5 Reasons to Visit® · Kentucky
5 Reasons to Visit Frankfort, Kentucky, the Capital Where Bourbon Never Stopped Flowing
Buffalo Trace kept making whiskey even through Prohibition, and it still pours a few miles from Kentucky’s Capitol. Frankfort pairs that bourbon heritage with a riverside downtown, a castle-like distillery and the candy shop that invented the bourbon ball.
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Frankfort, Kentucky, has been the state capital since 1792, and it sits in the heart of bourbon country. Buffalo Trace Distillery, a National Historic Landmark on the Kentucky River, bills itself as the oldest continuously operating distillery in the United States, having kept producing through Prohibition under a medicinal license. Nearby, Castle & Key has brought a storybook 19th-century distillery back to life. Add a riverside downtown, a Beaux-Arts Capitol with a famous floral clock and the candy company that created the bourbon ball, and Frankfort makes an ideal stop on the Bourbon Trail. Here are five reasons to visit.
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1Things to See & Do
Things to Do in Frankfort: Two Capitols, a Floral Clock and Daniel Boone’s Grave
The Kentucky State Capitol, a Beaux-Arts landmark completed in 1910, offers free tours of its marble interior, and its grounds feature a giant working floral clock planted with thousands of flowers. Downtown, the Old State Capitol, designed by Gideon Shryock in the 1830s, is famous for its self-supporting stone staircase, and the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History tells the state’s story.
On a bluff in Frankfort Cemetery, a monument marks the grave of frontiersman Daniel Boone and his wife Rebecca, with sweeping views over the Kentucky River and the Capitol. Liberty Hall Historic Site preserves an 18th-century home of one of Kentucky’s first U.S. senators.
2Dining Scene
Where to Eat in Frankfort: Bourbon Balls and Kentucky Comfort Food
Frankfort is the birthplace of the bourbon ball. Rebecca Ruth Candy, founded by two schoolteachers in the early 20th century, created the bourbon-laced chocolate in 1938 and still makes them by hand downtown. Kentucky staples like the hot brown, burgoo and country ham are easy to find around town.
Downtown’s restaurants and bars line the streets near the Old Capitol and the river, and distillery visits often pair well with a long lunch. Many bars stock deep bourbon lists, the best way to taste rare local pours.
In Frankfort, the Capitol, the Kentucky River and two of the state’s most beautiful distilleries all fit into a single, very good day.
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3Recreation
Outdoor Frankfort: Distillery Grounds and the Kentucky River
Buffalo Trace’s riverside campus of historic warehouses welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, and its standard tours are free; book ahead, especially on weekends. Castle & Key Distillery, a turreted limestone castle built in 1887 as the Old Taylor Distillery, offers tours, tastings and walks through its sunken garden and botanical trail.
The Kentucky River winds through the city, and boat cruises and paddling trips offer a different view of Frankfort’s bourbon country. Cove Spring Park has waterfalls and trails, and the Salato Wildlife Education Center introduces Kentucky’s native animals.
4Shopping
Shopping in Frankfort: Bourbon, Candy and Downtown Finds
Distillery gift shops are Frankfort’s best shopping, especially for limited bottles that sell out quickly elsewhere. Rebecca Ruth Candy’s downtown shop sells bourbon balls and other Kentucky confections, and offers tours of its candy kitchen.
Downtown’s historic streets have antique stores, boutiques and Kentucky-made gifts, and the museum shops at the Capitol and the Kentucky History Center carry books and crafts by local artisans.
5Art & Culture
Frankfort’s Art Scene: A Sculpture Park and a Restored Grand Theatre
Josephine Sculpture Park, set on a former farm outside town, displays contemporary sculpture across open fields and is free to explore. Downtown, the restored Grand Theatre, opened in 1911, hosts concerts, films and performances.
The Capitol’s grand interior, with its murals and statues, is a work of art in its own right, and the Kentucky Historical Society’s exhibits display art and craft traditions from across the state.
Plan Your Frankfort Trip
Frankfort is best as a two-day stop on the Bourbon Trail. Spend one day downtown at the Capitol, the Old State Capitol and Rebecca Ruth Candy, with time at Daniel Boone’s grave, and the second at Buffalo Trace and Castle & Key, with a river cruise if time allows. Spring and fall bring the best weather; book distillery tours in advance and plan a designated driver.
Frankfort, Kentucky: FAQ
Is Frankfort, Kentucky worth visiting?
Yes. Frankfort offers Buffalo Trace Distillery and Castle & Key Distillery, the Kentucky State Capitol and its floral clock, the Old State Capitol, Daniel Boone’s grave, Rebecca Ruth Candy, the birthplace of the bourbon ball, Kentucky River cruises and Josephine Sculpture Park.
Is the Buffalo Trace Distillery tour free?
Yes. Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort offers free standard tours with tastings for guests 21 and over. Book in advance, as tours often fill up.
What are the best things to do in Frankfort?
Top things to do in Frankfort include touring Buffalo Trace and Castle & Key distilleries, visiting the Kentucky State Capitol and Old State Capitol, seeing Daniel Boone’s grave in Frankfort Cemetery, touring Rebecca Ruth Candy, taking a Kentucky River cruise and exploring Josephine Sculpture Park.
Where was the bourbon ball invented?
The bourbon ball was created in 1938 in Frankfort, Kentucky, by Rebecca Ruth Candy, which still makes them by hand downtown.
Is Daniel Boone buried in Frankfort?
A monument in Frankfort Cemetery marks the grave of Daniel Boone and his wife Rebecca, whose remains were moved there from Missouri in 1845. Missouri also claims Boone’s remains, a debate that continues today.
How far is Frankfort from Lexington and Louisville?
Frankfort is about 30 minutes west of Lexington and about an hour east of Louisville by car.
When did Frankfort become the capital of Kentucky?
Frankfort was chosen as the capital of Kentucky in 1792, the year Kentucky became a state.
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