Lifestyle Experience Paris, Kentucky Style September 22, 2026 Explore Bourbon County and the charming town of Paris, Kentucky, known for its motto: horses, bourbon, and hospitality. Paris is the birthplace of the legendary Secretariat, celebrated downtown with Secretariat park. Take a scenic drive up Paris Pike from Lexington to enjoy rolling hills lined with historic Thoroughbred farms. As the county seat of Bourbon County, historic Paris sits just 19 miles (a 35-minute drive) outside Lexington, offering small-town charm. Horse Farms to tour in Paris, Kentucky BraveHearts Equine Center BraveHearts Equine Center is the largest draft rescue in the state and gives equines a second chance at life. Guests will learn about the rehabilitation of draft horses and learn about their adoption process. This experience also offers hands-on interaction with their herd of draft horses and learn about their past. Along with the tour, they also offer a trail riding experience available to book separately. The BraveHearts Equine Center offers public tours on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday most months of the year. Click here to learn more and book a tour. The BraveHearts trail riding experience is offered on Thursday and Saturday. Click here to learn more and book your trail ride. BraveHearts Equine Center in Paris, Kentucky Denali Stud Get a behind-the-scenes tour of one of Kentucky’s leading nursery farms. Denali Stud was founded in 1990 by New Jersey jockey Craig Bandoroff and his wife, Holly. Learn about how Denali Stud was founded by a retired jockey and what brought him to Kentucky. The tour will start in the foaling barn, where guests will visit with mares and foals in the spring and weanlings in the fall. Guests will learn about the care and management of mares and foals and what it takes to run the operation. Denali Stud offers public tours Tuesday through Thursday for most months of the year. Learn more and book a tour by clicking here. Denali Stud in Paris, Kentucky Runnymede Farm Runnymede Farm is the oldest continuously operated Thoroughbred farm in Kentucky. Guests will tour the foaling barn and meet the mares and foals. Depending on the season, guests will meet foals, weanlings, or yearlings. The farm has produced many champions, including 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes and Haskell Stakes winner Dornoch. The tour also highlights the farm’s historic ties to early Kentucky statehood and features buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.Runnymede Farm offers public tours on select dates. Learn more and book your tour by clicking here. Runnymede Farm in Paris, Kentucky Where to explore, eat and stay in Paris, Kentucky Bourbon County, Kentucky, is home to the charming town of Paris. Known for its rich history in the Thoroughbred industry, welcoming hospitality, and local landmarks, Paris is a unique place to visit. The town’s heritage also includes a deep connection to bourbon and is the birthplace of bourbon whiskey. In 1810, Paris boasted 128 distilleries. While there are fewer today, the name endures as a testament to its spirited past. Start your morning at The Rock Cafe or Churn and Brews for coffee. The Rock offers breakfast, such as made-to-go omelets, or choose from their à la carte menu. The Rock also serves lunch, but other options include Up in Smoke BBQ, El Patio Mexican, and Bourbon Barrel Bar and Grill. Another great option is the Mill Yard, owned and operated by a local cattle farm, Robin Ridge Farm. Hopeful Bake Exchange is a great spot to pick up some baked goods. For dinner, explore Trackside Restaurant and Bourbon Bar, which is an old railroad station, or Jerry’s Family Restaurant. In the surrounding area, Windy Corner Market is another great spot for lunch or dinner, owned by local chef Quita Michel. Downtown Paris has many charming shops, including New Frontier, Southern Lux Style, Bourbon Boot Supply, and Loch Lea Antiques. Check out Quillin Leather and Tack or Frames on Main Gallery, owned by a well-known racetrack photographer. Visit Pope’s Family Farm for local and fresh produce, or Middle Spring Farms for flower picking or to pick from their pumpkin patch. Grab candy at Bourbon County Confectionery. Hartfield and Co was founded in 2014 and is the first bourbon distillery to produce bourbon in Paris since 1919, when Prohibition was enacted. Maiden City Brewing Company is a local brewery and a great place to grab a beer or a snack. Hotel Thoroughbred boasts southern hospitality in a boutique hotel right on Main Street. Housed in a beautifully preserved 1891 building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this family-owned, 19-room hotel proudly celebrates Kentucky traditions. Denali Stud also offers its beautiful cabin for guests to stay on their property on select dates. Check out Paris tourism for more recommendations. Denali Stud cabin in Paris, Kentucky Secretariat Park in downtown Paris, Kentucky Runnymede Farm in Paris, Kentucky Trackside Restaurant and Bourbon Bar in Paris, Kentucky Please note, Each Horse Country tour requires that guests be ticketed in advance. Tickets are available for purchase at www.visithorsecountry.com or by calling 859-963-1004. Though this info has been researched & is being shared in good faith, tour availability is subject to change.
