Follow the turning leaves to catch the colors of autumn while enjoying an Always Original adventure in Winchester: hiking, biking, dining, winding down country roads, sipping and picking out the perfect pumpkin to carve.
Here are six ways Winchester wows during fall:
- Hike the 1-mile loop to the earthen fort built 160 years ago by Union soldiers to defend ford and ferry during the Civil War at the Civil War Fort at Boonesboro. The trail’s wooded setting is ablaze with color and hikers are rewarded with sweeping views of the Kentucky River and surrounding countryside. Dial 859-592-9166 and make it a self-guided cellphone tour.
- Bike one of the scenic byways of Clark County. Depending on how long your legs hold out, choose the Winchester Alley Tour and cycle through downtown Winchester and its neighborhoods by alleyways; mountain bike the dirt road at the 1,000-acre historic Mt. Folly Farm; or pedal the 28-mile River Route along the banks of the Kentucky River.
- Pique your palate with Winchester’s culinary gift to the world: beer cheese. Grab a Cheese Log and follow the Clark County Beer Cheese Trail to 14 stops to sample this original and unique Kentucky delicacy, stopping at a brewery, farmers market, diner/grocery and Winchester’s original fire station (now a pizza pub), among other distinctive venues. You’ll want to pace yourself for the sake of your tastebuds and tummy; each stop features its own delicious spin on beer cheese.
- Pick up a picnic lunch from Gaunce’s Café & Deli (home of the famous Smitty’s Country Ham) for a road trip into Winchester country to enjoy views of fall color, towering limestone cliffs and historic stone fences along the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail. Download the trail brochure for inspiration on where to pull over to picnic amidst autumn’s splendor.
- Get ready to sip . . . at Harkness Edwards Vineyards’ tasting room – breathtaking views on the side; locally crafted brews spiced with the flavors of Octoberfest at Abettor Brewing Company; or the refreshing citrus- and ginger-spiced Ale-8-One soft drink, Kentucky’s Official Soft Drink and a Winchester original founded in 1926.
- Pick up a pumpkin or three at Beech Springs Farm Market as the centerpiece for your fall holidayscape or for carving and lighting up on Halloween night. Find mums, jams and jellies and local honey, plus freshly baked apple pies made with apples from the farm’s own apple orchard. Mmm.
Did You Know? The tradition of pumpkin carving began in Ireland in the early 1800s to warn off a folktale character named Stingy Jack and other evil spirits.