Visit Oakbrook Boone Kentucky and the surrounding area to see the top sights. Discover Oakbrook, Kentucky: An unforgettable shopping and family holiday! With the Owensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau, you can learn all about the attractions such as the Oxmoor Center, the Tanger Outlets and the Louisville Zoo. Enjoy dining in excellent restaurants or spend a quiet time at Oak Knoll Park. An unforgettable holiday for every family!
Oakbrook Sights are more than just an advertising slogan for me, they're what I appreciate at this little spot of Boone County. Honestly, the city was only built in the 1970s when a few visionary developers transformed the old farmland into a suburban paradise – a bit like an Ikea furniture house, which suddenly gets its own life. I remember going to Oakbrook for the first time by train from Louisville via the I‐71/64 intersection; the ratter of the rails was the only thing that disturbed the otherwise so calm picture. Today, the buses of the TARC almost pass silently, and if you have a car, parking here is almost a hobby because the roads are as wide as a field road from the 60s.
People here have a unique mix of Southern hospitality and a pinch of Middle West Skeps – you can immediately see if you sit in one of the few local diners and try the “homemade” that actually has only a bit more salt than what you do at home. I don't quite understand the hype about the annual autumn parade, but the small shops along Main Street, where you can find handmade soaps and vintage scarves, are really great. And yes, if you ask yourself how to get here, just take the exit 115 from the I‐71, follow the signs to Oakbrook and let you calm down from the wide fields and the tractor – this is the true Oakbrook-Feeeling, which cannot catch any brochure ever.
So, next time you go to Oakbrook, let's go first Oakbrook Park – yes, exactly the small green spot that the locals call “our paradise”, although it is hardly larger than a well-maintained front garden. I don't understand the hype around the huge city park in Louisville, but here there is a tiny lake that looks almost like a mirror in autumn, and a playground that has more rusty climbing stands than modern attractions. Parking? Mostly a Klacks, as long as you are not there with the whole family circus on Saturday night – then the parking problem becomes a small survival training.
A short walk further (I mean, really a short walk, not the marathon you might imagine) leads you to Oakbrook Community Center. The building is a bit like a Swiss pocket knife: basketball court, yoga courses, and in the evening a karaoke evening, in which the neighbors are loudly fighting about the choice of their favorite 80s hits. I once tried to demonstrate my “Super-Schnell-Koch-Skills” there and was promptly braked by a group of seniors who explained that the true talent here is the memory of the best bingo numbers.
If you're looking for a place where you can withdraw and read a book without a loud discussion about the latest TikTok trend, then the Oakbrook Library That's right. The library is small, but it has an amazingly well-stocked local history department – there you will find old newspaper articles about the foundation of the city, which almost let you believe that Oakbrook was once a “bustling” trading center (Spoiler: it wasn’t). I once discovered an old photo of a horse car that reminded me of my childhood when I thought a horse car was a “vintage Uber”.
A little away from the city centre Oakbrook Cemetery, a place that I personally call “historical open air museum”. The tombstones tell stories of families who have lived here for generations, and a particularly artistically crafted stone from the 1920s has made me think about the transience – and at the same time how much effort some people put into their afterworld. Practically seen: The cemetery is always open, and parking is a children's game because there is just a small parking behind the entrance.
For those who need a little shopping therapy, there is Oakbrook Shopping Center. Here you will find a few local boutiques, a café that claims to serve the best latte in the whole of Kentucky (I tried the latte, and it was actually not bad), and a small supermarket that still offers the “fresh” bananas from Florida. The interesting thing: every first Friday of the month there is a small flea market where you can find vintage plates and handmade soaps – a real treasure for bargain hunters.
A short detour over the main road brings you to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, one of the few historical buildings that is still actively used. The architecture is rather simple, but the glass windows from the 1950s throw a warm light that almost lets you believe you were in another era. I took part in a choir sample there – that was an experience that reminded me that some people really enjoy singing loud, even if they don't hit a sound.
And yes, if you ask yourself what Oakbrook Attractions you can even visit, then this is my personal top list that I like to share with you. Each place has its own charm, and the best is that you are not overrun by tourist crowds, but by people who simply enjoy life here at their own pace. So, grab your car, don't forget the coffee, and let Oakbrook surprise you – I promise it won't be boring as long as you're ready to accept a bit of irony and a lot of local flair.
The first stop I put to every new man's heart is that Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, which is only half an hour drive north of Oakbrook and sees itself as the oldest fossil property in the USA. I once discovered a prehistoric bone camp that sounds more like a lost dinosaur recreation park than a serious natural monument – and that's what makes the charm. Parking is almost always a Klacks, as long as you don't touch a group of school classes on Saturday night, then the field becomes a battlefield quickly. The trails lead you through gentle hills, and if you are lucky, you hear the distant muhen of goats that still graze here.
A short detour to the south brings you to Creation Museum in Petersburg, which sells itself as a “world-class experience centre for biblical creation history”. I don't quite understand the hype about the huge dinosaur models, but the interactive exhibition about the Arche Noah really made me sneak – especially when I tried to solve the “water hose puzzle” and sprayed almost the entire water out of the basin. The parking lot is huge, so no stress, and the café serves a coffee that is strong enough to awaken a bear.
If you are looking for something green that is not flooded by neon lights, that is Boone County Arboretum That's right. I once organized a picnic with my neighbor, and we were disturbed by a swarm of curious chickens, which apparently had the same interest in the wild flowers as we did. The entrance is free, parking is a bit narrow at the edge of the grounds, but this can be compensated for with a short walk. Especially recommended is the maze of hedges – a perfect place to run and meditate at the same time.
A little further, over the bridge to Ohio, this is Cincinnati Nature Center in Milford. I spent a weekend there because I thought a bit of forest air would heal my city tiredness. The trails are well marked, and the visitor centre offers a small exhibition of local bird species, which brought me to finally get my old binocular collection back. Parking is always a bit full at the main parking lot, but this is a good sign that there is still real nature.
For those who do not want to miss the horse's flat, Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington a must – about an hour drive, but the time passes like in the gallop. I experienced the “American Saddlebred” live there and was surprised how elegant these animals are despite their massive stature. The park offers numerous roundabouts, and the visitor centre has a small museum that illuminates the history of horse sports in Kentucky. Parking is generous, but it can be done quickly at weekends when a big tournament is running.
A little off the beaten path lies the Red River Gorge in Daniel Boone National Forest, a paradise for climbers and hikers. I once tried to climb the famous “Natural Bridge” there, just to see that my climbing equipment was more suitable for the local balcony – a real reality check. Access is via well signposted roads, and parking is usually easy as long as you don't get to the high season. The rock formations are impressive, and the noise of the river in the background ensures an almost meditative atmosphere.
Whether you’re looking for prehistoric bones, biblical wonders, green oasis, wild nature, noble horses or rocky adventures – Oakbrook’s surroundings offer a diverse range of experiences that can surprise and delight every traveler. These Oakbrook Attractions show that the surrounding area has more to offer than just suburbs and commuter roads.
Find more vacation destinations near Oakbrook Boone Kentucky using our map.
Villages, towns, districts, places and Vacation destinations you should visit.
©copyright by POI-Travel.de
info@poi-travel.de
