Dirty Rice Bowl is a staff favorite, and also now, one of ours. Don't forget to indulge in their homemade baked goods, like the irresistible glazed croissant that's a perfect blend of a classic donut and a flaky French croissant.


Check into the Lee House Inn, which genuinely has some of the warmest hospitality and is filled with historic character dating back to the 1800s. Take time to listen and watch for the stories it has to tell. For lunch, head to Kenton Social for their iconic Bourbon Slush, as well as some tender Reuben Sliders. Afterwards, walk it off with a visit to the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center's miniatures museum, where the incredible attention to detail will leave you in awe and give you a glimpse of Maysville's history.

 


Bourbon Slush at Kenton Social

 

Don't miss the opportunity to see Old Pogue Distillery, the 3rd oldest in the country, that makes incredible small batch bourbon and rye. Head distiller John, a descendant of Old Pogue's original owners, will take you on a tour of their operation that overlooks the Ohio River.


End your day by enjoying the spectacular views of the Ohio River at Capronis on the River while savoring Southern-leaning dishes like fried green tomatoes and the famous Kentucky Hot Brown. Watch the sun set and witness the train passing by less than a foot away from you. 


Before heading to bed, take a moment to appreciate the view from one of the balconies at the Lee House Inn, where you can see "Pearl Bridge," as locals call it, that mimics a pearl necklace at night.

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Caitlin Sakdalan

Caitlin is a social media influencer, storyteller, and content & community expert. She is the creator behind the hugely popular @befatbehappy Instagram page. 

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