Elizabethtown: Bourbon's Backyard of Adventure

Kayaking on Freeman Lake in Elizabethtown, Kentucky — Kayaking on Freeman Lake

Think you know Elizabethtown, Kentucky? Before our recent trip, we thought we did too. However, it’s hard to know what you don’t know, until you know it. You know?

We can’t wait to share what we did and learned in Kentucky’s first urban trail town and Bourbon’s Backyard. It will be a great destination for your next road trip!

During our full day of adventure, we paddled on Freeman Lake, played pickleball and even took a short hike on one of their Greenspace trails. We rented kayaks from the Lake’s Office and LOVED their accessible boat launch. As frequent paddlers, it always feels good to see a launch that enables everyone to enjoy time on the water. Yay, Etown! A kayak rental for one hour was $10 and you can find that information here.

Accessible kayak launch at Freeman Lake in Elizabethtown, Kentucky — Accessible kayak launch at Freeman Lake

Keeping travelers and sustainability top of mind, Elizabethtown has launched a “Your Gear is Here” program. It was a breeze to grab our pickleball equipment at the lake’s office, right beside the court. There are several locations throughout town to make outdoor play convenient. Remember the E in Etown is for “Everything” is “Easy” – yet another thing we learned!

Fun fact: On previous trips, we have actually completed every one of Etown’s Greenspace Trails!

At night we grabbed dinner at JR Neighbors and a couple of HUB drinks to enjoy during the Charles W. Logsdon Historic Downtown Elizabethtown Walking Tour. Etown’s new HUB Entertainment Destination Center is full of options and you can find the map and more information here.

The Lamburgini Burger at JR Neighbors in Elizabethtown, Kentucky — The Lamburgini Burger at JR Neighbors

The next day we fueled up early at The Toasted Yolk Cafe and then did some fun shopping before heading home. Whether you’re hoping for an original work of art, a plant for that one sunny corner of a room, a new dress for the next occasion, some new running shoes, or just want to sip and shop casually with your friends – there’s something for everyone in downtown Elizabethtown. And yes, they even have a well-equipped men’s store as well.

Our overnight stay was at the Best Western Plus, which was SO clean and the staff were the most helpful and kind people.

We cannot say enough about the hospitality that we felt throughout our stay in Etown. From the boat crew at Freeman Lake, the servers in every restaurant, the shopkeeps, and the community folks that we met – every encounter exhibited thoughtfulness and a sincere pride in their town.

For information on Etown’s Tavern in the Garden and the Charles W. Logsdon Historic Downtown Elizabethtown Walking Tour, click here.

This blog is written in partnership with the Elizabethtown Tourism. Thank you for supporting those that make our road trips possible.

All opinions are our own.