A fantastic road-trip to Hermitage Farms in Kentucky

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Roadtrip! How lucky are we to be able to drive a little over an hour and have an experience that feels like you are so far away from home?

Just a short jaunt from Cincy and you hit the beautiful rolling hills of Kentucky….specifically Hermitage Farms. You can take a tour of the beautiful horse farm and learn about the winning horses that were bred on this very farm over the years, taste bourbon in a charming horse barn, eat dinner in a cozy stable and maybe even stay the night in a historic home on the property. The Kentucky residents/owners,  Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson purchased the farm to save it from becoming a suburban development. This couple might sound familiar because they are the couple that started the 21C Hotels…That said, you’ll understand that this isn’t just an ole farm destination and it’s so close! So you can visit and explore any of these fun tours or even a picnic lunch. 

We started with a guided tour that was not only informative but fun.  You can even get a peek at the horse carriage from “Gone With the Wind” and pose for pictures with beautiful horses while leaving with great horse facts to impress your friends. The history of this farm has a deep lineage of winners of the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, Breeder’s Cup, and just about every other stakes race. So when you take a tour your chances of seeing a “soon to be” champion is pretty good. Oh, and bonus we got to feed treats to some horses… keep bringing on the horses!  

Then off to the bourbon tasting … when in Kentucky you must drink bourbon :) This experience was so one of a kind as it takes place in a rustic yet remodeled stable. We sipped on some top-of-the-list bourbons while learning a little bourbon history. 

Dinner with quite an eye-opening ending to this magical experience… This fantastic farm-to-table restaurant is worth the trip alone! They have gardens and an orchard that provides most of the food you will enjoy at Barn8 Farm Restaurant. The meal and ambiance were amazing.. You have the option of dining in our own stable! And, it goes without saying ….the cocktails were great. This meal doesn’t have to end with just dessert… I suggest you grab a cocktail and go out and stroll the cool Art Walk. They have built a thousand-foot boardwalk for you to enjoy the enchanting outdoor installation where you will see trees, creeks, the walkway, and the sky illuminated and accompanied by music!  It’s magical 

I was lucky enough to be able to stay the night in the historic farmhouse which has been carefully restored and sleeps up to 15 people. The house is like a mini-museum with amazing artwork everywhere which is often rotated. If the house is not being rented it can be toured. This would be a perfect place for a small group like a low-key bachelorette party, birthday celebration, or just a mini escape. This is also a very popular wedding venue, so if you have your wedding here it’s the perfect place for the family or bridal party to stay the night. 

I highly recommend a visit to the farm if you’re driving through Kentucky or you just want a quick day trip. I promise it won’t disappoint. The horse tour, bourbon tasting, and restaurant are open to the public. 

Add this stop to your visit ~

If you’ve got a little time, I also suggest you stop and visit the quaint little town of LaGrange, Ky. which has a train that runs right through the middle. The town is full of good people and small-town vibes. Grab a coffee at LaGrange Coffee Roasters and make sure to go to One Nineteen West Main for their famous Kentucky Bacon Pie and definitely grab some  “The Devil made me chew it eggs’.  Walk from one end of the street to the other and see the collection of shops all in a short walk “The Mercantile on Main” and “The Mercantile Market on Main” that bookend the town. My favorite shop is Judith Millinery Supply..it was such a treat! They make every kind of hat you could ever need and you can even join in on a workshop and make your own… Hello Derby ;) 

Hey Michelle noticed it first haha the HGTV show Home Town Kickstart also noticed this adorable town and will air a story about La Grange in May. Check out their website and see some future events. 

 

A look inside our wonderful Cincinnati Art Museum

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Here is my segment with Kristyn Hartman on WCPO taking you around the Cincinnati Art Museum.

The CAM is easing back into normal hours for the museum and the cafe. You still need a reservation but it is free to the public with just a small fee for special exhibits. If you are a long time Cincinnatian or a visitor I highly recommend walking the outside Art Climb or browsing around this amazingly beautuful gem. Always a perfect way to spend some time.

 

A Must See… Pyramid Park!

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It’s safe to say if you have visited this incredible spot you’ve most likely been back many times to show it off to your friends.  Just a drive up the road we have a wonderful place … Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park and Museum. It’s a true gem and the exact place you would drive to see if you were traveling out of the country or even to another city. So go and be a tourist in your home town and visit, I promise you won’t regret it! 

A little history (to impress your friends on your visit), Harry T. Wilks purchased some land in 1987 planning to build a home, the Pyramid House. He continued to buy more land, lakes, and trails and eventually thought it needed to be preserved for future generations.  Lucky for us, he decided to start a non-profit sculpture park and open it to the public. Mr. Wilks passed away in 2014 but left the park in great hands. Sean FitzGibbons is the new Executive Director who is so passionate and is ready with new ideas and vision to add to the already amazing place.

Pyramid Hill is over 350 acres of meadows, rolling hills, and hiking trails that are also home to over 80 permanent sculptures and usually have traveling pieces just to make every visit a new experience. The artwork showcases local, regional, and national artists and features an ancient sculpture Museum. The park is open 365 days a year and has many events like art shows, concerts, and soon, holiday lights display… Journey Borealis. They are partnering with Brave Berlin, the brains behind Blink ( that’s a lot of B’s :) but… just imagine how cool this drive-thru event will be. Speaking of cool you can drive-thru Pyramid Hill Park and see the sculptures from the comfort of your car. You can also do “art in a cart” and cruise around in golf carts that can be rented or hoof it and get your steps in. 

The experiences are never-ending.  You can bring a little lunch and eat on the grounds or order the special “Pyramid Sandwich box” when you get there and they will let you know when it is ready. You can pick it up and head to one of your favorite spots and enjoy it. You can hike the trails, sit and read, stroll and take selfies with the fun statues. 

It is such a zen space and could even be one of the most romantic places you’ve been.  They host many weddings and have provided the backdrop for a lot of engagements. It’s just so pretty and it has so many unique areas, some with unbelievable views that you will just want to take it all in. When Kristyn Hartman and I visited, we must have hopped in and out of the cart 20 times to take “one more pic” hahaha. 

Follow Pyramid on social media because you’ll want to keep up on all of the fun exhibits and events. You can also become a member and get discounts. I promise you all are going to really enjoy this one… now go be a tourist and tell them Hey Michelle sent ya! 

Click the link below to get my live tour of Pyramid Park!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU4EJdHvavA

The Standard in Covington… A great place to “fill up”

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The Standard  is everything but “standard!” Owners Emily Wolff & Paul Weckman, who have sprinkled their love around Covington with other wonderful places such as Frida 602, Ottos, Larry’s All American Cafe (all these can be added to your list if you haven’t been :) having taken an old 1930’s filling station (for you youngsters that is a gas station and a car repair) and made it one of the coolest places to grab dinner and a cocktail. It was a project that was a perfect extension of their creativity. 

They may have taken away the pumps and oil spills, but Emily & Paul have creatively told the history of the station and it’s former, long-time owner Butch Ostendorff with the cool decor. When you look around you see nods to the good ole days with the keys that hang from the crystal chandelier left behind by former customers. Butch’s tools are now used as the beer taps and the amazing mural that covers the dining room wall that incorporates things found in the desks. You have to take a look at the wallpaper that Emily drew… amazing! 

The outside is the perfect place to visit offering a funky vibe including a table designed by a local artist who has done cool stuff all over town. They also engaged some street artists to add “graffiti” to the walls. If you happen to be standing at the entrance when the trains pass by overhead you see what Emily calls their “moving art” because it’s never the same. The graffiti from the trains tie in with the cool designs on the building. 

Ok, now that we’ve talked about what a cool atmosphere of The Standard,  let me tell you how delish the food is! The food menu has an Asian flair and even though it is a smaller menu it is stocked with some amazing dishes. It will change with the season and with these two I have no question it will always be fantastic. Must-haves are the Corn Chow Chow and the Watermelon Salad with the tajin sprinkle to give it just the right heat, the KY Banh Mi and the Honey Sriracha Tenders were so good and we shared the “Shop Bowl” which is chilled noodle salad and you can add a protein…yum! 

There are plenty of cocktails, but I suggest you try the Bourbon Slush not only because it’s damn good, but because it is the recipe of Marge… Butch’s wife who used to make the slushies and put them in dixie cups in the freezer for customers to have while waiting for their cars to be repaired, :) LOVE 

As you can see – from the decor to the vibe, to the food – this place is not Standard, but it is THE Standard. I promise it a great place to get a “fill up” haha get it? :)  

 

Things to know:

 

  • 434 Main St. Covington

 

  • Parking in the lot around back. Not many spots so look for street parking 

 

  • Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 5:00 p.m – 1:00 a.m. (may close earlier during COVID hours) 

 

  • Ask about the elephant story 

 

Here is the WCPO channel 9 segment with my blog and the wonderful Kristyn Hartmann 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdYM6ZPHzYk&feature=youtu.be