2024 Best in Kentucky winners
With fall road trip season gearing up in Kentucky, it’s time to get out and explore. And there’s no better place to start than right here, with the 2024 Best in Kentucky award winners, as voted by Kentucky Living readers. With winners in outdoor adventure hot spots, museums, family-friendly getaways, eateries, accommodations, farm outings and more, this is your guide for identifying and exploring the very best across the Bluegrass State. You’ll also find readers’ picks for Kentucky’s best musicians, athletes, and TV and radio personalities.
Ready for fall? Here’s your field guide to the best.
Local Radio Host
FIRST PLACE
Larry Smith, WVLC 99.9 The Big Dawg—Campbellsville
“This is such an honor for me,” says Larry Smith about being voted a Best in Kentucky winner by readers. “This is my 47th year on the air, and what a nice surprise to be nominated for this award. Thank you.”
SECOND PLACE
Kellie McKay, 103.7 WHHT—Glasgow
THIRD PLACE
Cale Tharp, Abe 93.7 Radio—Hodgenville
Local TV Personality
FIRST PLACE
Dawne Gee, WAVE-TV—Louisville
“As proud as I am of my work to empower viewers with credible, comprehensible news, I am most grateful for what I am able to do when I step away from that news desk in my community,” says WAVE-TV anchor Dawne Gee. “Working together to love each other, feed each other, empower each other, support each other. When my feet hit the floor each morning, I’m ready to work for the place that I call home and all the people that live here.”
SECOND PLACE
Candyce Clifft, WDRB-TV—Louisville
THIRD PLACE
Lee Cruse, The Lee & Hayley Show—Lexington (syndicated nationally)
Meteorologist
FIRST PLACE
Marc Weinberg, WDRB-TV—Louisville
“Reader’s choice awards mean a lot to me personally because this is truly a reflection of what our community thinks,” says meteorologist Marc Weinberg. “In my career, the support of the community is what gives me the longevity necessary to continue to do this, and I am beyond grateful for that support.”
SECOND PLACE
Kevin Harned, WAVE-TV—Louisville
THIRD PLACE
Jude Redfield, WDRB-TV—Louisville
Kentucky Musician or Band
FIRST PLACE
Tyler Childers—Nashville, Tennessee
Currently on his extensive, nearly sold-out Mule Pull ’24 Tour, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and musician Tyler Childers, a Lawrence County native, headlines several major festivals this year, including Bourbon & Beyond on September 22 at the Kentucky Exposition Center’s Highlands Festival Grounds.
SECOND PLACE
JD Shelburne—Nashville, Tennessee
THIRD PLACE
Carly Pearce—Nashville, Tennessee
Athlete
FIRST PLACE
Reed Sheppard—Lexington
Among Reed Sheppard’s accomplishments during his 2023-24 freshman year at the University of Kentucky are being named the National Association of Basketball Coaches National Freshman of the Year, the United States Basketball Writers Association Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year, Dick Vitale’s “Diaper Dandy” of the Year, Field of 68 National Freshman of the Year, Field of 68 Third-Team All-America, College Hoops Today National Sixth Man of the Year and Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year by the league’s coaches. He was drafted No. 3 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets.
SECOND PLACE
Justin Thomas, pro golfer—New York
THIRD PLACE
Cutter Boley, UK football quarterback—Lexington
Road Trip
FIRST PLACE
Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience—Bardstown
Heaven Hill is the total package for bourbon lovers. Join this distillery for a tasting in one of its three iconic tasting rooms, see the interactive exhibit gallery, sip a drink at Five Brothers Bar, watch a show about the distillery and its founding family in the 1935 Distillery Theater and browse the gift shop. And choose from a full menu of experiences: You Do Bourbon, Bottled-in-Bond Tour & Tasting, Magic of the Mashbill.
SECOND PLACE
Red River Gorge Geological Area—Stanton
THIRD PLACE
The Hatfields & McCoys Historic Feud Sites Driving Tour—Pike County
Distillery Tour
FIRST PLACE
Maker’s Mark Distillery—Loretto
Visit the stillhouse where massive tubs of mash bubble, a stunning stained-glass window as their backdrop. On the back porch of the Maker’s Mark Visitor Center (more appropriately called the Home Place because it is the original home), relax in a rocking chair overlooking the distillery. Linger over a meal at Star Hill Provisions, where farm-to-table ingredients give tastebuds a delicious flavor jolt. These experiences and so many others await at this distillery founded in the 1950s by Bill and Margie Samuels.
SECOND PLACE
Evan Williams Bourbon Experience—Louisville
THIRD PLACE
Boone County Distilling Co.—Independence
Event or Festival
FIRST PLACE
Marion County Country Ham Days—Lebanon
From six hams and a few volunteers poised to party 55 years ago to thousands of pounds of country ham (and that’s just what’s served at the Country Ham Breakfast) and hundreds of volunteers fashioning a full-fledged festival—this piquant, pig-centric food fest keeps getting bigger and better—and tastier.
SECOND PLACE
Lincoln Days Celebration—Hodgenville
THIRD PLACE
Manchester Music Fest—Manchester
Farm Tourist Attraction
FIRST PLACE
Hinton’s Orchard & Farm Market—Hodgenville
Bring your family to the Hinton’s family farm for three seasons of fun and recreation. Shop for a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables; cavort at Hinton’s FarmLand Play Area; take a hayride through the orchard and the pumpkin patch to pick the perfect pumpkin; and sleuth your way through a 3-acre corn maze.
SECOND PLACE
Dennison’s Roadside Market—Horse Cave
THIRD PLACE
Gallrein Farms—Shelbyville
Place for Live Music
FIRST PLACE
Joel Ray’s Lincoln Jamboree— Hodgenville
Located 4,000 feet from the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Joel Ray’s Lincoln Jamboree is a family-friendly music and dining venue filled with memorabilia from country music stars. The Jamboree celebrates 70 years in show business in 2024, in the very place Kentucky country music singer Patty Loveless earned her first paycheck (in the amount of $5) in 1971. Traditional country, bluegrass and gospel music begin every Saturday night at 6:45 p.m.
SECOND PLACE
The AMP at Log Still—Gethsemane
THIRD PLACE
Paramount Arts Center—Ashland
Museum
FIRST PLACE
Lincoln Museum—Hodgenville
In Hodgenville, Kentucky’s official tribute to Abraham Lincoln offers an immersive walk through Lincoln’s life amid the architectural beauty of two buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. See room-size dioramas, life-size wax figures and authentic period pieces at the Lincoln Museum, which presents a host of memorable experiences, including a spectacular gallery of Lincoln-inspired artworks that are the winning entries from one of Kentucky’s longest-held art shows.
SECOND PLACE
Frazier History Museum—Louisville
THIRD PLACE
Speed Art Museum—Louisville
Kid-Friendly Attraction
FIRST PLACE
Louisville Zoo—Louisville
From the Gorilla Forest to Glacier Run, from Billabong Playabout to Snow Leopard Pass, there are naturalized settings and ecological treasures to discover and explore—not to mention animals: wallabies and wallaroos, boa constrictors and vampire bats, Cuban crocodiles and Chilean flamingoes and two sloths named Sunni and Sebastian, among many more.
SECOND PLACE
Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo—Horse Cave
THIRD PLACE
Newport Aquarium—Newport
Winery
FIRST PLACE
Purple Toad Winery—Paducah
Inspired by a 1998 visit to Napa Valley, California, one of the world’s great wine regions, Paducah’s Purple Toad has become one of Kentucky’s largest and most award-winning wineries. A wide selection of wines are crafted combining modern winemaking techniques with Old World knowledge, including sweet Paducah Harbor.
SECOND PLACE
McIntyre & Family Winery—Bardstown
THIRD PLACE
Baker-Bird Winery & Distillery—Augusta
Historic Attraction
FIRST PLACE
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park—Hodgenville
“Visitors are always surprised that the Symbolic Birth Cabin is not the original cabin used by the Lincoln family,” says Stacy Humphreys, chief of interpretation and resource management. “It is a historic cabin that dates from the 1840s and comes from the local area.”
No matter. A visit to this comprehensive Lincoln landmark gives visitors the chance to see the place where a future president was born and walk the grounds that formed some of his earliest memories.
SECOND PLACE
My Old Kentucky Home State Park—Bardstown
THIRD PLACE
Loretta Lynn Homeplace—Van Lear
Specialty Lodging or Bed & Breakfast
FIRST PLACE
My Old Kentucky Dome— Mt. Washington
Find the perfect stargazing spot at this unique geodesic dome located on a private road and overlooking some of the most gorgeous countryside views Kentucky has to offer. Visitors to My Old Kentucky Dome—a “guest favorite” and in the Top 10% of listings on Airbnb—experience glamping surrounded by nature and with comfort amenities like a king-size bed and full bathroom, well-stocked kitchenette and Wi-Fi.
SECOND PLACE
Lincoln Lodge—Hodgenville
THIRD PLACE
The Reed-Dossey House— Brownsville
Camping or RV Spot
FIRST PLACE
Green River Lake at Green River Lake State Park—Campbellsville
Family fun awaits at this state park with fishing, boating, skiing and swimming in an 8,200-acre lake, plus hiking, biking and horseback riding on 28 miles of trails, 18 holes of miniature golf, basketball, volleyball and four playgrounds for the little ones. And did we mention the RV and primitive campsites, all located right on the shores of Green River Lake?
SECOND PLACE
Red River Gorge Geological Area— Stanton
THIRD PLACE
Lincoln Lodge—Hodgenville
Place for Adventure
FIRST PLACE
Mammoth Cave National Park— Mammoth Cave
Camping, hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, canoeing, picnicking, wildlife viewing, stargazing and, of course, cave tours—it’s all here at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve and International Dark Sky Park, along with history and mystery and more.
“Mammoth Cave National Park is a park on two levels,” says management analyst Molly Schroer. “It’s 52,830 acres of reclaimed hardwood forest and winding riverways and, below it, the longest known cave system in the world, surveyed at 426 miles to date.”
SECOND PLACE
Red River Gorge Geological Area— Stanton
THIRD PLACE
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area—Golden Pond
Hiking Trail
FIRST PLACE
Mammoth Cave National Park— Mammoth Cave
From mild to wild, trails at Mammoth Cave National Park range from easy-to-access adventures on the south side of the Green River to scenic treks around the Visitor Center with river views, ridgetops, sinkholes and cemeteries, to rugged backcountry hikes that have beckoned explorers for centuries.
SECOND PLACE
Bernheim Forest and Arboretum— Clermont
THIRD PLACE
Red River Gorge Geological Area— Stanton
Public Hunting/Fishing Area
FIRST PLACE
Green River Lake at Green River Lake State Park—Campbellsville
Over 29,000 acres of wildland managed for fish and wildlife bring the avid outdoor enthusiast to Green River Lake. Hunting opportunities are plentiful, and irresistible fishing spots—from bank fishing to public fishing piers—are found all around this tranquil lake.
SECOND PLACE
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area—Golden Pond
THIRD PLACE
Cave Run Lake—Morehead
Water Tourism Spot
FIRST PLACE
Green River Lake State Park— Campbellsville
A gorgeous, peaceful and expansive lake in a forested setting draws visitors to this recreational paradise in the southcentral part of the state. Play, picnic and swim at the sandy beach. Rent a boat from the marina and fish for bluegill, bass and catfish. Green River Lake is an oasis for sun-seeking water lovers.
SECOND PLACE
Lake Cumberland—Somerset-Pulaski County, Russell County, Burnside, Monticello-Wayne County, Clinton County, McCreary County
THIRD PLACE
Cave Run Lake—Morehead
Breakfast Place
FIRST PLACE
Kentucky’s Finest Family Style Restaurant at Joel Ray’s Lincoln Jamboree—Hodgenville
Located within Joel Ray’s Lincoln Jamboree, Kentucky’s Finest Family Style Restaurant is famous for its three-egg omelet breakfast and other morning meal platters. The Meat Lovers Platter, a veritable beast feast with bacon, sausage, country ham and city ham, is partnered with two eggs and toast and served with a helping of Kentucky-style hospitality.
SECOND PLACE
Carriss’s Grocery—Shelbyville
THIRD PLACE
The Cafe at Swope Toyota— Elizabethtown
Bourbon
FIRST PLACE
Buffalo Trace—Frankfort
Complimentary tours welcome visitors from around the world to learn the history and science behind making the award-winning bourbon at Buffalo Trace Distillery—named Visitor Attraction of the Year at the 2024 Icons of Whisky Awards. Enjoy the alluring aroma and atmosphere of bourbon sleeping in the rickhouses as tour guides bring the story of Buffalo Trace to life.
SECOND PLACE
Elijah Craig—Bardstown
THIRD PLACE
New Riff—Newport
Barbecue
FIRST PLACE
Brothers—Campbellsville
“Barbecue, elevated” and served in a beautiful historic building on Main Street. No pretense, just good eatin’— that’s what customers find at Brothers, along with a variety of smoked meats served as platters and sandwiches, house-made sides and sauces, and hearty and healthy salads.
SECOND PLACE
Arrowhead BBQ—Hodgenville
THIRD PLACE
RedPoint BBQ—Campton
Craft Beer
FIRST PLACE
Scout & Scholar Brewing Company—Bardstown
A beer haven in a sea of bourbon, that’s Scout & Scholar—a Bardstown watering hole that dares to shake up the norm with its lineup of brews on tap in the Bourbon Capital of the World and provide, as General Manager Tyler Vaughan calls it, “a much needed oasis for those Kentucky Bourbon Trail goers.”
SECOND PLACE
West Sixth Brewing—Lexington, Louisville
THIRD PLACE
Sawstone Brewing Co.— Morehead
Hamburger
FIRST PLACE
Laha’s Red Castle—Hodgenville
One would expect that a diner frying up burgers for 90 years would know a thing or two about enhancing the sizzle factor—and Laha’s has got it down pat with mouthwateringly delicious old-timey diner cheeseburgers made on a well-seasoned 1954 grill and studded with onions and dripping with melty cheese. Mmm.
SECOND PLACE
Bardstown Burger—Bardstown
THIRD PLACE
B&N Food Market—Bagdad
Bakery
FIRST PLACE
Sweet Sisters Sweets—Hodgenville
This is where your sweet tooth’s quest for decadence pays off—with Sweet Sisters Sweets’ luscious flavor pairings, like lemon velvet cake and raspberry swirl icing; cake pops piled into a cone like colorful scoops of ice cream; chocolate cream pies finished with flourishes of airy meringue; intricately designed and decorated custom cakes and so much more.
SECOND PLACE
Hadorn’s Bakery—Bardstown
THIRD PLACE
Tipton’s Traditions Bakery—Ashland
Down-Home Restaurant
FIRST PLACE
The Whistle Stop—Glendale
At this made-from-scratch country kitchen, one of the signature specialties is the Whistle Stop Burger, a fan fave headlined with hand-sliced fried green tomato double-dipped in buttermilk and the restaurant’s homemade breading. But that’s not all. The 8-ounce char-grilled burger is layered with onion rings, bacon, fried pickle and cheddar cheese and finished with a liberal dousing of secret sauce.
SECOND PLACE
Kentucky’s Finest Family Style Restaurant at Joel Ray’s Lincoln Jamboree—Hodgenville
THIRD PLACE
Billy Ray’s Restaurant—Prestonsburg
Coffee Shop
FIRST PLACE
Vibe Coffee—Elizabethtown and Hodgenville
The aesthetic: big-city appeal with small-town charm and service. The order of the day: well-crafted, cutting-edge coffee and acai bowls, including Vibe Coffee’s Fruit Bowl with acai, mango, banana and strawberry and a toppings melange of granola, banana, strawberries, blueberries, shredded coconut and honey. (Psst: There’s also a Green Bowl and a Chocolate Bowl.)
SECOND PLACE
Harden Coffee—Campbellsville
THIRD PLACE
The Black Goose—Union
Sweets Shop
FIRST PLACE
The Sweet Shoppe and Dessert Café—Hodgenville
Kentucky bourbon, maple walnut, mint chocolate swirl, orange Creamsicle, tiger butter. Yes, please—to one and all! The Sweet Shoppe and Dessert Café is famous for its more than 30 flavors of fudge, all handmade fresh with real cream, butter and sugar in Kentucky’s Land of Lincoln.
SECOND PLACE
Serendipity Kandy Kitchen—Shelbyville
THIRD PLACE
Muth’s Candies—Louisville
Food Truck
FIRST PLACE
Juanito’s Street Tacos & More—Radcliff and Bardstown
Family-owned and operated, Juanito’s Street Tacos & More cooks up an authentic taste of Mexico with special-recipe street tacos that are served on a double corn tortilla with a choice of meat and topped with cilantro, onion and lime. Other flavor faves found on this food truck: Acapulco chicken, Mexican bowls, burritos, tortas and quesadillas.
SECOND PLACE
Maillard Wood Fired Kitchen—Campbellsville
THIRD PLACE
Matilda’s Dogs and More—Sonora
Here are the inductees in Kentucky Living’s Best in Kentucky Hall of Fame:
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, Public Hunting
Green River Lake at Green River Lake State Park, Camping Spot
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Historic Site
Hinton’s Orchard & Farm Market, Farm Tourist Attraction
Lincoln Museum, Museum
Lincoln Days Celebration, Event or Festival
Hometown Pizza, Pizza
Lighthouse Restaurant, Down-Home Restaurant
Mammoth Cave National Park, Day Trip
Louisville Zoo, Kid-Friendly Attraction
Purple Toad Winery, Winery
Lake Cumberland, Boating Lake or River, Fishing Spot, Houseboating Lake
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, Historic Landmark
The Whistle Stop, Nonfranchise Restaurant
Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn, Barbecue
Red River Gorge Geological Area, Extreme Adventure/Sport Location
Cumberland Falls at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Scenic View
Churchill Downs, Iconic Kentucky Landmark
Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, Civil War Site
General Burnside Island State Park, Golf Course
Somernites Cruise, Car Show Cruise-In
Jericho Woods, Kentucky Musician/Band
Ale-8-One, Made-In-Kentucky Product
My Old Kentucky Home, Historic Site
Country Boy Brewing, Craft Brew
Berea Craft Festival, Arts & Crafts Fair
The Sweet Shoppe and Dessert Café, Sweet Spot
Maker’s Mark Distillery, Distillery
