Exploring Kentucky: The Farmer And Yew Dell

  • Friday, July 12, 2024
  • Nicky Reynolds

What do you do when you discover you have a week of vacation time you have to use or lose and only a month to use it? You start planning a road trip ASAP!

Knowing my daughter would start “big girl school” this fall, I thought a mommy/daughter week of adventures would be the best way to spend that vacation time. After all, time is the most precious commodity we have, and we should spend it wisely.

My idea of spending it wisely often includes travels with my family or my girlfriends. In this particular case, my mini-mi and I loaded up the car and headed north for some fun-filled adventures in my home state of Kentucky.

The state recently launched Kentucky Capitals Quest, a fun and entertaining program that encourages roadtrippers to take on new adventures and get stamps in their Capitals passport.

A straight shot up Interstate 75 took us to Oldham County, the Farm Tour Capital of Kentucky, to get the first stamp on our passport. I know most travelers don’t look at county lines, so just put “LaGrange, KY” on your map app, and drive north.

LaGrange, a charming town, is small but mighty. Its claim to fame is unique: a working railroad track runs right down the center of Main Street. Several times a day, a train goes through the heart of LaGrange, and there are train-watching stations for avid lovers of the railroad.

What to See: LaGrange Railroad Museum

Run by volunteers, this well-thought-out museum lays out the history of train travel and the importance of the railroad to the town. More than that, the museum places great importance on the people who worked the lines.


Tour the 1929 Dining Car, watch the passing trains from the viewing platform, and let the little ones play with the toy train sets and watch the model trains chug through a small-scale replica of LaGrange.

Where to Explore: Yew Dell Botanical Gardens

If your heart lies with the great outdoors, this botanical garden is a must! The landscape is dotted with stunning gardens, beautiful walking trails, and a large collection of flora and fauna.

Several buildings are scattered across the property including the Castle. This building is made of stone and was originally the property’s pool house. My daughter’s favorite area was the Fairy Forest, featuring tiny houses and a Fairy Kitchen where little ones can make the fairies a special meal.

For human food, I highly recommend a stop at Martha’s Cafe for a delicious lunch on the patio overlooking the grounds.

Where to Have Hands-On Fun: Harvest Home Dairy Farm

Did you know a dairy cow can grow to over 1,600 pounds, has four stomachs, and will eat 21 pounds of food per day? Another interesting tidbit: one month in a cow’s life is equivalent to one human year.

I learned these fun facts as we took a tour of the farm Bob and Angie Klingenfus purchased in 1972.

They host tour groups, scout groups, family groups, and more. The educational tours let visitors feed the cows (which drew lots of smiles and laughs from my 5-year-old), see the different types of food the cows are fed, get hands-on and use a pedal-powered grist mill to grind corn, show how much milk the cows give, and watch the cows being milked.


Bonus: their fresh yogurt popsicles are delicious!

Where to Eat: One Nineteen West Main

I hope they never move because their name is their address! Enjoy a leisurely meal seated at tables topped with paper. Our waitress brought my daughter crayons so she could color the tablecloth, and she drew her own masterpiece.

The restaurant will take you back in time, as wall panels are decorated with all types of fun games, from SORRY and Monopoly to Chutes and Ladders and the game of Life.

My daughter’s mac ‘n cheese was served in a fun star-shaped bowl, and my Thanksgiving dinner was delicious. The menu is also fun to explore, as local favorites are “boxed,” health options are in green font, and the red selections are just for fun.

Note that while they do accept credit cards, there is a sign out front that says cash is preferred.

Where to Shop: Crestwood Mercantile

This multi-storied building houses individual shops featuring the work of local artisans, antiques, vintage clothing, as well as boutique-type items. Looking for a Derby glass from years gone by or a vintage tea set? Trying to find something cute to wear to an upcoming event? You’ll find all this and more at Crestwood Mercantile.

Where to Stay: Holiday Inn Express & Suites, LaGrange

A new property that is clean and conveniently located. Enjoy comfortable rooms and a continental breakfast at your leisure before heading out to explore more of Oldham County.

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