Oh, the life of a parent of teens who is always on the go! This summer is all about summer camps, and we are the loyal drop-off/delivery service to various locations. This month we are heading to Milton, KY, a small town near Lexington but not close enough to go there for breakfast. I know that you cannot explore the state of Kentucky when you are only there for twenty-four hours. But I will do my best to maximize the 24 hours.
Arrival time: Saturday, 5 pm
Departure time: Sunday 4 pm
Lodging
As you can imagine, the options are plenty. My solution – an AirBnb on the horse range. I will categorize this place into my category of unique and maybe a bit weird lodging options. Stepping Stones Range is located in Milton, KY – an excellent horseback riding experience destination. However, a mobile home is nested to the edge of the property and available for rent. $99 here gets you a clean three-bedroom house with a nice backyard for the night. There is also an outdoor tent and a fire pit, and the owner also left us smores supplies, which the kids appreciated.
I love that the owners left some bottled water in the fridge, as this place is remote.
Cons: You have to take stepping stones to get to the house, so it is not wheelchair accessible or might be hard if you are not steady on your feet. If you get there after the range is closed, you must unchain the gate to pass through and lock it behind your car.
SATURDAY DINNER
Proud Mary BBQ. While you might not see many people around in this area, you will see many of them at the Proud Mary BBQ on a Saturday night. Nested on the bank of the Kentucky River, it is a fun place to visit. It is massive, with a huge outdoor deck, a giant sandpit for the kids, a fire pit, and a live music stage.
While we couldn’t easily park (because of the packed parking lot), we were seated in minutes. We got our appetizers in about 25 minutes and food in about 40 minutes. Several signs state that if the deck is full, the food will take at least an hour to prepare, so if you are hungry, consider starting with an appetizer. The restaurant specializes in BBQ and seafood; you can create a combo combining dishes and sharing them. A nice touch – a citronella plant on each outdoor table!
Sunday breakfast: If you can plan ahead, consider packing cereal and eggs and having breakfast where you sleep. Sunday breakfast options are limited by whatever is in the area and open on Sunday. The closest breakfast spot to the Stepping Stone Range was an Arby’s five miles away.
MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES:
Trail Rides at the Stepping Stone Range
Trail Rides at the Stepping Stone Range – goes every hour on the hour – $30, and the trip lasts about an hour
Fort Boonesborough
Fort Boonesborough is open until 5 pm with $5 to $8 cover. It has been reconstructed as a working fort complete with cabins, blockhouses, and furnishings. Resident artisans perform craft demonstrations and give modern-day visitors a true sense of what life was like for pioneers in Kentucky.
Three Trees Kayak and Canoe
Three Trees Kayak and Canoe – $25 for two hours
Boones Creek Outdoors offers Ziplinging, an obstacle course, and guided hikes. You can opt-in for a half-course ziplining (1.5 h) or a full course (2.5 h). My family did the INTRO TO ‘CHIEF’ ZIPLINE CANOPY TOUR. Our kids also did the DANIEL BOONE’S CHALLENGE – an obstacle course type of playground you can do over and over for about an hour. This is a good place for the parents to chill in the outdoor seating area and observe from afar. The guided hike and zipline start at 10 am, but the obstacle course can start at different times throughout the day.
SUNDAY LUNCH
Try a Waterfront Grill and Gathering. Our BNB host and the obstacle course guide recommended this restaurant to us. It opens at 1 pm on Sunday and is close to the Three Trees Kayak and Canoe. You will view the mighty Kentucky River from the large outdoor patio or the indoor table. Think classics like burgers, chicken, pork, or catfish sandwiches, all grilled on our trademark “Salt Block.” We loved the atmosphere, and the staff was incredibly accommodating.
Did we do all these things in 24 hours? We visited the area twice for twenty hours but also had to juggle the drop-offs and graduations. If you have enough energy, you can attend all four activity locations or limit yourself to 2-3. Enjoy more time admiring the great Kentucky outdoors.
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