There’s no better start to exploring than to meet a kind local.

As soon as I started filming, I wanted to showcase the courthouse. This became a recurring theme in many of my videos throughout Kentucky. Many counties in the Commonwealth have beautiful courthouses that serve as the heart of their county seats. And that’s the case with Greenville. From the post office to local businesses, everything is a rock’s throw from its seat of power. In fact, the area also hosts a very beautiful veterans’ mall that’s a must-see. It actually gets a good amount of coverage on our video. It’s located between the county courthouse (which likely houses the Judge Executive and county government) and the judicial center (where the actual courthouses are housed).

On my next trip to Greenville, I plan on checking out Thistle Cottage and taking a walk on the Muhlenberg County Rail Trail. Here’s a fun fact! Did you know that while Greenville is the seat of Muhlenberg County, it’s not its largest city? That would be Central City, KY! And alas, one more place I have to visit in the near future.

Many counties take this approach, as well. For example, Whitley County’s largest city is Corbin, but it’s seat is Williamsburg. Another example would be Henry County. Its biggest city is Eminence, but it’s seat is New Castle. It’s a good way of keeping a balance of power as oftentimes folks in smaller cities and towns in a county may feel like they’re getting the cold shoulder from the seat. Kudos to Muhlenberg County!

There’s plenty to see in this beautiful city and county. Surely, no one can expect me to show you everything in a half hour or less, but we’re off to a great start! We’ll definitely be back in Muhlenberg County, real soon. And YOU should definitely check it out, as well.

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The business district has a number of great businesses, including a coffee shop and a bar that I plan on visiting real soon. The district is also home to the town’s city hall and United States Post Office. Auburn also has its own gas station. For a community of just over 1,600 residents, Auburn seems like a city that will enjoy steady growth.

Auburn’s historic district also boasts of plenty of educational resources that visitors should check out, including the city’s welcome mural which is found in one of the side streets. When it comes to murals, it’s a bit on the minimalistic side, but there’s a still a good amount of stuff going on. Just because art is on the simpler side, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t send a message. In Auburn’s case, the mural that serves as the thumbnail for the ExploringKentucky.com video, sends a very warm welcome to visitors and a sens eof southern charm to those who call the town, home.

Auburn is also a fantastic place to live. It’s only ten miles from Russellville, the seat of Logan County, and it’s just a bit farther at fifteen miles from Bowling Green, Kentucky’s 3rd largest city. You can’t ask for a better location than Auburn. Plus you get the small town feel that everyone wants when looking for a place to buy a home, raise a family, and/or retire.

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Almost immediately I saw a number of antique shops and beautiful curbside displays. The street was all done up for Halloween and autumn vibes were in the air. For many, Glendale is known for its antique shops and collectors, as well as tourists, descend on the small town looking for hidden treasures. I strongly suggest that anyone visiting this community visit each and every antique shop.

As I walked through town with my camera, I noticed a couple [antique] shop owners look at me from inside their stores, usually sitting behind their sales desk. I’d like to see these shopowners come out of their shell a bit. Next time they see someone filming, I think it would be a great idea for them to engage more. Whether the video gets a thousand views or a million, exposure is king/queen in today’s market. And if you can get free exposure, jump at it. On the flipside, maybe the shop owners want to keep the city a well-guarded secret. Who knows?

As I walked farther into town, I came across a lovely group of travelers sitting outside the coffee shop. This is another cool spot in Glendale and it’s a great place not only to have a warm drink and a treat, but it’s a great spot to people-watch and get a real sense for the small city. The folks I spoke with were delightfully friendly and had no issue with being on my video. I gave them the url to the website and our social media handles. I really hope they get a chance to read this article and see the video. They were a big part of why I enjoyed my visit so much.

All in all this was a great little walk. I enjoyed it very much and plan to return soon for a cup of coffee and some antiques shopping! As always, thank for visiting ExploringKentucky.com

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Stamping Ground is a cute small town in Kentucky, but I must confess, The Yuppie Puppy won me over. Now, anytime I think of this cozy community in Scott County, I’ll always think of this amazing pet salon. They’d do very well in a big city like Louisville or Lexington, but the fact they’re in the heart of this rural community is truly a blessing. In addition to the great work that they do (which I saw with my very eyes and which you’ll see on the video), they opened their doors to me and showed pure southern hospitality. They’re great representatives and ambassadors for City of Stamping Ground.

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Sometimes when parking seems absolutely scarce you can still hit the jackpot. You’ll never know until you ask; plus asking permission goes a long way especially when they know that you’re a vlogger and that you’re going to bring positive attention to the community. And mind you I don’t give a pitch, but people see me from out of town with a camera at their event and they want to open the doors to the city. This is why I encourage all visitors to always ask whenever possible if they can park even in places that you would think you couldn’t. But as much as I want to tell you where I parked, I can’t because then everybody that reads this article is going to ask that person and knowing how hospitable they are, they’re probably going to say yes every single time.

That’s another thing, when you get into your travels, you want to keep certain gems to yourself. Maybe a place you can park, maybe a gas station that consistently sells gas cheaper, or maybe the 411 on a great food spot that is easy on the wallet but generous on the portions. The more you travel, the more helpful tips you’ll acquire. It’s up to you how much of them you share and how much of them you want others to find out for themselves. That’s not being mean, it’s just letting people evolve on their own. A big party of traveling and exploring, is starting from scratch and finding your own way.

“Exploring Kentucky is an absolute blast. Get to know the state where you live.” – Christian Duque

But let’s get back to the Festival of the Horse. As soon as I saw the Georgetown police cruiser parked in the middle of the street with the lights flashing, I knew that I was at the beginning of the eventl. As soon as I walked in, maybe all of 5-10 feet, I got hit with a dozen or so different scents.  There were food trucks preparing food and selling treats from basically all corners of the world. There was Greek cuisine, barbecue, Asian food, ice cream and every alcoholic beverage you could possibly imagine. Whether you wanted it straight, on the rocks, or made into a drink with pineapple wedges and umbrellas – everything was there for you, if you wanted it. They had face painting, bubble machines everywhere, and all sorts of goods and services available to the general public.

I don’t think anybody got bored – even for a moment – and of course who could forget the lovely young lady walking around on stilts. I almost had to ask her if she had a twin because I had seen her four or five times and I could swear they were all at different spots of the festival. I don’t know, maybe she has a doppelganger and doesn’t want anyone to know, but she really worked hard. Let me tell you walking on stilts is no cakewalk plus she had a great personality and I think it contributed to the overall sense of fun in the air at the Festival of the Horse. There were great people all around.

Law enforcement was also out in full force and extremely nice and hospitable. Sometimes police can be a little apprehensive of cameras and public photography, but not here.  City officials, law enforcement, and firefighters were all on their best game. They were very interactive with the public and at the same time very alert of all their surroundings. That is probably one of the most important duties that law enforcement are tasked with. They need to know how everything operates normally and then they need to watch like hawks for anything out of place. Because a lot of times if something is out of place, it’s worth checking out. And I have to say that me holding a camera and talking into it did not raise any suspicions. It shouldn’t, but sometimes it does. When it doesn’t, I feel the need to write about it because I feel that it’s very noteworthy. I feel that a city like Georgetown gets an enormous amount of attention on a day-to-day basis given the fact that it’s so beautiful and such a great place to visit. I think they are more accustomed to seeing cameras and people filming, than say smaller communities where that may be more of a novelty.

And one of the fringe benefits of visiting Georgetown during a festival like this is that you get to look at all the beautiful buildings, the architecture, and the choice of paints for the exteriors. When I say that Georgetown is a very artistic city – it most definitely is. There are so many things about it that you will love and I have to tell you, them closing down Main Street and having a festival on it like that was so cool. I very rarely get to appreciate the finer details of the architecture or the way the city is planned out, because if you do that while standing in the middle of the road – you’re going to get run over! The fact that they shut down half the city and everything went off without a hitch is a true compliment to how well-trained and prepared they are. They put a lot of thought into this and they executed it perfectly.

This was my very first Festival of the Horse, and it most definitely will not be my last. I hope to come back next year and see the horses showcased. This time I was simply passing through, but next time I’ll make a day of it. The event is exactly one week after World Fest in Louisville, which will make it easy for me to remember. Many of the food trucks that were at World Fest were all at the Festival of the Horse. But both of events were very different in that they each had their own character. I highly encourage folks to check out this great event. You’ll thank me for it.

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But wait, what’s the twist?

Well, this may come as a huge surprise to you but Sadieville is a railroad town. Everything seems to have a focus on railroads, trains, train cars and the like. Cincinnati is less than 60 miles north and although Lexington is far closer, Cincinnati’s influence is far stronger. Even the few minutes I was exploring the community, a huge train rolled by on the elevated track. In any other situation the noise of the train would have taken away from the video, but something about it just felt right. I saw plenty of cars, but not a soul walking outside. Granted, it was an early Saturday morning, maybe 9 or 10 AM, but just the same. The only sound in town was that train and it just seemed like any other normal day.

The drive into town is pretty scenic, with a pretty sharp turn that leads vehicles through an underpass unlike anything I’ve ever really seen before. It seems like there’s a good sidewalk leading into the underpass, but I don’t recall it getting you to the other side. And even if it does, I don’t know how pedestrian-friendly this entry into town is. Walk it, but becareful! There’s a little bit of the city on the other side, but the vast majority of the town is on one side.

Sadieville has a fire department that they’re very proud of. I’ve included its historic bell, located in the town center. I didn’t see any signs of a police department, but the city may in fact have one. Upon a closer look online, it seems that the City converted the old waste water treatment plant into the new police station. The source site states there’s both a public safety commissioner and a police chief.

While walking around town I stumbled across city hall as well. I found the building’s exterior to be very unique, as well as a mural down the opposite end of the street. I’ve included both shots in this article so you may say them as well. This small town was founded way back in 1880 and has been registered in the National Register of Historic Places by the Department of the Interior.

If you find yourself in the area, by all means stop by and check out Sadieville. It’s certainly a gem in Scott County. Also be sure to visit nearby Georgetown, the county seat. Georgetown has nothing to do with railroad, but it’s one of the Commonwealth’s most artistic cities. There you will find many breathtaking historic homes and a number of antique shops. Also, be sure to skip visiting Lexington, which is the heart of this region. Well, everywhere except Sadieville, because as we said earlier, Sadieville is a Cincinnati town deep in Kentucky.

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Glencoe is a very small community, which according to Wikipedia may or may not break 300. That being said, the city has a government presence, a Fire/Rescue station, and its own USPS branch. During my video I basically walked along Main Street and was able to see most of what the town offers. There’s a nice church down a side street, some sort of a laundromat, and at the end of the road just over the railroad tracks there’s a very nice general store with great curbside appeal.

And normally this would be the end of the write-up, unless I made contact with any locals. Usually contact with locals adds a certain dimension to my visits. Sometimes, I’m offered a pastry, maybe a cup of coffee, and sometimes I’m given some kind of a memento. Sadly, there weren’t many folks to come in contact with in Glencoe at 8AM on a Saturday morning, but one local did try to run me down with his pick-up truck.

Wait, what?

Unfortunately, there are some folks who react irrationally when they see cameras, and maybe Gallatin County gets the award because a year or two ago when filming in Warsaw by the Catholic Church leading into downtown, a resident called the cops on me. The police officer was super nice and we took a selfie, but the fact that Americans fear citizens filming on a public sidewalk is pretty scary. And just last month in Glencoe, I had a guy try to run me down with his pick-up truck also while filming on a public sidewalk in downtown. It’s on the video and I was pretty shaken up, but I kept doing my work. Aside from the crazies and their shenanigans, all you can do is brush it off. You can’t live in fear of nuts. The vast majority of people are welcoming and hospitable. That being said, anytime you’re visiting a new place – always be mindful of your surroundings. Stay safe and have fun. And make some memories too – take pictures and videos!

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I really like that the county takes pride its courthouse grounds. I especially liked the Mountain Gateway sign, as well as the Joshua Fry Bell one which was immaculate. The grounds were landscaped, there was absolutely no litter anywhere, and the building itself seemed very well looked after. Although I didn’t see any law enforcement while visiting Pineville, the community seemed extremely safe to me. I walked pretty much the entire downtown area without incident. All the people I came across were very nice, and you could tell they took great pride in where they lived.

I saw a great many U.S. flags all throughout town, but I didn’t see one at the post office. I’ll admit that kind of threw me off since every USPS branch I’ve come across in the United States has Old Glory flying proud. As I said on the video, though, it’s very possible their flag was either old, faded, or torn, and they had ordered a new flag. I do plan on returning to Pineville and hope to see the stars and stripes flying.

Pineville’s city hall is a rock’s throw from the county courthouse and is a beautiful building. It seems like a a great example of fiscally-responsible spending. They have a few offices in a small building and seemingly take care of business. The United Methodist Church, across the street, looks very beautiful. Interestingly, the Bell County Detention Center looks several times bigger than city hall and almost as big as the courthouse. Why does a county with a population of under 2,000 people have such a large corrections facility? Could be it be that only a portion of the building is used for housing inmates? Perhaps it shares a floor with another agency or two? I don’t really know, but I’m clearly intrigued.

One last note, which may seem a little trivial, but there are A LOT of birds in Pineville. I filmed in three or four parts of downtown and there seemed to be different birds wherever I went. Between the fog, the mountains, and the birds, Pineville seems to be embraced by Mother Nature. All in all it’s an absolutely beautiful city and county seat with plenty of life. If you’re ever in the area, by all means check it out. And especially look into the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, Pine Mountain State Resort Park, and all the great eateries and shops.

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One gentleman drove by and was very concerned. I asked if he could bring me some water and he drove off. Next, I saw a lady getting out of her car and asked her if she had any water. I was pretty parched and had dry mouth as a result of the fall. She brought be a bottle of water and her companion/family member/friend Alister went back to the vehicle as they were about to go into the Mexican restaurant and brought me some gauze from the car (he’s on the video). And right after he gave me the gauze, the gentleman who had driven off returned, with a huge bottle of ice cold Cumberland Springs water. I honestly was extremely lucky to have been looked after by such nice people. Barbourville is truly a great place. It’s very well-maintained, has tons of history, and absolutely wonderful, kindhearted residents!

I can’t wait to come back to Barbourville and check out Court Square at night. The Alley looks like a pretty happening place. The Mexican restaurant looks to be very good and I’d love to have a cup of Joe at The Ugly Mug Coffee Shop. If you’re ever in the area, make it point to visit Barbourville and spend a few bucks in town. Also, don’t forget to check out the beautiful courthouse! As you all know by now, I’m a huge history buff, and Barbourville/Knox County has plenty of it!

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Next time I visit I hope to eat at the Nicholasville Cafe which has an excellent downtown location and really cool signage. I’m curious what the food’s like and of course the atmosphere. I have a feeling I won’t be disappointed. There’s a few condemned buildings on 213 North Main Street which I wish could be brought up to code. That being said, this is prime real estate in a city that’s booming so I can’t imagine they’ll sit there for long.

The seat of Jessamine County has plenty to offer visitors as well as those looking to purchase a home. If you work in Lexington, this would be a great place to call home. It’s quiet, safe, and seems like a perfect place to raise a family. I didn’t any law enforcement; however, the community felt incredibly safe. The area is immaculate (no litter or graffiti anywhere), the streets are well-maintained, and there’s no riffraff anywhere.

If you’re in the area or you’re looking for a final destination to spend the day, I highly recommend Nicholasville. Mind you, I just walked around for about a half hour and could find a bunch of things to do. There’s also probably plenty I didn’t see, not to mention the rest of the county. As always, thanks for stopping by and have fun Exploring Kentucky!! Maybe we’ll bump into each other.

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