• Whitesburg
• Madisonville
• Hartford
• Morganstown
• Winchester
• Paris
• Middletown
• Dry Ridge
• Franklin
• Georgetown
• Paducah
• Pineville
• Middlesboro
• Richmond
• Eddyville
• Cynthiana
• Princeton
• Brooksville
• Livingston
• Munfordville
• Glasgow
• Glencoe
• Williamstown (The Mayor Has Invited Me Back)
• Corinth
• Sadieville
• La Grange
• Vanceburg
• Stamping Ground
• Simpsonville
• Nicholasville
• Waddy
• Versailles (Woodford County)
• Beattyville
• Irvine
• McKee
• Frankfort | State Capitol
• Midway
• Jenkins
• Finchville
• Campbellsburg
• Pikeville
• Sligo
• Bedford
• Carrollton
• Leichfield
• Smithfield
• Brandenburg
• Shepherdsville
• Hodgenville
• Corbin
• Williamsburg
• Sparta
• Cloverport
• Owenton
• Hawesville
• New Liberty
• Sanders
• Vine Grove
• Wheatley
• Hardinsburg
• Lawrwenceburg
• Danville
• Ashland
• Jeffersontown
• Warsaw (Gallatin County) (Great Police Interaction; made a Tiktok together)
• Louisa
• Covington
• Salyersville
• New Castle
• Paintsville
• Maysville
• Mount Olivet
• Berea College
• Mount Vernon
• London
• Manchester
• Prestonburg
• Eminence
• Pleasureville
• Frankfort (City)
• Morehead
• Warfield
• Inez
• Beauty
• Grayson
• Shelbyville
• Campton
• Stanton
• Bagdad
• Hyden
• Clay City
• Hazard
• Pikeville
• Custer
• Whitley City
• Hindman
• Boston
• Bonnieville
• Cave City
• Bowling Green
• Russellville
• Auburn
• Stanford
• Lancaster
• Frenchburg
• Owingsville
• Taylorsville
• Sharpsburg
• Lebanon
• Flemingsburg
• Harlan
• Princeton
• Dixon
• Crofton
• Greenup
• Sonora
• Tompkinsville
• Upton
• Marrowbone
• Albany
• Monticello
• Greenville
• Columbia

This list above covers all the cities where I’ve filmed a full-length ExploringKentucky video using the Sony AX43. There’s several more cities included where I used my iPhone and/or GoPro. The reason for that is because some “cities” are all of a sign, maybe a mail drop-off, or possibly some kind of utility station. There’s no way to do a 8-10 minute video given those factors. Some cities, that have been included above had very little, but I still made a full format video (e.g. Beauty, Sanders, Marrowbone).

My initial “A Walk In Midway,” was published on January 1, 2023 (see above). The video has a thousand views and was shared on over a dozen Kentucky-based Facebook groups. This is what I wrote in the video’s description: “Join me for a Saturday morning walk in beautiful Midway, Kentucky. This lovely community in Woodford County has a number of great restaurants, beautiful shops, and tons of cool sights. If you live here, are from here, or know about the city, please leave a comment below.”

I often like to return to cities and towns I’ve covered after a year, two years, or when time permits. On Saturday, May 17th, I returned to the Kentucky State Capitol and planned on doing follow-up videos in Midway and Shelbyville on Sunday, May 18th. It had been two years since I did my first video in Midway.

Unfortunately, the trip was ruined by UNIT 42 of the VERSAILLES POLICE DEPARTMENT, who although initially was professional, would go onto to stalk me and follow me throughout Midway for over 30 minutes. I was polite to him and told him where I lived, what I did for work, and repeatedly gave him this website’s URL “EXPLORINGKENTUCKY.COM.” That said, I post all content with my name “CHRISTIAN DUQUE.” He didn’t even have to run my name through his system or CourtNet. Had UNIT 42 just GOOGLED ME or simply visited the EXPLORINGKENTUCKY.COM, he would have known who I was and what my purpose for being in Midway was. He did none of that. Only until the very end of my video did it sound like UNIT 42 said the name EXPLORINGKENTUCKY.COM into his radio.

I even offered UNIT 42 my (attorney) business card. I’m a licensed attorney in good standing with Kentucky Bar. I told him I work as a downtown Louisville attorney and that that is my full-time job. Despite telling him this, he would not stop following me around. Moreover, he tried to tell me that filming in public was against the law (that’s on video) and totally fabricated that I was harassing people (not a single instance of anything like that on my video).

The fact that UNIT 42 is a sworn peace officer and lied on my video in trying to criminalize a constitutionally-protected activity, lied on his dash/bodycam and may have lied on his report WHILE CARRYING OUT HIS DUTIES IN UNIFORM would have stripped his, the Versailles Police Department’s, and the City of Versailles’ qualified immunity had he tried to detain me, arrest me, or performed an unlawful traffic stop. The last person I saw before driving out of Midway, was UNIT 42 (he even waved at me menacingly).

Also, when he stalked me from blocks away (photo above), he was positioned immediately behind my car. He had ascertained I was from Louisville on initial contact and coincidentally positioned himself next to a car in close proximity to my position with a Jefferson County plate. UNIT 42 was not carrying out official police business after the initial minute-long interaction. What he did for next 30-45 minutes was textbook harassment, stalking, and intimidation while using his badge and VPD issued vehicle.

What’s ironic is that if this is how VERSAILLES POLICE OFFICERS treat public photographers/photography in Midway, a community listed on the National Registry of Historic Towns, what would happen to a law abiding citizen who didn’t know their rights?

After leaving Midway, driving towards Louisville, I pulled into a rest stop and called Versailles Police to file a complaint. Initially, the dispatcher seemed oblivious to who I was. A couple of minutes into my explanation, she seemed perfectly aware of what I was talking about. I stated I wanted to speak with a Sergeant or Officer (Lieutenant or higher). The dispatcher said one would call me shortly after.

About forty-five minutes later, still at the rest stop waiting for the call, a sergeant called back. He was incredibly professional, suggested that this was perhaps a training issue, stated he would view UNIT 42’s dashcam and offered me an apology on behalf of the City of Versailles Police Department. Not wanting to jam the officer up, that was good enough for me, and I decided against filing a formal compliant. I did, however, tell the sergeant that I would not edit my video and that regrettably UNIT 42’s actions would be seen by anyone who visited EXPLORINGKENTUCKY.COM and/or saw my two videos that day from the community. And just as I told the very nice sergeant, “it’s not a good look for the Versailles Police.”

A link to this article will be included on all of our social media platforms. A link will be sent along with a letter to the mayor and city council of the City of Midway, the mayor and city council of the City of Versailles, as well as to the administration of the City of Versailles Police Department, which “Serves all of Woodford County.”

The goal here is not to shame UNIT 42, rather, as the sergeant expressed over the phone, it’s more so to explore better ways of training these officers when it comes to public photography and dealing with the public.

UNIT 42’s 45 minutes of time stalking and harassing me could have been far better used serving the legitimate interests of the residents of Woodford County. They would also have been better spent than violating the constitutional rights of a free, law-abiding citizen enjoying a perfectly legal pastime, which also creates interest in local communities that thrive on out-of-town visitors and tourism.

In closing, I’d like to reflect on something UNIT 42 said upon our initial (and pleasant) first interaction. He asked me where I was from. I told him, Louisville. He responded, “why are you here?”

“Why are you here” coming from a law enforcement officer to a visitor in a community on the National Register of Historic Towns is one of the worst sentiments to be advanced. It sends a locals only, all others keep out vibe. And that’s the polar opposite of the reception I’ve received in the dozens of communities I’ve visited throughout Kentucky’s 120 counties.

Just some food for thought.

BONUS CLIPS

This is the one and only interaction that UNIT 42 saw me have with local residents. It was also the first time him and I spoke. Following this initial, pleasant interaction, UNIT 42 proceeded to stalk and harass me throughout the City of Midway for the next 30-45 minutes.

Not a single resident in Midway had an issue with me filming: not the nice man with his dog, not the nice congregants coming out of church, not the nice people dining outside restaurants, and none of the people on this clip. Nonetheless, you can see UNIT 42 of the VERSAILLES KENTUCKY POLICE DEPARTMENT follow a videographer on public property, you can see this officer make up laws, make up crimes, in a desperate attempt to run me out of town.

The post Worst Police Interaction In Kentucky appeared first on ExploringKentucky.com.

My walk in the state capitol showcases the capitol (which continues to be renovated after at least a couple of years of work), the court annex, and the rose garden. We hope you enjoy this short walk and talk. I also visited some other cool places in Frankfort, KY, which will include Daniel Boone’s Grave and the Kentucky War Memorial, both located at Frankfort Cemetery.

I hope that you watch all three videos, filmed on Saturday, May 17th, 2025. As always, thank you for visiting ExploringKentucky.com . I hope you’ll like, comment, and subscribe to the SightsSoundsFlavors YouTube Channel.

Don’t forget to EXPLORE KENTUCKY!

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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.

The post A Walk In Greenville Kentucky appeared first on ExploringKentucky.com.

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.

The post A Walk In Auburn Kentucky appeared first on ExploringKentucky.com.

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.

The post Festival Of The Horse 2024 appeared first on ExploringKentucky.com.

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!

The post A Walk in Glencoe, Kentucky appeared first on ExploringKentucky.com.

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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