A Faith-Centered Day Trip in and Around Lexington, Kentucky

June 26, 2024

While Lexington, Kentucky, may be best known for its horse farms and thoroughbred race tracks, did you know that the city has a rich faith history as well as lots of fun family attractions?

Several stops on the Kentucky Faith Trail are near Lexington and would be easy to visit during a day trip. Start with Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, home to the third largest Shaker community in the United States between 1805 and 1910. The destination features 3,000 acres to discover as you explore The Historic Centre, The Farm, The River, The Stable, and The Preserve. Sample farm-fresh produce, take a hayride or horse-drawn carriage ride, get a glimpse at wildlife, and listen to the stories and music of the people who once inhabited this community. There are more than 10,00 pieces on display in The Historic Centre, carefully preserved by the Shaker Village’s expert staff, and several hands-on activities for visitors of all ages to engage in. Exhibits and tours are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The site is also open to hikers and walkers seven days a week. There’s even an inn on-site if you’re planning an overnight stay. The Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is at 3501 Lexington Road in Harrodsburg.

While in Harrodsburg, stop at the Old Mud Meeting House on Dry Branch Road, the site of the first low Dutch Church west of the Allegheny Mountains. This building has continuously served as a place of worship, housing various denominations since its opening in 1800 until quite recently. The vertical log building, reinforced with mud and straw panels, is known as one of the most historic and architecturally important buildings in the state. The church was established by 50 families who moved to Mercer County from Pennsylvania in 1781 and is now owned and maintained by the Harrodsburg Historical Society. Visitors can also explore the adjacent graveyard, a final resting place for the ashes of Revolutionary War soldiers who hailed from the area. The Old Mud Meeting House is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Continue your adventure with a visit to Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, a family vacation favorite for climbing, hiking, biking, and nature. The site offers a multitude of activities from bird watching and guided tours to zip-lining and underground kayak. The Daniel Boone National Forest is home to many unique bird, animal, tree, and plant species and is comprised of over 2,000,000 acres spanning 21 counties. For families who enjoy camping, there are plenty of options, from RV and backcountry camping to cozy cabins with hot tubs, WiFi, and other modern amenities. 


Fort Boonesborough State Park is the site of Fort Boonesborough, founded in 1775 by Daniel Boone. The park is located in the Central Kentucky Bluegrass Region, along the Kentucky River, and features a full-scale replica of the original fort with reenactments and storytelling by living historians. The site is located near many of Lexington’s horse farms, the arts and crafts of Berea, and only eight miles from White Hall State Historic Site.


The Lexington Children’s Museum, at 440 West Short St. in Lexington, is a wonderland for curious children, offering 10 discovery zones to explore. The museum’s “Around Kentucky” gallery gives guests an opportunity to groom and “ride” life-sized horses, mine for minerals in a make-believe cave, and learn about nocturnal animals and hydro power. From a Bubble Room and a Glow Room to exhibits on health science, there is something new to learn at every turn. The site is open Tuesday through Sunday.

The “Racoon” John Smith’s Cabin in Monticello, Kentucky, was built in 1839 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. Smith, who was born in 1784 and died in 1868, was an early leader in the Restoration Movement and played a critical role in spreading the message over much of Kentucky. Smith’s collaborators included Thomas and Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone. In 1972, the First Christian Church in Monticello appointed a committee to investigate the possibility of obtaining and preserving the old log cabin home of Elder John Smith. Frank Vogler gave the cabin to the church and with loving care, it was moved “log by log, hearthstone by hearthstone, chimney stone by chimney stone” to its present location. The “Racoon” John Smith’s Cabin is now located across the street from the First Christian Church in Monticello at 108 Michigan Ave. The site is open for visitors Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call First Christian Church at 606-348-5131 before arriving if you’d like to see inside the cabin.

There’s no shortage of fun and faith in and around Lexington for visitors of all ages. When you sign up for the Faith Trail Passport you'll earn points at each location you visit. You'll experience iconic sites and earn a prize for checking in! Start planning your trip today.

Two Hundred Years of Kentucky History: The Revival of 1800 and South Union Shaker Village

May 14, 2025
Kentucky boasts a rich and unique faith history, and past communities of faith reveal the state’s legacy even into the present day. One such group is the Kentucky Shakers, a regional religious community that could once be found across the United States, and another is the revivalists of the Second Great Awakening. These faithfuls set the tone for hundreds of years in Kentucky and continue to inspire a legacy of unity and harmony among visitors exploring faith today. South Union Shaker Village Shaker communities believed in simplification. Their progressive theological practices emphasized communal living, pacifism, gender equality, withdrawal from worldly things, and sustainable living. In Kentucky, it was no different! The South Union Shaker Village was a 6,000-acre farm in southern Kentucky where the South Union Shaker community lived from 1807 to its closure in 1922. The massive complex — which became known as the village of South Union — contained over two hundred buildings, including dormitories, shops, barns, and stables. It even has a mill complex that was unrivaled in the area at the time. Shakers were known throughout America to craft spectacular material goods, like furniture. You can see such furniture, textiles, tools, and other household items at South Union thanks to efforts in the 1960s to preserve Shaker culture through the Shaker Museum at South Union, found in the 1824 Centre House on the property. Today, you can visit some of the original Shaker architecture on 500 acres of the original village. While only nine of the 200+ remain, these buildings offer a fantastic glimpse into the past and daily lives of the Shakers at South Union. Learn more about the community in the museum — part of the South Union Shakertown Historic Trail and included in the US National Register of Historic Places.

Spend Your Summer Adventuring on the Kentucky Faith Trail

April 10, 2025
Summer is the perfect time of year to plan a getaway and have some fun, and we don’t think there’s anything better than spending a few days exploring the Kentucky Faith Trail. There’s so much to see, from quaint revival meeting houses to towering cathedrals. The Kentucky Faith Trail boasts a rich and beautiful history of faith, perseverance, and pioneering spirit that acts as an enduring legacy for generations to come. Here are a few of our top locations that you simply can’t miss. The Ark Encounter Have you ever wondered how big Noah’s Ark was? At the Ark Encounter, you can actually walk on board and explore all three decks of a full-size replica in person! Through this immersive experience, you can learn more about what life would've been like on the Ark and even interact with animals at the zoo. Educational experiences with a biblical lens are available for all ages. When learning is this fun, you’ll want to spend all day at the Ark Encounter. 
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