If you are in need of a relaxing weekend trip filled with all things Fall, you are in for a treat! Connor and I visited Cynthiana this past weekend (about an hour outside of Lexington) and we loved it! I will list all of our favorites with a snapshot of our weekend ranging from what to do, where to stay and more!
Where To Stay
First off, I 100% recommend staying at the Ashford Acres Inn! This place is a dream and actually my first bed & breakfast experience. It is a historical house with modern touches that recently became a wedding venue, which is how I originally discovered it. We stayed in The Oak Suite and I will let these photos explain how beautiful it was!
When we first arrived Friday night there was a night market with a ton of local vendors with fall treats, candles and other hand crafted gifts. Then, the lovely staff of Ashford Acred set up the most romantic candlelit dinner outside. I had a caesar salad with salmon, mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli and of course a glass of cabernet and finished the meal with a half-baked chocolate chip cookie. Connor ate fillet minion with mashed potatoes and asparagus with an old fashion and apple crumble pie.
One of my favorite memories of the weekend was relaxing in our room and getting ready in this incredible bathroom with the stunning natural light and views. Also, major score but the first day there… The Holiday (I watch this movie 20+ times from October-December because I am obsessed with Christmas) was on TV and totally set the mood even more.
On the other hand, Connor loved sitting on the front porch of the house at night listening to our Frank Sinatra Spotify playlist while sipping on our bourbon and smoking cigars. I have to admit, it was VERY peaceful.
Overall, this place was breathtaking and was SO clean it seemed brand new. We felt so comfortable and relaxed in our suite – plus one of the comfiest beds I have ever slept in!
Where to Eat
Saturday morning we woke up and headed straight to the Burley Market & Cafe for breakfast. This place was absolutely adorable and they are best known for their jumbo cinnamon rolls, homemade waffles & quiche – we had to try it ALL. Also, we did not get the chance to try it but I heard The Main Cup is a local coffee shop that has pumpkin chai coffee, sounded delicious.
Then we had a late lunch at Biancke’s Restaurant – the oldest restaurant in Cynthiana, since 1894 and the diner is full of history. Connor got sliders and I got a club sandwich with homemade fries.
Last but not least we went to Maiden City Brewery for late night brews and dinner at a food truck with the sweetest staff. No joke, we made a friend almost everywhere we went because everyone in the town is so friendly!
On the other end, if you are more of a homebody or not ready to eat out yet due to covid, the Ashford Acres also serves breakfast… and…. it can be delivered to your suite in bed. Breakfast in bed is pretty hard to beat, just sayin!
What to Do
About a mile down the road is downtown Cynthiana, a quiet and quaint town. Take a stroll through Main Street and visit boutiques and gift shops. There were a variety of shops for everyone’s style including: Emerson & Steel, Inspired Designs Boutique, Abstract Distractions, Flower Depot, Unique Antiques, and more.
This town is FULL of history – a super fun fact that I did not know but the creator of The Walking Dead is from Cynthiana and his wife is the owner of the Ashford Acres. Anyways, depending on your interest they have many tours including a historical church tour, mural tour (there are creative murals everywhere and they have a map with the addresses) and a ghost walk tour (which we did and I will explain later on in this post)
We did not have time to but there are beautiful hiking trails about 20 minutes north. However, there is a small river that flows through the town for canoeing.
OKAY now to my highlight of the day – when I heard that we could do a Fall Wreath Making Class, I knew this was right up my alley. Our call was with this talented women named Lauren from Brownings Flowers – her work is usually incredible and she has a flower truck – hello photo opps! She brought all local and fresh dried flowers, wheat, and more. Also Connor was a totally trooper and was the only guy in the class and it was during the first UK football game, but he ended up loving it (his wreath ended up looking better than mine lol).
Ghost Walk at Rohs Theatre – set tour time –> If you can show up a little early, you will be able to get a tour of the theatre. It is one of the only historical theaters remaining in the state!
I could go on and on about our weekend and I have a full highlight on my Instagram called “Ashford Acres” if you want to see a full virtual tour. Be sure to message me if you are thinking about going or have any questions.
