A Walk in Grayson, KY

I had the pleasure of spending about 30 minutes walking around downtown Grayson, county seat of Carter County, KY. This beautiful city in Eastern County has a lot going on. It’s got an undeniable Appalachian feel with beautiful hills and mountains all around. With Ashland just about twenty miles away it’s not too far from a major city but also feels like a cozy small town. The downtown area is actually much larger than I expected and the variety of shops is quite impressive. If you’re traveling through the area or on your way to Ashland or Huntington, WV, I’d make it a point to stop in Grayson.

When most Kentuckians hear or read Grayson I’m sure most would be inclined to think of Grayson County. A great number of Kentuckians don’t ask what city someone’s from, rather, they ask what county. Grayson County is probably far more well known than Grayson the city. Leitchfield, it’s county seat, is only an hour from Louisville and two hours from Lexington. As a result the city of Grayson probably gets confused with the county bearing its name all the time. Well, I’m here to tell you that the city of Grayson is a city YOU should check out!

Saving the best for last, I would be remiss as a history buff if I didn’t focus extensively on the veterans mural and park. This might be why I chose a shot of the mural to be the cover of this post. The fact is that it’s absolutely beautiful. The appreciation of art is entirely in the eye of the beholder, but in addition to the fact that I find it beautiful, the amount of history is endless. I also like the fact that visitors can learn visually about the Great War, World War 2, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Gulf wars and even the War On Terror. There is so much to learn here. I can honestly say I spent a solid ten minutes (or more) checking out the fine details of the mural. There’s also subtle details that speak directly the state of the times during each war’s historical period. If this was the one and only reason you got off the highway and went to Grayson, KY, you would feel incredibly satisfied by your decision.

In closing, I’d like to strongly recommend this beautiful city as a place to visit. My only regret is that I didn’t take more time to explore the rest of the county. I will definitely be back to do just that!!