A Weekend in Lexington . . . Y'all, I Had a Ball!
Hey, y’all! So recently, I got a chance to visit Lexington, Kentucky. Now, I must admit, I didn’t know very much about Lexington outside of the city being famous for horses.
But recently, and thanks to the VisitLex team, I had the opportunity to take a field trip and spend a little over 48 hours in the city. Y’all know I love a good field trip! With just a couple of days to pack in a lifetime of experiences, with excitement, I hit the ground running! And what a time I had there, y’all! From start to finish, this is a trip I'll never forget.
Instead of me simply telling you about how amazing Lexington is, let me SHOW you!
Touch Down
After a smooth flight into the city, it was time to get right to exploring! But first, I checked into the Elwood Hotel & Suites, which just happens to be a plant-friendly hotel. Y’all, you can bring your plants to the hotel with you! But, if you’re traveling plant-kid free, there will more than likely be a new plant bb waiting for you in your room!
Photo courtesy of Elwood Hotel & Suites | Photographer Alyssa Rosencheck
As you walk up to the hotel, you’re instantly greeted with a beautiful facade, featuring one of the most joy-inducing murals - by Alixandra Jade - I’ve ever seen. From the colors to the floral theme, I already knew I’d enjoy my stay! But y’all, the view only got better as I set foot into the hotel . . .
I meaaaaan, if there were ever a perfectly curated aesthetic for a hotel, THIS would be it! Boutique hotels are my favorite for that very reason. There’s a level of intentionality and love that goes into curating every corner of each space, and I’m here to tell you that Elwood did not disappoint. After checking in - and picking my jaw up off the floor from being utterly enamored with simply the vibe in the lobby - it was time to put my things in the room to get ready to explore the town! But, when I got to my room . . .
To start, there was a welcome plant waiting on me when I got to my room! Any place that celebrates plants as much as I do already has my heart! But to actually see and exist with beautiful and lush plants in a hotel room is almost an unheard-of experience! I felt right at home! I just so happened to get a corner room which allowed for hours of golden sunlight to flow in - and you know golden hour is my favorite time of day - so I had to take a few photos . . . immediately!
And what would if be if I didn’t capture a full video of my stay at Elwood?
Let’s Hit The Town!
Now that I’d freshened up from the day’s travels, it was time to hit the town. The first stop on this list - and as is always with me - was to grab some food! And for our first meal in the city, we went to Corto Lima, a restaurant that serves Latin-inspired dishes representing the influences from all 33 Latin-American countries. And yes, there were vegan options . . . you read that right, options with an “s”!
I started off with a prickly pear margarita and their salsa trio . . . which was a dream! For the main course, I had the Quinoa Chaufa (without egg). If I could have eaten my weight in that dish, I would have! It was the perfect blend of plant-based protein, more vegetables, and a little heat. What stood out the most about this meal was that I left feeling full, but not stuffed - which was important because we still had some more exploring to do! Please believe on my next trip to Lexington, Corto Lima is number one on my list of restaurants to visit!
The next stop was a beautiful country drive to the Castle&Key Distillery. Now, you know I love a good mocktail. But every now and again, I enjoy a nice, woodsy whiskey or a floral-forward gin. Little did I know, I was in for a treat since all spirit bases - from vodka to bourbon - were covered at the distillery!
There was a delightful overload of old-world charm at this distillery, and the grounds were absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Immediately, I started contemplating my next adventure abroad, which will hopefully be across the pond, visiting the endless European landscapes that inspired this perfectly manicured oasis!
After a quick tour of the place, it was time for a tasting. Let me tell you now, we were already having fun. But after this tasting, I was nothing but smiles and giggles!
Each spirit sampled was probably some of the best I’ve tried - even the vodka. (Vodka and I aren’t on speaking terms until it learns to treat me nicely). Though a close call, the gin turned out to be my overall favorite of the trio. So much so, that I left with a bottle to stock my bar cart back home!
As if the taste wasn’t simply enough - it’s seriously the perfect citrusy and floral gin - the bottle’s design alone sold me. The colors, the brass hardware, and the faceted glass . . . I should have gotten more than one, come to think of it! *sad face*
While at the gift shop, I decided to pick up a gift for myself; which honestly is the perfect fusion in my opinion: my favorite, simple cocktail in candle form! The scent divinely captures the essence and sensory experience of a chilled gin & tonic on a hot summer day.
But, can we also take a moment to appreciate how bespoke this gift shop is? I mean, this is yet another space curated to perfection! If I’ve not said it enough, Lexington is a beautiful place!
Back at the hotel now, it was time to close the evening with dinner at Fiddletree - I absolutely LOVE the play on plant life at the hotel!
When I tell you that this hotel and its restaurant ooze with visual inspiration! Ah! I made sure to take design notes during this trip! So many ideas came to mind by getting to experience these gorgeous spaces! But now, to the food!
Thankfully here, too, there are vegan options available. And my dinner lacked not in flavor, nor impeccable presentation! I had the house salad and fries, finishing off the meal with a brussel sprouts salad - the balsamic glaze alone made this the star of the night’s meal! Oh, and to celebrate my first night in Lexington - and to close out the evening - bubbles (Prosecco) were clearly in order!🥂
Day Two!
Photography courtesy of: Jaimie Nicole Monger
After a fun-filled first (half) day, it was time to start our full day of exploring! But first . . . coffee! And of course, I stopped off at Fiddletree for the espresso my soul needed, and in the world’s cutest mug!
Photo taken at Michler’s
Now, you know if there is a plant to be found, I’m going to find it! And clearly I’d have no problem doing so at Michler’s, the coolest and most ethereal greenhouse and floral shop I’ve EVER visited! It’s safe to say that I was in absolute heaven! So many different plant varieties, from more common friends like the fiddle leaf fig, to some of the most luxuriant variations of monstera minimas! Just know I wanted to take 2 of everything! For a fun tour of Michler’s, check out this reel I made!
Can you tell how ECSTATIC I was to be there?!
After all of that plant exploration, it was time to - you guessed it - eat lunch! Thankfully all we had to do is take a short, lush walk through the nursery at Michler’s which led us to Kentucky Native Cafe . . . if you could imagine what a restaurant carved out of the middle of a jungle would look like, Native Cafe embodies every bit of that image!
As I sat under the collective canopy of gorgeous greenery, I had one of the most scrumptious vegan meals, and a sparkling lemonade that’s worth me driving 5hrs or hopping on a plane to taste again!
After the meal, we ventured down the road a bit to Greyline Station which houses various vendors, artists, and makers all in one location. Some of my top picks there are:
Vintage Therapy - I got some of the coolest vintage clothing there! But more than clothes, they have tons of gifts and home accessories that will send you on a welcomed journey to the past!
Forage Plant Shop - yes, we went to another plant shop . . . and, of course, I bought another plant bb! But this time, it was for mom! At Forage, you’ll find planters, plant care, and a list of other apothecary goods. I LOVE it there!
And in Julietta Market - which is a non-profit public market within Greyline Station that reflects the community from which the concept was birthed - has an amazing lineup of merchants as well!
Habibi’s Sweets - y’all . . . when I say I can still taste the vegan baklava and the Turkish coffee made there! MY GOODNESS! I’ve not had baklava in a while. So to be able to eat it again, it be vegan, and some of the best I’ve EVER had . . . I can’t wait to go back!
Dafri Studios - outside of plants, my home is FULL of art; art that reflects me, my heritage, and my outlook on life. And the beauty Visual Artist Dafri creates is simply out of this world. It’s as if he creates to give us a glimpse of his history, and a vision of his future. Of course, I purchased a few pieces!
After finishing up my field trip, I headed back to the hotel for a quick disco nap before heading out for dinner, closing the night out at one of the vibiest pubs I’ve visited, Postmaster’s Pub. Oh, and you see all the plant life?! 🌿
And might I add, they make one of the best New York Sours in the region!
My Last Day
If you’ve not yet noticed, food is a VERY big part of my existence. So before heading back to Memphis, I had to go for one last meal at Fiddletree - their brunch does not disappoint, y’all! What may look like two salads is actually a beautifully appointed avocado toast (left) and a seasonal salad (right). I almost didn’t want to eat the avocado toast, it was just that pretty. I said almost! Trust me when I say it was as good as it looked!
Because I like living on the edge of time just a little bit, and well, I couldn’t come all the way to Lexington without this next experience - which the VisitLex team so graciously arranged - I decided to go horseback riding . . . RIGHT before my flight🙈.
And for that adventure, I visited the Kentucky Horse Park. Now, I’d only ridden a horse once during a family trip to DR. So I needed to brush up on my skills a bit. Nonetheless, I wanted to have this experience in my memory bank! For 30 minutes, I got a chance to tour the park’s grounds, as my new animal friend, Sisco, carried me through the flowery fields! Sunday just so happens to be my favorite day. So to have this experience of ease and a moment of being completely carefree on my favorite day is something I’ll remember for a lifetime.
I just hope Sisco had as much fun as I did!
All in all, I had the time of my life during my visit to Lexington. As I mentioned at the beginning, I knew next to nothing about this city. But after this field trip, I must say that this is a GEM of a destination. I honestly can’t wait to go back, and if you are looking for the perfect destination to plan a solo trip or friend-cation, Lexington, Kentucky should definitely be in your top three picks.
I’d like to thank the VisitLex and Elwood teams for making sure that this experience was nothing short of AMAZING! From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
And now, for a full visual recap of this post - and a peek at some of the places I didn’t mention in this post - check out my Lexington, Kentucky highlight on IG!
Until the next adventure . . . and I have a feeling this one’s gonna be tropical 😉🌴🌊
