Kentucky's Capital Getaway

Saturday for Shopping
Take a stroll to Marshall's Restaurant on West Main Street for breakfast. Grab a booth, and dive into the special--two eggs, sausage or bacon, hash browns, and biscuits ($3.50).

Thoroughly fortified, enjoy the fun shops downtown, such as Paisley Peacock (stylish purses) and Wilma's Linens and Lace (vintage quilts). Poor Richard's Books, Kentucky Coffeetree Cafe, and Completely Kentucky (which specializes in regional crafts) are also must-sees.

For lunch, head over to Gibby's on Broadway for a gourmet salad ($1.65-$6.95) or hot sandwich ($5.45-$6.95). You can eat outside or in while planning your next move.

It's time to learn a little more about the state, so amble down the street to the Kentucky History Center, which offers exhibits on everything from prehistoric to present-day Kentucky. If you're a genealogy fan, you'll find lots of help here in the Thomas D. Clark Research Library.

Don't let the day go by without touring Buffalo Trace Distillery, just a short drive down Wilkinson Boulevard. Take a free tour of the bourbon warehouses (a tasting is included). Try Jim's Seafood, also on Wilkinson Boulevard, for dinner. The fried shrimp is good, the blackberry cobbler is great, and the view of the Kentucky River from your table is just mesmerizing. Entrées are usually around $12.

For after-dinner entertainment, head back to St. Clair Street to The Brick Alley bar. Live music fills the club and spills out into the street.