Guidebooks are annoying. Just because some editor who doesn’t know me tells me which restaurant is the best or what attraction is a must-see doesn’t make it a must-see attraction. Sightseers’ Delight is dedicated to the weird, the quirky and the fun. After all, traveling is fun.
If it’s not, you’re doing it wrong.
All of the places highlighted in this ever-growing database are great. Sightseers’ Delight has visited them all. We think you should make a point to see every one of them. But, this is not a guidebook. Just a webpage to help you plan your next adventure.
The Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company was established in 1999 by Pearse Lyons, the founder and president of Alltech. Alltech initially introduced Kentucky Ale to enter the beverage industry. In 2012, the distillery began producing a range of spirits, including Pearse Lyons Reserve, a malt whiskey, Bluegrass Sundown, a coffee drink infused with bourbon, and Town Branch Bourbon.
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The Mary Todd Lincoln House, located in Lexington, Kentucky, was the childhood home of Mary Todd, who later became the first lady and wife of the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Today, it is a museum showcasing period furniture, portraits and artifacts from the Todd and Lincoln families. Visitors can learn about the multifaceted life of Mary Todd Lincoln, from her privileged upbringing in a wealthy family that owned slaves to her later years as a grieving widow. Originally built as an inn and tavern around 1803-1806, the property was known as “The Sign of the Green Tree.” Eventually, Mary’s father, Robert Smith Todd, purchased the property for their family, and they moved into the three-story house in 1832. Mary Todd resided there until 1839, when she relocated to Springfield, Illinois. Later, after their marriage, the Lincolns returned to visit Mary’s family at the house.
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The Bluegrass Railroad and Museum is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located in Versailles, Kentucky. It was established in 1976 by members of the Bluegrass Railroad Club, a model railroad group, and started acquiring equipment from local railroads. The museum offers 11-mile round-trip excursions to Tyrone passing picturesque Kentucky horse farms. During the journey, the train stops at Young’s High Bridge, where passengers can disembark and marvel at the stunning views of te bridge and the Kentucky River. The railroad utilizes diesel locomotives and has an impressive collection of about 40 pieces of rolling stock.
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Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville has been the home of The Kentucky Derby, the longest continually held annual sporting event in the United States, since 1875. Churchill Downs features a series of themed race days during Derby Week, including the Kentucky Oaks, and conducts Thoroughbred horse racing during three race meets in the spring, September and fall. Churchill Downs is located on 175 acres and has a one-mile dirt track, a 7/8-mile turf track and a stabling area. The track provides seating for approximately 60,000 guests, and the stable area has barns for 1,400 horses and a 114-room dormitory for backstretch personnel.
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Lincoln Homestead State Park features the original home of Abraham Lincoln’s mother and replicas of the 1782 cabin and blacksmith shop where his father was reared and learned his trade. It also features the home of Mordecai Lincoln, the favorite uncle of Lincoln.
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The Oscar Getz Museum of Bourbon History features over 1,500 rare and unique bottles of whiskey and bourbon, collected over 40 years and displayed at historic Spalding Hall. Named after Oscar Getz, born in November 1897 in Chicago, the museum highlights his journey in the whiskey industry. After Prohibition, he and his brother-in-law, Lester Abelson, re-entered the business, quickly growing their company to become the largest whiskey distributor from the Tom Moore Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, labeling their product as “Old Barton.” By 1940, Getz was a significant player in the industry, serving as the largest whiskey wholesaler in the Midwest.
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The house of John Luther “Casey” Jones is today a museum. Although it has been moved from its original location, it is open to the public and features a wide array of exhibits, including railroad memorabilia and Jones’ personal effects. A life-sized replica of Illinois Central engine No. 382, the locomotive Jones was engineering on his last trip, sits behind Jones’ house. The actual locomotive was repaired after the wreck and ran for 35 years before being scrapped.
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The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame honors men and women who have contributed to the sport of women’s basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tenn.
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The East Tennessee Veterans Memorial includes 32 granite monuments with inscribed names of more than 6000 veterans from 35 counties in East Tennessee who have died in military service since World War I. The memorial lists names by conflict and by county. The memorial, located on a grassy plot at the northern end of Knoxville’s World’s Fair Park, also includes the names of the 14 Medal of Honor recipients from East Tennessee. Other features are a plaza entrance with a 50-foot flag pole and a 27-foot high bell tower.
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