Celebrated as the “Folk Arts & Crafts Capital of Kentucky”, Berea lies on the edge of the Cumberland Plateau in the heart of the state. It’s clustered with historic buildings and home to a private arts college, while it also hosts an annual craft festival that draws artisans from across the United States.
Things to do in Berea
Spend an afternoon exploring Berea’s Artisan Village, which is clustered with studios, galleries and stores selling locally made goods. Keep an eye out for the “Studio Artists at Berea: Artists at Work” icon to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the creative process. Hands-on classes are available at the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen’s school.
On the northern edge of Berea is Memorial Park, where you’ll find a children’s playground, a skate park and the Russel Acton Folk Center. It lies adjacent to the sporting facilities of Berea College and the Berea Swimming Pool, an outdoor facility with kid-friendly water slides. Golfers can hit the greens and fairways of the Berea Golf Club, which features a 9-hole executive course that welcomes players of all abilities.
Want to stretch your legs? Climb one of the Pinnacles trails in the Berea College Forest, from where there are sweeping views across the region. Sprawling south-east of Berea is the Daniel Boone National Forest, which boasts around 1,000 kilometres of hiking trails to explore. Also nearby is the Great Saltpetre Cave, which was used as a source of gunpowder during the War of 1812.
Getting around Berea
Berea is around 45 minutes’ drive from Lexington and Blue Grass Airport, which has flights to destinations across the United States. Buses connect to Berea, although renting a car will give you greater freedom to explore the city.