My First Road Trip By Kathy Condon Freelance Travel Writer I was asked to cover the Chilled Magazine 100 Elevate Conference in Louisville. One hundred and sixty bartenders would come together to visit distilleries and attend seminars that would help enhance their skills. My role was to capture the event in writing. Before making airline reservations, I heard a quiet voice say, “Kathy, take a road trip to Lexington.” I’d had seen pictures and movies of Kentucky roads with white picket fences, and something inside of me alerted me it was time for me to explore and see for myself.
Preparation for the Trip
Looking at my calendar, I decided I could take three days to explore. I would also fly back to Palm Springs from Lexington and save $100 on an airline ticket instead of Louisville. The journey between Louisville and Lexington is 72 miles. It was apparent I would -106- | ExtendedWeekendGetaways ~ January 2024
need to rent a car. Since I was on my own, I explored places to stay. After researching several options, I found an Airbnb located on the beltway surrounding the city of Lexington.
The Journey Begins
Early on, I had decided to take the backroads to Lexington. I wanted to get a view, even with a short trip, a taste of Kentucky’s countryside. I picked up the rental car at the Louisville Airport, got directions, and headed out of Louisville.
Once leaving the city limits, I smiled as I saw my first white picket fence. On rolling hills surrounding a large farm were horses grazing on Kentucky bluegrass. Further down the road, I was alerted to a scenic spot. I pulled over, and right before me was Kentucky’s capital. Construction towers shielded part of it. However, it was evident it is a majestic building. A little further down the road, signs pointed to historic downtown Franklin. I followed the signs downtown.
