Thanksgiving itinerary 2023: Where to take out-of-towners

Keep visitors busy with our itinerary of things to do in Lexington.

A shot of downtown Lexington looking down Main Street

Welcome to the Horse Capital of the World. | Photo courtesy of @theamericanskyline

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Have too much on your plate (literally and figuratively)? With family just days away from making the trek to town for Thanksgiving, it’s best to have an itinerary ready so your visitors can stay entertained — and you can stay sane.

A restaurant with trees and a big blue penguin

Visitors will love getting the full Lexington experience with a stay at 21c and dinner at Lockbox. | Photo by LEXtoday

Stay

If your visitors are looking for hotel or other lodging recommendations, here are some LEXtoday-approved places to stay:

21c Museum Hotel | 167 W. Main St.
This spot offers wide-sweeping views of downtown. If the weather outside is frightful, your visitors can easily stay in for dinner at on-site restaurant Lockbox, and stroll through its rotating art exhibits. Bonus: it’s dog-friendly, so invite Fido for the festitivites.

Barista pours an iced drink into a glass.

Whether you’re looking for a boozy or caffeinated treat, there’s a drink for you. | Photo courtesy of Lussi Brown Coffee Bar

Food + Drink

Everyone needs their fuel fix this time of year, so here are a few spots to grab a cup of joe, bites, and a drink.

For coffee options, we recommend getting a double dose of seasonal drinks (caffeinated and boozy) with a stop at Lussi Brown Coffee Bar. If guests are more interested in just getting into the spirit, pull up our happy hour guide.

Need a more kid-friendly spot? The Creatures’ Cauldron Cafe is a Harry Potter-themed shop in the heart of downtown that offers coffee + colorful milk-based kids’ drinks.

As for food, Lexington is home to hundreds of unique eateries from fast-casual diner spots like Tolly-Ho, to high-end Southern cuisine from Carson’s, even the pickiest eaters can find somewhere they like.

Erin Goins with Bites of the Bluegrass Tour leading a group.

Take a bite out of some delicious local eats paired with a helping of history. | Photo courtesy of Bites of the Bluegrass

Fun for the whole family

We love having the family around, but sometimes they need some encouraging to get out of the house. Explore our guide of 25 fun kid-friendly activities, including a trip to Activate Games, or if the weather permits, one of our gorgeous parks.

Don’t worry — there’s fun for the adults too. Give visitors the full Horse Capital experience with distillery, historic, and food tours.

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