Weather Tips for Planning Your Trip
You won't find prolonged periods of heat, cold, rain or snow in Lexington. With an average high temperature of 65 degrees and an average low of 46 degrees yearly, it's a destination your family can comfortably visit year round. Late spring and fall are extremely pleasant, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 30s. Even in the hottest summer months, the weather remains moderate, with average highs in the mid-80s and lows in the mid-60s. Pack a jacket for winter evenings, when lows dip to the 20s, but many winter days have sunshine and temperatures in the mid-50s. Average rainfall is consistent, ranging from 3 to 4 inches most months to about 5 inches in late spring and early summer, the area's wettest period. Snow typically occurs from December to early March.
Horses, Bourbon and Basketball
The Bluegrass Region is home to about 450 working horse farms, including 150 in the Lexington area. Load up your loved ones for a guided tour, offered daily by several companies. Many include stops at Keeneland race course and the famed Calumet breeding farm, but reservations are required. Another famed Bluegrass industry is bourbon—about 95 percent is made in Kentucky and exported worldwide. Five distilleries run regular tours with an inside look at the distilling process. Or spend a day downtown—home to Triangle Park, the historic Lexington Opera House, Explorium of Lexington, the Mary Todd Lincoln House and seasonal horse-drawn carriage rides. From late November to early March, the Kentucky Wildcats might be playing at the legendary Rupp Arena—just make sure to purchase tickets far in advance.
Doing Business
In addition to the horse and bourbon industries, other traditional Lexington products include tobacco and handcrafts. The modern-day economy has expanded and diversified into a mix of retail manufacturers, service companies and technological corporations such as General Electric, GTE, Lexmark, Long John Silvers, J.M. Smucker, Toyota, UPS, Valvoline and Xerox. The University of Kentucky is one of Lexington's largest employers. Several national organizations include the Association of Retail Travel Agents, Council of State Governments, National Tour Association and the National Horse Center at Kentucky Horse Park.
Getting Around Lexington
Lexington lies near the intersection of Interstates 64 and 75, within a day's drive of approximately two-thirds worth of the country. The city is 75 miles east of Louisville and about an 80-mile drive south of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Blue Grass Airport is surrounded by scenic horse farms, so your family can enjoy one of the nation's most majestic landing approaches by air. A 10-minute drive from downtown, the airport is served by five major airlines with destinations in the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast and the South, and is home to a number of car rental companies. Public transportation in the city is provided by Lextran, and a free trolley system called Colt runs throughout downtown.
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