Richmond, KY Outdoor Activities

More than 100 plant-populated acres unfold behind the stone-fence entrance to The Arboretum, showing off ever-changing seasonal landscapes to visitors 365 days a year. Passing breezes dance over grassy fields and stir up aromas of 1,500 rosebush varieties as visitors meander past the gazebo and fishpond en route to the 1.85-acre Kentucky Children’s Garden, a hands-on, educational environment for 2- to 10-year-old horticulturists. After exploring the wetlands and fountains or checking out art exhibitions, gardening seminars, and other special events, visitors can set out on the two-mile Walk Across Kentucky, a paved botanical excursion through the seven native regions of the state, including the Appalachian Plateau and wild fried-chicken habitats.

Designed by famed Australian golfer Graham Marsh, Old Silo Golf Course engulfs 209 acres of hilly terrain with a challenging 7,011-yard layout. Bent-grass tees, fairways, and greens form manicured chutes through bluegrass rough, a difficult outlier that lures errant shots with its long blades and hypnotic plucking of ancient fiddles.

Somerset Creek comes into play on five holes, looming on the edges of 7 and 17 and presenting a forced carry on holes 6, 15, and 16. The par 72 course concludes with a 574-yard par 5 in which players must navigate a three-sectioned fairway and 8 of the course's 84 white-sand bunkers.

Rather than rummaging in their golf bag for forgotten candy bars or stowaway potatoes, players can quell appetites at Old Silo's restaurant, which serves a menu of pulled-pork sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and other casual grill fare. On weekends, grillmasters barbecue steaks, beef brisket, and ribs on the outdoor balcony that overlooks the golf course.

Course at a Glance:

• Designed by Graham Marsh
• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 7,011 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 74.6 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 139 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Scorecard

Jon boats and pontoons putter across the calm waters of Wilgreen Lake Marina, while just beneath the surface, bass and bluegill flit past fishing lines. Founded by passionate bass angler Randy Nunley, the idle-speed marina strives to serve as a fisherman’s oasis. In addition to the rental fleet, a bait shop peddles live bait, tackle, and waterproof love notes for luring in fish. Nunley also fires up competitive spirits with annual bass tournaments.

Despite the changing seasons, Lexington Ice Center holds strong as an unflappable polestar for family-friendly recreation. In the summer, each of three 18-hole mini-golf courses features a different Biblical theme, placing obstacles such as Noah's ark amid a landscape of streams and waterfalls. An indoor ice rink helps skaters escape the blizzards of candy canes and stinging tinsel that plague the winter months; coaches lead beginner lessons, and crowds hit the ice for public skating sessions. After detaching the skate blades from their tennis shoes, visitors can head to the center's three full indoor courts to practice basketball or soccer, or simply sit and ponder the flavors of Gatorade that have once graced their hallowed floors.

When the Legends first stepped onto the field at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in 2001, they broke a nearly half-century dry spell of pro baseball in the city of Lexington. That first season, they made their presence known by winning the South Atlantic League championship and trying to rename City Hall after themselves. Since their inauguration in '01, the Legends have sent more than three-dozen players to the majors, fulfilling the promise of their name and creating their own legacy.

Tucked away in a private neighborhood, Lone Oak’s 18-hole golf course stretches across 6,473 yards of rolling countryside speckled with mature trees. A stone-lined pond occupies the center of the course, attracting geese and other waterfowl and striking fear into the heart of any golf ball that never dreamed of becoming a barnacle. An onsite driving range prepares swings for forays onto the fairways, and a practice green helps players to get a feel for the speed of the club’s putting surfaces. Lone Oak’s private club also encompasses a 25-meter pool with six swimming lanes, a diving board, and a deep end for competitive snorkeling.