What makes Lincolnshire landmarks so special is the peculiar mix of suburban idyll and sublime city tension that you can hardly summarize in a single set. I remember driving over the old road, which is now considered Brownsboro Road, for the first time, and I immediately felt that since the 1960s a silent competition between farm memories and the first suburban houses from the “American Dream” has gone. Lincolnshire is located in the heart of Jefferson County, nestled between the more prosperous districts of St. Matthews and the more industrial parts of Louisville, a geographical chameleon that can never completely decide whether to be an independent town or just another suburb.
I've repeatedly completed the journey through I‐64 and I‐71; a short stop at Exit-Rampe 2 takes you to the centre, where you can feel the typical “small-town” flair, which is supported by the many trees-lined roads and the well-maintained pre-gardens. The local bus, the TARC Line 70, is not exactly a luxury express, but it will take you to the LouisvilleMetro Center, if you want to inhale the pulsating city life. And yes, I don't quite understand the hype about the "Hip-ster-Cafés" nearby – they are nice, but the true heart of Lincolnshire beats in the small, family-run shops that have served the same pancakes for generations. So if you're looking for a place that gives you the feeling that you'd live in a time capsule that reminds of the present at the same time, you're right here.
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Advantage:
You can assess light, perspective and location before visiting the site – ideal for photography, sunrises and sunsets.
To find the exact point where the sun disappears behind the skyline, use the azimuth display on poi-travel.de. In Lincolnshire, the sun travels further northwest below the horizon in summer, while in winter it takes a more southwesterly angle. With the embedded line on the map, you can determine your tripod position down to the metre.
The first stop is the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, a huge piece of wilderness stretching between the Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley – a place where I spent more time with insects than with people, and that's exactly my thing. The trails are well marked, the car can be parked almost everywhere except Saturdays when parking becomes a small Survival game. I spent a morning photographing the sunrise above the water, and was surprised how loud the birds' twilight is compared to the urban sirens. Simple magical – if you do not use the word “magic” too often, you understand.
Only half an hour further south is the Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, the only official fossil field in the USA. I have to admit, I don't understand the hype about prehistoric bones, but the huge Mammut skeleton exhibited there still impressed me. The small visitor park is clean, the staff friendly, and the museum next to the parking lot provides enough information to not look completely unconscious. Practical: The picnic place is ideal if you want to stop hunger after a hike – just don't leave a garbage, otherwise there's anger with the park guards.
A short trip to Harrodsburg leads to the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, one of the best preserved Shaker communities in the world. I was there because I thought the Shaker was just a myth from old novels, and was quickly taught a better one. The houses are simple, the craftsmanship is unsurpassed, and the guided tour (which is better booked in advance because the places are quickly gone) gives an insight into a life that is hardly conceivable today. The small gift shop at the outlet sold handmade soaps that actually smell better than most perfumes I've ever tried.
A few miles further, almost on the edge of the LTL, is the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven. I rediscovered my childhood memories of model railways – the museum has real old trains that still drive, and a small track where you can turn a round yourself. Parking is close, so better to come early, otherwise you have to park the car on the road and hope that nobody closes the bike. The souvenir shop sells miniature locomotives I bought from pure nostalgia, although I will never use them.
Next north, in Hodgenville, is the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. I have the little house where the 16th. President saw the light of the world, visited and was surprised how little can be seen there – a simple wooden house, a few pieces of furniture and a visitor centre. Nevertheless, the whole thing has something calming, almost spiritual, considering that such a great man came out from such modest beginnings. The parking lot is free, but on holidays it can be full quickly, so better to bring a little patience.
A bit further east, almost halfway to the Red River Gorge, is the Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown – a must for anyone who wants to explore the Kentucky Bourbon Trail without sitting in the car all day. I took part in a tour that was surprisingly informative and was allowed to taste some glasses of the famous “Bottled-in-Bond”. The reservation is obligatory, otherwise you stand in front of closed doors, and the Tasting-Room staff is friendly, but not excessively enthusiastic – just my taste.
If you have a little more time left, you'll find a trip to the Red River Gorge in Daniel Boone National Forest. The rock formations there are really impressive, and the trails offer both easy walks and challenging climbing areas. I spent a day there to see the famous Natural Bridge, and was amazed at how little people were traveling there – a rare moment of silence, which is not often found in Kentucky. Parking is possible at the entrance, but it can be tight on weekends, so better be there early.
Whether you are looking for prehistoric bones, historical houses, smokey Bourbon samples or wild landscapes – the surroundings of Lincolnshire, Jefferson, Kentucky have something to offer for everyone. My personal highlights show that the region has much more to offer than what is found in the usual guides. And next time you plan your route, remember that the Lincolnshire Attractions not only a name, but a promise for authentic experiences that you will not forget so quickly.
The history of Lincolnshire, Jefferson, Kentucky, begins long before the first Highway-Overpass I've ever seen – it starts with a narrow field path lined today by Brown's Boro Road and where as a teenager I drove my bike against a parking van for the first time because I was too eager to reach the new coffee shop.
My personal favorite spot is The Lincolnshire Golf Club. Yes, I know a private golf course doesn’t sound like the typical “Must Lake”, but the green there is so well maintained that you almost feel like landing in a commercial for luxury resorts. I met a friend there who claimed he could close the ball with his eyes – I showed him that this is only a trick to justify the club fee. Parking is usually easy, except on Saturdays, when the members bring their families and the car park chaos reminds the door of the clubhouse.
A short walk down the road leads you to Browns Boro Shopping District, a mixture of chains and local boutiques that has more charm than what one would expect from a suburb. Here is the best donut glass I have ever tried – a crispy, slightly burnt edge, filled with vanilla cream, which is almost too sweet to be true. I once met an old school friend who now works as Barista and told me that the coffee beans come from Colombia because the “ sounds better”.
If you want to sniff a bit of nature, look Lincolnshire Park on. The park is small, but it has a small lake where ducks are lazy and a playground that has more rust than color – a real indication that it is not constantly renovated here. I let my daughter fly with a dragon there for the first time; the wind was so strong that we almost left the whole park area because the dragon knot turned into a knot from my trouble.
A little further, but still in the same district, St. Matthews Historic District. The old houses from the 1920s have these slightly rusted but proud aura that reminds you that once real people lived here, not just commuters. I discovered a small café that serves “Southern Comfort” – a drink that tastes more like sweetwood than anything you would expect in a chic hotel, but that's what makes the charm.
For those who believe that a suburb has no culture to offer, there is Jefferson County Library – Lincolnshire Branch. The library is a place where I spent more time than I would like to admit, because I always find new editions of “The Kentucky Derby Magazine”. The staff is friendly, but slightly annoyed if you ask for the latest bestseller because they know that you probably only want the magazine for the horse race.
Another hidden treasure I hardly recommend to anyone is that Lincolnshire Community Center. There is a weekly yoga class program led by a woman who always says: “Atme in, breathe out, and don’t forget to pay your bills.” I took part in a dance night where the music was so loud that I thought the building would collapse – a real highlight if you were looking for the feeling of “small town chaos”.
And yes, if you have a list of Lincolnshire Attractions Looking, you will find that most of them are more common, but that's what makes the appeal. It is not the Eiffel Tower feeling that awaits you here, but the quiet sum of a city that does not take itself too seriously while at the same time trying to offer a little more than just a few shopping malls and a golf course.
At the end of the day, when the lights of Brown's Boro Road flicker and you ask yourself why you came here at all, remember that I still visit the same old Donut Glass shops here – because some things are just too good to ignore them.
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