From most beautiful small town in America to most beautiful town square

COVINGTON, Ky. - April 1, 2013 - PRLog -- Bardstown, Ky., has one of “America’s Most Beautiful Town Squares,” according to the April issue of Travel and Leisure magazine. The recognition comes the same time Bardstown is being hailed as a “best of” in several categories of Kentucky Living magazine’s “2013 Best in Kentucky” reader write-in contest. And less than a year after Bardstown was named the “Most Beautiful” small town in America in the Rand McNally/ USA TODAY “Best of the Road” contest.

A crown jewel

Describing Bardstown’s town square as “one of the nation’s prettiest with a gingerbread-trimmed brick courthouse,” writer April Orcutt called the courthouse the crown jewel of Court Square. “You know you’ve arrived when the stately 1892 courthouse comes into view, complete with a bell tower and flourishes like rounded arches, dormers, gables, and gingerbread,” Orcutt wrote in her article, “America’s Most Beautiful Small Towns,” which may be read here. Bardstown was one of 13 town squares included on Orcutt’s list.

Stay, play, meet, eat – it’s ‘best’ in Bardstown

Readers of Kentucky Living magazine gave Bardstown a hearty thumbs-up in six different categories in the “2013 Best in Kentucky” contest in the April issue, which may be seen here (http://www.kentuckyliving.com/article.asp?articleid=3767&...).

The Bourbon Capital of the World was selected as a best for “Bed and Breakfast/Inn,” with the Jailer’s Inn, formerly the Old Nelson County Jail property and now a unique bed and breakfast replete with furnished jail cell room; “Non-Franchise Restaurant,” with Mammy’s Kitchen, known for its down-home-style cooking; and “Walking/Running/Bicycling Trail,” with Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest with its nature center, picnic areas, hiking trails and lakes.

Bardstown was also selected as a best in the “Weekend Getaway” category. With a variety of dining and shopping options located in its historic Court Square district; a half dozen distilleries with tours and tastings; Federal Hill, aka, My Old Kentucky Home in My Old Kentucky Home State Park; The “Stephen Foster Story,” a Broadway-style musical and Kentucky’s official outdoor drama; My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, which takes passengers by vintage rail cars through Bernheim Forest; the Civil War Museum of the Western Theatre and other museums – not to mention 16 bed and breakfast inns, religious attractions, ghost tours, golf and more –  Bardstown was made for weekend getaways.

Also acknowledged as a best by Kentucky Living readers was Maker’s Mark in the category “Kentucky Product” – not surprising for this highly regarded distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail right in the heart of Bourbon Country – and, topping out the list, Chuckleberry Farm & Winery, declared by magazine readers to be the best in Kentucky in the category, “Winery.”

Experience the best on the “Most Beautiful Town Square” in the “Most Beautiful Small Town in America” in Bardstown, Ky. Visit www.VisitBardstown.com/tourism for information on attractions, events and accommodations and plan your visit.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Dawn Przystal (mailto:dawn@bardstowntourism.com), Vice President-Bardstown-Nelson County TCC, 800-638-4877 x 114, Bardstown-Nelson County Tourist & Convention Commission (http://www.SampleOurSpirit.com)

ABOUT BARDSTOWN (http://www.sampleourspirit.com/), KY | Located in the heart of Kentucky Bourbon Country and situated at the trailhead of the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Bardstown (http://www.sampleourspirit.com/) is  more familiarly known as the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” It is home to five distilleries, including Barton 1792 and Willett Distillery and these three Kentucky Bourbon Trail distilleries: Heaven Hill, Maker’s Mark and Jim Beam. Major attractions include the “Stephen Foster Story,” Kentucky’s official outdoor drama that takes place in My Old Kentucky Home State Park; the Civil War Museum of the Western Theatre (one of the four most significant such museums in the country); The Kentucky Railway Museum, where Thomas the Tank Engine is known to put in appearances; and My Old Kentucky Dinner Train. Additionally, Bardstown has four 18-hole golf courses, three wineries, three self-guided tours (Historic Downtown Walking, Architectural and African-American), two haunted tours and numerous religious attractions. It was selected as the “Most Beautiful Small Town in America” in the Rand McNally/USA Today 2012 “Best of the Road” contest.