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Four years ago, June was officially designated “Great Outdoors Month.” Even further back, in the 1970s, June was named “National Camping Month.” It’s a busy month, June. Fortunately, Winchester has plenty of ways for you to get out and about and celebrate Mother Nature.

Here are nine ways to rock the Great Outdoors in Winchester:

• Travel back in time. At Three Trees Canoe – Kayak Rental and RV Park, paddle to a world as ancient as the beginning of Earth’s very earliest plants and arthropods. It is one that dates back to the Ordovician Period of about 450 million years ago when Earth’s first coral reefs emerged in the seas and North America at times lay almost entirely underwater: The Kentucky River Palisades. Three Trees offers canoe and kayak rentals, full hook-up RV sites with picnic tables and fire rings, onsite restrooms and showers, boat dock and river access.

• Hike a hidden gem: Inside the 400-acre Lower Howard’s Creek Nature & Heritage Preserve is the John Holder Trail, the only portion of the preserve open to the public. The 3-mile loop opens 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, giving hikers the chance to enter this wonderland of rare plant and wildlife species, historic and archaeological features and second-growth forest in a twisting limestone gorge that is considered to be one of the region’s most scenic places. With the trailhead located next to Hall’s on the River, visitors can fuel up for their hike or relax afterward over fried catfish, smoked ribs and pan-seared crabcakes. (And for Beer Cheese trailblazers, Hall’s is a stop on the Winchester-Clark County Beer Cheese Trail.) Trail parking is available in the lot behind Hall’s.

• Family-friendly Red River Boat Dock and Campground offers tent sites, RV hookups and a few air-conditioned cabins, as well as bath houses, for campers staying at the historic Ferry crossing where the Red River meets the Kentucky River. Camping, fishing, hiking, live music, kayak rentals, cornhole tournaments, lots of food—there’s always something happening at this peaceful campground stretching out along Red River’s shoreline.

• Stay the course: Play 18 holes at one of Winchester’s two public golf courses: Cassell Creek Golf Course and Southwind Golf Course. The former features 6,714 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 72 on a course, which was designed by Danny McQueen and opened in 1961, with a rating of 70.0 and a slope rating of 116. Cassell golf course opened in 1961. The latter features 6265 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71, a slope of 113 and a rating of 67.1. Opened in 1992, Southwind was designed by Kent Arnold.

• Treat yourself to an Insta-worthy view. Although very little remains of the earthen fort at the Civil War Fort at Boonesboro, it is well worth a visit for the views. Follow the 1-mile loop trail for panoramic sweeps of the Kentucky River Valley. Want more? Dial into a cell phone tour at 859-592-9166 and learn about this fort built and defended by Union Soldiers during the Civil War.

• Play at a park. But not just any park—one that comes alive with the sound of music, courtesy of a one-of-a-kind climbing musical instrument. The Dulcimer Climber pays tribute to the Appalachian string instrument created in the 1800s and Kentucky’s most renowned dulcimer-maker, Winchester’s own Homer Ledford. Ledford handcrafted more than 6,000 musical instruments—many of them dulcimers—during his lifetime. (Learn about Ledford’s life and times at Winchester’s Bluegrass Heritage Museum.) This unique feature anchors the fun at Legacy Grove, a 30-acre accessible park with adventure play area with swings, spinners, slides, fort and an Exploration Creek kids can splash in, plus nature trails, walking paths and more.

• Put your pedal to the metal. Ride the 28-mile River Route, a cycling experience for all levels, from the casual cyclist seeking a bit of a challenge to more experienced ones looking for a relaxing outing. Begin in downtown Winchester and follow the route south to the Kentucky River, riding along its banks before returning downtown. Download the map here.

• Winchester is lucky enough to have two family-owned wineries producing not only artisanal wine, but hosting tours and tastings and other events. At Hamon Haven, tasting room hours are flexible Monday through Saturday so call ahead for tasting times. And if you’d like a charcuterie, let the winery know in advance of your visit; they’ll prepare one for your party to enjoy while sipping. (Additional cost.) Harkness Edwards Vineyards is open Wednesday through Sunday and is the site of several summertime events, including Golden Hour: 5-8 p.m. Fridays through Sept. 29; Sangria Sundays, 3-6 p.m. through Sept. 24, with bottomless sangria (bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets); and live music Fridays and Sundays featuring local and regional musicians. See “Events” for dates and details.

• Star gaze the night sky. Head to the countryside for an overnight surrounded by acres and acres of rolling farm and pastureland beneath the open star-studded sky. Winchester has several perfect getaways for stargazing and enjoying the outdoors: stately Franklin Ridge Farm sits on 150 country acres and features a four-bedroom guesthouse with game rooms, front porch swings and outdoor firepit; Mt. Folly Farm’s two-bedroom Historic Log Cabin is perched in the midst of 1,000 acres where visitors can enjoy hiking, birding and biking around the property; and the three-bedroom Basin Springs House, whose music room features a Yamaha mini grand player piano, sits on five acres on the grounds of Peacock Ranch.

Follow the trials and tribulations of aspiring writer Jo March and her sisters, Meg, Amy and Beth, when the Leeds Center for the Arts brings Little Women: The Broadway Musical to Winchester on May 5-7 and 12-14.

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s beloved coming-of-age story published in the late 1860s, the musical answers all the burning questions (pun intended) . . . Will headstrong Jo sell her stories? Will impetuous Amy set them ablaze first? Find showtimes and purchase tickets here.

Continue reading Spring events in the vineyard, at the booths and on the boards

A day to salute steak. A day to seize for cheese. (Actually, many days.) There is a National Beer Day and a National Superhero Day. Have you embraced an antique lately? Not to worry; there is a national day earmarked just for that.

Read on to see how you can bring a local vibe to these national day celebrations.

Continue reading Celebrate ‘National Days’ locally

In March of 2022, we presented some fun and quirky facts about Winchester—truly an original among Kentucky towns with its early Daniel Boone ties, elevated downtown sidewalk, hemp history, geology quirks and Ale-8-One—the only soft drink invented in Kentucky still in existence. Here are more strange and unusual things to see, do and know about in the town that gifted the world with beer cheese:

Continue reading Did You Know?

Forty-five years ago, in 1978, a group of local artists got together and formed the Winchester Art Guild. Through the decades, the Guild has attracted a diverse and dynamic group of artists working in all mediums: painting, woodworking and fine furniture making, textile art, needle arts, photography, soap and candle making, stained glass, jewelry, pottery and more. Members’ work may be seen and purchased at the Arts on Main Gallery in downtown Winchester. 

Continue reading Artistic expressions

Many photographers, professional and hobbyists alike, put their cameras into hibernation when winter arrives, but it can be an exciting time for seeing a different side of familiar and favorite landscapes and creating dramatic images. Especially in Winchester. 

Continue reading Capture Winchester in winter with these photography tips

Legend holds that during the third century, a Greek bishop named St. Nicholas helped three poor daughters with their dowries by tossing bags filled with gold coins through a window into their home. As luck would have it, the bags landed in stockings the girls had hung by the chimney to dry.

And thus began the tradition of the Christmas stocking.

Inflation has most likely killed all hope of Santa stuffing those stockings with bags of gold this year; however, Winchester shops and restaurants have lots of ideas that will make you look every bit as swish as Santa.

Continue reading Elevate your Santa game with these local stocking stuffers

Make your list and check it twice for some fantastic, festive holiday events taking place in Winchester – everything from open house merriment to farmers market fun.

“Put us on your list of holiday must-dos,” said Bailey Milheiser, manager of Beech Springs Farmers Market.

“Our Christmas Market is a great way to meet all kinds of local artists and crafters all in one place,” she said. “We think it gets everyone in the holiday spirit – and that it’s a great way to shop Small Business Saturday!”

Continue reading Have a holly-jolly Christmas with Winchester’s holiday events

Crunch, crackle, cackle – these are the sounds of fall . . . biting into a freshly dipped caramel apple, kicking fallen leaves into the air, watching a spooky movie from the TV in your cabin getaway in the hills of central Kentucky.

Continue reading Follow the turning leaves to Winchester and fall fun

Did you know there is a National Cheese Toast Day, and it is celebrated every September 15? That’s the day set aside to honor this humble food made from the pressed curds of milk.

Know who’s known for cheese?

Winchester.

Continue reading Celebrate National Cheese Toast Day in the Cradle of Beer Cheese

Josiah Jackson’s Grave. The Devil’s Backbone. Winchester’s Lost Silver Mines.

There are enough historic places in Winchester/Clark County to fill three books, which is what Kentucky author Harry G. Enoch did with his Where In The World? Historic Places in Clark County, Kentucky series.

Based on Enoch’s column of the same name, which was written for the Bluegrass Heritage Museum and published in the Winchester Sun, the books share the stories behind the landmarks all over the county.

Think you know Winchester? Here’s a scavenger hunt to six of its historic places. You don’t need Enoch’s books to solve the clues – although reading his books is certainly entertaining and worthwhile. Just pack your sense of wonder and a yen to learn more about Winchester and surroundings and head out in search of the answers.

1. A bank once sat upon this street,
   Two frozen ladies’ faces greet.
   Back then it was the second bank –
   The “handsomest” with lots of swank.
2. Neighborhood marked by First and Elm,
   And Washington and Walnut realm.
   A place of opportunity,
   Historic Black community.
3. County fairgrounds stand on the spot,
   Once housed the poor – that was their lot.
   A landfill also sits out there,
   And dogs and cats that need some care.
4. A holy house all dressed in stone.
   Historic landmark that was home
   To Baptists and Reformers both
   In search of spiritual growth.
5. This biz mixed furniture and death
   New couch and chair and one’s last breath.
   A flea market is in its place,
   A pretty downtown Main Street space.
6. This structure lines the county roads.
   Piled rock walls stacked with good limestone.
   Such character they give the land
   Amazing they were built by hand.

Give up? Enoch’s books are available for borrowing from the Clark County Public Library and for purchase at the Bluegrass Heritage Museum. Or you can prolong the suspense and wait until next month when the answers will be published in the Winchester blog.

For the record . . . Josiah Jackson (1746-1836) was a patriot of the American Revolution, and his grave may or may not be at his old homeplace in Clark County. The Devil’s Backbone was a narrow ridge that sparked local superstitions about the devil himself lurking about the area.

And the lost silver mines? These were alleged to have been found in Clark County around 1760 by a guy named Jonathan Swift. (You’ll be forgiven if Gulliver’s Travels springs to mind; the search for silver mines in Kentucky is similarly fantastical.)

Singers, songwriters and scouts take over the calendar for things to do in May in Winchester, kicking off with the return of one of downtown’s favorite gatherings: the four-concert summer Rock The Block Series.

May 13, 7-9 p.m.: Rock the Block Series: Local family court judge Kimberly Carter lays down the law and the rhythms in opening the series. Joined by her husband (a retired local judge) on the guitar and other musicians, she’ll be holding court on the courthouse steps on Main Street. Pack a lawn chair to set up in front of the courthouse or grab a seat on the high side of Main for an evening of music, dancing and community fun.

Rock The Block is free, as is the bounce house for kids. A classic car show will be presented on North Main Street by Remember When Cruiserz. Food truck deliciousness, snow cones and “adult beverages” will be available for purchase. Plan time to visit downtown’s shops and restaurants before the show. 

Mark your calendar for this night and for the series’ other summer dates: June 1 features local musician Lauren Mink; July 8 brings in one of Kentucky’s hottest dance bands with Lexington-based Boogie G and the Titanic; and August 12 hosts Florence, KY-based Tom the Torpedoes, nailing that “vintage Petty sound” with the music of Tom Petty and the Hearbreakers.

May 22, 5-7 p.m. HeartStrings SongWriters’ Circle at Abettor: Singer/songwriters take the spotlight during this free event that is hosted by Winchester musician Trish Torline and held at Abettor’s North Highland Street location.

This “in the round” style music showcase features all song styles and musical genres – rock, folk, country, pop, Christian, alternative, R&B. The event gives artists a chance to workshop their material and melodies, tweak lyrics and share the stories behind the songs with the audience in an intimate setting. Who knows? You may here the Next Big Hit!

HeartStrings SongWriters’ Circle takes place on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. The lineup includes a rotating group of Kentucky artists and food trucks.

May 28-29 – Spring Trade Days at Fort Boonesborough: Plan to spend some of the Memorial Day Weekend at a gathering of merchants, traders, artisans, Native Americans, militia members, longhunters, scouts and other frontier characters at the original fort site of Daniel Boone and settlers.

“They will have camps set up that guests can visit,” said Park Manager Jack Winburn. “The merchants will be featuring eighteenth century wares that can be purchased and we will also have our regular living history demonstrations of pioneer skills.”

This event, which takes place throughout the day on both Saturday and Sunday, typically features period music and a chance to compare what life was like for the people who lived and worked the land, built a settlement and a community 245 years ago.

Fort Boonesborough has been reconstructed as a working fort complete with cabins, blockhouses and furnishings. Visitors can also tour the Kentucky River Museum (open Saturday during Trade Days) for a peek into the past of the lives of families who lived on the river and worked the locks and dams in the 1900s.

NOTE: During Trade Days, visitors are requested to park in the lower Fort lot on KY388 and ride the free shuttle up to the Fort.

Make it a Winchester weekend with a stay in one of several unique lodgings, including a Historic Log Cabin in a country setting and a downtown Carriage Inn apartment with views of the county courthouse. Winchester has a dozen or so brand name hotels and one-of-a-kind places for a fun getaway in the Birthplace of Beer Cheese.