DESTINATIONS KENTUCKY THE US LEFT:


Runnymede Farm


RIGHT:


Gangster tour, Newport


you’ll struggle to find outside the US. I placed a few bets and found myself a lucky winner. Admittedly, it was only $10, but amid the festival vibes and under a glaring blue sky, I was buzzing. Those who want to delve a bit deeper into the equine life should visit nearby Runnymede Farm. Set among verdant fields and idyllic, gently rolling hills, it’s a century-old, family-run farm where chief executive Brutus Clay speaks with passion about the horses he and his family have raised, which include Undrafted, the winner of last year’s Ascot Golden Jubilee Stakes. It’s clear that raising and riding horses means serious business here. When we visited the Old Friends horse farm nearby, owner Michael Blowen recalled the arrival of race-winning horse Silver Charm as “the most memorable day of [his] life”, and the nearby Kentucky Horse Park – which offers demonstrations, carriage rides, guided trails and more – draws in more than a million visitors a year. There’s life beyond the horses, though. Lexington itself is a vibrant, lively city with a music and nightlife scene to rival larger Louisville’s, and we enjoyed bopping along to local bands at the outdoor festival that takes place every Thursday from early April to mid-October.


w NEWPORT As all this suggests, Kentucky is no one-trick pony (excuse the pun), and up in the north


Where to stay


I placed a few bets and was a lucky winner. Admittedly, it was only $10, but I was buzzing


on the Ohio border, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, lies Newport, the original ‘Sin City’. Until the 1960s this was the gambling capital of America, where Hollywood stars such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Marilyn Monroe came to party and perform in its seedy clubs. It was a place where anything went, an ‘open city’ that had risen to fame during the years of prohibition, when it was ruled by criminals and bootleggers such as George Remus, said to be the inspiration for The Great Gatsby. This shadowy history is unveiled on the Newport Gangster Tour ($20 for two hours). americanlegacytours.com It was a surprising highlight of the whole trip, as was the Dixieland Jazz Brunch Cruise, which runs every Sunday ($42). Cruising down the Ohio River provided an idyllic, relaxing end to our Kentucky adventure, with swinging music, a huge buffet of southern food and serene views – and I even got to meet the captain for a selfie. Now if that’s not the life, I don’t know what is. bbriverboats.com


60 travelweekly.co.uk 15 December 2016


GALT HOUSE HOTEL, LOUISVILLE With 1,000 rooms set across 25 floors, the Galt House is huge, offering several on-site bars, shops, salons and restaurants, all decked out with elegant wooden interiors. From $149 per night. galthouse.com


HYATT PLACE, BOWLING GREEN A smart, business-oriented hotel set a few miles from the local attractions, this makes a good base for a quick stopover in Bowling Green. From $90 a night. bowlinggreen.place.hyatt.com


GRIFFIN GATE MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA, LEXINGTON Set on a golf course in the heart of Lexington’s verdant hills, this is ideally located for exploring the city’s attractions and offers excellent amenities for luxury travellers. From $169 per night. marriott.com


HOTEL COVINGTON, COVINGTON Recommend this 114-room boutique hotel to higher-end clients; the decor is beautiful and the service, like the rooms, is excellent. It opened only in September so it’s still a secret to outsiders. From $179 per night. hotelcovington.com


Hotel Covington


PICTURES: LOUISVILLE CVB;CHRIS HIGGINS PHOTOGRAPHY


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