Visit Bedford Trimble Kentucky and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover the wonderful nature of Bedford, Kentucky! The Cumberland Falls State Resort Park offers a great opportunity to swim in the waterfalls and relax in nature. Also forget the Big South Fork Scenic Railway to experience the most beautiful landscapes of the National Park!
Bedford sights always start for me with a short historical material: The city was built at the beginning of the 19th century. century, named after the small Bedford in Virginia, which in turn took the English model. In 1854, when Trimble County was kicked out from parts of Carroll and Henry County, Bedford was given the office of County Seats – a title that they still carry with stoic serenity. Honestly, the city looks like a relic from a time when the word “ectics” was not yet invented, and that is exactly my thing.
If you take I‐71 north from Lexington and then turn off to Kentucky Route 36, you will end up in the heart of Bedford after about 30 miles. The driveway is a bit like a Road-Trip-Motto: “Adventure that doesn’t take too long.” I stopped the first time by train from Louisville here – the small train station is hardly more than a surviving relic, but it has charm if you don't take it too seriously.
The people here are just as unpretentious as the streets: a kind greeting from the baker, a short chat with the postman, and suddenly you feel like being part of a long, slightly sleepy family history. And that's exactly what Bedford's sights make for me an underestimated jewel – no joke, that's pure authenticity that you rarely find in the crowded tourist centers.
So, next time you drive to Bedford, let's go first Bedford Historical Museum stop – this is my personal favorite place, because this is not only about the usual “grain field and cow”. The old court building, which now houses the museum, cracks a bit at every step, but this is part of the charm; I found an old photograph there showing how the city was overrun by horse carriages in 1902. Parking is usually a Klacks, as long as you don't arrive on Saturday night, then parking becomes a small adventure because the locals then unpack their barbecue parties.
Directly next to the museum, the Kentucky River along, and I have to admit, I was skeptical about seeing something here – until I borrowed a kayak and enjoyed the calm flow. The river is not exactly a tourist magnet, but it makes it all the more authentic; a few old fishermen sit there, throw out their nets and give you the feeling you're in a time capsule. If you prefer to walk, there is a narrow path to Bedford City Park leads where you can find some old oaks that have more stories to tell than some politicians here.
In the park itself there is a small playground that is great for families, and an open field that becomes an improvised concert venue in the summer – I once heard a local Bluegrass band that had more talent than the entire line-up of the Kentucky State Fair. The garage is free, but if you come by bike, you have to share one of the few bicycle stands that stand there – a small test of your patience, but hey, this is Bedford, not New York.
Another highlight I always like to mention is that Bedford Farmers Market. I don't quite understand the hype about bio-currence, but the fresh peaches offered here in August are really a poem. The market is open only on Saturdays from 8 am to 12 pm, and that means that you have to be there early, otherwise you fight through the crowd of people who use their shopping bags like a shield. I met an old man there who gave me a recipe for fried corn flasks – that was better than any cooking show on TV.
If you're looking for a quiet corner, look at the Bedford Public Library on. Yes, this is a place where you can borrow books, but the real highlight is the small reading corner in the rear part, where an old armchair stands, which looks better than some new sofas in the furniture store. I have often made my notes for my next blog posts, while I quietly heard the sum of the air conditioning – this is almost meditative. Parking is a bit trickier here because the road is narrow, but a short walk from the main road is enough.
A bit away from the city centre Bedford Golf Course, a nine-hole square that has more charm than some 18 holes in larger cities. I played there once with a friend who claimed he was a “Pro”, and after the first hole it was clear that he is more a hobby golfer who spends too much time in the clubhouse. The place is well maintained, the green is not too fast, and the clubhouse serves a coffee that is strong enough to keep you awake after a long day in the office. If you don't have a racket, you can borrow one on site – that's convenient because you don't have to carry a whole set extra.
Last but not least, if you are for the less obvious Bedford Attractions interessierst, I recommend a detour to Bedford Firehouse Museum. The old fire department store is now a small museum that shows the history of local firefighting – from old hose reels to the first motorized extinguishing vehicles. I found an old fire brigade uniform there, which was so well preserved that I was almost trying to attract them. The museum is not big, but it has a certain charm because it shows how much the community holds together when it comes to the fire.
The first stop I put to every new man's heart is that Big Bone Lick State Park – a place where the earth literally smells like prehistoric giants. I made a picnic there once, while a guide told Mammuts, who drove their inns here over 10,000 years ago. The park is huge, so don't forget to pack enough water; parking is a bit chaotic on weekends because the families with their strollers occupy the few pitches quickly.
A short detour to the south leads you to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, which is not only a museum, but a living piece of history. I was there on a sunny spring day and lost myself in the quiet gardens, while a Shaker monk told me why they don't build furniture with snorkels. The guided tours are free, but the souvenir shop is ringing louder than the old bell game in the courtyard.
If you have enough of peaceful gardens, take a look at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Hodgenville. I don't quite understand the hype about the old president, but the little log house in which he was born has a certain charm, especially if you settle there in the summer with an ice cream in your hand and almost hear the story. The park area is small, so parking is almost always a Klack – unless you come to high season, then you have to go through between tourist buses and picnic blankets.
A little further west, almost on the edge of the Kentucky River, lies the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest. I spent a weekend there because I thought a forest walk was the perfect time out of town life. The trails are well marked, the visitor center has a small shop that sells more crafts than you would expect, and parking is generous – as long as you don’t arrive on Saturday night when the concert series “Bernheim Live” fills the terrain.
The Kentucky River itself offers Kentucky River Palisades a panoramic view that you can't easily picture in a guide. I stood there once in the morning grey, while the sun rose above the steep cliffs, and thought this is the true heart of Kentucky. The driveway is a bit curvy, and parking at the viewpoint is a narrow strip that quickly gets full when you choose the weekend.
A short detour to the east leads you to miltona tiny town on the Ohio River that has more charm than one would expect from a place with less than 500 inhabitants. I visited an old cemetery where the tombstones tell stories about river pioning and smugglers. The small café on the banks of the river serves the best coffee wide and wide – and parking is practically right outside the door as long as you are not there at noon when the locals start their fishing rounds.
Whether you are looking for prehistoric bones, historical houses, dense forests or quiet river views, the surroundings of Bedford have more to offer than you would suspect at first glance. This selection Bedford Attractions shows that a short trip from the city can lead to real discoveries – all without the usual tourist crowds found in the larger cities.
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