Things to Do in Lexington

Winding through a dense assemblage of mature hardwoods and vibrant carolina pines, Hidden Valley Golf Club's 18-hole course spans 6,757 yards of immaculate greenery. The rolling midlands terrain challenges golfers with testy sand traps, drive-impeding tree lines, and shape-shifting greens. Though the pristine par 72 takes the form of a relatively difficult layout when played from the tips, the course graciously sprouts four tee options to cater to players of all abilities. Groups hunt birdies and eagles from the comfort of a golf cart, which nimbly navigates the cart path, fueling itself by absorbing the life forces of discarded tees.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,757 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 72.1 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 127 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options

A mother horse and her newborn colt saunter up to the wooden fence, greeting the children eager to pet the creatures' noses. The team members of Graystone Ranch thrive on seeing these types of interactions. Managing 500 acres of woods and pasturelands that serve as a preserve and rehabilitation center for both domestic and exotic animals, the ranch hands form a nonprofit team dedicated to teaching children and adults how man and animals can live in harmony.

Concurrent with such educational programs as summer camps, the grounds also host abundant recreational opportunities with two spring-fed lakes, wooded hiking and horse-riding trails, zip lines, and a petting zoo. Further diversions range from a gem-and-mineral museum to a horse-painting program, which lets kids put their colored handprints or re-creations of a favorite Monet on the sides of a white horse.

Manned by master artist Jana G. Gambrell, Palmetto Paint & Pour outfits its guests with all the necessary tools to channel their creativity into original paintings. Jana hosts BYOB paint parties for any occasion inside her studio or at the client's chosen locale, steering her pupils through easy-to-follow brush strokes that result in an acrylic opus. Her open-studio hours also allow attendees to compose their artwork in a more freeform setting. Jana welcomes patrons of all ages and artistic backgrounds, from complete beginners to professional American Gothic reenactors.

As golfers stand over teed-up golf balls, staring down the fairway of Indian Trail Golf Course’s 370-yard 14th hole—the course signature—they may be perplexed by its ranking as the round’s most difficult hole. Though the scorecard reads “short par 4,” the hole packs a good deal of hardship into its diminutive stature. Golfers must aim for the top of the fairway hill off the tee, while steering clear of the boulder on the right side and the large pond just beyond. Players are forgiven for going the conservative route with a long iron off the tee, as opposed to risking the driver or a retrofitted t-shirt cannon. If they leave themselves a decent lie on the approach, a two-tiered green awaits just over the water, making three-putts an all-too-common occurrence.

While not every hole features boulders, uphill fairways, and the ever-present threat of boogeyman attacks, the course is characterized by the ubiquitous threat of hazards. In all, nine ponds and more than 40 bunkers haunt players along the 6,272 yards of Bermuda-covered terrain, lending an air of hostility to the otherwise pristine surroundings.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 6,272 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 69.4 from the back tees
• Course slope of 127 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole