Interstate 71 — Louisville to Covington
Rather than stop at fast food and chain facilities, go a little further and discover the many locally owned gems of Kentucky. “It’s the journey, not the destination!”
Exit 14
Crestwood: Yew Dell Gardens (2.5 miles), a nationally recognized center of gardening and sustainable horticulture, offers extensive gardens, garden education programs and a curated gift shop. yewdellgardens.org
Crestwood: Three partners came together in 2012 to form Kentucky Artisan Distillery (2.4 miles), creating a place for people to come and “bottle their dreams” in the old ice cream building. It would be the first contract distillery in Kentucky, and the only farm-to-bottle distillery capable of distilling as little as one barrel for a special occasion on up to over 1,800 barrels a year for partners like Jefferson’s Reserve, who has now adopted Kentucky Artisan Distillery as its official home. www.kentuckyartisandistillery.com
Crestwood: 3rd Turn Oldham Gardens (2.2 miles) is a former garden center turned into a beautiful beer garden featuring greenhouses, large tables, an indoor taproom and outdoor bar with elevated pub grub through the Backside Grill. www.3rdturnbrewing.com
Exit 22
LaGrange: One Nineteen West Main is a locally owned restaurant that gives guests a unique experience. Approximately 30 trains go right by the picture windows every day with a CSX freight line running straight down Main Street. Listen for the word “Train!” as servers alert guests to the approaching train! www.onenineteenwestmain.com
Exit 28
Smithfield: Our Best Restaurant (6.3 miles) takes one back to a less complicated time when family and friends gathered around the dinner table for good food and friendly service. The founders, Kay and Kenneth Way, have demonstrated this love for family and friends since the fall of 1990, when the first guest entered their restaurant. www.ourbestrestaurant.com
Exit 28 or 34
New Castle: The Bookstore at the Berry Center (7.9 miles) is housed in a historic 200-year-old cabin and carries all of Wendell Berry’s in-print titles, along with rare signed books. The rest of the collection reflects Wendell’s home library, Kentucky authors, handmade books and broadsides from Larkspur Press (Monterey, KY), a large section of children’s books and best sellers. www.berrycenterbookstore.com
New Castle: Well known for its summer concert series, Smith–Berry Winery (9.3 miles), operates on a still-active 180-acre farm. Chuck Smith undertook classes in UC Davis’s Viticulture Program 20 years ago and returned home to plant vines where tobacco had grown, turned the buggy shed into a tasting room and later the tobacco barn into an event space. www.smithberrywinery.com
Exit 44
Carrolton: Hos Coffee (3.8 miles) fits the bill for a locally owned, well-designed community gathering spot serving premium beverages—it’s worth the short detour. www.hoscoffee.com
Exit 55
Sparta: Neeley Family Distillery (1.2 miles) is family owned. The Neeley family had been illegally distilling and bootlegging in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky for 11 generations until 2015, when 10th-generation Roy Neeley and 11th-generation Royce Neeley took the family business legal for the first time. Tasting, tours and gift shop. www.neeleyfamilydistillery.com
Exit 57
Warsaw: Jewell’s on Main (6.8 miles), a local favorite, offers casual dining with regional Kentucky flair. You’ll find generous portions of hand-cut steaks, orange bourbon salmon, or customer favorite shrimp & grits. Walk down the street for a wine tasting at Eagle Creek Vineyards. www.jewellsonmain.com
Owenton: Elk Creek Vineyards (19.0 miles) is one of Kentucky’s premier winery destinations. The tasting room presents more than 20 wine varietals and a counter service café features gourmet soups, salads and sandwiches daily, in addition to weekend live entertainment and dinner specials. Located next to the winery is a lodge with 15 rooms, meeting space and a spa. www.elkcreekvineyards.com
Exit 62
Glencoe: The Glencoe General Store (1.9 miles) is a hidden gem—the very kind of locally owned operation one should want to support. Hand-crafted pizza and much more; specialty food products and unique gifts. www.facebook.com/glencoegeneralstore
Exit 178
Independence: Boone County Distilling Company (1.9 miles), a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, is now making authentic bourbon whiskey in the northern hills of Kentucky in a simple pioneering spirit that originally created the industry years ago. www.boonedistilling.com
Exit 191
Newport: At Baker’s Table Bakery (2.0 miles) all bread and pastries are made with whole-grain, stoneground, organically produced flour. All fruits, vegetables and meats are sourced from local farmers who follow principles of sustainability. In the evening, a pizza menu is offered. (Also see the sister restaurant The Baker’s Table). www.bakerstablebakery.com
Covington: Evan Rouse, founder of Braxton Brewing (0.7 miles), fell in love early with the craft of brewing beer. And he started by building a home brewery in the family garage at age 16, not even of age. From that humble start, Evan’s love for brewing has become his entrepreneurial obsession. www.braxtonbrewing.com
Exit 192
Covington: Chef Stephen Williams opened nationally recognized Bouquet (0.2 miles) in 2007, right beneath his own apartment, as one of the first restaurants in the area to embrace local and sustainable farming as a cornerstone of its mission. Bouquet’s menu is constantly evolving to utilize the best products from over 50 farmers and purveyors. www.bouquetrestaurant.com
Covington: At Chako Japanese Bakery (0.3 miles) the French-trained chef, Chako, believes in using handmade and natural baking processes with unique Japanese ingredients and fresh seasonal produce from local farmers. Lunch menu, too. www.chakobakerycafe. com
For more edible road trip recommendations:
- I-65: ediblekentucky.ediblecommunities.com/things-do/interstate-65-louisville-tennessee-state-line
- I-75: ediblekentucky.ediblecommunities.com/things-do/interstate-75-lexington-tennessee-state-line
- I-64: ediblekentucky.ediblecommunities.com/things-do/interstate-64-louisville-west-virginia-state-line
- Bardstown: ediblekentucky.ediblecommunities.com/things-do/bardstown-kentucky
Reminder: check websites for open hours and any seasonal closings.
