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

Beyond Bourbon: Crafting Your Perfect Kentucky Adventure with Beer, Wine and a Little Moonshine

State Wide

With more than 100 distilleries throughout the commonwealth and an entire trail dedicated to sharing the stories behind “America’s Native Spirit,” Kentucky is a bourbon lover’s paradise. 

 

But where does that leave folks who want something other than bourbon? Fear not. There are many options for libations in every region of Kentucky, home to more than 90 craft breweries and an abundance of wineries and vineyards with multiple ways to taste and experience them all. Several brewery trails also feature passports designed to help organize and plan your “beercation.”

 

The Kentucky Brewgrass Trail features breweries in and around the greater Lexington area including regional powerhouses Country Boy Brewing, West Sixth Brewing Company and Ethereal Brewing. Don’t forget to check out establishments outside of Lexington, including Maiden City Brewing in Cynthiana, Sig Luscher in Frankfort and Abettor Brewing in Winchester.

 

The Louisville Ale Trail highlights nearly 30 breweries in the Derby City. Against the Grain, one of Kentucky’s original craft breweries, operates from Louisville Slugger Field in the heart of downtown, and Atrium Brewing, located in the Germantown neighborhood, has gained a reputation for pushing the boundaries of beer with a rotating selection of experimental sours, IPAs, stouts and lagers.

 



 

The West Kentucky Brewery Hop is comprised of a group of 13 breweries in western Kentucky, many of which are located in historic and repurposed facilities. Paducah Beer Werks is located in the former Paducah Greyhound bus terminal, and the Henderson Brewing Company located in downtown Henderson resides in a century’s old bar formerly known as the Bright Spot Tavern.

 

In addition to beer, Kentucky has been producing and selling wine since the 18th century. The First Vineyard Winery in Nicholasville, founded in 1799, was the first commercial winery in the United States.

 

What’s better than an excellent glass of wine? An excellent glass of wine with a gorgeous view of the Kentucky countryside. Since 2000, more than 70 wineries and vineyards have sprung up across the Bluegrass State, offering not only a wide variety of wine styles, but unforgettable experiences in the way of tours and tastings.  Many Kentucky wine producers such as Talon Winery in Lexington, Equus Winery in Midway, and Naimoli Estate in Hopkinsville, are located in some of the most gorgeous parts of the commonwealth. And don’t forget to grab a passport while visiting the Western Kentucky Wine Trail.

 

 




For those traveling through eastern Kentucky, be sure to explore the Moonshine Trail. This trail features 10 moonshine distilleries and historical sites that celebrate Kentucky’s “untamed spirit.” Learn about moonshine history at the Backwoods Moonshine Museum in Beattyville and enjoy the breathtaking Appalachian scenery as you travel from distillery to distillery, immersing yourself in one of eastern Kentucky’s oldest traditions.

 

Regardless of what you like to drink and where you happen to be, Kentucky has something that will perfectly suit you.

Author Information

Ben Mackin holding a coffee cup while making a strange face.

Ben Mackin

Ben Mackin is a communications specialist for the Kentucky Department of Tourism.  Before joining KDT, Ben worked as a staff writer and freelancer for a number of publications including the Vicksburg Post, Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily and the State Journal in Frankfort. 

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