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Renee's Route _ Lexington Kentucky Getaway







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Painting used a s
                                    heeder for Lexington Kentucky
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Room decorated wth sea shells at Headley-Whitney Museum of Art

By all accounts, Abraham Lincoln visited Kentucky four times, but most significantly, it was in Kentucky that he experienced his first vacation. In what we would now term a guy's getaway he visited his best friend Joshua Speed in 1841 and obtained his first taste of a life of luxury. The components that make up a successful deluxe getaway have not changed much in the ensuing 175-years and Kentucky is still an ideal location to spend some time with friends and Lexington is just the right size and has such a plethora of culinary, shopping, arts and entertainment venues that everyone is bound to be pleased. http://Visitlex.com


 
Lexington has emerged as a significant arts destination that showcases all genres of art, architecture and public art. Brochures are available that include walking tour routes, maps and information. Also on offer is a mobile app with an interactive map. Visitors can participate in one of the free LEXARTS Gallery Hops that feature more than 40 galleries and associated sites.                       http://galleryhoplex.com




Located in the heart of the downtown area is the 88-room, boutique, 21c Museum Hotel situated in what was constructed in 1913 as the First National Bank. The hotel's 7,999-sq. ft. of gallery space and private areas are replete with contemporary art that is both arresting and stimulates conversation. The conversation usually begins with guest's requests for one of the hotel's iconic penguins for their room. Each 21c Hotel has a designated color for their representative penguin. Lexington's color is blue.
 

 


Two art installations not to be missed are "Spectralline," a multi-toned glass sculpture suspended from the foyer ceiling and "Tomorrow's Weather."  It is a series of globes of varying sizes that are located in the Lockbox Restaurant. The colors change to reflect the next day's weather as predicted by the National Weather Service. Free forty-five minute tours are scheduled throughout the week. http://21cmuseumhotels.com/lexington

 


The Downtown Central Library Gallery presents rotating art exhibits. The stunning, 5-story, Foucault library clock is best seen from the first floor rotunda. It is accompanied by a frieze that relates the history of horse in the area through the breeds that have impacted that history. Also depicted are eight Lexington Kentucky Derby winning jockeys from 1875-1902. Oliver Lewis, an Africa American, won the first Kentucky Derby and Isaac Murphy, also African American, won three Derby's and has an unbroken 44% winning rate. http://Lexpublib.org

 

The Headley-Whitney Museum of Art was established in 1968 by George Headley, renowned jewelry designer and artist and designer of jewelry for movie stars during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The 13-acre farm dates from 1926 but additions were made when Headley purchased it. Tours include his 1,500-volume library that includes designs of his personal creations, the Jewel Room and his shell collection. The Jewel Room showcases his personal jewelry collection, each piece a work of art encrusted with rare and precious stones. He converted a 3-car garage into a grotto setting for his enormous shell collection. Shells are incorporated into the designs in the furnishings, floors and walls. http://headley-whitney.org



 

L.V. Harkness is a natural stop after a tour of the Headley-Whitney. An experience at this incredible shop enhances your getaway. Artful displays showcase unique items for all ages from clothing and leather goods to jewelry and dinnerware. Dinnerware patterns include created for the White House and special Kentucky Derby events. http://lvharkness.com
 
 


Last year American Pharoah won the Triple Crown becoming the first winner in 37-years. Additionally he won the Breeder's Cup Classic and became the first thoroughbred to win the Grand Slam. He was retired in November 2015 and moved to Ashford Stud Farm where he earns a $200,000 stud fee. American Pharoah accepts visitors at 3PM Monday to Friday, unless otherwise occupied. Tour tickets must be booked in advance and availability notifications are sent via email. http://visithorsecountry.com/coolmore

 

Lincoln stated that Henry Clay was his "beau ideal of a statesman" and scholars tell us that he admired the man but there is no definitive proof that he ever met him or visited Ashland, his Lexington estate. Many assume that he did because Mary Lincoln's family, whose home was in the city, were known to be his friends. Modern visitors have an opportunity to take a 10-site tour of the 18-room mansion and grounds and dine in the Gingko Tree Cafe. Clay purchased 125-acres but the farm eventually grew to 600-acres. Clay lived there from the early 1800s to 1852. Many of the furnishings belonged to Clay including his personal effects and his bed.

He inherited one slave at the age of 4 and eventually owned as many as 60 at one time. A provision in his will granted gradual emancipation but all of his slaves were emancipated prior to that by the Civil War. While serving in Washington and living at the Decatur House, he was sued by one of his slaves on the grounds that her mother was free. She lost the case and was sent to New Orleans. http://Henryclay.org

 

No getaway is complete without a relaxing spa day and the fact that you are in Lexington begs a treatment unique to the place. The Marriott Griffin Gate Resort & Spa has an extensive menu of spa services from which to choose. Services include a hot or cold facial massage. Two signature services are the Nail Services and the Bourbon Bubbler Pedicure that incorporates a brown sugar scrub and Kentucky Bourbon. Reservations are required.
   
Daniel Boone said, "Heaven must be a Kentucky kind of place." Plan a getaway to Lexington and you will see just how true it is.

 

 


 

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